Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth did an impeccable job of not only adapting a huge section from the original game but also adding its own spin to it, implementing new story beats and expanding on some that were left underdeveloped. As a result, Rebirth's narrative remains one of the best in the series, even despite it being rooted in an already existing one. Of course, many are now wondering where the next and final entry in the trilogy could go - of course, those who've already played Final Fantasy 7 will know exactly what's coming up.

Warning. This article contains major spoilers for the ending of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and minor spoilers for the end of Final Fantasy 7.Part 3's story is complete, with Square Enix now moving onto the development stage. It is only a matter of time before we see what Tetsuya Nomura and Yoshinori Kitase have been cooking up. However, as excited as I am for Part 3, and as much as I'm certain it will do justice to both the original Final Fantasy 7 experience and the remake trilogy's new direction, I can't help but feel like it would be making a crucial mistake if it didn't change one massive story feature from FF7 Rebirth.

Final Fantasy Rebirth's Ending Sets Up The Tone For Part 3

Part 3 Is Shaping Up To Be Very Sad

FF7 Rebirth's very anime ending is one of the game's strongest aspects. It not only sees Cloud and co. navigate the treacherous temple of the Ancients, fend off Tseng and the other Turks, uncover the mysteries of the Ancients and their struggle against mankind, and delve deep into their individual traumas, but we also get to witness Cloud completely transform into Sephiroth's puppet, Cait Sith die and be reborn, and the gang visit the tragedy-infused Forgotten Capital.

This is all before the iconic moment in which Sephiroth kills Aerith, something that FF7 Rebirth's many changes drastically alter in this rendition of the legendary story. It culminates in an epic boss battle, all of which hits so much harder after the potentially 100 hours players have spent palling around with this collection of beloved and memorable characters throughout what can only be described as gaming's best road trip. Of course, once the dust settles, we get to see Cloud descend even further into his delusion as he talks to a nonexistent Aerith as the others board Cid's plane.

There's a haunting pathos in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's ending, a dark and disturbing twist that makes one question exactly how its sequel is going to follow up. Naturally, those who have played the original Final Fantasy 7 will know how Cloud's journey eventually ends, but even then, the sweeping changes the Remake trilogy has made could lead to Part 3's ending taking the story in any number of directions. However, there's one key change that Part 3 needs to make to ensure that not only is Rebirth's ending respected, but that the story ends exactly how it deserves to.

FF7 Remake Part 3 Needs To Have A Darker Tone

It Can't Maintain The Same Happy Tone As Rebirth

Remake was a somber exploration of Cloud, the horrifying oppression of Midgar's people, and the corruption of Shinra. It was a hopeful experience, one that saw the actions of Avalanche feel like they could make a meaningful impact, that Cloud could open up to a new family, that they could all escape from Midgar and out into the beautiful world beyond. Rebirth took that hope and ran with it, having its cast open up even further with one another, joke, laugh, and play. It was silly and fun and happy, even in the face of a great and evil adversity.

Of course, throughout Rebirth, there were moments of darkness, the same that haunted Remake in its coldest moments. However, Rebirth always managed to shove it aside and make you forget. While many may have seen this as a major weakness of Rebirth, in many respects, it is one of its greatest strengths. It is what makes the game's disturbing ending all the more impactful. However, all of that hard work will be undone in the tone of Part 3 fails to adapt. It cannot simply be a fun and lighthearted experience like Rebirth. It must be so much darker.

The lighthearted tone of Rebirth has to be abandoned to keep up this feeling of hopelessness, not just to have the players feel the grief of each character, but also to make the final ending of the entire trilogy hit even harder.

With Cloud having completely given in to the delusion, Tifa distraught at the loss of her best friend, Sephiroth becoming more powerful than ever, and tensions between Shinra and Wutai at a boiling point, there's little to laugh about. The lighthearted tone of Rebirth has to be abandoned to keep up this feeling of hopelessness, to have the players feel the grief of each character, and make the final ending of the entire trilogy hit even harder. That means the fun minigames, goofy side quests, and jokey side characters must be dropped in favor of a far darker experience.

FF7's Ending Points To Part 3 Being Darker

Cloud Goes Through A Lot

Fortunately, the original Final Fantasy 7 ending points to this being a reality. Of course, all the aforementioned issues happening during FF7 Rebirth's ending also happen during the same point in Final Fantasy 7. There are even worse things coming Cloud and Co.'s way, including Sephiroth's true power, the war between Shinra and Wutai, and the Meteor looming over the planet, as teased during the events of Final Fantasy 7 Remake. All of these things will occur in Part 3 as well, and it's likely that they'll be handled with just as much severity.

Of course, Final Fantasy 7's original ending had some lighthearted moments, and there are certainly times in which they can appear without completely ruining the flow of the narrative. However, for the most part, it feels as if these should be avoided. Not only would it make Part 3 a completely different experience from both Remake and Rebirth, but it would also help create a sense of cohesion between the three games that would make playing them back to back a far more enjoyable experience.

I'm personally excited to see how Square Enix handles Rebirth's ending going into Part 3. I have every faith that they'll be able to pull it off and that Part 3 will make us all cry multiple times. We're due a third act climax where everything feels like it's at the brink of being lost, only for the heroes to band together and win despite the odds being stacked against them. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth should remain the jovial footnote in this otherwise dark adventure, and for that to happen, Part 3 has to be as bleak as possible.