Summary
- Cloud's drowned-out lines at the end of FF7 Rebirth have been revealed by the game's writer and co-director.
- He says the same thing he does in the original game, but players can't hear it because of Cloud's flashback interrupting the scene.
- Co-director Motomu Toriyama leaves the scene up for player interpretation, not explaining the meaning of Cloud's words at the end.
A major question about the ending scene in Final Fantasy 7 has a significant number of changes, with some being minor, like filler stories, and others being completely new character experiences and arcs. The remakes have brought new fans to the franchise and introduced even more people to the world, but some longtime players are finding themselves with a lot of questions about the changes.
[Warning: Major spoilers for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.]
In an X (formerly Twitter) post by aitaikimochi (via The Gamer) it is shown that Cloud's words in the emotional scene at the Forgotten Capital are what he says in the original game. Cloud says "My mouth is dry. My eyes are burning!" which cannot be heard because of the flashbacks and headaches he has been experiencing.
The line remained a mystery until writer Kazushige Nojima confirmed Clouds words, which was backed up by co-director Motomu Toriyama. They don't explain what those words mean and this is because Toriyama wants to leave the ending up for the players' interpretation, still wanting players to feel a powerful response to Aerith's death.
FF7 Rebirth Review: "A Beautiful Showcase Of A Timeless Story"
FF7 Rebirth is an exceptional return to the world of Gaia that leans heavily into its star-studded memorable cast and a classic-but-reimagined story,
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's Ending Gets Emotional
This quote might not be a surprise to those who played the original game, but many players in the replies to aitaikimochi's post shared the same sentiment. A majority of the comments believed that adding these flashbacks in made the scene feel a bit less emotional than Aerith's death in the original. This is attributed to a number of different things, but mostly to the confusion the players felt because of Cloud's lines being cut. The comments noted people didn't connect with the death as strongly because they were too busy trying to figure out what exactly was going on.
Of course, those who knew the original sequence and the final boss fight with Sephiroth knew exactly what Cloud had said, but new players noted they were taken out of the emotion because of it. Having the confirmation from the writer and co-director will hopefully ease a lot of the confusion players had. It may even encourage them to revisit that scene and experience the emotion now that they have a better idea of what's happening.
Regardless of how some players felt, the voice actors were moved by this scene, and Cloud's voice actor, Cody Christian, recorded it in one take because he felt so strongly about it. The scene is also most likely a powerful and sad experience for players who are new to the franchise and the characters, since they've never experienced it before. With the sequel to Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and the final remake of the series on the way, fans will be able to move forward now that they officially know what Cloud said.
Source: aitaikimochi/X (via The Gamer)
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is the sequel to Final Fantasy 7 Remake and will see Cloud and his friends set off beyond the walls of Midgar to explore the world, stop Sephiroth's machinations, and see the world outside their slum prison. Now that the whispers of fate no longer guide the characters along the pre-destined path set in the original PlayStation classic Final Fantasy 7, the heroes (and villains) will shape the future. The game will still visit prominent locales and revisit crucial story points, but it will be a more significant departure from the first game from the source material.
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Franchise
- Final Fantasy
- Platform(s)
- PC
