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

[Hellenic]

Mostly what you would expect and totally what I expect if they go this route. There are a few (very few) "I'd be fine with it". Bulk of them, however, are basically saying there hasn't been enough build up/narrative support for ZA. Which of course I shake my head at. I can get if you don't like ZA. I can get the "chemistry" arguments around ships. I can get behind being disappointed that the ship you wanted didn't win. I can get behind almost any argument other than "There wasn't any build up or writing for ZA". I think if you take that position accounting for Crisis Core + Re-Trilogy you're not being honest about it. Or you've just got your goggles on.

I'd argue there is better build up towards ZA than CA even, but ofc people who can't put the goggles down won't see it.

''There was no buildup or writing for ZA''. Honestly, that's delusional on their part.

Where does Zack end up at the end of Rebirth? The church.
Where does Zack fight Sephiroth? The church.
Who heals Zack? Aerith.
Who is Zack doing all of this for? Aerith.
Who follows the yellow flowers and is being guided through the Lifestream by Aerith? Zack.
Who does Zack promise he'll find a way for? Aerith.
We have Aerith admitting she sees Zack in Cloud.
We have Cloud remembering that Zack loves Aerith.
We have Zack in Nibelheim talking to Cloud about how much he likes Aerith.
We even have Aerith admitting she still has feelings for Zack.

And the question we need to ask for all of this is "Why?"

Why would they include all these scenes if there isn’t going to be a payoff?

If the goal is to show Aerith moving past Zack, you don’t spend your limited screen time on these moments.

All of this works to maximize the connection between Aerith and Zack, when what you’d need to do to sell Clerith is minimize it.

Oh, but why does Marlene say what she says to Zack?
Drama. Tension. To create doubt that gets resolved later in the same chapter by Aerith herself.

Not to mention, it sets up a necessary conversation between Zack and Aerith in Part 3.

All this stuff here basically. Things someone who pays attention to and won't let their bias blind them would likely see.

I think the mixed media style of SE storytelling has largely been a mistake. You shouldn't have to play spinoff games or read novellas to get the full context for the story. I say this having played CC and read most of the novellas.

If part 3 does have a ZA reunion, I really hope they do a good job selling it, so any romantic resolutions don't feel like they come out of nowhere.

I don't think we can expect people who are deeply invested in CA to just switch and be okay with ZA. The dynamic is different, and we have no idea how SE is going to portray it in part 3.

I wouldn't say a person needs to play CC before to see that the game is building towards a ZA dynamic but i definitely think it helps to have played it and knowing and seeing this bond exists ahead of time to buy it better.

I don't think any of the novels or ultimanias and stuff is needed however. They enhance things but aren't necessary to get the general ideas.

Well, I might agree as far as novels and movies are concerned but I think Crisis Core is too important to really be ignored.

Most CA fans likely ignore it because it promotes Zerith so heavily anyway. A lot of other newcomers seem to have no issue playing Crisis Core as it’s just another entry. And let’s be real… re-releasing it in the middle of Remake and Rebirth seems quite intentional in hindsight.

Anyway, as far as Zerith’s payoff is concerned… well, I would say it’s been set up heavily so anybody who claims it came out of nowhere or there’s no build up for it… well, just hasn’t been paying attention.

At this point people who pretend CC is not an important piece of the FF7 story canon are just ignorant. No matter what they think about it, it's gonna and has affected where this trilogy is going.

ZA has definitely been built up heavily but people who ignore CC or just don't care to see that dynamic won't see it or just pretend it's not there.

 

[Ryeleigh]

I don't think we can expect people who are deeply invested in CA to just switch and be okay with ZA. The dynamic is different, and we have no idea how SE is going to portray it in part 3.

I hope this doesn't feel like I'm singling you out but this bothered me a bit because I think these kinds of phrases contribute to muddying and perpetuating debates about shipping (which is kind of what LTDs are about, at their core). So my apologies in advance but I'll use your comment as a springboard.

The thing is, whether people are deeply invested in CA or not, they have no reason or obligation to "switch" or even be okay with ZA. Both of those are purely subjective. No one is trying to "convert" others out of shipping their ship, whether they like them for their dynamic or aesthetics or whatever else.

The LTDs are usually about: stop lying about canon. Like, that's basically it, lol. People don't have to stop having fun with fanon, headcanons, and stuff they plain made up but that should be left to the realm of fan fics instead of discussions of what's actually in the text. People can ship CA, they can dislike ZA (which also applies the other way around, of course), but stop lying about their canonicity, lol. And you know, stop the harassment of creators and other fans, etc etc etc. Shipping is supposed to be fun, not a cult.

Of course, this is kind of simplified because there are a lot of factors that go into shipping and these discourses. But at their core these debates perpetuate because one side seems to think it's about shipping while the other side is just telling them to stop (intentionally or not) lying about the source material.

 

[frosty]

I can't see Twitter replies anymore. Any highlights?

Clotis very happy / feel vindicated / mocking Clerith takes / reposting all the media articles that covered it / hanging on the word "INTENTIONAL"

A small Clerith section hanging on tight to the OTHER word Hamaguchi used - "in a branching event that had Cloud hug Tifa in Remake..." - "BRANCHING" somehow now means "not canon"

Then you have the absolute fringe part posting under hamaguchi's posts saying - "So it's Aerith's turn for a kiss in part 3, right?"

"Neutrals" are mostly...."So they wanted to up the affection game in Rebirth from Remake...highwind scene impending, yes?"

 

[Xannis]

I think the mixed media style of SE storytelling has largely been a mistake. You shouldn't have to play spinoff games or read novellas to get the full context for the story. I say this having played CC and read most of the novellas.

Agree 100% with the premise. Especially when it comes to games which are much more significant time investment than say a movie. That being said, just my 2 cents, I think Re-Trilogy, as a stand alone laid more than enough ground work for ZA (excellent list from Pasuwado) and I suspect we'll get even more ZA "Background" as it were in Part 3.

 

[Pasuwado]

One thing I’m really curious about is how they’re going to handle that scene with Zack in the church that we saw at the end of Yuffie’s DLC. That scene doesn’t align with the events of Rebirth, so it must be connected to Part 3—or maybe it was the biggest troll Square Enix has ever pulled on Zack fans.

 

[Eerie]

"Neutrals" are mostly...."So they wanted to up the affection game in Rebirth from Remake...highwind scene impending, yes?"

Of course the HW scene is impending and there will be no more way to avoid it because, as SE has repeatedly said, it's the canon path in the OG. And I think that when he said what he said, Hamaguchi was very aware that people are seeing that there is a ramp up. Which is funny because that was also my argument when I told Peko "that's weird, it's a bit early but p2 should have a CT kiss, because of the hug in Remake, you know? Hug, kiss, sex, do you see it?"

Turns out, that was also Nojima's idea behind the hug.

Speaking of him, most hilarious tweet yesterday was the guy popping up on a random tweet of his to beg him to "not let Hamaguchi destroy his story" and "branching scene with Tifa and Cloud from hug to kiss to ***". L o l. I was like "that is called being unaware" lol.

 

[Ryushikaze]

That guy is approaching jairus level deranged and pathetic.
I am personally confused and also amused by his repeated statement that Cloud having sex with Tifa would make Cloud a womanizer.

 

[Eerie]

That's the most confusing thing; Cloud would be a womanizer because he has sex with the only girl he's ever loved romantically and done anything romantic with? The PR literally had this:




and this:



Literally SE told you he's loyal and ready to go LENGTHS to become special to Tifa.

 

[Ryeleigh]

That guy is approaching jairus level deranged and pathetic.
I am personally confused and also amused by his repeated statement that Cloud having sex with Tifa would make Cloud a womanizer.

Only if you think Cloud's going to moan Aerith's name in Tifa's ear, lmao.

(I have actually seen this on twitter.)

 

[null]

You got me going. You're oh so charming. But I can't do it. You womanizer.

People sure are worried about these “branching” scenes they keep dismissing. Or maybe they think Cloud will have already lost his virginity prior to the boat. How do you say it? 女 の 敵 ?

 

[Wanderer]

That guy is approaching jairus level deranged and pathetic.
I am personally confused and also amused by his repeated statement that Cloud having sex with Tifa would make Cloud a womanizer.

What happened to that guy anyway last I heard of him was that he apologized for harassing Nojima

 

[Ryushikaze]

That's the most confusing thing; Cloud would be a womanizer because he has sex with the only girl he's ever loved romantically and done anything romantic with? The PR literally had this:


View attachment 17324

and this:

View attachment 17323

Literally SE told you he's loyal and ready to go LENGTHS to become special to Tifa.

It just goes to show that their default mode is to assume Cloud I guess belongs to Aerith,

Only if you think Cloud's going to moan Aerith's name in Tifa's ear, lmao.

(I have actually seen this on twitter.)

Yep. Cali's the one who put that one out into the world. She's been a shit for close to two decades now. I rememeber when she used to post here and I had to ban new alt accounts on the daily. I assume she's just as zealous with saying shitty things on alts now as back then.

 

[Maidenofwar]

That account is a troll, not CA afaik. Obvious sh*tst*rrer. Script's already written and devs aren't going to change anything for chaos gremlins.

Hamaguchi's comments reassured me also kind of ironically I guess, together with less mini games (though I am assuming more story time and character building) They are not going to rush with Aerith and Zack. Less mini games and platting the game taking less to achieve apparently for part 3 makes me kind of sad but fair enough if it leads to more story, character building, lore and the likes.

I don't think it's necessary to hide that I want an Aerith kiss. That I enjoyed what I got with CA, but would have loved a kiss too? Both things can be true that I genuinely enjoyed their GS date and the homage to their OG Saucer date as well as their hand holding and full body hug in the final chapters, etc, but was still tantalised for more. I can say I enjoy the intimacy of CA (without taking away CT) and that I personally feel I didn't get that from ZA (because it is a young innocent love with young innocent things) and would expect from them as adults.

That said I'm not saying there will be no CA. Cloud will respect their time together, he cherishes her. There might be from OG when Cloud says "I remember Aerith a lot" and we might get to see how/why he remembers her this time from Remake/Rebirth, like Rebirth has continuity for "Language of Flowers", Aerith's resolution, and her GS date (Aerith path), etc. The scene where Cloud talks to the party about Aerith's smile being frozen like that and them releasing her prayer. Jenova might use Aerith against Cloud, etc. The hand reach scene has continuity with AC so they might use it. Point is doubtful content creators will be left dry.

I don't want CAs to be depressed/miserable. That's the last thing I want. Of course I want everyone to look forward to the game. I'm not trying to be a doomer or anything, just exploring different situations and working stuff through my system personally. Well I could be flat out wrong about everything, I would own to it. However if anyone says anything like I'm not a real fan of Aerith or I never cared about CA I will come for that (yes I have seen some ... things)

 

[Skilganon]

I hope this doesn't feel like I'm singling you out but this bothered me a bit because I think these kinds of phrases contribute to muddying and perpetuating debates about shipping (which is kind of what LTDs are about, at their core). So my apologies in advance but I'll use your comment as a springboard.

I didn't mean to imply that anyone should switch their preferred ship. I was just voicing my ruminations on how certain shippers may react if part 3 goes the way of the OG.

I see so many people on social media, Reddit, etc. utterly convinced that part 3 is going to have some romantic CA ending (optional or not), even people who demonstrate knowledge of the OG story and compilation. I'm curious about what they're going to do if SE doesn't give them what they want.

Of course, people are free to ship whatever they prefer. And SE might end up doing a CA ending of some kind, even though I think that would wreck the story.

All SE has to do is the bare minimum: That is, do justice to the Lifestream and UTH scenes, for CT to be cemented as canon to the fans. And I say bare minimum because they will probably add some additional moments to drive the point further like they've done in Remake and Rebirth. If these scenes happen and Cloud ends up with a woman who is not Tifa, it would provoke feelings of whiplash

A CA ending would depend on a complete rewrite of the story, which seems already too late since we're on part 3 and Aerith appears dead in some sense.

But on the other hand, it's reasonable for CA shippers to feel insulted when their ship is called an 'illusion' or 'red herring', or they should 'enjoy their fanon'. No one should feel bad for getting invested in a ship that SE themselves pushes to an extent. No one should feel betrayed by getting invested in CA.

Disappointment on either (or both) sides seems inevitable. Maybe I'm worrying too much.

 

[frosty]

I see so many people on social media, Reddit, etc. utterly convinced that part 3 is going to have some romantic CA ending (optional or not), even people who demonstrate knowledge of the OG story and compilation. I'm curious about what they're going to do if SE doesn't give them what they want.

People see what they want to see, and they can be incredibly short sighted and/or new to the series without looking at what the whole compilation intends to say. Fantasies =/= fact.

Post Remake people were saying
a) Tifa would die because Sephiroth stabbed her in the Shinra VR and she would take Aerith's place for shock value. They were convinced that scene was foreshadowing cos Barret got stabbed in the VR, then he did get stabbed but was saved by the whispers. Some parties were hell bent that for shock value, Tifa should freaking JUMP infront of Aerith at the very last moment to protect her in Temple of the Ancients, giving Cloud and Aerith the opportunity to finally live out their dreams to be togther

You can actually see this sentiment of "Tifa dying" actually flitted across the devs minds when they speculated if they should end Rebirth in Gongaga. Thank God someone on the team had brain cells to rub together to know that would piss people off more than pique their interest

b) That the entire of Rebirth would have Zack/Cloud like Laguna/Squall - where you played two alternate realities with equal time, which I wasn't against, but ALL that marketing around Zack was for nothing for him to die again and again and...remain dead.

c) That Rebirth and Part 3 were sequels, the story would deviate wildly and we can expect a whole new game since fate was destroyed.

As you can tell, none of the above came to pass and the devs had said only like, 10 times already: MAIN STORY BEATS REMAIN THE SAME.

The same theory crafters were actually fans of the original and were wrong again and again, yet continue to put up bat shit theories for part 3 and will be wrong...again. And they won't leave, just complain

The LTDs are usually about: stop lying about canon. Like, that's basically it, lol. People don't have to stop having fun with fanon, headcanons, and stuff they plain made up but that should be left to the realm of fan fics instead of discussions of what's actually in the text. People can ship CA, they can dislike ZA (which also applies the other way around, of course), but stop lying about their canonicity, lol. And you know, stop the harassment of creators and other fans, etc etc etc. Shipping is supposed to be fun, not a cult.

This! It's not about not allowing you to enjoy what you want to enjoy - it's that because so many people still want to cling on to Aerith living and having her "future" with Cloud, you're no longer allowed to discuss a key, if not THE KEY story beat that even devs had said is their favourite - Cloud regains his sanity in the lifestream thanks to Tifa, and at the end, everyone goes to spend time with their loved ones - and Cloud and Tifa spend that time together.

Even anticipating what the lifestream scene would look like, brings up all the theorists who are like "WHAT IF AERITH WAS THE ONE TO PUT CLOUD'S BRAIN TOGETHER???

To me that's as stupid as saying, "I bet SEYMOUR could be the one to comfort Yuna in Macalania lake" "What if Squall decided to go fetch QUISTIS from space?" "RAVUS will push Luna away from Ardyn, so now Noctis and Luna can live together"

Shipping is fine, just don't deny the freakin' plot

 

[Ryeleigh]

I didn't mean to imply that anyone should switch their preferred ship. I was just voicing my ruminations on how certain shippers may react if part 3 goes the way of the OG.

I see so many people on social media, Reddit, etc. utterly convinced that part 3 is going to have some romantic CA ending (optional or not), even people who demonstrate knowledge of the OG story and compilation. I'm curious about what they're going to do if SE doesn't give them what they want.

Of course, people are free to ship whatever they prefer. And SE might end up doing a CA ending of some kind, even though I think that would wreck the story.

All SE has to do is the bare minimum: That is, do justice to the Lifestream and UTH scenes, for CT to be cemented as canon to the fans. And I say bare minimum because they will probably add some additional moments to drive the point further like they've done in Remake and Rebirth. If these scenes happen and Cloud ends up with a woman who is not Tifa, it would provoke feelings of whiplash

A CA ending would depend on a complete rewrite of the story, which seems already too late since we're on part 3 and Aerith appears dead in some sense.

But on the other hand, it's reasonable for CA shippers to feel insulted when their ship is called an 'illusion' or 'red herring', or they should 'enjoy their fanon'. No one should feel bad for getting invested in a ship that SE themselves pushes to an extent. No one should feel betrayed by getting invested in CA.

Disappointment on either (or both) sides seems inevitable. Maybe I'm worrying too much.

I didn't think you meant anything with it. It's just when people see offhand comments about switching ships or being okay with a ship they may not like, or that they're stupid or delusional or what else for liking the ship they like, it causes an instant negative reaction that just entrenches them even more because they feel defensive. Like they have to justify their ship and if the ship doesn't have a lot going for it, it usually leads to some really unhinged takes, lol. For example, Cloud moaning Aerith's name in Tifa's ear. I MEAN, in what universe do people think that would actually happen in a Final Fantasy game?

As for the rest, I honestly can't relate. I mean, I've never "shipped" canon couples because if I like a canon couple, it usually means I like the canon story so I don't "need" to ship them. So to me shipping has always been fanon. (A reminder! fanon isn't a dirty word, lol.)

And as I've also consumed a fair share of harem manga or teenage romance drama, I also know that fan service doesn't mean that one's ship will be canon. Even kisses or sex don't mean that one's ship will be canon. No amount of fan service or romance/sexual shenanigans with all the characters will mean that the author is obliged to make everyone's ships canon. It doesn't mean that anyone was robbed of their stamp of validation canon.

Like, once someone starts approaching shipping as proving the ship's canonicity and that if they just put together enough secret clues it means the creators are obliged to make it canon, then obviously they're going to be disappointed.* There's really no other way to put this but the really extreme shippers -- the ones who are absolutely convinced that their ship will be canon even against a basic surface reading to the contrary -- are basically just Flat Earth conspiracy theorists and there's nothing creators can do about them because at that point it isn't about the ship or shipping.

As for non-canon shippers, everything they liked about the ship will still be there, lol. It just means that they can build it into something more, something they want to see, and often that's more fun than having it handed to you, lol.


*And even sans shipping, sometimes stories will just utterly disappoint you and the healthy thing to do is moving on. .....or rewriting the thing as fanfiction, lol.

 

[Pasuwado]

All SE has to do is the bare minimum: That is, do justice to the Lifestream and UTH scenes, for CT to be cemented as canon to the fans. And I say bare minimum because they will probably add some additional moments to drive the point further like they've done in Remake and Rebirth. If these scenes happen and Cloud ends up with a woman who is not Tifa, it would provoke feelings of whiplash

I agree, I’m particularly looking forward to seeing Tifa taking care of Cloud while he’s in a coma. Anyone who has ever seen someone care for a loved one knows how meaningful that is.

 

[Eerie]

That account is a troll, not CA afaik. Obvious sh*tst*rrer.

Yeah, we suspect them to have paraded as a CT prior on another account, it was the same kind of spin before.

As for CAs, if my theory of the LSS is correct (kiss + confession, with both that kind of already happened in Rebirth I feel this is likely), then you have to understand that the CA relationship is going to be widely reframed as pure friendship, especially with ZA needing its conclusion too. Aerith is dear to Cloud but SE will absolutely not have him be in love with her and Tifa at the same time, as I said they have already been weighing in heavily in Rebirth, having Cloud clearly telling her she was a nakama after the dream date. As I said multiple times, CA has reached its conclusion in Rebirth - I don't want to down on you, but rather don't hope for too much because you're probably not going to get much, and better be happy with the little things rather than expect big things.

As for the rest, I honestly can't relate. I mean, I've never "shipped" canon couples because if I like a canon couple, it usually means I like the canon story so I don't "need" to ship them. So to me shipping has always been fanon. (A reminder! fanon isn't a dirty word, lol.)

Shipping is not that though, that is just understanding the canon story. Shipping is about doing fan stuff and enjoying fan stuff around a pair (writing, drawing, but also theorising, promoting it, etc.). The ship may be canon or not, it doesn't matter.

I agree, I’m particularly looking forward to seeing Tifa taking care of Cloud while he’s in a coma. Anyone who has ever seen someone care for a loved one knows how meaningful that is.

That scene will be heartbreaking, I'm sure. Especially with the nurse explaining how much she must love him and how she is going to break down because taking care of him is all she's been doing (;_; )

 

[Ryeleigh]

Shipping is not that though, that is just understanding the canon story. Shipping is about doing fan stuff and enjoying fan stuff around a pair (writing, drawing, but also theorising, promoting it, etc.). The ship may be canon or not, it doesn't matter.

I think we may have said the same thing? ^^; I meant that if I like a canon pairing, I like the canon story so I don't need to do any of the fan stuff which usually comes with shipping. I'll just re-watch/play/read the original story. Which is why my ships have always been fanon. (Not that I'm sure if I was clearer with this one either, lol.)

That scene will be heartbreaking, I'm sure. Especially with the nurse explaining how much she must love him and how she is going to break down because taking care of him is all she's been doing (;_; )

That's going to hit so hard with Re-trilogy's graphics and voice acting.

 

[Skilganon]

Shipping is fine, just don't deny the freakin' plot

I think you over-estimate peoples' ability to discern interpretation from plot summary.

Take, for example, the claim that Tifa bullied Cloud when they were kids. This is built on a poor translation from the lifestream sequence in the OG, in which Cloud says, "You wouldn't let me in to the group." There has been acrimonious discussion ever since about whether Cloud meant Tifa specifically or the group collectively.

A lot of people then back up this claim by citing how Cloud was excluded from Avalanche before the Reactor 5 mission in Remake, that Tifa didn't speak up for him when Barret left him out. Nevermind that Cloud excluded himself in many ways, this is seen as proof that Tifa doesn't really understand him.

You could call this a lie about the plot. But I think the plot is vague enough to allow certain interpretations like this to seem reasonable, especially the original OG english translation.

If the people you complain about were somehow forced to see the plot the same way you do, glean the same meaning from events, they would just become clotis. For many shippers, their ship adds to their understanding of the plot.

As great as the life stream sequence is, there are many fans out there who didn't understand its meaning, or do and want it to be different. It's similar to people talking about having different Highwind scenes for different characters. Like, in what world would Vincent, Barret, or Cid stay with Cloud when they each have their own loved ones they want to stay with? Cloud and Tifa staying together has significance because they are each other's loved one.

The people who say these things don't look at these scenes in the same way. Characters can just be swapped around to "satisfy everyone"

 

[null]

I mean, it is a lie about the plot. There is no reasonable "Evil Tifa" interpretation, not in OG and certainly not in ReTrilogy. The plot isn't vague about that at all.

You can make anything sound reasonable by being selective with the details. These aren't good faith misinterpretations. It's not media illiteracy when they move the goalposts instead of admitting their theory was wrong.

 

[GamerSkull]

Any interpretation that hinges on mistranslation isn’t an interpretation. It’s just wrong.

Especially now. The dialogue in the OG that is mistranslated is now widely known to be wrong. So anyone still clinging to it… is just wrong and I don’t take them seriously.

Just like the people that can’t let go of the name Aeris.

 

[lyingbanana]

I found this video of someone reacting to game couples and Cloud/Tifa, Cloud/Aerith are in it.

FF7 starts at 8:20
In the comments you will find the usual retorts.

But I find interesting something she says after watching Cloud and Tifa talk in Gongaga
"...all of these people have incredible mandates, like they have to save the world, they are never allowed to have these moments where they can doubt themselves, be vulnerable or question the mission. And a romantic interlude actually gives incredible depth to these characters because they are then able to express their own doubt, they are able to express their own desire. And the romantic element gives them a chance to be incredibly vulnerable, and they are being pulled into a deeper level of humanity by using that subplot."

This is what they did with Cloud in the retrilogy, he changes through his interactions with all characters, but they left his vulnerability to be shown with Tifa.

Now to bring this into the love triangle: in Cloud and Aerith's interactions it is her being vulnerable to Cloud and him reassuring her in some way, but there is no scene where Cloud confides in Aerith the same way he does Tifa. His most vulnerable speech is in Gongaga, the near kiss doesnt even matter to see that its him expressing something he doesnt show anyone else. Now to be fair, Aerith reassures Cloud but it is somewhat portrayed as her knowing by intuition, there is no scene where he vocalize his fears to her.

Edited to fix typos

 

[null]

Tifa's chemistry with Cloud is unreal. Like, their body language is the state of the art that game developers should study. And Britt Baron deserves an award for the way she makes her voice tremble. Gongaga is probably their best scene yet, but the one in Cloud's apartment in Remake is my favorite.

Cloud and Aerith have good chemistry, I just feel like it's overshadowed. They have better scenes than the water tower, though it's still fairly representative of the pattern they tend to follow. Agree that they don't let themselves be as vulnerable around each other as Cloud and Tifa do. I can't picture Aerith letting herself cry in Cloud's arms, because she's way too protective of him.

That scene with Triss and Geralt was ass. They should have gone with him catching her falling from the fountain. The romance in that game aged poorly in general though.

 

[Ryushikaze]

Tifa's chemistry with Cloud is unreal. Like, their body language is the state of the art that game developers should study. And Britt Baron deserves an award for the way she makes her voice tremble. Gongaga is probably their best scene yet, but the one in Cloud's apartment in Remake is my favorite.

Cloud and Aerith have good chemistry, I just feel like it's overshadowed. They have better scenes than the water tower, though it's still fairly representative of the pattern they tend to follow. Agree that they don't let themselves be as vulnerable around each other as Cloud and Tifa do. I can't picture Aerith letting herself cry in Cloud's arms, because she's way too protective of him.

That scene with Triss and Geralt was ass. They should have gone with him catching her falling from the fountain. The romance in that game aged poorly in general though.

Part of the problem there was Triss being a romantic option was added for the games, as he was always interested in Yen in the books (not that they didn't both sleep around) and CDPR sort of realized they fucked up pushing her for the first two games when they brought Yen back for 3, given their entire concept was their games were a post- novel continuation of the story.