Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s sequel reportedly has a finished story, and I’m very curious to see how the trilogy handles one major theme from previous Final Fantasy games. Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth teased some potential changes to the story of the original game. If anything, the new games feel like their story is in conversation with the original as much as it is recreating it. While playing the original Final Fantasy 7 isn’t necessary to enjoy the new games, players who know the story may catch some hints at potential changes in the as yet untitled Part 3.

These changes seem to be referenced by the story of both new Final Fantasy 7 games. Both focused on the idea of fate, as represented by the Whispers in the game. This idea of a pre-determined destiny has popped up in several different Final Fantasy games, with the series offering multiple perspectives on the matter. This theme isn’t unique to the Final Fantasy games and has popped up in a lot of recent video game stories. This isn’t too surprising, as destiny has been a theme in storytelling since ancient times, but I’m interested to see how FF7 tackles it.

Destiny Has Played A Role In Multiple Final Fantasy Games

Final Fantasy Games Usually Show Prophecies Come True

Destiny has appeared in some form as early as the first Final Fantasy game. In it, the four main party are part of a prophecy by the sage Lukahn which says they will rescue the captured princess, defeat Garland, and save the world by destroying the Four Fiends and restoring light to their magical crystals. Prophecies are often used in fantasy stories to hint at a character’s fate. While it depends on the story if these prophecies are true or not, the first Final Fantasy game does depict a prophecy being fulfilled.

Final Fantasy 5 also features a prophecy that comes true. The turtle sage Ghido predicted that the crystals used to help seal The Void would break. However, the game leaves it ambiguous if this was due to some true foresight and ability to see a predetermined future, or if Ghido was just using what he already knew about the crystals and Exdeath’s plans to make an educated guess.

The Final Fantasy game which is perhaps most focused on the idea of destiny is the remake-worthy Final Fantasy 8. The game tells a classic story of someone - in this case, the game’s villain Ultimecia - attempting to avoid their destiny. Ultimecia tries to create a spell that will allow her to control time and the universe; however, it is the creation of this spell that also allows Squall to defeat her as predicted. Like Oedipus before her, it was only in trying to avoid her prophesied fate that Ultimecia caused it to come true.

Often, the Final Fantasy series seems to land on the idea that destiny is real and cannot be changed. However, I’m interested to see if the third part of the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy changes this. After all, changing one’s fate has become somewhat of a recent storytelling trend in gaming.

Changing Fate Is A Popular Topic In Video Games

Recent Games Like God Of War Have Fought Against Fate

Examples of fate in storytelling date back to BCE, with many ancient stories having the message that fate is predetermined and cannot be changed. Oedipus Rex’s titular protagonist flees home to avoid a prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother. However, Oedipus doesn’t realize he was adopted, and that leaving home sets into motion the exact series of events that will make the prophecy come true. This is the perfect example of a traditional view of destiny in stories.

In the many years since Oedipus Rex was first performed circa 429 BCE, more stories have wrestled with the idea of a predetermined fate. While some take the same approach as Oedipus, many modern stories challenge the idea that one’s fate can’t be changed. Recently, this idea has popped up in several video games.

Notably, the God of War series showed that Kratos wasn’t satisfied with just killing the gods of Ancient Greece, and instead wanted to have a go at their classic story structure. Throughout the fantastic God of War Ragnarök, a prophecy that Kratos will die looms large over the game’s story. Personally, I thought he was a goner given the series' roots in Greek mythology. I was pleasantly surprised, therefore, to see Kratos was able to change his fate and survive.

In Persona 5, players can interact with a fortune-teller named Chihaya Mifune. Although the game makes it clear that Chihaya can see the future, Joker’s actions can change these predictions. The entire side story revolves around the idea that no future is set in stone and that taking action can help one avoid an unwanted fate.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake And Rebirth Hint At A Possible Change To The Original

Alternate Timelines In FF7 Remake And Rebirth Hint At New Story Developments

Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth changed the original FF7 story. Some of these are minor changes, like simply restructuring the order of some events. However, some are much larger and hint at possible changes to the game’s ending.

Perhaps the biggest change comes in the form of the game’s alternate universe storyline, where players follow an apparently alive Zack Fair and other deceased characters from the main timeline like Biggs. During the climactic fight against Sephiroth in Rebirth, Zack appears to fight alongside Cloud and the party. This implies that the alternate timeline may be able to influence the events of the game’s main timeline. There is also an implication that characters like Aerith and Marlene may be able to perceive events across timelines.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth also adds a new scene where Cloud saves Aerith from Sephiroth’s attack. Initially, it seems as though the game is going to change Aerith’s fate, one of the most famous story beats from the original Final Fantasy 7. However, the screen flashes over to a timeline where Cloud didn’t save Aerith, which it turns out is the main timeline in the game. It’s left unclear if the scene of Cloud saving her is a hallucination or a glimpse at another possible timeline.

How Final Fantasy 7 Part 3 Could Change The Story (And Should It?)

FF7 Should Challenge Fate By Changing Its Story

It would be a little strange if the alternate universe shown in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth didn’t play some role in the last Final Fantasy 7 remake game. While I might not know exactly what the intention behind the scenes is yet, I’m confident in saying the game wouldn’t spend so much time on them if they weren’t going to ultimately influence the events of the game’s main timeline. While I think it’s clear that this other timeline will change some of the story from the original game, whether that’s good or bad is up for debate.

Personally, I liked the game’s original open-ended finale. My initial interpretation was that humanity was destroyed, but the planet lived on. A bittersweet ending, but one that I thought did a good job of hammering home the game’s themes. After learning about Final Fantasy 7: Advent Children, I was a little disappointed to learn that my reading of the game was either wrong or had been retconned to keep the game’s human cast alive.

With that said, I’ve started to come around to the idea of the new Final Fantasy 7 having a slightly more optimistic ending. “Nature wins in the end,” may be a more poignant message, but possibly also a bit fatalistic given the current conditions surrounding the climate crisis. I think an ending like the original game’s may lend itself more to promoting inaction, whereas a new ending, focused on the idea of changing fate, could perhaps be a better direction.

How much of a happy ending I’d like to see in the next Final Fantasy 7 game is something I’m still considering. Sure, part of me would love to see the two timelines merge and all my favorite characters back together again. However, I do worry that such an optimistic ending would perhaps rob some of the relevancy of the game’s environmental themes. I’d love to see a story about taking action and changing fate, but it’s probably best if there are still some consequences for things like Shinra’s irreparable damage to the planet.