The following contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
Summary
From a narrative perspective,Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthjuggles plenty of moving parts. Key events and themes from the original game are brought to life in more detail than ever, including Sephiroth having some sort of control over Cloud’s mind, Cait Sith betraying the group, and crucially, Aerith’s death, an event that has become synonymous withFinal Fantasy 7. On top of this, though, the second part of theRemaketrilogy also brings plenty of new material to the table. Perhaps the most prevalent of this new material is the concept of multiple timelines, which was teased inRemakebut is fully fleshed out and explored inFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Zack Fair is central to these timelines, and it feels like he has a big role to play in the trilogy’s finale.
Since making his debut inFinal Fantasy 7, where he was shown in various flashbacks as an NPC, Zack’s backstory has been significantly fleshed out. He starred in the spin-off,Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7, which filled in much of the blanks surrounding his character. After joiningShinra’s elite mercenary crew known as SOLDIER, Zack devoted himself to being the best he could possibly be. He rose through the ranks of SOLDIER, eventually being promoted to First Class, and was able to rival just about anyone thanks to his impressive swordsmanship. His friendship with a young Cloud Strife would leave a lasting impression on both characters.
Zack Fair Still Has a Part to Play in Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s Narrative
Zack Fair’s death duringCrisis Core’s conclusionseemed to mark the end of his story, but developer Square Enix clearly had other ideas. TheRemaketrilogy’s multiple timelines have given Zack a new lease of life, allowing him to rejoin the story and granting players new insight into his motivations. His role inRebirth, although limited, sees him serving as a key component in Cloud and Aerith’s battle against Sephiroth and Jenova. Cloud even fights alongside an alternate version of Zack at one point, allowing the two to interact for the first time in the story.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s ending sees Zack back in his own timeline, and also shows other versions of Zack succumbing to his inevitable fate: death at the hands of Shinra soldiers, just like inCrisis Core’s climax. Despite seemingly being unable to escape his fate, it seems likely that Zack still has a part to play in this story, but it remains to be seen exactly what that is.Remake Part 3, which doesn’t have a title yet, could potentially give Zack a much larger role, and even incorporate him as a fully-fledged member of Cloud’s party, should timelines converge.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 is Perfectly Primed For Zack to Feature
With the walls between timelines beginning to crack,Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s final part could see these timelines merging, allowing characters to cross over between them. In theory, this means Zack could enter Cloud’s timeline and join the fight against Sephiroth. However, this would need Zack to abandon his own timeline, whichever one he comes from, and all the people in it. Given his relationship with Aerith, news of her demise will likely spring him into action, and serve as his motivation for the remainder of the story.
The prospect ofCloud and Zack teaming up to defeat Sephirothonce and for all is an enticing one. The brief moments in which Zack is playable duringFF7 Rebirth’s final combat sections show him to be a fun, versatile character to play as, and this could be fleshed out in the third game to make him an integral member of the party. It’s worth noting though that this may not end up coming to fruition. It’s also a possibility that Zack plays an equally minor role in the trilogy’s conclusion, perhaps even not appearing at all, with Square Enix instead focusing on Cloud’s timeline, in which Zack is dead. Time will tell, but players shouldn’t be too surprised if Zack returns once again.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
WHERE TO PLAY
Discover a vibrant and vast world in this standalone entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake project. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the second entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake project, which retells the story of the genre-redefining RPG across three distinct games. Iconic heroes Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Aerith and Red XIII have escaped from the dystopian city Midgar and are now in pursuit of Sephiroth, the vengeful swordsman from Cloud’s past who was thought to be dead. This new adventure can be enjoyed by all players, even those who have yet to play Final Fantasy VII Remake or the PlayStation original. Expect a new standard of cinematic storytelling, fast-paced combat and rich exploration across a vast world.
