SPOILERS LTD Remake — It's like New Coke except ... no, it's exactly like New Coke

[Ryushikaze]

Interesting presentation. So apparently they were briefed on the characters, and their relationship, as well as watching clips, etc.

Don't know, but seems they are reinforcing this, a bit, as well it being about Aerith herself and all her loves and cares.

Edit; Well I think Nojima's words are still important


Edit 2- I wonder if the release of this was to coincide with the nominations for the Golden Joysticks and TGA, hmm.

Edit: I truly think they are definitely saying it's definitely both, a love song, about Aerith and Cloud, their bond, AND an Aerith song for everyone, Zack, etc, too

I don't want to put words into Loren's mouth, and say she based her research on what SE/the team briefed/coached her on, but it would be nice if there were some of that in it.

What I don't want to say, or think that this necessarily changes anything, there's still the whole leads to AC thing, and that endgame. Hmm. So for me CT and ZA isn't "destroyed" or anything like that. Just that CA is getting recognition too.

I would take the word of the man who wrote the lyrics over the singer, no offense to Loren.
But it absolutely doesn't change anything. We are winding up with the same post-FF7 world as we always were, the stops along the way there might be in a different order or with different emphasis, but Remake project was always planned to explain and remove ambiguity, not completely rewrite the plot.

 

[aeriths]

What I don't want to say, or think that this necessarily changes anything, there's still the whole leads to AC thing, and that endgame. Hmm. So for me CT and ZA isn't "destroyed" or anything like that. Just that CA is getting recognition too.

As someone who's mostly loved, enjoyed and appreciated CA in Reverse so far above all I want Aerith to be happy, she's my favourite, I can't deny that, but that doesn't mean I want other characters hurt or unhappy or people for that matter. So for me, whatever they do, as long as they do it as well as they've done so far I think I'll enjoy it.

This is a good mentality to have that I wish more people had! Aerith is my favorite character as well but I also realistically don’t think CA will be endgame. It would leave other character arcs unsatisfying/hurt and would have to change too much of the story to happen.

However, CA fans are still a big chunk of their fanbase so they’re not going to be cruel to them or isolate them. Plus, this was Aerith’s final big part of their games so the song is a nice send off.

 

[abzy1200]

but Remake project was always planned to explain and remove ambiguity

As Maiden said, even though Cloti and Zerith's positions are more or less safe for part 3, CA is still kinda getting recognition, so assuming they stick to their words, what exactly is the end goal here. World's biggest troll?

Even if part 3 does give a solid conclusion the whole fiasco, they've still given CA a bunch of stuff that could be read as romantic, and lends itself as evidence that there is isn't a concrete answer, subsequently continuing to perpetuate the ambiguity. So I don't know why they bother saying stuff like this. It's exasperating.

 

[Skilganon]

I question why they would make a song about Aerith's love for Cloud. They should have just kept it ambiguous. It's doubly strange she sings this song then later on gives Cloud the "Liking and liking" explanation.

I don't know how to interpret it other than blatant misdirection. It doesn't sit right with me.

 

[Eerie]

As Maiden said, even though Cloti and Zerith's positions are more or less safe for part 3, CA is still kinda getting recognition, so assuming they stick to their words, what exactly is the end goal here. World's biggest troll?

Even if part 3 does give a solid conclusion the whole fiasco, they've still given CA a bunch of stuff that could be read as romantic, and lends itself as evidence that there is isn't a concrete answer, subsequently continuing to perpetuate the ambiguity. So I don't know why they bother saying stuff like this. It's exasperating.

You have to understand that right now we’re getting high in the illusion that FFVII has always pushed. In OG you get under the illusion that Aerith is the main love interest, here I’d argue that at least she’s not presented that way.

At the end of Rebirth, what we get is “is Aerith really in love with Cloud, what kind of feelings does she have?” And “Cloud only loves her as a dear friend, there’s nothing romantic in his feelings”. So either way CA is at best one-sided. And we’ll definitely get a clear answer from Aerith in p3. I don’t think the devs want us to believe that she is with Zack because he’s second best; my theory is that Cloud acts like a stand-in for Zack, especially during their GS date but you can also see it during the dream date, with Zack’s scenes being interspersed in between that date. To me there’s a good chance that Aerith fell in love all over again with Zack through Cloud.

I question why they would make a song about Aerith's love for Cloud. They should have just kept it ambiguous. It's doubly strange she sings this song then later on gives Cloud the "Liking and liking" explanation.

I don't know how to interpret it other than blatant misdirection. It doesn't sit right with me.

The song is not a love song, it’s a song about people Aerith deeply cares about. If it was a love song it would be pretty awful during the CT GS date with her singing while Cloud and Tifa hold hands.

Aerith in the dream date is also definitely CoLW Aerith, and it’s interesting to me that she dies (all the worlds died with her). That Cloud-centric Aerith dies before our Aerith takes stage inside the Lifestream… just saying but it’s an interesting observation. And she gets Zack waiting for her in “their spot”.

 

[pxl_pushr]

You have to understand that right now we’re getting high in the illusion that FFVII has always pushed. In OG you get under the illusion that Aerith is the main love interest, here I’d argue that at least she’s not presented that way.

At the end of Rebirth, what we get is “is Aerith really in love with Cloud, what kind of feelings does she have?” And “Cloud only loves her as a dear friend, there’s nothing romantic in his feelings”. So either way CA is at best one-sided. And we’ll definitely get a clear answer from Aerith in p3. I don’t think the devs want us to believe that she is with Zack because he’s second best; my theory is that Cloud acts like a stand-in for Zack, especially during their GS date but you can also see it during the dream date, with Zack’s scenes being interspersed in between that date. To me there’s a good chance that Aerith fell in love all over again with Zack through Cloud.

The song is not a love song, it’s a song about people Aerith deeply cares about. If it was a love song it would be pretty awful during the CT GS date with her singing while Cloud and Tifa hold hands.

Aerith in the dream date is also definitely CoLW Aerith, and it’s interesting to me that she dies (all the worlds died with her). That Cloud-centric Aerith dies before our Aerith takes stage inside the Lifestream… just saying but it’s an interesting observation. And she gets Zack waiting for her in “their spot”.

I mean, Aerith does have 23 little wishes that all summed up to “I want to spend more time with you” with “you” being Zack.

Having NPTK be squarely about Cloud doesn’t make as much narrative sense imo than it being about everyone including Cloud who embodies the bonds she’s made.

Ultimately, it’s a buildup to the Lifestream blocking Meteor, powered by the souls of the dead loved ones who Aerith rallies to protect those they left behind.

CA is supposed to come off as romantic because Cloud carries an inherently romantic dream from Zack: to make Aerith’s one wish come true. Just like Elmyra’s wish to see her husband again has Aerith, a new type of love, drop into her lap, Aerith experiences her tiny wishes through new types of love.

Aerith’s whole arc is about letting go of the Zack of her memories, the one she sees in Cloud, and embracing the new bonds she has. Only then is ready to embrace all of herself and fight in the only way she can.

Good news is, doing this and taking a true step forward sets her on a path of a true reunion with Zack, and a collision course with whatever is left of Sephiroth after ACC.

 

[Maidenofwar]

People have to accept CA will always have romantic trappings and SE will always show homage to it (and ZA, CT), it's part of the story, and their character development. SE respects that, and sees the vision. They are proud of their work and want people to see it on a mass scale (game awards, their channel, etc) It's beautifully presented. They're not going to stop giving CAs all kinds of food including EC or treating Aerith like their poster girl (like Terra is VI poster girl) They love her. The same goes for other characters and pairs.

Sorry if this is coming across as harsh or anything, I just don't want people to be feeling down or defeatist at all Don't mean here but there's no need for bitterness over Aerith shining rn, Rebirth, Briana. The last thing SE wants is people to be miserable.

I think they will always show their works tenderness and respect. I don't know, they're not going to just not show things.