For as much that stays the same in Final Fantasy 7 Remake, there’s also a lot that changes. Practically every overarching story beat in Remake matches 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 of Final Fantasy 7 opens up. The same can be said of Final 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 the Kingdom Hearts games are notorious for this, this time it’s Final 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 lot Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s subsequent episodes need to answer for, from both the old and new timeline.
The Survival of Zack Fair in Remake
Before anything else, there’s a gigantic elephant in the room that Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s subsequent episode(s) will need to address. Upon reaching the end of Final 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 original Final Fantasy 7 canon, Zack would show up prominently in Final 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 in Remake, that presents several problems. For one thing, Cloud’s entire character arc is dependent on Zack’s death as the traumatic moment that causes Cloud’s psychosomatic identity crisis. If that moment’s changed early on in Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s story, than the entire chapter in Mideel doesn’t really need to exist in Remake. 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 in Final Fantasy 7 Remake ends with Cloud and the party defeating the Whisper Harbinger, and ultimately a shadow of Sephiroth. However, this ending marks a break in the original Final Fantasy 7 timeline, a break in the “Singularity.” Theoretically, a break in the original Final Fantasy 7’s canon means story changes can potentially be made as a result. This is where Final Fantasy 7 Remake walks a dangerous fine line. Balancing the familiar with the new, in a game as coveted as Final Fantasy 7, is a very delicate balance.
Fans of the original game are understandably concerned by how these changes could affect Final 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 in Final Fantasy 7 can change. With the defeat of the Whisper Harbinger, it’s unclear if the Whispers won’t appear in Final 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 original Final Fantasy 7 was a much more foreboding and ambiguous mystery compared to his iteration in Final Fantasy 7 Remake. In this version of Final Fantasy 7, Sephiroth makes his presence known to 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 that this version of Sephiroth is from the future. It’s very possible that the disruption of Final 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 seeing Final 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 for Final 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.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part Two is in devleopment.
