The original Final Fantasy 7 remains a classic, but the remake often feels more impactful. This is largely due to story enhancements and the ability to explore characters and plot points with greater detail, something limited by the original game’s technology. The remake allows for possibilities that simply weren’t feasible before.
Honestly, what’s really hitting me hard isn’t just the story changes, but how they’ve taken the original and completely rebuilt it. We all came in knowing the broad strokes of the story, but even with those expectations, the emotional punches still land. It’s like they’ve reimagined everything, and it works – the impact is still huge, even if you remember what’s coming.
Spoilers for the game below.
10. Meeting Aerith
This Time, You Know Her Fate
I have to say, meeting Aerith was such a breath of fresh air in the grim city of Midgar. Seriously, everything felt so hopeless in the slums, but she just didn’t seem bothered by any of it. And it’s a small thing, but she’s the only person you constantly see around flowers and plants, which even then felt like a clue about who she really was, way before you find out she’s the last of the Cetra. It really hinted at her special background!
Meeting Aerith in the remake is surprisingly tough, not because the game makes it hard, but because you already know her fate. It’s even more unsettling because she appears to remember events from the original timeline, suggesting she knows what’s coming and that she’s destined to die.
9. Cloud’s Identity Crisis
Crisis Core Filled Us in On the Changes to Cloud
This isn’t just one scene, but something that happens repeatedly throughout the game. If you’re familiar with the original Final Fantasy 7 and especially Crisis Core, you’ll recognize this as a key part of Cloud’s story. Cloud doesn’t simply forget Zack Fair; he actually remembers Zack’s experiences as a SOLDIER First Class as if they were his own memories.
Clues about this begin to surface earlier in the new version of the game, particularly when Cloud becomes completely unresponsive when Aerith mentions Zack. We then discover the deeply sad reason for Cloud’s condition. While working as a regular soldier for Shinra, he was subjected to experiments by Hojo, causing severe trauma and Mako poisoning that shattered his sense of self.
8. Hojo’s Lab Section
Maybe Some Things Shouldn’t Be Made in HD
Hojo is a consistently unsettling character throughout all versions of Final Fantasy VII, and simply making him more emotional doesn’t necessarily mean he’s expressing sadness. In fact, especially in the remake, his dominant emotion is rage. Although Shinra Electric Power Company benefits from his research, Hojo is directly to blame for the suffering of many and is a key cause of the game’s most devastating events.
Hojo believed Jenova was one of the Cetra, and during Lucretia’s pregnancy with Sephiroth, he injected her with Jenova’s cells – a decision that ultimately drove much of the game’s plot. He was also responsible for the death of Ifalna, and Aerith witnessed this, deeply traumatizing her as a child. Looking at all the problems in Midgar and beyond, it’s incredibly frustrating to realize how much of it can be directly traced back to Hojo’s actions.
7. Barret and Marlene
The Cutest Bond in the Game
Barret appears as a hardened fighter dedicated to saving the planet, and he truly is that, but he’s also a devoted father to his adopted daughter, Marlene. Their connection is incredibly strong, built on a shared sense of justice in a world where the powerful often exploit others. The remake expands on their relationship, making it even more touching than in the original game.
It’s especially sad to see Barret say goodbye to Marlene, knowing he must continue fighting to save the planet. Thankfully, Marlene understands and supports his decision. Without her, Barret probably would have become much more hardened and resentful.
6. The Whispers
They Bring in New Moments of Tension
The Whispers weren’t in the first game, but they appear during scenes that were, making those moments feel more suspenseful. They also show up in completely new scenes. Most players believe the Whispers are trying to fix the timeline because Cloud and his friends are changing the past.
The Whispers create suspense by constantly reminding us that Cloud and his friends might not be able to truly alter fate. Since events have already mirrored the original timeline in at least one instance, it will be fascinating to see how the Whispers continue to build tension as the story concludes.
5. The Gold Saucer
A Break Before the Heaviest Moments
The Gold Saucer is a really memorable part of the game, offering a fresh look and lots of fun mini-games. However, it’s also tinged with sadness because you know serious events are coming up. It’s a chance for Cloud to spend quality time with Tifa or Aerith, allowing you to develop their relationship, though you can also choose to have him go on a funny date with someone like Barret or Yufie if you prefer.
Spending time with Tifa or Aerith adds emotional weight to this part of the game, knowing those happy moments won’t last, especially with Aerith’s fate in the original Final Fantasy VII looming. It’s even more impactful because the game suggests she’s aware of what’s coming and seems to accept it as you progress through Rebirth.
4. Alternate Timelines
You See What Could Have Been and What Might Be
Okay, so the remake is really messing with timelines, and honestly, it’s got me wondering how the whole thing will wrap up in the third game. It’s even more confusing now that we’ve seen Zack actually know about these different timelines and just jump between them whenever he wants! It makes you think anything could happen and seriously changes what I expect for the ending.
It’s heartbreaking to watch Zack struggle against destiny. He desperately wants to find Aerith after being separated for so long, but fate seems determined to keep them apart, even as he fights to change what’s meant to be. This part of the story will likely be even more impactful in the finished game, as players witness the ultimate outcome.
3. Tifa in the Lifestream
Her Experience is More Prominent in the Remake
The remake expands on this scene, giving a clearer picture of what Tifa went through in the Lifestream—a traumatic experience, as Cloud’s struggles suggest. It’s a powerful moment because it highlights both Tifa’s resilience and the deep care her friends have for her.
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Everyone was understandably worried when Tifa lost consciousness after being in the Lifestream. It was a good reminder of how much they care for her, as she’s usually so self-sufficient and doesn’t often need help. However, being in the Lifestream should have caused her to lose her sense of self, but she managed to stay grounded thanks to her inner strength and her feelings for Cloud.
2. Elmyra and Aerith
They Built a Bond Through Tragedy
In the original game, Elmyra took Aerith in, but the remake delves deeper into their relationship, highlighting its sadness. Elmyra was lonely, and when she found the injured Ifalna and young Aerith, she decided to raise Aerith, providing her with a mother figure and ending Elmyra’s isolation.
It’s also heartbreaking to realize Elmyra will be alone again after Aerith’s death, especially knowing she already lost her husband and learned about his passing through Aerith’s connection to the Lifestream. Meeting Elmyra and hearing about her relationship with Aerith is touching, but also incredibly sad.
1. Aerith’s Death
This Moment Continues to be the Most Emotional of All
The combination of the music, the emotional timing, Aerith’s gaze, and the mysterious way events unfold in Rebirth all create a devastatingly heartbreaking scene. It’s particularly poignant that Aerith, who is usually the most vibrant and cheerful member of the group, is the one who ultimately meets her fate.
The idea of Aerith being alive in another timeline, which Cloud can somehow perceive, actually makes her death even more painful. It causes the group to hesitate before leaving, knowing it means abandoning her, while Aerith herself is left unable to offer comfort to those she cares about. It’s a genuinely heartbreaking scene that’s likely to make you cry.
When Final Fantasy 7 originally came out, it was groundbreaking, proving that video games could tell powerful stories. Now, the beloved game is being completely remade, and the new versions – Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth – are surprisingly even more emotionally impactful than the original.
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2026-04-19 23:11