Predicting Aerith’s Role in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3

If Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth proved anything, it’s that the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy is not afraid to take some major liberties when it comes to the way the original Final Fantasy 7 played as well as the story it told. In a way, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth still tells the original game’s story, but it alters a few key moments significantly, and that is not more clearly seen than in the way it handles Aerith’s arc. In the original Final Fantasy 7, Aerith is killed by Sephiroth while praying at the Forgotten Capital. Her death is one of the most iconic and emotional moments in video game history, and while Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth was expected to simply copy and paste that moment into its own story, it opted to do something different.

Sephiroth does kill Aerith in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, but the game then incorporates themes of multiple realities and timelines, on account of the fact that Cloud continues to perceive Aerith as if she were still present, even though the rest of the party mourns her death. As such, Aerith’s continued story in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy remains shrouded in ambiguity, though it does open the door for her to play a significant role in the trilogy’s third and final entry. What that role might be is as unknown as the firm truth about her fate, but there are nonetheless a couple of possibilities.

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What Aerith’s Role Might Be in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3

Cloud and Others Could Be Influenced by Aerith Due to His Awareness of Her Presence

Considering the fact that Cloud could still see, feel, hear, and even interact with Aerith in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth following her death, it’s likely that the phenomenon will continue in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3. While this could simply be a vision or manifestation of Aerith due to Cloud’s immense grief and struggle to accept her death, there is still enough evidence in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth to suggest Aerith is able to interact with Cloud through other means, potentially a multiverse.

It’s possible these interactions could spread to party members beyond Cloud as well in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3, since Red XIII appeared to sense her presence briefly after her passing in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Part 3 may expand on this further by giving each core party member unique interactions with Aerith, and those interactions could even go on to influence the development of their character arcs. If nothing else, Aerith may at least act as a sort of spiritual guide for Cloud, which would impact the direction of his companions as well.

Aerith Could Exist in Alternate Realities and Be Playable as a Result

When it comes to whether Aerith will indeed play a part in the gameplay portion of Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3, it’s worth noting first that creative director Tetsuya Nomura has hinted at aspects of Aerith’s involvement in the third entry, which suggests that the idea of a Final Fantasy 7 multiverse isn’t so far-fetched. If Aerith does indeed exist in an alternate reality, perhaps players will get a chance to control her for brief sequences, where she is given a chance to increase the party’s chances of success in major battles.

If she isn’t playable in alternate realities, players might be given a chance to control her once again in flashback sequences, perhaps some involving Zack Fair. All of that said, Aerith being playable in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 might be a bit too outlandish of an expectation. Instead, it might be safer to assume she will simply play a significant role in the third entry’s story and Cloud’s character arc moving forward.

Systems

Released

February 29, 2024

ESRB

T For Teen Due To Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence