Changeable Future? His Endgame? An Impostor? Failed who? | Game Analysis #29
The meaning behind the Final Fantasy VII Rebirth First Look teaser trailer's dialogue lines & scene transitions.
Table of Contents
I promised to deliver more analysis of the Final Fantasy VII Rebirth First Look teaser trailer and so I shall. In this article, we dig deep into the dialogue spoken within and its enigmatic scene transitions.
I know it has been almost a year since its release1 and you probably won’t glean much new information from this analysis. Nonetheless, I hope that you can at least learn something new or gain a different perspective on certain details.
There is a lot to talk about, so let’s get into it.
Structure
This trailer has quite an interesting structure. It is made of 4 scenes we already talked about in the previous video. However, those 4 scenes are separated by 3 transitions, each consisting of glitched visuals and an accompanying relevant question. Both question and visuals are directly linked to the voiceover dialogue in the preceding scene and therefore act as an extension and emphasis of its core theme.
The 4th and last scene is not followed up by such a transition and therefore does not contain a coherent theme but instead teases the mystery about Zack’s involvement and provides a few more hints for Rebirth.
But let’s start from the beginning.
Past & Future
Aerith’s Speech
During the first half of the scene which shows Zack approaching Midgar with a still unresponsive Cloud, Aerith talks about how the past relates to the future. At least in the English version.
Aerith: “What we've done—that's set in stone. The past is forever.
But the future—even if it has been written—can be changed.
So focus on the future—not the past.”
This beautifully fits into our conclusion from Game Analysis episodes 23 and 242 where we proposed that Remake’s events happen in the memories of the planet and defeating the Whispers—its memory police—has set the changes caused by Sephiroth’s and Aerith’s meddling into stone since the Arbiters of Fate are no more and thus are not able to undo those changes anymore—Like Biggs’ survival. In the words of Cloud Strife: “What’s done is done.”3
This covers Aerith’s first line.
Her second line is confirmation that the future—the original game, Advent Children, and Dirge of Cerberus—already happened and thus exists within the planet’s memories. And even though those memories have already been written, they can still be changed as the Arbiters of Fate are not there to course-correct anymore.
A boon for Aerith and our heroes. The planet’s imminent fate—7 seconds before the end of the world—can thus still be averted. But it’s also a bane, as Sephiroth can now really do whatever he wants, unencumbered by the planet’s memory police.
Note that Aerith’s lines are spoken over a camera dive through mist and Lifestream particles, following the movements of—supposedly—Angeal’s feather and ending with a glimpse of Zack dragging Cloud along on the ground. This increases the connection of Aerith’s statement to memories.
Interestingly, in other languages—such as the Japanese original and German—Aerith talks about something completely different.
Aerith: “Our grief and our anger... they make us stronger.
But they change us, too.
If we keep our minds on the future and not the past...”4
In the Japanese version, Aerith focuses on negative feelings. Incidentally the same ones that make Cloud susceptible to Sephiroth’s influence. Anger about what Sephiroth did to his hometown and mother in the original game,
Cloud: “All the anger and hatred I bore him,
made it impossible for me to ever forget him.
That and what he gave me.”5
As well as grief—and guilt—about Aerith’s death in Advent Children, expressed by the Geostigma on Cloud’s arm, where he also wears the pink ribbon in memory of their fallen friend.
That’s why they must keep their minds on the future which they still hold influence over, compared to the past that is set in stone. Clinging to tragic events in the past—both connected to Sephiroth no less—is what made Cloud so easily manipulable by Sephiroth. Aerith wants to change that.
In German, the core of this message is still intact, but it’s worded quite differently.
Aerith: “We have all experienced so much pain and so much suffering...
And all of this, unfortunately, cannot be undone, no matter how much we want to.
But this does not apply to our future.”6
Instead of dwelling in the past, we should actively do something against current and future pain and suffering. But that’s easier said than done, knowing what’s ahead: Aerith’s death and the summoning and approach of Meteor. Since Aerith knows about all that, she might want to try and prevent those events. Will she succeed?
The Planet’s Future
The following question stinger bridging to the next scene beautifully continues this theme.
(Japanese) “What is the future of this planet?”7
We already know what happened. No need to dwell on that. What about the planet? What will become of it? What is its future? We don’t know. It’s what we need to find out.
As mentioned in a previous article about Zack’s role in Rebirth and beyond, the plot twist about Cloud’s messed-up memories is not a well-kept secret anymore. That’s probably why they focus on the planet in this trailer instead of Cloud, especially when combined with the 3rd and last question stinger. But more on that later.
Meteor Menace
Wedged in between Aerith’s lines and the stinger line appears a shot of Meteor crashing into the planet, accompanied by green glitch effects. No Holy. no Lifestream. It’s actually the same footage as in Sephiroth’s contribution to the Cosmos Theater showcase in chapter 16 of Remake, in which he shows Cloud and the others how Midgar is destroyed by Meteor. No Holy comes to intervene.
Without Holy or even the Lifestream, what will become of the planet? On the other hand, green glitch effects are usually an indicator of memories which are either false or suppressed. Does this mean that it’s a false image or a fabricated premonition of what’s to come being pushed into this new future?
Or is this a hint towards Sephiroth’s goal to succeed this time around? See Game Analysis #268 for more information about this topic.
Sephiroth’s Goal
The next segment is all about Sephiroth’s goal, as revealed by the question stinger at its end.
The other languages are essentially saying the same, so I won’t go into them. It’s all about his goal.
But what is he really after? Just the same shenanigans as in the original game? In our game analysis video essay about Cloud and Sephiroth mentioned above, we proposed that the Remake project could end differently than what it’s based on, possibly in a more final9 way—bringing the compilation to a close with this 5th installment.10
However, in this short segment, everything we’re shown points to a direct retelling of the original story. Even Cloud’s statement is in line with this notion. At least that’s what we are led to believe.
Cloud’s Explanation
In all other languages, his lines express the same core message, so I will only focus on the English version here.
Cloud: “He wants to finish what he started.
He wants to "reclaim his birthright",
and rule over the Planet with Jenova at his side.”
This is in line with the following statement spoken by Sephiroth in one of Cloud’s flashbacks in Final Fantasy VII Remake.11
Sephiroth: “Within my veins flows the blood of Ancients.
This planet…is my birthright.”
The following excerpts of Sephiroth’s lines at the end of the Nibelheim Flashback in the original game support the idea that Rebirth won’t change Sephiroth’s original goal.
“Mother, let's take this planet back together.
I've thought of a great idea.
Let's go to the Promised Land.”“With her superior power, knowledge, and magic,
Mother was destined to become the ruler of this Planet.”“I am the chosen one.
I have been chosen
to be the leader of this Planet.”“I have orders to take this planet back
from you stupid people for the Cetra.”
Furthermore, Sephiroth’s speech in the Temple of the Ancients in front of the puzzle altar is still quite relevant, given what we know from Remake and what’s been shown in the Rebirth teaser trailer.
Sephiroth: “Soon...
we will become one.
It's simple. Once the planet is hurt,
it gathers Spirit Energy to heal the injury.
The amount of energy gathered
depends on the size of the injury.
…What would happen
if there was an injury that
threatened the very life of the planet?
Think how much energy would be gathered!
Ha ha ha.
And at the center of that injury,
will be me.
All that boundless energy will be mine.
By merging with all the energy of the planet,
I will become a new life form, a new existence.
Melding with the planet...
I will cease to exist as I am now...
Only to be reborn as a 'God'
to rule over every soul."
Reborn, huh? So, you say he’s working towards his Rebirth?
However, he first needs to complete the Reunion and summon Meteor.
Creepy Flashes
Fitting for what scene we were shown just before (Cloud and Sephiroth walking towards the Gunnthra river bridge) and Cloud’s lines, we’re shown flashes of Sephiroth’s eyes, Jenova’s “heart” and a view on its body in the tank. They are directly lifted from Remake chapter 17—during Cloud’s mental break episode in front of Jenova’s tank just before Sephiroth appears.
I don’t think there’s much more of substance to say about this. It simply reinforces the theme of this segment: Sephiroth being a crazy momma’s boy with illusions of grandeur and a god complex.
Truth or Fiction
After a rather tame segment in terms of new content, things are slowly ramping up again with the dialogue between Cloud and Tifa, the significance of their lines in regard to the question stinger, and the glitched flash of…Aerith.
Childhood Friends
Cloud: “I saw you lying there.
I figured it was too late.”Tifa: “Wait, what're you implying? that I died?
That I'm some kind of imposter?”
Cloud’s line here expresses in essence the same as in the original game—after he finishes his tale of the Nibelheim incident and Barret leaves—in response to Tifa’s inquiry about her condition after being cut down by Sephiroth.
Tifa: “......... Cloud...?
How bad was I after Sephiroth stabbed me?”Cloud: “I thought you were a goner.
......I was so sad.”Tifa: “.........”
However, Tifa responds with pure silence as she still thinks Cloud was not in Nibelheim 5 years ago, directly contrasting her reaction in the Rebirth teaser trailer. Remake already made a big deal out of Tifa’s increased inquisitiveness regarding Cloud mental state and how his recollection of the past does not seem to match her own.
In the original game, she never really spoke up about this discrepancy as she was afraid of Cloud relapsing into the state she found him in at the sector 7 undercity train station a few days before the first bombing mission with AVALANCHE.
In this new retelling of the original events, everything points towards her prodding much more and trying to get to the bottom of it. Below follow some examples.
In chapter 3 after clearing Scrapyard Boulevard of some vermin and returning to Biggs & Wedge at the Beginner’s Hall,
Tifa: “Been meaning to ask... After you left the village...”
Cloud: “It's a long story.”
Tifa: “I've got time!
Why don't you tell me all about it
while we try to rustle up some more work for you?”
During the Discovery Quest “Alone at last” in Tifa’s apartment at Stargazer Heights in the same chapter,
Tifa: “I let you off the hook before.
Back at the hall.
But not this time.”Cloud: “Well, when we were kids...everybody wanted to be a SOLDIER, right?”
Tifa: “Yeah, I remember they were on the news every day during the war.”
Cloud: “Thing is, by the time I finally made it in, they didn't need heroes anymore.
It was nothing like what we'd dreamt of. It was just...working for Shinra. Just...”Tifa: “I'm sorry. I know it's a touchy subject.”
Cloud: “Not exactly small talk.
Especially with someone you haven't seen in a while.”Tifa: “I get it. Still, it's kinda funny.
Us going our separate ways, thinking that must be it...
that we'd never meet again—and then here of all places we do.”
And in The Drum in chapter 17 when running around with Tifa and Aerith for the first time.
Tifa: “Hey, you think Cloud's doing okay?
He's been acting really weird lately—more than usual.”Aerith: “True, but it's Cloud—I'm sure he'll be fine.
But what about you, Tifa? How are you holding up?”Tifa: “Huh? Oh (chuckles) I'm fine!”
In this last example, Aerith even turns the conversation around instead of indulging in Tifa’s worries. We’ve already established that Aerith knows so much more about everything than she should in a previous game analysis video essay,12 so she is aware that Tifa was not this inquisitive in the original game’s events and possibly tries to prevent further inquiries about Cloud as Tifa is not supposed to find out yet.
In any case, besides being more involved in getting to the bottom of their memory discrepancy, Tifa’s reaction to Cloud’s remark in the Rebirth teaser trailer is very poignant to this segment’s theme:
There might have been more back and forth between those 2 lines in the trailer but I’m quite certain that both happen within the same scene. Some fans think that Tifa’s line is pulled from an entirely different place in the game to throw people off.
My good friend Schrödinger’s Babyseal13 proposed the theory that Tifa is actually talking to somebody she knows and who thought that she—along with AVALANCHE—died during the events in Midgar. How is that possible? The idea is that defeating the Whispers also changed all events they intervened in, as if they had never been there. Some of those events include the Whispers saving our heroes from harm or even death, like Aerith falling in the church, Barret being stabbed, or the whole group being blown up twice during their escape on the Midgar highway.
I have already extensively talked about this topic in Game Analysis #2714 and I don’t think that’s how it works. Furthermore, no Final Fantasy VII Remake trailer has ever taken seemingly coherent lines of dialogue between 2 characters completely out of context like this. The Game Awards 2019 trailer for example plays dialogue between Cloud & Aerith and Cloud & Tifa partially over other scenes but keeps them coherent and in context.
Sephiroth’s lines at the very end of the final Remake trailer before its release are the only ones that are stitched together from different places in the game.
Sephiroth: “Let us defy destiny—together.
Cloud, there’s still so much to be done.”
The first line stems from the Edge of Creation where Sephiroth extends his hand towards Cloud, asking him to join him in his quest to defy destiny. The second one is spoken in Cloud’s mind space after he falls into the sector 5 undercity church at the start of chapter 8 right before Aerith brings him back to consciousness.
But this is just Sephiroth saying Sephiroth things. He could say those lines at any time he shows up and it would not change context significantly, or at all. That, and everything mentioned above, tells me that Cloud’s and Tifa’s exchange in the Rebirth teaser trailer happens as presented in this article.
This being said, the content of Tifa’s questions back at Cloud does pose an interesting twist.
Instead of Cloud just saying something he is not supposed to know and Tifa remaining silent, this exchange makes it seem like the game is gaslighting Tifa into thinking that she’s the one with a memory issue or being a different person now. She was unconscious for a whole month between being attacked by Sephiroth and waking up in Midgar’s sector 8 undercity.15 Anything could have happened during that time. Tifa as Sephiroth clone number 53 confirmed?16
While I don’t believe that Tifa actually thinks like this, it could distract from Cloud’s unreliable narration and shift scrutiny to Tifa. Is she the one misremembering? In any case, it will sow doubt in Tifa and the player, especially since the story does not have to play out exactly like in the original game moving forward.
Aerith’s Fate
To round out this truth or fiction segment, glitched flashes of Aerith praying and the Holy Materia shining on the pond’s ground are shown to us. The footage itself is nothing new as we see it in memory flashes within Cloud’s head when Aerith mentions her Materia in the church, during Sephiroth’s presentation of Meteorfall in the Shinra building’s Cosmos Theater, and in the battle against Whisper Harbinger.
Seeing those 2 specific shots—Aerith praying and the Holy Materia—does not leave any room for doubt that we’re dealing with Aerith’s death here. Many fans speculate that she might not die this time around or that it happens later in the story. However, I don’t think this is the case. Why?
I’ve explained this already in a previous game analysis video essay,17 but the main point is that we see flashes of her praying and the Holy Materia 3 times in Remake alone and they are not lifted from any previous entry—like Advent Children—as are all other memory flashes shown during the battle against Whisper Harbinger. The shots with Aerith praying and the Holy Materia, however, are specifically created for Remake.
Many other newly created shots for memory flashes also depict the truth, like Cloud seeing an explosion on and debris falling from the plate support pillar, black-hooded people walking through the Whirlwind Maze, Sephiroth claiming that the planet is his birthright, him in front of Jenova’s tank in Nibelheim, and more. One that’s not known to be true yet is the depiction of Meteor crashing into the planet without Holy or the Lifestream in sight.
Still, this alone is enough evidence for me to propose the idea that Aerith will still die in Rebirth, with the possibility that circumstances and fallout may change a bit. I say that because the shot of Cloud burying Aerith in the pond at the city of the Ancients—the last flash of the future during the battle against Whisper Harbinger—is also lifted directly from Advent Children, like Nanaki running through a valley, Meteor approaching the planet, and Cloud and Sephiroth clashing. Scenes that might play out differently this time since those were depicting a future our heroes want to prevent by defeating the Arbiters of Fate.
In the context of the Rebirth teaser trailer, displaying flashes of images related to Aerith’s death before showing the words “What is fact and what is fiction?” is quite telling in my opinion. Cloud’s retelling of the past is clearly partially fictional, as are many other memories he made up while the Jenova cells within him helped him reconstitute his mind into this new mercenary and ex-SOLDIER persona. Aerith’s death could then represent the “fact” part of this segment.
On the other hand, it’s also possible that we’re meant to wonder whether her death will happen or not by associating that imagery with the words following right after.
The New Mystery
This last segment contains not just the most confusing lines in the trailer but also the most worrying. Zack is certainly much more involved, but to what degree and in what capacity? Only time will tell.
Cloud’s Memory
We start with Cloud talking about meeting somebody 5 years ago. Somebody who’s not around anymore and who Cloud does not know the whereabouts of. At least in English.
Cloud: “You were here with me. Five years ago.
Where are you? What happened to you?”
In Japanese, French and German, however, Cloud specifically mentions Zack’s name! Here’s the English translation of Cloud’s Japanese line as an example.
Cloud: “Five years ago... we came here together, didn't we?
Zack... where are you?”18
At some point during Rebirth, Cloud remembers Zack. Since I believe Rebirth will not end any later than the Summoning of Meteor at the Northern Crater, this line foreshadows a major change in Cloud’s journey. In the original game, Cloud does not fully remember Zack until Tifa helps him to put his real memory and identity back together after they fall into the Lifestream, though a first contact is made by Sephiroth showing Cloud the photo of himself, Tifa, and Zack in an illusion of a burning Nibelheim within the Whirlwind Maze in the Northern Crater.
Learning about Zack any earlier that seeing the aforementioned photo will endanger Cloud’s mental stability and thus the integrity of the story. Aerith merely mentioning Zacks name in chapter 9 of Remake almost breaks Cloud’s mind which needs to push any memories of Zack back down immediately so Cloud can keep up his new ex-SOLDIER mercenary persona that is based on the memories of Zack. Even as far back as chapter 2, a security officer’s call-out of knowing the Buster Sword causes Cloud’s mind to glitch out.
While many theories about the placement of Cloud’s lines in the teaser trailer exist, I personally cannot imagine it happening any earlier than Sephiroth showing Cloud the aforementioned photo. This is where Cloud’s mind breaks anyway. Remake made it clear that many segments of the original story will be vastly expanded upon, so it’s entirely possible that this illusion segment will experience the same treatment, making room for this line from the teaser trailer and the inclusion of Zack in some shape or form.
This would also provide a fitting context to the word “here” in Cloud’s line. Zack was indeed in Nibelheim with Cloud 5 years ago. And as soon as he realizes this, he’s asking for Zack’s whereabouts as he hasn’t seen him since. Cloud probably does not yet remember Zack’s death at that point either. Only that he was also present during the Nibelheim incident.
But what if Cloud says that line when they visit current-day Nibelheim? Is there a way for him to remember Zack at that point in the story and not experience a complete identity breakdown? I say no to that but elaborating on this would be out of scope for this article.
Moving on to…
Aerith’s Search
This next line by Aerith is very clear-cut. Nothing mysterious about it. Why? Well, it’s not that obvious in the English version as it differs a bit from its counterpart in the original game.
Aerith: “I'm trying so hard to find you.” (FFVII Rebirth)
Aeris: “I'm searching for you.” (FFVII original)
But in the Japanese version of the trailer, her line is identical to the one in the original game which is the following:
AERITH「わたし、あなたをさがしてる」
(English) “I'm searching for you.”
And where does she say this line? During their date at the Gold Saucer while riding the gondola.
Will it be the mandatory route this time, just like Cloud being chosen as Corneo’s bride was locked into Remake’s storyline? Let’s hope not. Remake also let you experience different resolution scenes at the start of chapter 14 depending on how many side quests you completed with Tifa and Aerith in chapters 3 and 8. The 3 AVALANCHE Kitten’s Wall Market dresses also depended on a row of different factors, so there’s still hope for different dating scenes.
Zack’s Lament
Alright, it’s time for the most enigmatic line in this teaser trailer.
Zack: “Sorry. Feel like I failed you.”
Who could he be talking to? Is Zack talking to somebody directly or is he just thinking out loud? Hard to say. At least there aren’t that many people he would feel the need to apologize to for having failed them, which narrows down the list of possible candidates.
The Japanese version of his line provides a different flavour to it.
Zack: “I'm sorry... I couldn't do anything to help.”19
As does the French version.
Zack: “Sorry... I don't know how to help you.”20
It seems like he wanted or still wants to help somebody but was/is not able to. And that’s why he failed that somebody. But who? The people most important to Zack are Cloud, Aerith, and Angeal.
I find the latter the least likely. Zack might have failed Angeal and his legacy in a way, but there’s no real connection to be found in the trailer besides the feather, which is absent when Zack says his line.
What about Cloud? It depends on which version of Cloud he’s talking to. The one he brought to Midgar and possibly never fully recovered, or the one we play as and who eventually descends into despair after having his mind broken and identity shattered by Sephiroth showing him the truth? The latter option would have to happen in some sort of mindscape or Lifestream connection. Both theories feel a bit too tenuous and full of conjecture.
That leaves only Aerith. What if Zack meets her again in the memories of the planet after she dies? As a Cetra, she will retain her sense of self in the Lifestream and Zack would thus be able to fully interact with her spirit—If our theory about Zack’s essence remaining conscious in the Lifestream holds up. This would also mean that Aerith’s spirit gets trapped in the negative and corrupted Lifestream if we assume that Zack has been “resurrected” in there, which would explain the collection of sadness and despair in the church in INTERmission’s post credit scene with Zack.21
If it’s indeed Aerith he’s addressing, he must be talking about having failed as her bodyguard as he was not able to do anything to help and prevent her death, and still doesn’t know how to help and fix things.
When we look at the lines of all 3 characters in succession, we see that they are flowing into each other quite nicely. Cloud has his first realization that Zack was there, 5 years ago. The first step in his journey to regaining his true identity. Aerith is also trying to find the real Cloud. He reminds her a lot of Zack because Cloud is emulating him. But it’s not the real Cloud. It’s a facade he put up and Aerith aims to break it down and meet the real Cloud beneath it. However, Sephiroth prevents her from completing that quest which then leads to Zack lamenting about his inability to help and save Aerith, since he wasn’t physically there.
The Bigger Picture
We took apart every single segment of this trailer so now let’s take a bird’s eye view on everything we talked about.
Dialogue matching the Scenes
The lines of dialogue match the context of the scenes they are spoken in. Those contributing to the new mystery happen during the pre-rendered scenes with Zack and those retelling the original storyline are used during the flashback scenes which represent the original game quite well—besides Tifa’s additional line, which speaks for the expansion of faithful segments.
True Visions
What about the glitched flashes between scenes? Will all 3 come true eventually? Meteor is bound to eventually reach the surface of the planet. Otherwise, there won't be any tension. We also will see Jenova in its tank in the Nibelheim reactor and Sephiroth’s crazy eyes after he’s gone mad, possibly when cutting down Tifa. Aerith is also still bound to die if the core of the story is supposed to remain. Her living any longer than the city of the ancients will negate so many aspects of the story, themes, and character motivations that it would not resemble the original Final Fantasy VII anymore.
Story of the Trailer
The last 3 lines of dialogue in the last segment are telling a story by themselves. What about the whole teaser trailer? Aerith starts off juxtaposing the rigid past to the malleable future over imagery related to the Lifestream. Are we able to save the planet? Then follows the segment about Sephiroth’s endgame, which includes Jenova and the planet’s fate. This is followed up with the question about fact and fiction. What is true and what is a lie? What mind games is Sephiroth playing? Then the trailer ends with Cloud beginning to lose his fragile identity, Aerith trying to find Cloud’s true self but fails, and Zack being thrown into despair through failure, represented by the broken sector 6 plate.
All according to plan.
At least that’s how I interpret this trailer’s story. What’s your take? Please share your thoughts, alternative interpretations, wild theories or even criticism of our arguments.
Next up is Rebirth’s arc. Where does it end? How does it end? What main narrative arcs will it cover? Subscribe to be immediately notified when the next article drops.
Until then, take care.
Air date: June 17th 2022, during Square Enix’s Final Fantasy VII 25th Anniversary Celebration stream.
Video essays about the Whispers and Aerith’s Secret, main entries in our Game Analysis video series, and part of the FFVII Remake Mysteries sub-series on our YouTube channel.
Cloud’s comment to the other Avalanche members who are gazing in horror at the aftermath of the reactor’s explosion (Final Fantasy VII Remake, chapter 2).
Original line: 「悲しみや怒りは、私たちを、強くする。けど、私たちを変えてしまう過去じゃなくて、未来を思えば──」— Translated by @TurquoiseHammer
One of Cloud’s lines at the center of the Northern Crater in Final Fantasy VII original before he passes the Black Materia to Sephiroth’s new body.
Original line: “Wir alle haben so viel Schmerz und so viel Leid erfahren... Und all das lässt sich leider nicht mehr rückgängig machen, so sehr wir auch wollen. Aber für unsere Zukunft gilt das nicht.” — Translated by Dachdagger (CCO mod & video editor)
Jump to the chapter Part 4: New Endgame if you don’t want to watch the full 4h 38m video.
A true Final Fantasy.
This was revealed in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake Ultimania Book Interview With Nomura, Kitase, And Nojima — Translated by Audrey @aitaikimochi
Early on in chapter 13 before reaching Wall Market after they talk about the Ancients.
Aerith’s Secret, episode 24 of our Game Analysis video series, which is part of the FFVII Remake Mysteries sub-series on our YouTube channel.
@schrodingersba4 on Twitter. Best known for hosting the Seal Team 7 podcast on Twitch and YouTube.
See chapter Timelines & Realities for a detailed explanation about the mechanics of Remake’s “timelines.”
See pages 72 & 73 in the Light Novel Traces of Two Pasts.
I’m kidding, of course. Virtual cookie for anybody who knows what the number 53 stands for.
See chapter The Promised Land in Game Analysis #26 for more context.
Original line: 「５年前、俺たちは一緒にここに来たのか？ ザックス、どこにいるんだ？」— Translated by @TurquoiseHammer
Original line: 「ごめんな……何もしてやれなくてさ」— Translated by @TurquoiseHammer
Original line: “Désolé. Je sais pas comment t’aider.” — Translated by Luneyes (CCO, Shinra Archeology Department)
Check out Game Analysis #27 for an elaboration of this concept and theory. I also talked a lot about Zack, Aerith and the duality between the pure and negative Lifestream in this Seal Team 7 discussion.
“In the Japanese version, Aerith focuses on negative feelings. Incidentally the same ones that make Cloud susceptible to Sephiroth’s influence. “
This is an important point and I find it odd that the English left this out in favor of focusing on the past/future comment. I’m assuming this is only part of a larger bit of dialogue in the game that was reorganized in the localization; hopefully the full version in-game will feel more complete.