FalloutCreation
Rookie Adventurer
- AKA
- Michael
SPOILERS in the link and Text below. You have been WARNED.
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Final Fantasy 7: Remake
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https://www.reddit.com/.../quit_acting_like_you_know_me.../
"TL;DR: Here's 50+ pieces of evidence that Aerith knows the events of the original game across all of Remake. With quotes, explanations and video timestamps. "
Big thanks to dbclick for opening my eyes to this beloved game. I take no credit for his exhaustive list on Aerith in events of the game. Simply well done! So if you have finished the game and would like to read up on more on the subject of Aerith and the ending, continue reading on. Otherwise I would avoid this entirely. I have some comments at the end about what I thought. Its going to be pretty long, but its organized to be easier to read.
Phew here we go.
I got this weird feeling throughout Remake that Aerith is more aware of things than she should be.
When I first played, I thought, "Of course, she's connected to the Planet. She always had little bits of insight, and that seemed to increase later in the game." And then I hit the ending.
Aerith knows too much. It's almost like she is aware of the events of the original game, from very early on. This is laid on thick in Chapter 18, but it's actually present throughout. I intend to lay out evidence to show it below. Special thanks to /u/Xekir for helping with a bunch of Japanese.
I'm not going to get into why she might know these things or what she intends to do with them, just evidence the game presents that she does know (with video timestamps so you can follow along). Solid theories are based on solid evidence. I also believe the game is written in such a way that this evidence isn't generally obvious on a first play-through.
Some of this may be overreaching, so I'm going to categorize this into (weak), (medium), and (strong) evidence, all arranged chronologically, by chapter and scene. I will update this post with any new evidence found or debunked. Feel free to note anything I missed in the comments.
Chapter 2
Scene: Meeting Aerith
Scene: Meeting Aerith again in the church
Scene: Aerith is waiting for Cloud at the Sector 6 wall
Scene: After defeating Abzu
Chapter 12
Scene: The team is blocked by the Whispers on their way to the support pillar
Scene: Aerith appears to Cloud in a dream (optional Chapter 14 resolution if Aerith has enough affection points and has more than Tifa)
Scene: Red XIII breaks out of containment, past the team
Scene: Aerith talks about her Cetra heritage and the Whispers
Scene: Aerith talks to Sephiroth after he opens the portal
Thanks for reading/watching! I hope it was insightful.
End of dbclick's Post.
If you have finished the game and still not sure about the ending. I promise if you read this, all the pieces of the puzzle fit perfectly as to why we got the ending we did, but I had my doubts. I loved every moment of the game, mind you. The mystery was there, but I relied on the ending to explain it all.
And for the most part it does, but I was left with a lingering feeling that I didn't get the ending I wanted. And so I put the game down for a day after beating it. The ending well... just didn't make sense to me. In fact I went as far as to subscribe to the idea that the ending felt too jarring and didn't fit the rest of the story. I study film, stories, and other material. Even movies as complicated as some of Christopher Nolan movies. Which are notorious for complexity within the narrative.
After reviewing this list created on the Reddit forums, I realized how wrong I was about the ending. It fits perfectly for the story that they told. Aerith was the key to unraveling the story. Sort of like reading a book a second time or watching a movie a second time. The answer is in the details throughout the game.
I have no question that the direction they went with the Remake ending now. It just works. Albeit I probably didn't give myself enough time to revisit the story to answer my own questions about it. Thankfully someone had already done this for me. The writing for this game was already amazing, but even more so now that I understand how they portrayed Aerith and why. And dbclick provided ample evidence to support the writing. Wonderfully done.
In my humble opinion this game is MY GOTY. I hope anyone reading shares the love for this game. <3
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Final Fantasy 7: Remake
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https://www.reddit.com/.../quit_acting_like_you_know_me.../
"TL;DR: Here's 50+ pieces of evidence that Aerith knows the events of the original game across all of Remake. With quotes, explanations and video timestamps. "
Big thanks to dbclick for opening my eyes to this beloved game. I take no credit for his exhaustive list on Aerith in events of the game. Simply well done! So if you have finished the game and would like to read up on more on the subject of Aerith and the ending, continue reading on. Otherwise I would avoid this entirely. I have some comments at the end about what I thought. Its going to be pretty long, but its organized to be easier to read.
Phew here we go.
I got this weird feeling throughout Remake that Aerith is more aware of things than she should be.
When I first played, I thought, "Of course, she's connected to the Planet. She always had little bits of insight, and that seemed to increase later in the game." And then I hit the ending.
Aerith knows too much. It's almost like she is aware of the events of the original game, from very early on. This is laid on thick in Chapter 18, but it's actually present throughout. I intend to lay out evidence to show it below. Special thanks to /u/Xekir for helping with a bunch of Japanese.
I'm not going to get into why she might know these things or what she intends to do with them, just evidence the game presents that she does know (with video timestamps so you can follow along). Solid theories are based on solid evidence. I also believe the game is written in such a way that this evidence isn't generally obvious on a first play-through.
Some of this may be overreaching, so I'm going to categorize this into (weak), (medium), and (strong) evidence, all arranged chronologically, by chapter and scene. I will update this post with any new evidence found or debunked. Feel free to note anything I missed in the comments.
Chapter 2
Scene: Meeting Aerith
- Aerith gives Cloud the flower as a symbol of reunion (medium)
Lovers used to give these when they were reunited... (Japanese: In the language of flowers, this is called Reunion.)
- This is a cheeky way for her to show she is reuniting with Cloud as though she already knows him through the events of the OG. The English version even goes as far as to call it out for lovers, as, for her, they were an item in the OG. Was likely changed from Japanese because reunion and the Jenova "Reunion" are two different words in Japanese, but the same in English and using the word "Reunion" as such will tip of any FF7 veteran. Also notice all the official story marketing of the game revolves the story around this precise moment and terminology.
- Aerith knows the flower will please your girlfriend (weak)
Plus it'll make your girlfriend's day. I guarantee it.
- Whether you interpret that girlfriend as Aerith herself or Tifa, it's interesting.
- Aerith gives the flower to Cloud for free (medium)
In your case... It's on the house.
- Aerith normally charges for flowers (in the OG, for example), whereas here she practically forces it on him. In Japanese the dialog suggests that Cloud even mistakes this gesture as marking him for thugs to mug him later. This signifies she sees him as special in some way and wants to treat him special.
- Aerith knows Cloud's strength/involvement and doesn't care (weak)
Oh, I'm sure you are. So? (Japanese: Yeah, I got that feeling [that you're strong]. )
- She brushes off and pushes past Cloud's intimidation, like she knows him
- Aerith realizes she has to leave to preserve the timeline (medium)
You know—you're right!
- After talking to Cloud for too long, she realizes she needs to vacate the area for the Whispers to leave them alone. This is likely because the Whispers are trying to ensure that Cloud makes the last train home on time so he makes it to the Sector 7 slums.
- Aerith suggests she might know she'll see Cloud again (Japanese only) (medium)
またね (See ya later!)
- Aerith is saying "see you later" because she knows she will see Cloud again in the Sector 5 church. It's sad not to see this carry over in English, but perhaps the translators couldn't come up with an equivalent phrase that didn't sound so obvious.
Scene: Meeting Aerith again in the church
- Aerith is hiding something about the White Materia (strong)
Could be.
- The camera angle shows she is hiding something, twice (once while Cloud is having his vision, once when talking about how the materia came from her mother). This a cinematic technique of hiding the eyes to show someone is being deceptive or withholding information. Implying there is more about her mother or the White Materia than she is telling. In the OG she doesn't really learn about the White Materia's nature until later. Plus this triggers the vision for Cloud. The script here is nearly identical to the OG except for the "Could be..." line is there instead of "No, I do.... it just doesn't do anything." implying that she knows what it does this time.
- Aerith presumes Cloud to be her bodyguard instead of asking and knows he's in SOLDIER (medium)
He's my bodyguard. And a SOLDIER. Pretty cool, huh? [Cloud]: Huh?
- In the OG, Aerith asked Cloud to be her bodyguard after she knew he was a merc ("jack of all trades"). Here she kind of jumps the gun and presumes he is her bodyguard. She also immediately knows he's in SOLDIER, which isn't too surprising considering her involvement with Zack. What's more interesting is that this specific difference she makes is what triggers the fight with Reno when that didn't happen in the OG (in the OG, Reno comments on Cloud's Mako eyes after Aerith ran out the back with Cloud following).
- Aerith already knows Cloud is a mercenary, and accidentally lets it slip (strong)
Bodyguard work's not too different from merc stuff, right? [Cloud]: Huh? [Aerith]: Uh... I guessed! From the sword!
- She even goes as far as to try and cover up her slip
- Aerith has a theory about the Whispers and decides to not share (weak)
I think... Actually... I don't know. Let's just go.
- Why would she not share her theory in part unless the explanation there would be too much for Cloud?
- Aerith knows Cloud doesn't know how to get to Sector 7 (medium)
You...know how to get there? [Cloud]: Yup. [Aerith]: 'Course you do...
- She even calls him out on that he would get lost on the way at her house later and he fesses up to it when she explains Wall Market.
- Aerith foreshadows when she later leaves the party to by herself to summon Holy (weak)
Hmm... Maybe I'll go on ahead and leave you all by your lonesome.
- This is also just teasing Cloud for leaving her behind eariler, but this later exchange doesn't happen in the OG, either.
- Aerith presumes they are a couple (weak)
Two peas in a pod
- This phrasing in Japanese implies they go together well, and is a common phrase structure to describe the ways in which couples fit together.
- Aerith accurately describes Cloud's personality like she knows him (medium)
Honestly, I'm much more worried about you. What if you get lost, huh? You'd be too embarrassed to admit it, and so you'd just keep on going. [Cloud]: Quit acting like you know me.
- It's not just this scene, she's on to him from moment one here. She can see completely through his personality facade and knows exactly how to bring out the best of him.
- Aerith calls out Cloud on lying about something he could have actually forgotten (weak)
That's the one I gave you. [Cloud]: Huh. It is? [Aerith]: Nice try, mister. You can't fool me.
- He doesn't correct her.
- Aerith presumes who Tifa is very quickly (weak)
Is Tifa, like...your girlfriend?
- This same dialog happens in the OG the first time Cloud mentions Tifa, but there she asks if Tifa is a girl first. Here she immediately jumps to that conclusion and pressures the question more.
- Aerith is hiding something about Sephiroth either being alive or that Cloud thinks so (strong)
Oh...right. C'mon. Let's go.
- The camera work shows she is hiding something and she cuts off the conversation afterward.
- Aerith tells Cloud he can't rely on her forever (medium)
All right, but don't think you can rely on me forever, mister. [Cloud]: Wasn't planning to. [Aerith]: That's good.
- This foreshadows again her preparing Cloud to live without her around. Notice how she changes the mood and follows it up in English with a cheeky joke about how she wants to go steady if Cloud stayed around her longer (note that her "salary" is in terms of dates as she has already mentioned 3 times).
- Aerith thinks Cloud won't believe her about her mission (medium)
Ah...never mind. It's not like you'd believe me after all.
- The dialog after suggests her mission relates to Sephiroth, and there's no way Cloud would believe her about knowing him already and such, so she just states it in vague terms.
- Aerith vaguely describes some important task she has to do in the future (strong)
It won't be much longer now. The flowers, they...they have something important to tell us. ... But...before they can...there's a final step that has to be taken.
- Notice here how the camera suggests she is hiding something and how she clenches her fist when she says there's a final step that needs to be taken. She does this again in Chapter 18 (see below). This implies she already knows about Sephiroth and everything else along with it.
- Aerith is treating today as special because she met Cloud (strong)
Well today's special! That's why I've been working my butt off! [Cloud]: ...What's so special about it? [Aerith]: (looks at Cloud with an expectant look and then laughs)
- This suggests that she is putting an extra-ordinary effort into this day for Cloud, presumably because she knew he was coming and because she enjoys spending the time with him (again?)
Scene: Aerith is waiting for Cloud at the Sector 6 wall
- Aerith is waiting because she not tired of Cloud yet (medium)
Because I'm not sick of you yet.
- Compare this to the same scene in the OG, where she is more annoyed with him for having slipped out. If she knew the OG events, she would know this already. Also notice that this interaction triggers an unseen vision for Cloud where we hear the notes of the opening/ending of FF7 where Aerith appears, and he unwittingly sheds a single tear. I might rate this lower if it weren't for it triggering this vision.
Scene: After defeating Abzu
- Aerith is the one that convinces the crew to go check on the pillar rumor (weak)
But...if he was telling the truth... [Tifa]: Hmm? [Aerith]: And there's still a chance he was, isn't there? Then...we should go. And if it turns out he was lying, then so what? Right?
- This one's not much on its own, but combined with the next two starts to say something.
- Aerith seems to know the plate will come down when questioned by Tifa (medium)
Right. [Looks down, a bit lost in thought.] [Tifa]: Aerith, what are you not telling me? [Aerith]: Huh?
- This one's rather explicit, with Aerith being dodgy and only being saved by Cloud interrupting them.
- Aerith tries to cheer Tifa up by telling her the future isn't set in stone (weak)
Still thinking about the plate? [Tifa]: Yeah. [Aerith]: The future isn't...set in stone. That's what I always tell myself.
- This is in line with her later references to the same topic about living in the moment and changing the future. Even though she possibly knows it needs to happen. On it's own, not much, but lines up well with similar references, especially those in Chapters 14 & 18.
Chapter 12
Scene: The team is blocked by the Whispers on their way to the support pillar
- Aerith is the one to tell the team they have to get past the Whispers (medium)
Cloud, Tifa! We have to get past, whatever it takes!
- She is at best a side character as far as plot involvement goes concerning Sector 7/Avalanche, but is leading the team on at this point. She knows what awaits at the pillar and seems to have a pretty good idea about the nature of the Whispers at this point.
- Aerith prays toward the pillar when the Whispers go up there (medium)
[Cloud]: Aerith? [Aerith]: Come on!
- Directly after the fight, she prays toward the pillar as the Whispers go up there, something she often does when focusing on someone dead or about to die. Cloud questions what she is doing and she ignores the questioning.
- Aerith finishes Tifa's thought about getting Marlene to safety (medium)
[Tifa]: I need you to— [Aerith]: Get Marlene to safety. Right? It's okay. I'll find her. [Tifa]: Huh?
- Aerith would know she needed to save Marlene in the OG. Up to this point Tifa has only mentioned Marlene by name in front of Aerith once in the Train graveyard , otherwise I'd rate this as a very strong piece of evidence. Note the camera indicates only Tifa sees the girl as Marlene, whereas Aerith only sees her as some shadowy girl.
- Aerith knows the plate will drop (strong)
Don't give up hope yet! We can still save a lot of lives! [Wedge]: You don't think we're gonna stop them from dropping the plate, do you? [Aerith hesitates, looking taken aback, contrary to her usual hopeful attitude] [Wedge]: I wanna believe that we can still win somehow. [Aerith]: Mm. [She nods understandingly, but non-committedly.]
- Note how this contrasts her normal hopeful attitude up to this point
- Aerith knows she's due for a reckoning (strong)
[Wedge]: But...something in my gut tells me we're due for a reckoning. Just this...feeling. Know what I mean? [Aerith]: Yeah... I do.
- This easily could insinuate she knows she is going to die later in the OG. She doesn't want to look back and "wish [she'd] done it different". There are several times in the game where she repeats this theme of making the most of the moment, like she wants to do the best she could. Also not that this seems to result in both Wedge and other Sector 7 residents surviving where they didn't in the OG.
- Aerith knows how much time they have before the plate falls (medium)
Well, there's still time, but...
- The only way she would know there's time is if she knows when it will fall. She seems hesitant to inform them the plate will actually fall.
- Aerith knows Marlene is Barret's daughter (strong)
[Marlene]: Daddy too? [Aerith]: You mean Barret? Yep. He's there too.
- IIRC, up to this point Barret hasn't even been mentioned to Aerith by anyone except Tifa once in passing before Wedge fell. Aerith has never been told Marlene is Barret's daughter or that he has any ties to 7th Heaven. They certainly don't have any biological resemblance.
- Aerith calms Marlene with some kind of power (strong)
[Aerith]: (signals to Marlene to keep what she saw/felt a secret)
- This is nothing like Aerith's powers in the OG and is well beyond them, especially at this point in the OG. As soon as she's done, Marlene has a trust and confidence in Aerith like she is familar with her. Also Aerith makes a motion as if to tell her to keep it a secret. Marlene even thinks for some reason Aerith smells nice, despite the devs making a point to show Aerith's dress dirty from the helicopter explosion a few minutes prior. It's almost as if Aerith's reminding Marlene of something she would have felt in the OG. We know she uses the same power to transfer knowledge and understanding into Red XIII later.
- Aerith asks Marlene to remember her flower (weak)
I hope you remember it.
- This only seems meaningful as in the OG, Marlene seems to have an ability to sense Aerith's influence in the ending. The music for this section is a riff of the same version of Aerith's Theme that plays during the corresponding section of the OG ending.
- Aerith knows the team can still get away and warns them (strong)
Run! You have to go now! [Tseng]: And where exactly do you expect them to go?
- If she didn't know they could get out this would a rather stupid warning (as Tseng points out).
Scene: Aerith appears to Cloud in a dream (optional Chapter 14 resolution if Aerith has enough affection points and has more than Tifa)
- Aerith suggest she will die (strong)
Everyone dies eventually.
- This is both in reference the people returning to the Planet that died in Sector 7 and herself. Her next words indicate she is also referring to the latter.
- Aerith reiterates people need to make the most of their lives while they have them (strong)
So we need to make the most of the time we have—to live our lives the way we wanna live. Every minute...every moment, matters.
- This may be trying to prep Cloud for grief she knows he felt in the OG and more so in Advent Children.
- Aerith suggests Cloud has made her more happy than he knows (strong)
I'm grateful for all the words we've shared. For all the moments and the memories. You've made me more happy than you know. And I'll always cherish what you've given me.
- This is not in line with only having spent one day with her
- Aerith warns Cloud not to fall in love with her because that love is not entirely real (strong)
But whatever happens, you can't fall in love with me. Even if you think you have...it's not real. (The Japanese suggests the love is in Cloud's imagination).
- This is in line with her having forced the love issue early due to knowing the OG events (by "working [her] butt off today"). Some have suggested that this because of the "Zack personality disorder" Cloud has, but I don't see that lining up with events as they unfold in the game here as their interactions and the way she opens up Cloud is very real and genuine. She wouldn't want him too attached if she knows she will die.
Scene: Red XIII breaks out of containment, past the team
- Aerith leads the team after Red XIII when he darts past (strong)
We need to go! [Tifa]: Aerith! [Barret]: What the—!?
- Notice how everyone else's instinct is not to follow the dangerous looking creature in the lab of dangerous-looking creatures.
- Aerith knows Red XIII is a child, and friendly (strong)
Stop. This child's a friend.
- She uses the same power on him as on Marlene. She knows he is friendly. The fact she knows he is a child is a key plot point for Red XIII that he makes it a point to hide all the way until Cosmo Canyon, even to the point of altering his speech patterns to sound older (this only comes across well in Japanese in the OG). The rest of the team is ready to attack, as is Red XIII. She transfers some knowledge about the OG into him as well, as evidenced in Chapter 18.
Scene: Aerith talks about her Cetra heritage and the Whispers
- Aerith says that really the only thing she's hiding is that she's an Ancient (strong)
[Cloud]: There's so much we don't know. [Aerith]: I'm...a descendant of the Ancients. That's pretty much it, really.
- Despite her doing so many other things that suggest more going on with her than she is an Ancient, she doesn't want to reveal any more, possibly for fear of the Whispers, which assault her when she tries. The corresponding scene in the OG has her talking about more about the Ancients than even here. She goes into detail talking about how she can hear the planet at the church and wants to learn more about how to talk to the Planet and can still hear her mother.
- Aerith immediately calls out Barret staying on his own to fight Shinra while they escape (strong)
Barret, wait... You can't do that...
- If she knows the OG, she knows that didn't happen there and the Barret's journey was necessary for them to progress on their own and that he might die if he stayed here on his own. As if in response to Barret, the Whispers come as if not liking his idea. They leave as soon as Tifa says they'll all leave together.
- Aerith knows about the real threat to the planet from Sephiroth (strong)
The Shinra Electric Power Company isn't the real enemy. It started with them, sure...but I promise you...there's a much bigger threat.
- She's still being vauge here, but clearly knows what the issue with Sephiroth and Jenova is. This is in stark contrast to the OG, where the team learns about actual threats from Sephiroth later, mostly at the Temple of the Ancients. But even with this small tidbit the Whispers don't like that she might divulge OG information here (or even information past the OG) and go after her in full force.
- Aerith hints at something more going on with her even outside what she knows with the OG that she can't reveal (strong)
I'm lost in a maze, and...every step is taking me further from the path... Every time the Whispers touch me...I lose something. A part of myself. "Follow them. The yellow flowers."
- She has to speak cryptically at this point seemingly due to the Whispers and possibly for other reasons. Possibly so the team will continue to trust her.
- Aerith immediately recognizes Jenova and Sephiroth (strong)
Jenova.
- She also gets an angry look on her face as soon as Sephiroth appears to everyone, clearly recognizing him and resenting him.
- Aerith deflects Tifa's question about Cloud's mental state (strong)
True, but it's Cloud—I'm sure he'll be fine. But what about you, Tifa? How are you holding up? [Tifa]: Huh? Oh I'm fine!
- The Whispers prevented Cloud from learning about his past twice now (once in the secret underground lab, and once when they whisked Hojo away before he spilled the beans). Aerith knows about Cloud's past and wants to avoid talking about it so that they can avoid having the Whispers attack.
- Aerith recognizes Jenova as the source of their issues (strong)
[Red XIII]: This is... [Aerith]: The source. Of everything.
- She confidently makes this statement about Jenova, clearly knowing what it is, despite not being able to know this according to any knowledge she would have had up to this point. In the OG, she is clearly confused about Cloud's story in Kalm about Jenova and how that applies to the Ancients, as at that point you are led to believe Jenova is an Ancient as well.
Scene: Aerith talks to Sephiroth after he opens the portal
- Aerith knows that Sephiroth is wrong (strong)
And you... You're wrong. [Sephiroth]: Those who look with clouded eyes see nothing but shadows. [Aerith]: Everything about you is wrong.
- Clearly she's in charge of this situation and knows what kind of threat Sephiroth represents, through the OG and probably beyond it.
- Aerith has the ability to open/change portals to temporal singularities (strong)
This is the point of no return. Destiny's Crossroads.
- Clearly Aerith had no powers of any type in the OG even remotely resembling this. Her powers seem to somewhat mirror Sephiroth. This mirrors the setup they have as rivals in the Lifestream in On the Way to a Smile - Lifestream Black and Lifestream White (a prequel to Advent Children).
- Aerith describes the issues Sephiroth has with his plan for the planet (strong)
They... Their words...they don't reach him. All these moments and memories, precious and fleeting...they're like rain rolling off his back... And when they're gone, he won't cry...or shout...or anything. He'd tell you that he only cares about the planet. That he'd do everything in his power to protect and preserve it.
- She's almost not even trying to hide what she knows at this point, almost. Clearly she has prior knowledge of him and his ambitions. She nearly drops her entire facade across this scene. It's almost like she's a different person.
- Aerith literally says "This isn't the way it's supposed to be." (strong)
This isn't the way it's supposed to be.
- The only way she can know how it's "supposed to be" is if she has knowledge of the OG and probably beyond to know what might happen in either event. Note that when she does, she clenches her fist, a callback to Chapter 8 (see above).
- Aerith knows they'll be changing fate if they win against the Whispers and Sephiroth (strong)
We'll be changing more than fate itself.
- How could she know they'll be changing fate unless she knew what that fate was to be
- Aerith hesitates to let Cloud through the portal to Destiny's Crossroads (strong)
If we succeed...if we win...we'll be changing ourselves... I guess...maybe, that's why I hesitated.
- She fears it will change him and the party to something she doesn't know. With the Whispers gone, she won't have the familiarity of knowing how the party or events turns out from the OG. She references this as "boundless, terrifying freedom."
- Aerith has the party know the visions of the OG FF7 ending are what will change if they defeat the Whispers (strong)
Barret: What the hell did I just see? [Aerith looks at Red, as if granting permission for him to speak] [Red XIII]: A glimpse of tomorrow if we fail here today.
- Red XIII looks at her for permission to give this information and we know she transferred some information to him in Chapter 16.
- Aerith talks about the future being a blank page (strong)
[Tifa]: This can't be our future... [Aerith]: The future is always a blank page...
- Implying she knows what kind of a future could be out there (i.e. the OG timeline). Why does she care so much about the future and potentially changing it unless she is familiar with it?
- She talks about changing the future and making it "right" (strong)
We can do this. We can. We can change it—make it right!
- She is concerned that something following the OG events don't turn out well and intends to right this somehow.
- Missing the "steel sky" or hating the new open sky (strong)
I miss it. The steel sky. (Japanese: This sky... I hate it.)
- This is symbolic for leaving the comfort of the things she (and by extension us as the player) knows in the OG behind. It's also a reference to Crisis Core where she is afraid of the open sky and a reference to it raining when Zack dies on this very spot. In Japanese, she puts more emphasis on her dislike of the unknown new sky instead, but the message is similar.
Thanks for reading/watching! I hope it was insightful.
End of dbclick's Post.
If you have finished the game and still not sure about the ending. I promise if you read this, all the pieces of the puzzle fit perfectly as to why we got the ending we did, but I had my doubts. I loved every moment of the game, mind you. The mystery was there, but I relied on the ending to explain it all.
And for the most part it does, but I was left with a lingering feeling that I didn't get the ending I wanted. And so I put the game down for a day after beating it. The ending well... just didn't make sense to me. In fact I went as far as to subscribe to the idea that the ending felt too jarring and didn't fit the rest of the story. I study film, stories, and other material. Even movies as complicated as some of Christopher Nolan movies. Which are notorious for complexity within the narrative.
After reviewing this list created on the Reddit forums, I realized how wrong I was about the ending. It fits perfectly for the story that they told. Aerith was the key to unraveling the story. Sort of like reading a book a second time or watching a movie a second time. The answer is in the details throughout the game.
I have no question that the direction they went with the Remake ending now. It just works. Albeit I probably didn't give myself enough time to revisit the story to answer my own questions about it. Thankfully someone had already done this for me. The writing for this game was already amazing, but even more so now that I understand how they portrayed Aerith and why. And dbclick provided ample evidence to support the writing. Wonderfully done.
In my humble opinion this game is MY GOTY. I hope anyone reading shares the love for this game. <3
