For as much that stays the same inFinal Fantasy 7 Remake, there’s also a lot that changes. Practically every overarching story beat inRemakematches up with the original game, only with slight differences here and there. Cloud still meets the original starting party and escapes Shinra and Midgar, normally the first seven hours of the game, and the world ofFinal Fantasy 7opens up. The same can be said ofFinal Fantasy 7 Remake, just with plenty more context and fleshed out characters compared to the original game.
It wouldn’t be a game directed by Tetsuya Nomura without some kind of twist at the end, leaving players with more questions than answers. While theKingdom Heartsgames are notorious for this, this time it’sFinal Fantasy 7 Remake. Despite largely being a faithful adaptation, the little tidbits sprinkled throughout the game culminate in several big twists at the end of the game. Surprisingly, there’s a lotFinal Fantasy 7 Remake’s subsequent episodes need to answer for, from both the old and new timeline.
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The Survival of Zack Fair in Remake
Before anything else, there’s a gigantic elephant in the room thatFinal Fantasy 7 Remake’s subsequent episode(s) will need to address. Upon reaching the end ofFinal Fantasy 7 Remake, it’s very strongly inferred that Zack Fair is alive, either in the current dimension/timeline or another one. In the original canon, Zack Fair dies just outside Midgar, protecting Cloud and giving him time to escape Shinra and head for Midgar. Considering the context of the originalFinal Fantasy 7canon,Zack would show up prominently inFinal Fantasy 7 Remake’s next episode. If his character were to appear in any other capacity, and Zack’s inclusion wouldn’t exactly go over well with fans.
Even with Zack surviving his last stand on Midgar’s outskirts, and his now in the same timeline as the rest of Cloud’s party inRemake, that presents several problems. For one thing,Cloud’s entire character arc is dependent on Zack’s deathas the traumatic moment that causes Cloud’s psychosomatic identity crisis. If that moment’s changed early on inFinal Fantasy 7 Remake’s story, than the entire chapter in Mideel doesn’t really need to exist inRemake. This is without even mentioning the awkward situation between Cloud and Aerith, if Zack was alive.
The Whispers and Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s New Timeline
The final battle inFinal Fantasy 7 Remakeends with Cloud and the party defeating the Whisper Harbinger, and ultimately a shadow of Sephiroth. However,this ending marks a break in the originalFinal Fantasy 7timeline, a break in the “Singularity.” Theoretically, a break in the originalFinal Fantasy 7’s canon means story changes can potentially be made as a result. This is whereFinal Fantasy 7 Remakewalks a dangerous fine line. Balancing the familiar with the new, in a game as coveted asFinal Fantasy 7, is a very delicate balance.
Fans of the original game are understandably concerned by how these changes could affectFinal Fantasy 7 Remake’s story. Big moments like Aerith’s death, the Ancients and the Forgotten City, all of that’s up for grabs when timeline manipulation is at play. If even Zack Fair’s survival is able to occur, theoretically any major story beat inFinal Fantasy 7can change. With the defeat of the Whisper Harbinger, it’s unclearif the Whispers won’t appear inFinal Fantasy 7 Remake Part Two, so these major timeline changes could be permanent. Besides, even if the Whispers are gone, there’s another very important character who isn’t playing by the rules as well.
Sephiroth’s New Plan
Sephiroth in the originalFinal Fantasy 7was a much more foreboding and ambiguous mystery compared to his iteration inFinal Fantasy 7 Remake.In this version ofFinal Fantasy 7, Sephiroth makes his presence knownto Cloud almost immediately. The usual slow burn of his actions coupled with the murder of President Shinra generally made Sephiroth’s reveal more sinister. Now, his presence is far more overt, coming face to face with Cloud and the gang several times, along with a final boss fight. However, this all could connect back to the timeline manipulation, and that Sephiroth may have some kind of grand plan in the works.
One of the prevailing theories, that isn’t exactly confirmed by the game, is thatthis version of Sephiroth is from the future. It’s very possible that the disruption ofFinal Fantasy 7’s original canon is by Sephiroth’s design, in the hopes that he doesn’t repeat the same mistakes in the original game and he can defeat Cloud. There’s also several tertiary theories outside of that, but that’s generally the main theory after seeingFinal Fantasy 7 Remake’s ending. If the whole “defy destiny” line from Sephiroth is any indication, then this is also a high possibility.
As for most projects helmed Tetsuya Nomura, timeline manipulation and alternate dimensions are key motifs throughout his stories. As forFinal Fantasy 7 Remake, these big points will need to be addressed in the second episode, or there’s going to be some serious plot holes as a result.
