Fantastic video. I’ve seen so many videos on this ending, but you brought up some details others hadn’t before like absolute dark detail of Sephiroth’s sword struggling with some resistance as he pulls it out of Aerith.
I also believe it's all in Cloud's mind. The biggest hint is the "don't look up" scene, where Cloud sees that fracture in the sky but the rest of the party don't. That same fracture can be seen in OG in the background inside Cloud's mind when you control Tifa.
This was among the best breakdowns on the ending; precise and factual. When you insert your own theories, you make it clear. Great work. Amazing ending on for an amazing game
I've seen a lot of speculation on what's happening in this part of the game, and while it is complex, it's not nearly as complicated as I've seen people assume. The game shows us a lot which we can break down and analyze. I hope this helps make sense of what's happening during the ending
I think you missed something. In the end of Remake, the heros go throuh a Portal. In the Other Midgar behind the Portal, the Group is between realitys. If you look closely, you can see that the Buildings Split into two, in the Tornado. The "Zack" Midgar ist torn apart, the Remake Midgar is still standing. So back to rebirth. Cloud is entering the Building through a white portal. Just like in the end of Remake. But he is the only one. Only Cloud is in Between two realitys. In the Moment cloud stops Sephiroth, the Realitys are Splitting. After the Jenova Fight, Cloud is missing. Cause he was not in the same Reality as his friends. Aerith surviving and her death are hapening, but Cloud seems to Coping her Death. Maybe sephiroth will Torcher cloud with the Memorys of her death in part 3. To Break his Mind in the Northern crator.
The concept that they are using is the same as FFX, is not the multiverse is a dream. I would say that the "worlds" that we are actually seeing, playing are inside the lifestring and are made of the people dream, experience, memories, etc. These memories can have a "phisical" representation the same as FFX with Tidus That why red said that the materia is made by memories of the people in the costa del Sol. So you can see that the concept that they are using are actually more spiritual and related to the death and memorys. That also would explain why they didn't just resurrect Zack from nowhere, since he is currently living in the lifestring. Guess the rest can be deductible from these fact, even we could say that we are actually playing in a dream that are in the lifestring since these is an remake. That could be very insteresing, the devs knowing that this is a remake not the OG, that also will justify the whisper and their role to make the "memory as much as possible as the OG. Guess that the from OG Aeris is the last one who appear to help cloud to defeat Sephiroth
Man I'm so happy that I've found someone actually dissecting these scenes bit by bit based on what is on screen and what they have set up and shown since part 1. Beautifully well done. Subbing and will follow you into part 3 fellow scholar.
this was amazing. and i’m glad more people agree this isn’t a multiverse. i don’t think this story would do something so lazy. subbed and waiting for the next one
Very nice video. It should definitely helps those who were confused by the ending, especially on first viewer. I find it weird however that you omitted another important hint from the ending regarding what's going on with Cloud : The fact that he's the only one who still sees Aerith during the later part of the ending (around the plane) being obviously related to only him being able to see the rift in the sky too. That seems like a very important key point to understanding this whole thing.
Excellent breakdown and use of detail to show, not just tell. I played through the game 3 times and have watched a dozen or so other people play through some/all of the game, and really it took me going back through recording a chapter-by-chapter examination of the story beats (pulling in lore rom the other FF7 games, books, movies, etc) to reach my conclusions about the end of the game and beyond. The more I watch other people's theories, the more I tend to think they're off-base and that mine are closer to reality (though there's no way I'm right about everything), but you're the only other person I've seen use the "bubble" term for this section, and I think we ended up reasonably close. I don't think Cloud's just looking at a reality filter, though, but rather Aerith (post-OG7 Aerith in the Lifestream) using the moment to create a world that's so unstable it can't survive the moment - because Aerith MUST die. I think one of the biggest divergences in my conclusions from what I've seen anyone else talk about is that I think the world we've been in since the end of Remake is already a "doomed" world with a cracked sky that only Aerith could see the whole game through. I think any new "world" that diverges from the OG7 story is inherently doomed, and the bigger the divergence the less stable the world and thus the faster it fails. Aerith living is the biggest divergence of them all, and that possibility can't even fully manifest, but it's enough for Aerith to give Cloud the impression that he saved her, saving his psyche for the moment. Sephiroth was counting on the moment to break Cloud, knowing that any effort by Aerith to prevent her fate was doomed - but she never tried to save herself (S: "I underestimated you."), she's always been focused on Cloud, and so she was able to defeat Sephiroth and stave things off for the time being. Impossible to fully summarize everything here, but that's the highlight. I look forward to more videos, theories, and conversation on this game.
The rainbow effect is the creation of a different world. It's shown whenever someone travels to a different dimensions, like in the sequences with zack traveling to different dimensions and also Cloud when he's going through them with the the date sequence with Aerith etc. It's important to Sephiroth that Cloud develops this ability, and he's actually happy he deflects his sword because it has caused a split reality, which is what Sephiroth wants in the end to change the timeline of the original FF7 world and also shows Sephiroth that he's now strong enough (as he wasn't in the end of remake, which Sephiroth specifically states). He and Aerith have this ability as it's shown that she can travel and has knowledge of the different versions of the world and Sephiroth in Remake. Sephiroth knows Clouds perception of reality is skewed and he's easily controllable because of his connection to Cloud through his control of Jenova cells and Clouds own mental sickness and mistaken self identity. He wants to use both Clouds strength (ability to alter reality) and his confusion/easily manipulated mind to help him overcome Holy and control the lifestream so Meteor ends up finishing the job in this newer dimension/world. I believe the white whispers are simply another dimensions protectors of its relative lifestream. They bleed into the reality of remake/rebirth when an opening between worlds is created. They protect the version of history of their own world. Both the white and black are always at odds with Sephiroth, Aerith and Cloud because of their high potential to change history through their ability to alter reality and have knowledge of other realities. Clouds flashbacks of the og events before they happen, Aeriths very obvious knowledge and hiding of that knowledge all throughout both remakr and rebirth anf Sephiroths very obvious knowledge of other realities as hes spoken directly about it.
Great video. My only thing with the Aerith by the water is that I feel like if that was really Aerith, she would be more concerned/ solemn seeing Tifa and the others so upset so I think she is a hallucination. Maybe the Aerith on the field could be our Aerith 🤔. Anyway, can’t wait for your next video! I also don’t think it’s a Multiverse.
If Aerith was a projection, Red wouldn't have responded. In AC, Aerith still spoke to Cloud from the lifestream. I think Aerith will remain in the final parts until these worlds she's hiding in, die. The unknown factor for me was Marlene asking Zack to cure Cloud so that the bad future could be avoided
I really like the analysis made here. I'd like to add that - I consider the white whispers get depicted doing many things but most of the time they act in order to help or protect the party (Tifa in Gongaga, Cloud when fighting Sephiroth, healing the party after fighting Jenova Lifeclinger, guiding Zack to Cloud). This lines up with Aerith's prayer, like you mentioned. - Cloud being the only one to be able to cross the whisper wall and reach the altar first, isolated from the rest of the party, feels intentional. The only thing that happens with the whisper wall active is the parry of the sword and the bubble. Aerith gets killed when the whisper wall falls down, so what was the point of isolating Cloud in those events anyways? To me there was something Sephiroth needed from Cloud in that moment.
Sephiroth said that the fake Black Materia is the key to the real one “between worlds”. To retrieve that, he needs his S-cell agent to be put there in that liminal space to get the real BM. He also said that new worlds can be created by breaching fate. I think he actually anticipated Aerith praying (he said Good Aerith, pray). The only S-cells clone capable of breaching fate in terms of emotional state and strength is Cloud. Hence, the dark whispers let only him in towards the altar. He wants to take advantage of Aerith’s destined death to force Cloud to breach fate and create a world where he saved her. Cloud is now in the liminal space between 2 worlds, in the place where Sephiroth wants him to be to get real BM. This links back to Cloud ended up having (likely) the fake one at the ending cutscene.
Basically we saw things from Cloud's perspective, and only Cloud's perspective during the part where the temple collapsed and the Black Materia obviously falling into the crater, and then Cloud's perspective again just before Sephiroth stabbed Aerith. It's almost certain that those scenes that were from Cloud's own delusions, will be fleshed out as in the OG once he regain his true memories. My guess is a second visit to the Forgotten Capitol we see what actually happened to Aerith plays out, the part where Buganhagen was there at the Capitol.
Saw this pop up in my feed when you uploaded - thought "not watching yet another dribbler talking absolute bs...". Popped up again and watched just now. Jokes on me. Strong video. Thank you! The friction/resistance ("judder") you caught is an absolute spot! Would have been good to have included the absence of videos in the credits where the water funeral took place 🤓 For your next video - and I'm sure you undoubtedly will - please address that Seph BAITS Cloud into striking him, in front of a portal whereby Seph gives his blessing... where does Cloud actually return to? Thanks again! 😁
It is rumored that civilization fades after the events of OG 500 years later. Sephiroth’s motive is to be immortal and to rule over every world and every living thing when a player assesses Sephiroth. He cannot do this if this holds true. “Seven seconds…” Because of the whispers and what has been warned to Cloud over the course of both games by other characters to save Aerith, I do not believe that Aerith is completely gone and it’s game over for her. This video does not explain the holy materia that refills or the comatose bodies/empty vessels of Cloud and Aerith in a separate world. Aerith relies on Cloud’s strength regarding the white materia. I preach this all of the time but why add arbiters of fate that change destiny if we get the same outcome? That would be pointless. This is not OG. Everyone expects Aerith to die. For a story to be epic, there has to be an unexpected change. CC- Zack’s dream was to be a hero. His dream was fulfilled by rescuing Cloud. In turn, Cloud will rescue Aerith since Zack literally tells him to in the end. I would hope that a happier ending is to give players a choice of the outcome. But, FF7 is about life, love, and death. I believe that the only way to stop Sephiroth is Cloud, not Aerith, since Cloud is the only one who possesses S-genes of Sephiroth/Jenova from Hojo’s experiments. Zack has G-genes, therefore uncontrolled by Sephiroth. IMO, Cloud will die in the finale to finally end Sephiroth. Based on the LOVELESS poem and performance, my theory aligns: Act V Even if the morrow is barren of promises Nothing shall forestall my return To become the dew that quenches the land To spare the sands, the seas, the skies I offer thee this silent sacrifice Cloud’s is miserable after OG and he is constantly searching for Aerith (AC, Mobius, WoFF, Dissidia, Nojima’s OtWtaS). To sacrifice your life to save someone you love would be the ultimate sacrifice. It would still be a tragic love story: “A LOVE that can never be.” -the narrator says in the original 1997 FF7 trailer.
I've never thought of this reverse ending where Aerith lives and cloud is the one that actually dies. Very interesting and one that would make me depressed for a month lol
The main thing regarding the Aerith bubble that her and cloud seem to be in is that it is the same color that represents a divergence in worlds. It's seen many times throughout the game such as when Zack chooses whether to save biggs or go to hojos lab. His decision sparked a split in worlds. I believe that this is what happens when cloud "saves" aerith. Instead of her dying, the worlds split once again where aeirth dies in one and lives in the other. Cloud then gets moved to the world where he saved her whereas the rest of the party is in the world where she dies which is why they are all seen sad. Aerith, being heavily connected to the lifestream, knows about the world split which is why she doesnt bother trying to talk to anyone other than cloud. Red XIII also having heavy connections to the lifestream is also able to sense Aerith in the last scene even though she's "dead" in his world. But all of this doesnt explain what happened with her body since the game cuts that part out. Its possible the game doesnt show it because two totally different events occur. In the world she dies, she obviously gets the water burial. But in the world she lives, which seems to only manifest for cloud, she stays at the capitol to continue praying (idk why, but that's the only thing i can think of). Overall, it'd be cool if aerith is somehow able to live after all this, but we'll just have to wait 3-4 years to find out 🙃
Yes it is! Life pulled my focus away for a few months, but I’m making progress again. The script is done, recordings are done, assets are produced, and I’m half way through storyboarding the shots themselves
Hands down, this is the most insightful and comprehensive explanation of the Rebirth ending I've come across-an absolutely masterful video. The idea that Cloud creates his own 'desired reality' where Aerith survives is spot on. It perfectly ties in with the Aerith and Cloud date scene, which I now see as Aerith’s version of her own 'desired reality'-a world where everyone accepts their fate. This also explains why only Cloud sees the rapture in the sky. That rapture exists only in his desired reality and it is short-lived. Most likely will crumble when he finally realizes (or accepts?) Aerith's death. This potentially sets up the newest plot twist unique to the Remake trilogy: Zack may possibly exist only as part of Aerith's 'desired reality,' where Zack survives. We should ask why bring Zack to life to begin with? Because Zack would be the one who saves Cloud from his mental breakdown during the Lifestream sequence in Part 3.
@@MiseFreisin Well, the whole point of Tifa's life stream sequence at Rebirth is for Sephiroth to "stab" Tifa inside Weapon, so her voice "couldn't reach Cloud anymore", right? So, yeah.
I think the Aerith that "wakes up" after the bosses and thereafter in the cutscenes is actually Jenova, in some form. All the lines Aerith says at the end are all quotes from earlier in the game(s). Almost like mimickry. I think that is Jenova taking the form of Aerith to help manipulate Cloud so he can deliver the black materia to sephiroth.
Cloud is basically all of us after playing disc 1 of OGFF7, heavy on copium. “She isn’t really dead!” “She’ll come back, right?” I was super disturbed playing through this part of the game, because over the years I delved deep into the meta narrative of the story and I found out how important Cloud’s fragile psyche is implicative of what happens next in the story, and beyond. Watching this ending sequence just makes me dread the absolute depressing event in the Northern Crater and onward. I think they did a good job spending the whole game building up for that part, because unlike popular perception of FF7, the best scene isn’t Aerith’s death, it’s the revelation in the Northern Crater, and then later in the lifestream. That is truely the game’s peak of storytelling and I am glad the dev are doing a slow burn toward it. I remember that when I first saw Aerith die, I didn’t feel too depressed and was able to continue the game. However, the scene where Cloud gave up on his identity and surrendered the Black Materia to Sephiroth made me so sick that I had to stop playing for a week. All of this heavy coping Cloud is doing with Aerith’s passing is building up to that sweet payoff.
Nice video, deeply appreciate it. I truly enjoyed you breaking down where all the character stood. It's too bad Square Enix had relevant information inserted into NPC chatter that's pretty miss-able... I know I never came across it during my playthrough. My personal thoughts is Aerith is both alive and dead, it just makes the most sense to me. ✦ Stamp Dog, Beagle World: Aerith is dead (Cloud is sorta knowing this fact with recalling the scene with Aerith falling foreword with her materia dropping. As you showed already in this video. ✦ Stamp Dog, breed unknown .. World: Aerith is alive and Cloud sees simtatiously his Stamp Dog, Beagle world and the world he created to save Aerith. In the newly created world is a sky rift. An alike sky rift as the one seen before in the nicknamed 'dream' world that's really the Stamp dog Pomeranian world. What an NPC said the sky rift is, is an omen of the end of the world. So we can guess that even though Cloud saved a version of Aerith... she'll have to face that her new world and come to terms it will come to an end very soon. So don't assume the 3rd game the FF7 Remake will necessarily be all hopeful for Aerith because we don't know how much story changes they'll make. Another aspect to take into consideration is why Square Enix would focus so much on Sephiroth informing Cloud (and us the audience) on multiple worlds being created and showed a blurry footage of Zack's story and him making different choices leading to different outcomes. I'm confident they want us to know that information, that is key to this new story they want to tell. Lastly if your curious why Cloud felt compelled to save Aerith other then it's a good act, look at FF7 Remake. In one point during the game, Cloud shed a tear when Aerith walked away from him. It's true we the audience did not know why he was at the point of crying but we have make a logical guess that he might have seen a bit of Aerith's (1997) fate; I'm guessing the planet somehow gave Cloud hints about her death. If your still unsure, lets return to FF7Rebirth. There is a side quest you can do with Aerith and Cloud at Cosmo Canyon where they photograph stars together and at the end. Cloud addresses Aerith, he goes out of his way to call out to her, then he is quiet trying to find the right words to say to her then eventually drops it. Again I don't know what he wanted to say to her but if he -did know about her future.. it would be a pressing matter that would cause most folks to be uncertain how to launch the conversation to begin with.
This is one of the best videos ive watched on the ending, it really cemented my own theory with the addition of the "bubble" outside of reality. I dont believe they are going with a multiverse angle either i just think they're eluding to it to create talking points and keep the series trending, they left it looking so uncertain on purpose for sure
Square Enix confirmed there are multiple worlds in FF7 Rebirth according to the official guide book “FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH ULTIMANIA”. It also indicates that aerith may be saved by cloud or not. It is unknown.😅
It would be really cool if we get the chance to influence the outcome by taking into consideration the saves of remakes, the remake resolution, the rebirth saves and the rebirth dates. It would be a very big payoff for all the fans and shippers involved.
I don't understand why you didn't mention that Cloud had to cross a portal ? From that moment he is not at the same "level" of the rest of the party. If the devs simply wanted to isolate Cloud from the rest of the team they could have made them fight the Whispers, and Cloud would have found an opening while the others were still battling them. In that case they made him the only one crossing it (Did Aerith cross one too ? ) I guess there is a reason. Otherwise what would be the point to create that direct reference with the last chapter in Remake ? Is that a white feather on the right side at 2:42 ? Unlike the others that one appears white and stays white. When Cloud let Aerith on the ground, she has the burial pose we can see her hands on her belly like in the OG but when he comes back she has her arms along her body (like Aerith in her bed in the other world) In the last final cutscene Aerith is, at first, not impacted by the Tiny Bronco but when Cloud talks to her suddenly she is.
Aunque el análisis de las escenas está muy bien, cuando respondés las preguntas estás otra vez haciendo suposiciones, o dando por ciertas cuestiones sobre las que solo se puede especular.
Perhaps in game 3 we will be shown how the alternate realities where we see Zack is alive formed when Cloud could not cope with his death and the same happens with the death of Aerith. Also, perhaps the reason that the worlds Zack inhabits are ‘ending’ is because despite his foggy memories, Cloud is starting to accept the fact that Zack is dead.
20:17 What I have never seen people talk about is how at the lake funeral scene, just before "Aerith" appears, is how we see flashes of the white materia. It's an interesting choice, as they just could have went with using scenes that show Aerith's death instead of the white materia plunging into the lake, if they really wanted to indicate that Cloud is just suppressing Aerith's passing. I don't think that post-death Aerith is Jenova, she is too much like her and nothing in her behavior seems to indicate that. Why would Jenova be sad about other characters mourning her death, or have a solemn look on her face when she looks at the plane leaving? I feel like that this is Aerith from the OG, one who might have different goals than all the other versions, and the one who might be responsible for Remake Aerith's knowledge of the future, as she might use the white materia as some form of communication with her other self/selves? And now Cloud is able to see her, as he is in possession of the clear (formerly white) materia. (Also, there seem to be two different Sephiroths as well?)
I wonder what the sephia tone memories mean? The Jenova glitch is clearly green tinged but the sephia tone ones pique my interests. Maybe they are Cloud's true recollection if events coming through.
Very good analysis. My current read is that the Aerith at the ending scene of the sanctuary is different than the one who shows up next to the Tiny Bronco. Their actions and the musical motifs feel way too different for them to be one and the same to me.
Gonna make a bold guess about the Whispers and their identity. White Whispers: The spirit of the Cetra which coincides with the white materia that Ilfana and Aerith carried. Black Whispers: A mix of Jenova tainted Cetra and some of the Gi….The Gi want the black materia as does Sephiroth to propel his plan(s) further….
Imagine my disappointment when I discovered that this was your first video. I enjoyed this video so much that I wanted more. Now I'm feeling like a crackhead going through withdrawals as I wait for Part 2: Not A Multiverse. 😂
Whether it's a multiverse or not, which I'm still hoping it's not, your analysis at least proves to me that without the overly drawn out boss fights and the Zack stuff, the ending is much more emotionally resonant and vastly improved. I think reframing Aerith's death through the lens of Cloud's denial is brilliant, but while playing the game it was diluted by so much of the other stuff that it really didn't come through as strongly as it should have. Hopefully part 3 goes back to this scene and provides a more emotionally focused presentation of it.
I think the lifestream sequence is going to be extremely comprehensive and will expand on the OG version. So not only will it be about Cloud and Tifa's past but probably also a reconciliation of all of Cloud's past traumas - including Aerith's death. Because repairing Cloud's mind in the remake has now become much more involved than the original. This time he also has to face and overcome her death, and until that's done the story can't progress like it did in the OG. They'll definitely revisit this scene in much more detail and provide fans the closure they intentionally removed from Rebirth's ending.
There are multiple worlds, but these worlds are not equal. We have to wonder why, in Zack's reality, everyone talks about losing their sense of time. Why Zack constantly finds himself confronted by groups of Shinra grunts in a very conspicuous way. We also have to consider how Cloud visited Aerith's dream world, not physically, but in a kind of psychic projection while unconscious. So there is a physical world, in which the main struggle against Sephiroth takes place, then there are these spiritual worlds that are doomed to fade.
@@CrowsofAcheron Zack's world in general doesn't make sense. Zack isn't from it, he got transported to it, same with Biggs. I'm not sure who is even a native of that world.
And ppl think ff7 is overrated. This story is absolutely nuts. Part 3 needs closure of Zack's storyline too, and more explanation of what his part is in 2.
I also dont like when people talk about "timelines". There is no timeline, only one planet but multiple worlds, which are split from it. If you remember in the OG, you see multiple Clouds in the lifestream section. They will all come together from the different split worlds and reunite. The same will happen to the world. The Dead will return to the lifestream and Clouds will not have "clouded eyes" anymore as Sephiroth states in Rebirths Ending. Then Cloud will see the truth. Aka Aerith is dead and it happened like in the OG. Pay close attention to Clouds speech where he is moving his lips but we dont hear him speak. It all HAPPENED. FF7 Return will be the title.
Exactly my thoughts. In the background of the lifestream sequence in the OG you can even see the same exact rift that's shown in the skies in Rebirth, highlighting these different lifestream worlds.
Devs have confirmed she’s dead. This will be the main plot device to shatter Cloud’s mind in part 3, since he SPOKE to Zack at the end of Rebirth. As for the final name, all we need to do is look at the One Winged Angel subtitle on the Rebirth soundtrack. In Remake it was Rebirth, in Rebirth is it Reborn. Reborn IS the title of the third game.
what i don't get is - are the whispers controlling Cloud's sword trying to hit Aerith when you press the triggers or are you trying to hold yourself back?
Whatever is going on with Tifa when she sees Aerith and glitches out is the key to all this, I think. If Tifa is seeing the reality where Aerith is saved, then maybe he did save her for real. If she is just experiencing Cloud’s delusions, then there is something going on with her…
I believe what Tifa was seeing was the 'real' events, and a way to tell the audience she (and the rest of the party) sees something different than Cloud. I think that's what everybody except Cloud was seeing. They just chose Tifa's PoV because she's the one with the strongest connection to Aerith after Cloud.
@@RioFordays I don’t know, because the glitches happen from her POV and it looks like she is experiencing Cloud’s reality temporarily as well. The only thing that’s changed for her is falling into the lifestream. So does she have access to experiencing the ‘golden/rainbow reality’ slightly from this or is it some kind of connection with Cloud’s psyche?
What weird is that if she really saw things through Cloud's eyes, she should be seeing Aerith's eyes open and talking to Cloud. What we see is the blood gone, then not-gone. Cloud is still holding Aerith's hand to his face.
My biggest question is whether Cloud really knows and understands that Aerith is dead. He seems very flippant and callous about moving along when the party is mourning, just after (perhaps) seeing Aerith beside him.
@@BadLuckWhileThinking This is a big change from the OG story, but it makes sense. One could question why was Cloud able to accept Aerith's death so readily but not Zack's. I thank you for this video because you've pretty much solved one of biggest mysteries of the Remake trilogy. The Lifestream is full of memories (as restated in Ever Crisis), but the memories aren't just of events that happened, but also memories of things *wished* for. As stated by the NPC, the Lifestream doesn't really differentiate the two. I find this a genius move and is basically an expansion of the Lifestream sequence near the end of FF7. Tifa had to help Cloud by separating the memories stemming from Cloud's innermost desire to be strong enough to save Tifa after her accident (his wish to be a first-class soldier returning home at Sephiroth's side) and his memories of what really happened. This also explains the "tear" we see in the sky in Zack's world which also present in the depiction of Cloud's mind while in the Lifestream in FF7. All this points to the Lifestream sequence in Part 3 to be way heavier and more impactful than the original.
All of the music is from either from the last chapter of the game or from when Tifa goes into the lifestream in Chapter 9. I just turned the dialog and effects off while capturing the footage.
I really appreciate the thought and analysis that went into this video, there are many details that I never noticed. However, it seems you are dismissing the idea that it can very much be a real, different reality that Cloud is experiencing, not just a hallucination or Aerith’s spirit. To me it seems that when Sephiroth started the “merging of worlds” phenomena like Cloud creating a separate reality/world based on his wishes is able to manifest, as well as Zack helping Cloud temporarily, etc. Heck, even the white whispers are able to bring Aerith back through the iridescent portal to help cloud in the final battle (which is why Sephiroth tells Aerith that he underestimated her.) Remember that when the party messed with fate in remake, new worlds with different outcomes were created within the lifestream, even though they are destined to fade. Basically, I think cloud saved a version of Aerith and he is somehow simultaneously living in two worlds, which is also why he sees the rift in the sky at the end. Hopefully part 3 will answer this. Great video! I am definitely subscribing.
I think people need to stop and think about Aerith’s prayer… because I don’t think she actually summons Holy. She asks for protection for her friends ( not herself, mind ) which the planet may use her and the Weapons for their protection, and she asks for guidance which the planet grants… by facilitating her death and joining the LS where knowledge is housed. The golden bubble could be the planet granting Aerith’s prayer for protection, giving her a chance to “deflect” Sephiroth’s attempt to fully control Cloud. He partially succeeds, meaning NC is where he needs to give him the final push. Cloud’s empty white materia is going to be filled with a pure wish, hope/dream: to see their loved ones again and that’s what sets the events of FF7 into motion ending with Cloud seeing Zack and Aerith are together and waiting on the other side for everyone with everyone.
did you address the comment by cloud to not look at the sky, is this him imagining this (he had seen it in the dream sequence with Aerith) or is he seeing something others can't?
Good analysis and pretty much lines up with my initial impressions of the ending, although you obviously looked at things in much more detail. Feel SE really shot themselves in the foot with the extended boss rush instead of the original quiet Jenova fight under Aerith's theme. Splitting the game into three parts didn't mean we had to have a big climactic Sephiroth battle at the end of every single one.
Felt like Aerith did more damage than good by subverting Cloud’s expectations if she is responsible for the alter scene. If it’s all Cloud than the he is way more mentally f**ked than he was in the OG
18:04 "What if coming into contact with that energy allowed us to 'peer through the looking glass' so to speak?" Kinda explains why Tifa sees what she sees. She's came into contact with the Lifestream earlier, sat inside a giant orb of materia, and got mildly mako poisoned.
I really liked the theory that equates the rainbow effects to the Nordic bifrost, the bridge to the world tree. Any time you cast a spell, that effect pops up and the same thing for summons too. Dirge of Cerberus also brought up there being a mini lifestream for each person, which my head cannon equates to the MP that materia uses for spells. We also see these liminal spaces independent of reality wherever we fight Jenova or go through a portal to fight Sephiroth. This leads me to believe that the Jenova cells inside both Cloud and Sephiroth are acting as a kind of materia to help delude Cloud. Ultimately, Sephiroth's existence hinges on Cloud being alive so this is the best way to keep Cloud as a useful tool.
Yea, after the whole theory of the multiverse was debunked, I'd say you are 100% correct. Although no one can really say what's happening with Zack since apparently he still is alive in another world be it in the lifestream. What I don't understand is why Sephiroth didn't want to go after Zack as well since he knew he was Aerith's boyfriend. Honestly they seem to be going the safe route in trying to keep the story similar to the OG as possible even if it may be a sequel in order to "piss off" the least amount of fans of the original who wanted a 1 to 1 remake. Part 3 once it hits the main story beats does have the potential to go off the rails which I hope once it hits the main beats that it does. The Aerith date in the dream world was not the Terrier world like many think, but the Pommerainian world. Potentially, Aerith has the chance to wake up in the Terrier world. The question will be in part 3 is, will the rest of the characters from the compilation appear... Genesis, Minerva, Elfe, Verdot, Rosso, Shelke, Evan, etc... if they do, part 3 could prove to be twice as long as Rebirth as far as exploration, side quests, and a longer main story with the potential for DLC afterwards. Personally I was hoping that the Terrier world was a parallel Universe created by Minerva/The Planet as a way to balance the scales of fate against Sephiroth's new power. Which would have been all the OG events happening but starting from the end of Crisis Core, Zack lives bringing Cloud to Midgar seeking out Aerith first. The story would be wildly different I'm sure, but it would have been interesting to say the least. If so, Rebirth probably would have been much longer. I still think they should have given Zack at least one playable chapter with a boss and maybe a support character helping him like Biggs or actually Kunsel.
I already knew THAT was coming, because when I looked at the 'Aerith Death Scene' and played it back in slow-motion and that BLADE actually PIERCED THROUGH AERITH IN THE BACK {even if we couldn't see it} and when Sephiroth took it out of her and the blade had blood coated on it, yeah, I knew that Aerith was already dead. I mean a blade cutting through you like that will kill you instantly. Sephiroth actually succeeded to kill Aerith {Remake Aerith}! 😲 {I actually yelled the other night, 'HE KILLED HER!'}. Dang, you'd think ALL of the times he actually FAILED in trying to do that. He made his MARK this time around {evidenced by the blood on the blade}. I'm more scared about Cloud in Part 3! I think our boy Cloud needs a REALLY big and I mean BIG hug! All that is left is that other Aerith in the other timeline. Cloud is NOT going to be okay come the finale. I think he was losing it back in Remake. He''s BLOCKING OUT what had actually taken place, thinking that he did save Aerith. He really didn't. I STRONGLY believe that Remake Sephiroth, the one who we met in Edge of Creation in Remake AND at the end of Rebirth, however, WANTS AERITH ALIVE! BUT...that other NEW Sephiroth {Edge of Creation Sephiroth}, I think him coming back is HIM COMMUNICATING from the Northern Cave! I mean how did he return to Rebirth at the end to mess with Rufus? And if he dies in Part 3, {1000% REAL and I am NOT ready for that part!}, I'm going to CRY MY EYES OUT. Part 3 in 2027 IS going to BREAK ME. The EOC fight is EERILY similar to how Sephiroth would train pre-Crisis Core with Angeal, Genesis, & Zack. He doesn’t really attack Cloud, instead just doing some parrying. I actually prefer Remake/Edge of Creation Sephiroth more than the Rebirth one. The Rebirth one during that speech at the Temple put me to sleep! 🥱😴Not gonna lie. .
Fun fact that I don’t see mentioned often, you have a choice whether to give the black material to Red Or Barret. I’m surprised how many people I see that gave it to Reed and some even think that he’s the only option, but I have always given mine to Barret.
There's no reason to use Jenova or timeline shenanigans to explain why Aerith appears at the end. It's established in prior works that the Cetra can linger on after death and visit people as a spirit. In time they will have to fade away into the life stream.
@CrowsofAcheron they spent the back end of rebirth explaining how jenova takes the form of those who have died. Loads of emphasis on that. It wouldn't be for nothing. Plus, when she says, "Promise... It's a second home to me... I'll send up smoke, etc... It's all just lines from prior in the game(s). As if Jenova is mimicking her. Why reiterate multiple times that jenova can take the form of those you hate, those you love... the faces of dead and all that... if they dont actually implement it into the game at all?
This is almost exactly the theory I had of this scene. The rainbow circle is Cloud's perception. The lack of rainbow is reality. To me it was seeing the white materia flying over the edge. Why would they show the same thing with rainbow, then no rainbow? Why would Aerith fall foward if Cloud had deflected the blade? There is one reality, one Aerith in this scene.
Cloud having a unique perspective, one contrary to his friends, perfectly mirrors his arc in the original. I dont think the Nibelheim incident is going to be replayed and the source of conflict when the party reach the Northern Crater, it will be the events of the Forgotten Capital. Sepheroths illusion will be the events of the main reality, the one Cloud doesnt seem to be aware of - Aerith dieing, Clouds monologue and the funeral scene instead of Nibelheim burning and Zack etc.. Cloud will refute this as just being an illusion designed to mess with them- he seems to think that Aerith is alive and ok -staying on in the forgotten capital not really registering the events that have the party so sad after the funeral scene. This will lead to the party contradicting him and eventually the breaking of Cloud as they tell him the "truth" from their point of view (Just like the Nibelheim incident in the original, Tifa is not lieing, she just lacks the whole picture.) Once we get to the lifestream sequence the others may learn the truth of Clouds perspective as it is revealed to them. I think we will get the missing scene between "Aerith, wake up" and the funeral scene at this point, I think that Aerith is the one who messed with Clouds memory at this point maybe using the white whispers. I still cant see Aerith making it out of part 3 alive but that is my take on what was set up in rebirth. Nibelheim will more than likely take a back seat in terms of relevance to the key events coming up. Tifa already got her main revelation about Cloud after her jaunt through the lifestream in Gongaga - that he is a hero and the real Cloud from her childhood. She doesnt gain this certainty until after the events of the lifestream in the original game.
Not a bad theory but Nibelheim can’t take a backseat. It’s too important to Sephiroth, Cloud, and Tifa. It answers the question of who Cloud is and what happened to Sephiroth and thus the basis of their rivalry. I think that whole sequence will just be longer. For me I think the trailer/opening for part 3 will be the funeral to confirm to the player that Aerith is dead. And then it will cut to Cloud’s last convo with Aerith to confirm Cloud’s headspace
@@kalanbell1057 If this was any other franchise id say there is no way the funeral scene would be in a trailer - but the remake trailers have been spoilerific so far so I suppose anything goes. So youre certain she is fully dead? No wiggle room for her to tag back in at some point? I go back and forth on it, but I will find it pretty underwhelming if all the talk about changing fate, defying destiny and the future being unwritten was all for nothing in the end.
Exactly what I had in mind. Even if I think the photo is going to be important. Because we will see that Zack carries the buster sword it will be an other step before the mental breakout. By doing that they don't really need to reveal whether Aerith is dead or not all that matters is what Cloud believes at the moment. And the lifestream scene might be a kind of redemption arc for Cloud. Visiting each step of his life since his chilhood with the help of others characters's consciousness; his mother, Zack, a young Tifa ...
@@stephenb3026 yea that’s why I said opening as well so if anything we don’t get spoiled prior to playing the game. The only reason i mentioned a trailer is it would create crazy hype. It would also answer a question about the ending, as the developers recently said the ending is from Cloud’s (false) perspective. That being said i do think there is room for her to tag in. “Omni” Aerith helping Cloud at the end was done for a reason so I think she’ll show up again. I also believe through flashbacks we will see a lot of Aerith from Tifa. Conversations, etc. I also think she’ll play a role in helping her restore Cloud. I understand your point about fate but that’s always the tease isn’t it? The hope that fate can be broken when it actually can’t? Either way it always comes back and I think Rebirth shows this effectively by showing Biggs still getting killed by shinra guards, Zack keeps running into the “final confrontation”, and more disturbingly Sephiroth always killing Aerith
This is a nice theory but I still believe it's an alternate world. If it isn't this whole project is extremely misleading and provided false hope to Aerith and Zack fans. I will be extremely disappointed and angry if after all the Whispers stuff and defying fate teases all we get is the original game's outcome. I truly hope you're wrong on this one. It's also painfully obvious most people want Aerith to die. I don't and will hate this project if she does.
FF7 Remake had the meta of the whispers being the fans who dont want things to be changed from OG, FF7 Rebirth's meta is making Cloud portray the feelings of fans who dont want Aerith to die/ still think she's alive which stems from his denial and refusal to accept the truth of reality. quite poetic how they put you in Cloud's shoes more than ever. the whole point of the Remake series was to deliver this story to a newer audience and realize all the things they couldnt back in the day due to their limited technology in the 1990's. plus its good money/pandery. If they made the game 1:1, it wouldve been boring. Aerith has to die, otherwise it would sully all the themes OG had.
@@Mehrk Thanks for the reply. I wholeheartedly disagree and will hate part 3 if she isn't alive in an alternate world. I won't accept her duying this time. And believe me I am not purist neither wamted her to live before the project. I just think after all this BS with the ahispers she should survive. Anything else amd they have destroyed the passing of the OG game for absolutely no reason.
@@punkpop101 That's your problem not ours, I for one don't want to see some weird multiverse type scenario playing out and jokes on those who actually try to ship those insane theories when the answer lies it what had been written all along in many FF7 compilations, it is in deed the lifestream effect and forgetting about the past playing out in Cloud's memories about Zack as well. 🤣
@@apexultrawide1435 Yeah it's my problem. Square Enix can ignore people who have a problem with their games but not for long. The sales are not lying. Either create a faithful remake or give us what we were promised. False hope BS for sure wasn't what we were promised. If all of those changes amount to the OG ending and Zack and Aerith being in some kind of BS purgatory then I'm done with Square Enix simple as that. They could just release the same game we all came to like back then if they wanted to use false hope from Zack and Aerith fans to drive interest back in their dying franchise.
Dude i knew it since remake it's all inside of Clouds head , this boy somehow has the ability to unwillingly be connected to the life stream and use white materia , also he has the ability to absorb others and create certain memories ans feelings of them inside his head , like he did to Sephiroth and Zack . all this multiverses theories " Zack's timelines" don't really exist , litterally in a scene zack came out of cloud body as a black whisper for a milli second first then as zack and they fought together . it is all inside of clouds mind where zack lives as a memory and what Seph did in remake the portal is all to make his remember zack and cloud's real past , it is not a coinsidence that cloud remembers zack in part 2 of the game not in part 3 like og its because of the what hapening to zack in clouds head everytime fate comes to zack so he dies as clouds remembers he triesto defy iit so a new " miltiverse" is created till he actually remembers him . Sephirothis also indside of cloud as a memory but he has genova abiltites thats how he can all this stuff , and now he even absorbed Aerith so the good angel and the bad angel conflict inside of clouds head begins
Interesting perspective of those events. Given how articulate and graceful you are with regards to your opinion, I am not one to argue your perspective. Instead, if you're interested, I made a video of my own interpretation of some of those events: ruclips.net/video/exGUTqfKXgE/видео.html I do not intend to make any statement with regards to my video being anymore factual than yours given that both of us are interpreting the scene based on what we take out of it. Obviously, neither one of us is right or wrong until Part 3 comes out.
There is a multiverse. Already confirmed. Aerith was saved in one by cloud and died in the other. How can it be cloud suppressing his memory of aeriths death if he was also seeing those same visions in remake way before her death. Also why does tifa see the 2 aeriths. I think the party went into an alternate reality when Aerith created the portal at the end of remake because the party never came back from it. So now they have the power to change the original story and that is what is happening. Since it is conflicting with happened in the original story the two timelines as well as others sometimes glitch and converge also because sephiroth is trying to make one timeline. Eventually there will be one universe and it will depend on who’s will is stronger between cloud and party or sephiroth to determine if the story will end differently
already confirmed? by who? if it was a multiverse, there would be multiple lifestreams. if there were separate timelines, they'd have the same starting point with different stories (we dont have a detective Cloud, bartender Cloud, a Cloud that actually made First) it all branches off of after we see sephiroth appearing where he shouldnt in FF7 Remake. its one planet, encompassing a multitude of worlds (quoting from Sephiroth's info dump from the game) lets call it gaia - aka the prime timeline, anything that deviates from OG FF7 creates these pocket worlds that are all doomed to fade i.e aeriths dream world, biggs world, zacks world. ONE LIFESTREAM, ONE PLANET. sephiroth literally tells us this. PROOF: Zack bringing Cloud to Midgar should been a completely different story, but the Biggs in that world talks about having memories of Cloud from the Beagle world. the lifestream is just making worlds and mingling everyones memories and manifesting them in different spots
The developers confirmed the multiverse already. They wrote the story they can change it and that’s why they are doing. Even Zack says at the end who’s to say the worlds can’t reunite which is foreshadowing what will happen. Killing off Aerith and making her death scene confusing makes no sense if she really is dead. It kills the emotion of the scene. Why do that.. unless they actually want to keep her alive this time. Also biggest clue is no great gospel limit break?? Hello… lol… that right there says it all she will definitely be back and alive fighting in part 3 at some point. The devs are trying to make everyone happy and are doing a great job so far. My prediction is they will have 2 endings that the player will choose depending on decisions. One will end similar to OG FF7 and lead up to advent children which will be the sad ending and one will reunite the entire party and all will live which will be the happy ending. Devs already said they will do a happy ending this time there is no way of ending this game on a happy ending with Aerith and Zack dead and knowing geostigma is coming in 2 yrs along with Sephiroth still being alive. There is no closure. They will make it so this sephiroth is post advent children and cloud will end him for good or Sephiroth will make a surprise redemption although that is a stretch.
@@briansilva4165 Lies the devs did not confirm squat, and they even went as far as to say the characters that died will not return alive or something to that extend.
Fantastic video. I’ve seen so many videos on this ending, but you brought up some details others hadn’t before like absolute dark detail of Sephiroth’s sword struggling with some resistance as he pulls it out of Aerith.
Finally a theory actually based on what's in the game and not wild speculation.
Excited for the "not multiverse" pt2!
I also believe it's all in Cloud's mind. The biggest hint is the "don't look up" scene, where Cloud sees that fracture in the sky but the rest of the party don't. That same fracture can be seen in OG in the background inside Cloud's mind when you control Tifa.
@@edyc1989 No thats one layer/timeline multiverse whatever, the ending bouncing between different possibilities
This was among the best breakdowns on the ending; precise and factual. When you insert your own theories, you make it clear. Great work. Amazing ending on for an amazing game
I've seen a lot of speculation on what's happening in this part of the game, and while it is complex, it's not nearly as complicated as I've seen people assume.
The game shows us a lot which we can break down and analyze. I hope this helps make sense of what's happening during the ending
I think you missed something.
In the end of Remake, the heros go throuh a Portal.
In the Other Midgar behind the Portal, the Group is between realitys.
If you look closely, you can see that the Buildings Split into two, in the Tornado.
The "Zack" Midgar ist torn apart, the Remake Midgar is still standing.
So back to rebirth.
Cloud is entering the Building through a white portal.
Just like in the end of Remake.
But he is the only one.
Only Cloud is in Between two realitys.
In the Moment cloud stops Sephiroth, the Realitys are Splitting.
After the Jenova Fight, Cloud is missing. Cause he was not in the same Reality as his friends.
Aerith surviving and her death are hapening, but Cloud seems to Coping her Death.
Maybe sephiroth will Torcher cloud with the Memorys of her death in part 3.
To Break his Mind in the Northern crator.
GOAT
The concept that they are using is the same as FFX, is not the multiverse is a dream. I would say that the "worlds" that we are actually seeing, playing are inside the lifestring and are made of the people dream, experience, memories, etc. These memories can have a "phisical" representation the same as FFX with Tidus That why red said that the materia is made by memories of the people in the costa del Sol. So you can see that the concept that they are using are actually more spiritual and related to the death and memorys.
That also would explain why they didn't just resurrect Zack from nowhere, since he is currently living in the lifestring.
Guess the rest can be deductible from these fact, even we could say that we are actually playing in a dream that are in the lifestring since these is an remake. That could be very insteresing, the devs knowing that this is a remake not the OG, that also will justify the whisper and their role to make the "memory as much as possible as the OG.
Guess that the from OG Aeris is the last one who appear to help cloud to defeat Sephiroth
Man I'm so happy that I've found someone actually dissecting these scenes bit by bit based on what is on screen and what they have set up and shown since part 1. Beautifully well done. Subbing and will follow you into part 3 fellow scholar.
this was amazing. and i’m glad more people agree this isn’t a multiverse. i don’t think this story would do something so lazy. subbed and waiting for the next one
this is a really good video, especially for being your first on this channel. well done
I like your breakdown, how you separate each overlapping reality. Looking forward to your second video.
thank you for this breakdown! you gave me new food for thought👀
Very cool and fact based!
I waited for exactly this type of video! A complete unbiased, fact based and elaborate video
Thanks a lot and keep up your work!
Very good video and analysis :D excited for the next video! Good to see a theory and not an speculation.
This is was a fantastic video. Great work in explaining things based on analyzing the scene itself.
That was amazing work I cannot wait for the next video!
Thank you, the next one is coming, slowly. But it is coming
Make more videos please! This was an awesome explanation!
This video and channel deserves more views. Great dissection.
Very nice video. It should definitely helps those who were confused by the ending, especially on first viewer.
I find it weird however that you omitted another important hint from the ending regarding what's going on with Cloud : The fact that he's the only one who still sees Aerith during the later part of the ending (around the plane) being obviously related to only him being able to see the rift in the sky too.
That seems like a very important key point to understanding this whole thing.
Fantastic Video
Excellent breakdown and use of detail to show, not just tell. I played through the game 3 times and have watched a dozen or so other people play through some/all of the game, and really it took me going back through recording a chapter-by-chapter examination of the story beats (pulling in lore rom the other FF7 games, books, movies, etc) to reach my conclusions about the end of the game and beyond. The more I watch other people's theories, the more I tend to think they're off-base and that mine are closer to reality (though there's no way I'm right about everything), but you're the only other person I've seen use the "bubble" term for this section, and I think we ended up reasonably close. I don't think Cloud's just looking at a reality filter, though, but rather Aerith (post-OG7 Aerith in the Lifestream) using the moment to create a world that's so unstable it can't survive the moment - because Aerith MUST die.
I think one of the biggest divergences in my conclusions from what I've seen anyone else talk about is that I think the world we've been in since the end of Remake is already a "doomed" world with a cracked sky that only Aerith could see the whole game through. I think any new "world" that diverges from the OG7 story is inherently doomed, and the bigger the divergence the less stable the world and thus the faster it fails. Aerith living is the biggest divergence of them all, and that possibility can't even fully manifest, but it's enough for Aerith to give Cloud the impression that he saved her, saving his psyche for the moment. Sephiroth was counting on the moment to break Cloud, knowing that any effort by Aerith to prevent her fate was doomed - but she never tried to save herself (S: "I underestimated you."), she's always been focused on Cloud, and so she was able to defeat Sephiroth and stave things off for the time being.
Impossible to fully summarize everything here, but that's the highlight. I look forward to more videos, theories, and conversation on this game.
More videos! More videos!
It’s coming. Life and the day job have knocked me way off course, but I’m making slow progress nonetheless.
Great analysis and presentation! Thank you 🙏
This is a very thorough and astute analysis! Thank you
Amazing vidéo ! Wow I didn't really seen golden light effect in game and how it separates the scene.
Am waiting for your next vidéos and analysis 🤗
Great video!
Thanks for this succinct and clear breakdown🎉
Fantastic video, looking forward to the next one.
The rainbow effect is the creation of a different world. It's shown whenever someone travels to a different dimensions, like in the sequences with zack traveling to different dimensions and also Cloud when he's going through them with the the date sequence with Aerith etc.
It's important to Sephiroth that Cloud develops this ability, and he's actually happy he deflects his sword because it has caused a split reality, which is what Sephiroth wants in the end to change the timeline of the original FF7 world and also shows Sephiroth that he's now strong enough (as he wasn't in the end of remake, which Sephiroth specifically states). He and Aerith have this ability as it's shown that she can travel and has knowledge of the different versions of the world and Sephiroth in Remake.
Sephiroth knows Clouds perception of reality is skewed and he's easily controllable because of his connection to Cloud through his control of Jenova cells and Clouds own mental sickness and mistaken self identity. He wants to use both Clouds strength (ability to alter reality) and his confusion/easily manipulated mind to help him overcome Holy and control the lifestream so Meteor ends up finishing the job in this newer dimension/world.
I believe the white whispers are simply another dimensions protectors of its relative lifestream. They bleed into the reality of remake/rebirth when an opening between worlds is created. They protect the version of history of their own world. Both the white and black are always at odds with Sephiroth, Aerith and Cloud because of their high potential to change history through their ability to alter reality and have knowledge of other realities. Clouds flashbacks of the og events before they happen, Aeriths very obvious knowledge and hiding of that knowledge all throughout both remakr and rebirth anf Sephiroths very obvious knowledge of other realities as hes spoken directly about it.
What a great video can’t wait to hear ur thoughts on the next breakdowns
Amazing breakdown, hope to see more!
Great video. My only thing with the Aerith by the water is that I feel like if that was really Aerith, she would be more concerned/ solemn seeing Tifa and the others so upset so I think she is a hallucination. Maybe the Aerith on the field could be our Aerith 🤔. Anyway, can’t wait for your next video! I also don’t think it’s a Multiverse.
That cloud be the Jenova effect playing in Cloud's mind, it's a little creepy.
If Aerith was a projection, Red wouldn't have responded. In AC, Aerith still spoke to Cloud from the lifestream. I think Aerith will remain in the final parts until these worlds she's hiding in, die. The unknown factor for me was Marlene asking Zack to cure Cloud so that the bad future could be avoided
Excellent video. Yorcia has a perfect shorts video of the Cosmo Canyon npc Lifestream conversation on her page as well.
video opens with city of the ancients theme, I'll be staying a while
I really like the analysis made here.
I'd like to add that
- I consider the white whispers get depicted doing many things but most of the time they act in order to help or protect the party (Tifa in Gongaga, Cloud when fighting Sephiroth, healing the party after fighting Jenova Lifeclinger, guiding Zack to Cloud). This lines up with Aerith's prayer, like you mentioned.
- Cloud being the only one to be able to cross the whisper wall and reach the altar first, isolated from the rest of the party, feels intentional. The only thing that happens with the whisper wall active is the parry of the sword and the bubble. Aerith gets killed when the whisper wall falls down, so what was the point of isolating Cloud in those events anyways? To me there was something Sephiroth needed from Cloud in that moment.
Sephiroth said that the fake Black Materia is the key to the real one “between worlds”. To retrieve that, he needs his S-cell agent to be put there in that liminal space to get the real BM.
He also said that new worlds can be created by breaching fate.
I think he actually anticipated Aerith praying (he said Good Aerith, pray). The only S-cells clone capable of breaching fate in terms of emotional state and strength is Cloud.
Hence, the dark whispers let only him in towards the altar. He wants to take advantage of Aerith’s destined death to force Cloud to breach fate and create a world where he saved her. Cloud is now in the liminal space between 2 worlds, in the place where Sephiroth wants him to be to get real BM. This links back to Cloud ended up having (likely) the fake one at the ending cutscene.
Basically we saw things from Cloud's perspective, and only Cloud's perspective during the part where the temple collapsed and the Black Materia obviously falling into the crater, and then Cloud's perspective again just before Sephiroth stabbed Aerith. It's almost certain that those scenes that were from Cloud's own delusions, will be fleshed out as in the OG once he regain his true memories. My guess is a second visit to the Forgotten Capitol we see what actually happened to Aerith plays out, the part where Buganhagen was there at the Capitol.
Damn that was S Tier. Can't wait for more
Saw this pop up in my feed when you uploaded - thought "not watching yet another dribbler talking absolute bs...".
Popped up again and watched just now. Jokes on me.
Strong video. Thank you!
The friction/resistance ("judder") you caught is an absolute spot!
Would have been good to have included the absence of videos in the credits where the water funeral took place 🤓
For your next video - and I'm sure you undoubtedly will - please address that Seph BAITS Cloud into striking him, in front of a portal whereby Seph gives his blessing... where does Cloud actually return to?
Thanks again! 😁
Love this vid man. So good explaining
It is rumored that civilization fades after the events of OG 500 years later. Sephiroth’s motive is to be immortal and to rule over every world and every living thing when a player assesses Sephiroth.
He cannot do this if this holds true.
“Seven seconds…”
Because of the whispers and what has been warned to Cloud over the course of both games by other characters to save Aerith, I do not believe that Aerith is completely gone and it’s game over for her.
This video does not explain the holy materia that refills or the comatose bodies/empty vessels of Cloud and Aerith in a separate world. Aerith relies on Cloud’s strength regarding the white materia.
I preach this all of the time but why add arbiters of fate that change destiny if we get the same outcome? That would be pointless. This is not OG.
Everyone expects Aerith to die. For a story to be epic, there has to be an unexpected change.
CC- Zack’s dream was to be a hero. His dream was fulfilled by rescuing Cloud. In turn, Cloud will rescue Aerith since Zack literally tells him to in the end.
I would hope that a happier ending is to give players a choice of the outcome.
But, FF7 is about life, love, and death.
I believe that the only way to stop Sephiroth is Cloud, not Aerith, since Cloud is the only one who possesses S-genes of Sephiroth/Jenova from Hojo’s experiments. Zack has G-genes, therefore uncontrolled by Sephiroth.
IMO, Cloud will die in the finale to finally end Sephiroth.
Based on the LOVELESS poem and performance, my theory aligns:
Act V
Even if the morrow is barren of promises
Nothing shall forestall my return
To become the dew that quenches the land
To spare the sands, the seas, the skies
I offer thee this silent sacrifice
Cloud’s is miserable after OG and he is constantly searching for Aerith (AC, Mobius, WoFF, Dissidia, Nojima’s OtWtaS).
To sacrifice your life to save someone you love would be the ultimate sacrifice.
It would still be a tragic love story: “A LOVE that can never be.” -the narrator says in the original 1997 FF7 trailer.
I've never thought of this reverse ending where Aerith lives and cloud is the one that actually dies. Very interesting and one that would make me depressed for a month lol
The main thing regarding the Aerith bubble that her and cloud seem to be in is that it is the same color that represents a divergence in worlds. It's seen many times throughout the game such as when Zack chooses whether to save biggs or go to hojos lab. His decision sparked a split in worlds.
I believe that this is what happens when cloud "saves" aerith. Instead of her dying, the worlds split once again where aeirth dies in one and lives in the other. Cloud then gets moved to the world where he saved her whereas the rest of the party is in the world where she dies which is why they are all seen sad. Aerith, being heavily connected to the lifestream, knows about the world split which is why she doesnt bother trying to talk to anyone other than cloud. Red XIII also having heavy connections to the lifestream is also able to sense Aerith in the last scene even though she's "dead" in his world.
But all of this doesnt explain what happened with her body since the game cuts that part out. Its possible the game doesnt show it because two totally different events occur. In the world she dies, she obviously gets the water burial. But in the world she lives, which seems to only manifest for cloud, she stays at the capitol to continue praying (idk why, but that's the only thing i can think of).
Overall, it'd be cool if aerith is somehow able to live after all this, but we'll just have to wait 3-4 years to find out 🙃
Awesome video! Is the "not a multiverse" one still coming?
Yes it is! Life pulled my focus away for a few months, but I’m making progress again. The script is done, recordings are done, assets are produced, and I’m half way through storyboarding the shots themselves
Hands down, this is the most insightful and comprehensive explanation of the Rebirth ending I've come across-an absolutely masterful video.
The idea that Cloud creates his own 'desired reality' where Aerith survives is spot on. It perfectly ties in with the Aerith and Cloud date scene, which I now see as Aerith’s version of her own 'desired reality'-a world where everyone accepts their fate.
This also explains why only Cloud sees the rapture in the sky. That rapture exists only in his desired reality and it is short-lived. Most likely will crumble when he finally realizes (or accepts?) Aerith's death.
This potentially sets up the newest plot twist unique to the Remake trilogy: Zack may possibly exist only as part of Aerith's 'desired reality,' where Zack survives.
We should ask why bring Zack to life to begin with? Because Zack would be the one who saves Cloud from his mental breakdown during the Lifestream sequence in Part 3.
Oh no, if Zack steals Tifa's big moment, I'm gonna be so mad at SE
@@MiseFreisin Well, the whole point of Tifa's life stream sequence at Rebirth is for Sephiroth to "stab" Tifa inside Weapon, so her voice "couldn't reach Cloud anymore", right?
So, yeah.
I think the Aerith that "wakes up" after the bosses and thereafter in the cutscenes is actually Jenova, in some form. All the lines Aerith says at the end are all quotes from earlier in the game(s). Almost like mimickry. I think that is Jenova taking the form of Aerith to help manipulate Cloud so he can deliver the black materia to sephiroth.
Love this video
really good video! keep it goin dude!
damn it! I dont like subscribing to channels, but after this awesome video, I had to! cant wait for the next one!!
I need that sephiroth reborn video
Cloud is basically all of us after playing disc 1 of OGFF7, heavy on copium. “She isn’t really dead!” “She’ll come back, right?”
I was super disturbed playing through this part of the game, because over the years I delved deep into the meta narrative of the story and I found out how important Cloud’s fragile psyche is implicative of what happens next in the story, and beyond. Watching this ending sequence just makes me dread the absolute depressing event in the Northern Crater and onward. I think they did a good job spending the whole game building up for that part, because unlike popular perception of FF7, the best scene isn’t Aerith’s death, it’s the revelation in the Northern Crater, and then later in the lifestream. That is truely the game’s peak of storytelling and I am glad the dev are doing a slow burn toward it.
I remember that when I first saw Aerith die, I didn’t feel too depressed and was able to continue the game. However, the scene where Cloud gave up on his identity and surrendered the Black Materia to Sephiroth made me so sick that I had to stop playing for a week. All of this heavy coping Cloud is doing with Aerith’s passing is building up to that sweet payoff.
The copium was real especially after Cait Sith comes back right after his "death". I thought that some way, somehow Aerith would come back.
Nice video, deeply appreciate it. I truly enjoyed you breaking down where all the character stood.
It's too bad Square Enix had relevant information inserted into NPC chatter that's pretty miss-able... I know I never came across it during my playthrough.
My personal thoughts is Aerith is both alive and dead, it just makes the most sense to me.
✦ Stamp Dog, Beagle World:
Aerith is dead (Cloud is sorta knowing this fact with recalling the scene with Aerith falling foreword with her materia dropping. As you showed already in this video.
✦ Stamp Dog, breed unknown .. World:
Aerith is alive and Cloud sees simtatiously his Stamp Dog, Beagle world and the world he created to save Aerith. In the newly created world is a sky rift. An alike sky rift as the one seen before in the nicknamed 'dream' world that's really the Stamp dog Pomeranian world. What an NPC said the sky rift is, is an omen of the end of the world. So we can guess that even though Cloud saved a version of Aerith... she'll have to face that her new world and come to terms it will come to an end very soon. So don't assume the 3rd game the FF7 Remake will necessarily be all hopeful for Aerith because we don't know how much story changes they'll make.
Another aspect to take into consideration is why Square Enix would focus so much on Sephiroth informing Cloud (and us the audience) on multiple worlds being created and showed a blurry footage of Zack's story and him making different choices leading to different outcomes.
I'm confident they want us to know that information, that is key to this new story they want to tell.
Lastly if your curious why Cloud felt compelled to save Aerith other then it's a good act, look at FF7 Remake. In one point during the game, Cloud shed a tear when Aerith walked away from him. It's true we the audience did not know why he was at the point of crying but we have make a logical guess that he might have seen a bit of Aerith's (1997) fate; I'm guessing the planet somehow gave Cloud hints about her death.
If your still unsure, lets return to FF7Rebirth.
There is a side quest you can do with Aerith and Cloud at Cosmo Canyon where they photograph stars together and at the end. Cloud addresses Aerith, he goes out of his way to call out to her, then he is quiet trying to find the right words to say to her then eventually drops it. Again I don't know what he wanted to say to her but if he -did know about her future.. it would be a pressing matter that would cause most folks to be uncertain how to launch the conversation to begin with.
Excellent analysis of this final scene and choice of music. Where is it from? If it's from rebirth I don't think i remember, ha!
Most of it is from the last chapter of the game with the dialog turned off, and the rest is from the segment where Tifa is in the Lifestream
This is one of the best videos ive watched on the ending, it really cemented my own theory with the addition of the "bubble" outside of reality. I dont believe they are going with a multiverse angle either i just think they're eluding to it to create talking points and keep the series trending, they left it looking so uncertain on purpose for sure
Square Enix confirmed there are multiple worlds in FF7 Rebirth according to the official guide book “FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH ULTIMANIA”. It also indicates that aerith may be saved by cloud or not. It is unknown.😅
It would be really cool if we get the chance to influence the outcome by taking into consideration the saves of remakes, the remake resolution, the rebirth saves and the rebirth dates. It would be a very big payoff for all the fans and shippers involved.
when they say multiple worlds, it's all in the lifestream but i think it's still one planet and one soul for each character
Sephiroth himself talks about worlds, but within the context of the lifestream so it still doesn't sound like multiverse
@@MrsRimavelle you're the one talking about multiverse
Well done!
I don't understand why you didn't mention that Cloud had to cross a portal ?
From that moment he is not at the same "level" of the rest of the party.
If the devs simply wanted to isolate Cloud from the rest of the team they could have made them fight the Whispers, and Cloud would have found an opening while the others were still battling them.
In that case they made him the only one crossing it (Did Aerith cross one too ? ) I guess there is a reason. Otherwise what would be the point to create that direct reference with the last chapter in Remake ?
Is that a white feather on the right side at 2:42 ? Unlike the others that one appears white and stays white.
When Cloud let Aerith on the ground, she has the burial pose we can see her hands on her belly like in the OG but when he comes back she has her arms along her body (like Aerith in her bed in the other world)
In the last final cutscene Aerith is, at first, not impacted by the Tiny Bronco but when Cloud talks to her suddenly she is.
really good video
Aunque el análisis de las escenas está muy bien, cuando respondés las preguntas estás otra vez haciendo suposiciones, o dando por ciertas cuestiones sobre las que solo se puede especular.
Perhaps in game 3 we will be shown how the alternate realities where we see Zack is alive formed when Cloud could not cope with his death and the same happens with the death of Aerith.
Also, perhaps the reason that the worlds Zack inhabits are ‘ending’ is because despite his foggy memories, Cloud is starting to accept the fact that Zack is dead.
20:17 What I have never seen people talk about is how at the lake funeral scene, just before "Aerith" appears, is how we see flashes of the white materia.
It's an interesting choice, as they just could have went with using scenes that show Aerith's death instead of the white materia plunging into the lake, if they really wanted to indicate that Cloud is just suppressing Aerith's passing.
I don't think that post-death Aerith is Jenova, she is too much like her and nothing in her behavior seems to indicate that. Why would Jenova be sad about other characters mourning her death, or have a solemn look on her face when she looks at the plane leaving?
I feel like that this is Aerith from the OG, one who might have different goals than all the other versions, and the one who might be responsible for Remake Aerith's knowledge of the future, as she might use the white materia as some form of communication with her other self/selves? And now Cloud is able to see her, as he is in possession of the clear (formerly white) materia.
(Also, there seem to be two different Sephiroths as well?)
Incredible analysis. Thank you for all the work you put into this.
Aerith at the very end is clearly Jenova
More!!!!
I’m here because of Nockat.
Welcome
I wonder what the sephia tone memories mean? The Jenova glitch is clearly green tinged but the sephia tone ones pique my interests. Maybe they are Cloud's true recollection if events coming through.
Very good analysis. My current read is that the Aerith at the ending scene of the sanctuary is different than the one who shows up next to the Tiny Bronco. Their actions and the musical motifs feel way too different for them to be one and the same to me.
subbed.
Gonna make a bold guess about the Whispers and their identity.
White Whispers: The spirit of the Cetra which coincides with the white materia that Ilfana and Aerith carried.
Black Whispers: A mix of Jenova tainted Cetra and some of the Gi….The Gi want the black materia as does Sephiroth to propel his plan(s) further….
Imagine my disappointment when I discovered that this was your first video. I enjoyed this video so much that I wanted more. Now I'm feeling like a crackhead going through withdrawals as I wait for Part 2: Not A Multiverse. 😂
Whether it's a multiverse or not, which I'm still hoping it's not, your analysis at least proves to me that without the overly drawn out boss fights and the Zack stuff, the ending is much more emotionally resonant and vastly improved. I think reframing Aerith's death through the lens of Cloud's denial is brilliant, but while playing the game it was diluted by so much of the other stuff that it really didn't come through as strongly as it should have. Hopefully part 3 goes back to this scene and provides a more emotionally focused presentation of it.
I think the lifestream sequence is going to be extremely comprehensive and will expand on the OG version. So not only will it be about Cloud and Tifa's past but probably also a reconciliation of all of Cloud's past traumas - including Aerith's death. Because repairing Cloud's mind in the remake has now become much more involved than the original. This time he also has to face and overcome her death, and until that's done the story can't progress like it did in the OG. They'll definitely revisit this scene in much more detail and provide fans the closure they intentionally removed from Rebirth's ending.
There are multiple worlds, but these worlds are not equal.
We have to wonder why, in Zack's reality, everyone talks about losing their sense of time. Why Zack constantly finds himself confronted by groups of Shinra grunts in a very conspicuous way.
We also have to consider how Cloud visited Aerith's dream world, not physically, but in a kind of psychic projection while unconscious.
So there is a physical world, in which the main struggle against Sephiroth takes place, then there are these spiritual worlds that are doomed to fade.
@@CrowsofAcheron Zack's world in general doesn't make sense. Zack isn't from it, he got transported to it, same with Biggs. I'm not sure who is even a native of that world.
Hey, honest question. Did we consider that Aerith survives in another world in the same way Zack does?
so many great background tracks here, does anyone know the tracks and where they are from?
Most are from the last chapter of the game with the dialog turned off, and the rest are from the segment where Tifa is in the Lifestream
And ppl think ff7 is overrated. This story is absolutely nuts. Part 3 needs closure of Zack's storyline too, and more explanation of what his part is in 2.
I also dont like when people talk about "timelines". There is no timeline, only one planet but multiple worlds, which are split from it. If you remember in the OG, you see multiple Clouds in the lifestream section. They will all come together from the different split worlds and reunite. The same will happen to the world. The Dead will return to the lifestream and Clouds will not have "clouded eyes" anymore as Sephiroth states in Rebirths Ending. Then Cloud will see the truth. Aka Aerith is dead and it happened like in the OG. Pay close attention to Clouds speech where he is moving his lips but we dont hear him speak. It all HAPPENED. FF7 Return will be the title.
Cry more...the developers themselves said there are separate timelines. You are part of the team, yeah?
@teskakategorija8135 they're misquoting. They specifically said there are in fact "worlds" not timelines.
Exactly my thoughts. In the background of the lifestream sequence in the OG you can even see the same exact rift that's shown in the skies in Rebirth, highlighting these different lifestream worlds.
In Japanese Sephiroth doesn't talk about clouded eyes he just says that Clolud can't feel the surge of emotions happening at the moment.
Devs have confirmed she’s dead. This will be the main plot device to shatter Cloud’s mind in part 3, since he SPOKE to Zack at the end of Rebirth. As for the final name, all we need to do is look at the One Winged Angel subtitle on the Rebirth soundtrack. In Remake it was Rebirth, in Rebirth is it Reborn. Reborn IS the title of the third game.
what i don't get is - are the whispers controlling Cloud's sword trying to hit Aerith when you press the triggers or are you trying to hold yourself back?
Whatever is going on with Tifa when she sees Aerith and glitches out is the key to all this, I think. If Tifa is seeing the reality where Aerith is saved, then maybe he did save her for real. If she is just experiencing Cloud’s delusions, then there is something going on with her…
I believe what Tifa was seeing was the 'real' events, and a way to tell the audience she (and the rest of the party) sees something different than Cloud. I think that's what everybody except Cloud was seeing. They just chose Tifa's PoV because she's the one with the strongest connection to Aerith after Cloud.
@@RioFordays I don’t know, because the glitches happen from her POV and it looks like she is experiencing Cloud’s reality temporarily as well. The only thing that’s changed for her is falling into the lifestream. So does she have access to experiencing the ‘golden/rainbow reality’ slightly from this or is it some kind of connection with Cloud’s psyche?
What weird is that if she really saw things through Cloud's eyes, she should be seeing Aerith's eyes open and talking to Cloud.
What we see is the blood gone, then not-gone. Cloud is still holding Aerith's hand to his face.
@@CrowsofAcheron which to me seems like it supports the ‘Tifa sees the pocket dimension where Aerith is saved’ theory
My biggest question is whether Cloud really knows and understands that Aerith is dead. He seems very flippant and callous about moving along when the party is mourning, just after (perhaps) seeing Aerith beside him.
He 100% thinks that she is alive. Our boy is fully decoupled from reality by the end of the game
@@BadLuckWhileThinking This is a big change from the OG story, but it makes sense. One could question why was Cloud able to accept Aerith's death so readily but not Zack's. I thank you for this video because you've pretty much solved one of biggest mysteries of the Remake trilogy. The Lifestream is full of memories (as restated in Ever Crisis), but the memories aren't just of events that happened, but also memories of things *wished* for. As stated by the NPC, the Lifestream doesn't really differentiate the two. I find this a genius move and is basically an expansion of the Lifestream sequence near the end of FF7. Tifa had to help Cloud by separating the memories stemming from Cloud's innermost desire to be strong enough to save Tifa after her accident (his wish to be a first-class soldier returning home at Sephiroth's side) and his memories of what really happened. This also explains the "tear" we see in the sky in Zack's world which also present in the depiction of Cloud's mind while in the Lifestream in FF7. All this points to the Lifestream sequence in Part 3 to be way heavier and more impactful than the original.
Anyone know the name of the remix of listen to the cries of the planet? The one that plays at 4:49?
All of the music is from either from the last chapter of the game or from when Tifa goes into the lifestream in Chapter 9. I just turned the dialog and effects off while capturing the footage.
I really appreciate the thought and analysis that went into this video, there are many details that I never noticed. However, it seems you are dismissing the idea that it can very much be a real, different reality that Cloud is experiencing, not just a hallucination or Aerith’s spirit. To me it seems that when Sephiroth started the “merging of worlds” phenomena like Cloud creating a separate reality/world based on his wishes is able to manifest, as well as Zack helping Cloud temporarily, etc. Heck, even the white whispers are able to bring Aerith back through the iridescent portal to help cloud in the final battle (which is why Sephiroth tells Aerith that he underestimated her.) Remember that when the party messed with fate in remake, new worlds with different outcomes were created within the lifestream, even though they are destined to fade. Basically, I think cloud saved a version of Aerith and he is somehow simultaneously living in two worlds, which is also why he sees the rift in the sky at the end. Hopefully part 3 will answer this. Great video! I am definitely subscribing.
I think people need to stop and think about Aerith’s prayer… because I don’t think she actually summons Holy. She asks for protection for her friends ( not herself, mind ) which the planet may use her and the Weapons for their protection, and she asks for guidance which the planet grants… by facilitating her death and joining the LS where knowledge is housed.
The golden bubble could be the planet granting Aerith’s prayer for protection, giving her a chance to “deflect” Sephiroth’s attempt to fully control Cloud. He partially succeeds, meaning NC is where he needs to give him the final push.
Cloud’s empty white materia is going to be filled with a pure wish, hope/dream: to see their loved ones again and that’s what sets the events of FF7 into motion ending with Cloud seeing Zack and Aerith are together and waiting on the other side for everyone with everyone.
did you address the comment by cloud to not look at the sky, is this him imagining this (he had seen it in the dream sequence with Aerith) or is he seeing something others can't?
That’s for another video. I just wanted to focus on the specific events within the Planet’s Sanctuary as much as possible for this one.
Nockat sent me
Good analysis and pretty much lines up with my initial impressions of the ending, although you obviously looked at things in much more detail. Feel SE really shot themselves in the foot with the extended boss rush instead of the original quiet Jenova fight under Aerith's theme. Splitting the game into three parts didn't mean we had to have a big climactic Sephiroth battle at the end of every single one.
Felt like Aerith did more damage than good by subverting Cloud’s expectations if she is responsible for the alter scene. If it’s all Cloud than the he is way more mentally f**ked than he was in the OG
18:04 "What if coming into contact with that energy allowed us to 'peer through the looking glass' so to speak?"
Kinda explains why Tifa sees what she sees. She's came into contact with the Lifestream earlier, sat inside a giant orb of materia, and got mildly mako poisoned.
Thanks “No One Can Know About This”.
I really liked the theory that equates the rainbow effects to the Nordic bifrost, the bridge to the world tree. Any time you cast a spell, that effect pops up and the same thing for summons too. Dirge of Cerberus also brought up there being a mini lifestream for each person, which my head cannon equates to the MP that materia uses for spells. We also see these liminal spaces independent of reality wherever we fight Jenova or go through a portal to fight Sephiroth. This leads me to believe that the Jenova cells inside both Cloud and Sephiroth are acting as a kind of materia to help delude Cloud. Ultimately, Sephiroth's existence hinges on Cloud being alive so this is the best way to keep Cloud as a useful tool.
Yea, after the whole theory of the multiverse was debunked, I'd say you are 100% correct. Although no one can really say what's happening with Zack since apparently he still is alive in another world be it in the lifestream. What I don't understand is why Sephiroth didn't want to go after Zack as well since he knew he was Aerith's boyfriend. Honestly they seem to be going the safe route in trying to keep the story similar to the OG as possible even if it may be a sequel in order to "piss off" the least amount of fans of the original who wanted a 1 to 1 remake.
Part 3 once it hits the main story beats does have the potential to go off the rails which I hope once it hits the main beats that it does.
The Aerith date in the dream world was not the Terrier world like many think, but the Pommerainian world.
Potentially, Aerith has the chance to wake up in the Terrier world. The question will be in part 3 is, will the rest of the characters from the compilation appear... Genesis, Minerva, Elfe, Verdot, Rosso, Shelke, Evan, etc... if they do, part 3 could prove to be twice as long as Rebirth as far as exploration, side quests, and a longer main story with the potential for DLC afterwards.
Personally I was hoping that the Terrier world was a parallel Universe created by Minerva/The Planet as a way to balance the scales of fate against Sephiroth's new power. Which would have been all the OG events happening but starting from the end of Crisis Core, Zack lives bringing Cloud to Midgar seeking out Aerith first. The story would be wildly different I'm sure, but it would have been interesting to say the least. If so, Rebirth probably would have been much longer. I still think they should have given Zack at least one playable chapter with a boss and maybe a support character helping him like Biggs or actually Kunsel.
I already knew THAT was coming, because when I looked at the 'Aerith Death Scene' and played it back in slow-motion
and that BLADE actually PIERCED THROUGH AERITH IN THE BACK {even if we couldn't see it} and when Sephiroth took it out of her and the blade had blood coated on it, yeah, I knew that Aerith was already dead. I mean a blade cutting through you like that will kill you instantly. Sephiroth actually succeeded to kill Aerith {Remake Aerith}! 😲 {I actually yelled the other night, 'HE KILLED HER!'}. Dang, you'd think ALL of the times he actually FAILED in trying to do that. He made his MARK this time around {evidenced by the blood on the blade}. I'm more scared about Cloud in Part 3! I think our boy Cloud needs a REALLY big and I mean BIG hug! All that is left is that other Aerith in the other timeline. Cloud is NOT going to be okay come the finale. I think he was losing it back in Remake. He''s BLOCKING OUT what had actually taken place, thinking that he did save Aerith. He really didn't. I STRONGLY believe that Remake Sephiroth, the one who we met in Edge of Creation in Remake AND at the end of Rebirth, however, WANTS AERITH ALIVE!
BUT...that other NEW Sephiroth {Edge of Creation Sephiroth}, I think him coming back is HIM COMMUNICATING from the Northern Cave! I mean how did he return to Rebirth at the end to mess with Rufus? And if he dies in Part 3, {1000% REAL and I am NOT ready for that part!}, I'm going to CRY MY EYES OUT. Part 3 in 2027 IS going to BREAK ME. The EOC fight is EERILY similar to how Sephiroth would train pre-Crisis Core with Angeal, Genesis, & Zack. He doesn’t really attack Cloud, instead just doing some parrying.
I actually prefer Remake/Edge of Creation Sephiroth more than the Rebirth one. The Rebirth one during that speech at the Temple put me to sleep! 🥱😴Not gonna lie.
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Red XIII was manipulated in the OG, giving the black materia to who he thought was Tifa. So my theory on that Aerith being Jenova still stands :)
Fun fact that I don’t see mentioned often, you have a choice whether to give the black material to Red Or Barret. I’m surprised how many people I see that gave it to Reed and some even think that he’s the only option, but I have always given mine to Barret.
@mikemartoccio6832 i forget theres even a choice 🤣 always give it to red for some reason
There's no reason to use Jenova or timeline shenanigans to explain why Aerith appears at the end. It's established in prior works that the Cetra can linger on after death and visit people as a spirit.
In time they will have to fade away into the life stream.
@CrowsofAcheron they spent the back end of rebirth explaining how jenova takes the form of those who have died. Loads of emphasis on that. It wouldn't be for nothing. Plus, when she says, "Promise... It's a second home to me... I'll send up smoke, etc... It's all just lines from prior in the game(s). As if Jenova is mimicking her. Why reiterate multiple times that jenova can take the form of those you hate, those you love... the faces of dead and all that... if they dont actually implement it into the game at all?
This is almost exactly the theory I had of this scene.
The rainbow circle is Cloud's perception. The lack of rainbow is reality.
To me it was seeing the white materia flying over the edge. Why would they show the same thing with rainbow, then no rainbow? Why would Aerith fall foward if Cloud had deflected the blade?
There is one reality, one Aerith in this scene.
Cloud having a unique perspective, one contrary to his friends, perfectly mirrors his arc in the original.
I dont think the Nibelheim incident is going to be replayed and the source of conflict when the party reach the Northern Crater, it will be the events of the Forgotten Capital. Sepheroths illusion will be the events of the main reality, the one Cloud doesnt seem to be aware of - Aerith dieing, Clouds monologue and the funeral scene instead of Nibelheim burning and Zack etc.. Cloud will refute this as just being an illusion designed to mess with them- he seems to think that Aerith is alive and ok -staying on in the forgotten capital not really registering the events that have the party so sad after the funeral scene. This will lead to the party contradicting him and eventually the breaking of Cloud as they tell him the "truth" from their point of view (Just like the Nibelheim incident in the original, Tifa is not lieing, she just lacks the whole picture.)
Once we get to the lifestream sequence the others may learn the truth of Clouds perspective as it is revealed to them. I think we will get the missing scene between "Aerith, wake up" and the funeral scene at this point, I think that Aerith is the one who messed with Clouds memory at this point maybe using the white whispers. I still cant see Aerith making it out of part 3 alive but that is my take on what was set up in rebirth.
Nibelheim will more than likely take a back seat in terms of relevance to the key events coming up. Tifa already got her main revelation about Cloud after her jaunt through the lifestream in Gongaga - that he is a hero and the real Cloud from her childhood. She doesnt gain this certainty until after the events of the lifestream in the original game.
Not a bad theory but Nibelheim can’t take a backseat. It’s too important to Sephiroth, Cloud, and Tifa. It answers the question of who Cloud is and what happened to Sephiroth and thus the basis of their rivalry. I think that whole sequence will just be longer.
For me I think the trailer/opening for part 3 will be the funeral to confirm to the player that Aerith is dead. And then it will cut to Cloud’s last convo with Aerith to confirm Cloud’s headspace
@@kalanbell1057 If this was any other franchise id say there is no way the funeral scene would be in a trailer - but the remake trailers have been spoilerific so far so I suppose anything goes. So youre certain she is fully dead? No wiggle room for her to tag back in at some point? I go back and forth on it, but I will find it pretty underwhelming if all the talk about changing fate, defying destiny and the future being unwritten was all for nothing in the end.
Exactly what I had in mind. Even if I think the photo is going to be important. Because we will see that Zack carries the buster sword it will be an other step before the mental breakout. By doing that they don't really need to reveal whether Aerith is dead or not all that matters is what Cloud believes at the moment.
And the lifestream scene might be a kind of redemption arc for Cloud. Visiting each step of his life since his chilhood with the help of others characters's consciousness; his mother, Zack, a young Tifa ...
@@stephenb3026 yea that’s why I said opening as well so if anything we don’t get spoiled prior to playing the game. The only reason i mentioned a trailer is it would create crazy hype. It would also answer a question about the ending, as the developers recently said the ending is from Cloud’s (false) perspective.
That being said i do think there is room for her to tag in. “Omni” Aerith helping Cloud at the end was done for a reason so I think she’ll show up again. I also believe through flashbacks we will see a lot of Aerith from Tifa. Conversations, etc. I also think she’ll play a role in helping her restore Cloud.
I understand your point about fate but that’s always the tease isn’t it? The hope that fate can be broken when it actually can’t? Either way it always comes back and I think Rebirth shows this effectively by showing Biggs still getting killed by shinra guards, Zack keeps running into the “final confrontation”, and more disturbingly Sephiroth always killing Aerith
This is a nice theory but I still believe it's an alternate world. If it isn't this whole project is extremely misleading and provided false hope to Aerith and Zack fans. I will be extremely disappointed and angry if after all the Whispers stuff and defying fate teases all we get is the original game's outcome. I truly hope you're wrong on this one. It's also painfully obvious most people want Aerith to die. I don't and will hate this project if she does.
FF7 Remake had the meta of the whispers being the fans who dont want things to be changed from OG, FF7 Rebirth's meta is making Cloud portray the feelings of fans who dont want Aerith to die/ still think she's alive which stems from his denial and refusal to accept the truth of reality. quite poetic how they put you in Cloud's shoes more than ever. the whole point of the Remake series was to deliver this story to a newer audience and realize all the things they couldnt back in the day due to their limited technology in the 1990's. plus its good money/pandery. If they made the game 1:1, it wouldve been boring. Aerith has to die, otherwise it would sully all the themes OG had.
@@Mehrk Thanks for the reply. I wholeheartedly disagree and will hate part 3 if she isn't alive in an alternate world. I won't accept her duying this time. And believe me I am not purist neither wamted her to live before the project. I just think after all this BS with the ahispers she should survive. Anything else amd they have destroyed the passing of the OG game for absolutely no reason.
@@punkpop101 That's your problem not ours, I for one don't want to see some weird multiverse type scenario playing out and jokes on those who actually try to ship those insane theories when the answer lies it what had been written all along in many FF7 compilations, it is in deed the lifestream effect and forgetting about the past playing out in Cloud's memories about Zack as well. 🤣
@@apexultrawide1435 Yeah it's my problem. Square Enix can ignore people who have a problem with their games but not for long. The sales are not lying. Either create a faithful remake or give us what we were promised. False hope BS for sure wasn't what we were promised. If all of those changes amount to the OG ending and Zack and Aerith being in some kind of BS purgatory then I'm done with Square Enix simple as that. They could just release the same game we all came to like back then if they wanted to use false hope from Zack and Aerith fans to drive interest back in their dying franchise.
Dude i knew it since remake it's all inside of Clouds head , this boy somehow has the ability to unwillingly be connected to the life stream and use white materia , also he has the ability to absorb others and create certain memories ans feelings of them inside his head , like he did to Sephiroth and Zack . all this multiverses theories " Zack's timelines" don't really exist , litterally in a scene zack came out of cloud body as a black whisper for a milli second first then as zack and they fought together . it is all inside of clouds mind where zack lives as a memory and what Seph did in remake the portal is all to make his remember zack and cloud's real past , it is not a coinsidence that cloud remembers zack in part 2 of the game not in part 3 like og its because of the what hapening to zack in clouds head everytime fate comes to zack so he dies as clouds remembers he triesto defy iit so a new " miltiverse" is created till he actually remembers him . Sephirothis also indside of cloud as a memory but he has genova abiltites thats how he can all this stuff , and now he even absorbed Aerith so the good angel and the bad angel conflict inside of clouds head begins
Interesting perspective of those events. Given how articulate and graceful you are with regards to your opinion, I am not one to argue your perspective. Instead, if you're interested, I made a video of my own interpretation of some of those events:
ruclips.net/video/exGUTqfKXgE/видео.html
I do not intend to make any statement with regards to my video being anymore factual than yours given that both of us are interpreting the scene based on what we take out of it. Obviously, neither one of us is right or wrong until Part 3 comes out.
There is a multiverse. Already confirmed. Aerith was saved in one by cloud and died in the other. How can it be cloud suppressing his memory of aeriths death if he was also seeing those same visions in remake way before her death. Also why does tifa see the 2 aeriths. I think the party went into an alternate reality when Aerith created the portal at the end of remake because the party never came back from it. So now they have the power to change the original story and that is what is happening. Since it is conflicting with happened in the original story the two timelines as well as others sometimes glitch and converge also because sephiroth is trying to make one timeline. Eventually there will be one universe and it will depend on who’s will is stronger between cloud and party or sephiroth to determine if the story will end differently
already confirmed? by who? if it was a multiverse, there would be multiple lifestreams. if there were separate timelines, they'd have the same starting point with different stories (we dont have a detective Cloud, bartender Cloud, a Cloud that actually made First)
it all branches off of after we see sephiroth appearing where he shouldnt in FF7 Remake.
its one planet, encompassing a multitude of worlds (quoting from Sephiroth's info dump from the game) lets call it gaia - aka the prime timeline, anything that deviates from OG FF7 creates these pocket worlds that are all doomed to fade i.e aeriths dream world, biggs world, zacks world. ONE LIFESTREAM, ONE PLANET. sephiroth literally tells us this.
PROOF: Zack bringing Cloud to Midgar should been a completely different story, but the Biggs in that world talks about having memories of Cloud from the Beagle world. the lifestream is just making worlds and mingling everyones memories and manifesting them in different spots
The developers confirmed the multiverse already. They wrote the story they can change it and that’s why they are doing. Even Zack says at the end who’s to say the worlds can’t reunite which is foreshadowing what will happen. Killing off Aerith and making her death scene confusing makes no sense if she really is dead. It kills the emotion of the scene. Why do that.. unless they actually want to keep her alive this time. Also biggest clue is no great gospel limit break?? Hello… lol… that right there says it all she will definitely be back and alive fighting in part 3 at some point. The devs are trying to make everyone happy and are doing a great job so far. My prediction is they will have 2 endings that the player will choose depending on decisions. One will end similar to OG FF7 and lead up to advent children which will be the sad ending and one will reunite the entire party and all will live which will be the happy ending. Devs already said they will do a happy ending this time there is no way of ending this game on a happy ending with Aerith and Zack dead and knowing geostigma is coming in 2 yrs along with Sephiroth still being alive. There is no closure. They will make it so this sephiroth is post advent children and cloud will end him for good or Sephiroth will make a surprise redemption although that is a stretch.
@@briansilva4165 Lies the devs did not confirm squat, and they even went as far as to say the characters that died will not return alive or something to that extend.
Is it just me or do these people not look real? They look like cgi or something. I’m starting to think that this isn’t real at all.