Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth takes the intriguing story of its predecessor and expands it into a multiverse, unraveling complex realities and intertwined fates. The concept of alternate timelines, introduced in the finale of Final Fantasy 7 Remake, is taken further in Rebirth, where infinite realities coexist.
This multiverse results from the protagonists’ actions in Remake, where defeating the Whisper Harbinger breached fate’s boundaries. Each decision creates a branching reality, showcasing a universe filled with potential yet bound by inevitable outcomes.
Zack Fair’s survival in one timeline exemplifies the multiverse’s complexities. His survival creates a reality where events diverge significantly from the main storyline. In Rebirth, Zack faces a crucial choice that determines the path of his reality: saving Biggs, Cloud, or Aerith. Each choice births a distinct timeline, represented by variations of Stamp, a dog mascot.
These subtle differences highlight the impact of even minor decisions on the multiverse. However, Zack’s fate remains entangled with destiny, as his alternate selves are hunted down by Shinra soldiers, echoing his original timeline’s tragic end.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (Photo: Square Enix)The Inescapable Power of Destiny
While the multiverse provides a playground of possibilities, Rebirth demonstrates that destiny exerts an inescapable force. The Whispers, arbiters of fate from the previous game, return to emphasize this point. Despite the party’s efforts to break free from destiny, there are canonical paths the multiverse insists upon.
Aerith, for instance, cannot avoid Sephiroth’s pursuit across timelines. This persistent tug-of-war between choice and predestination underscores a central theme: the inevitability of fate in a multiverse brimming with possibilities.
Sephiroth emerges as a formidable antagonist with ambitions far beyond godhood. In the original Final Fantasy 7, his plan to summon a meteor and absorb the planet’s Lifestream aimed to elevate him to divine status. In Rebirth, Sephiroth seeks to rule over the entire multiverse by uniting its realities through a plan he calls “Homecoming.”
This convergence would allow him to absorb the multiverse’s combined spiritual energy, amplifying his power to infinite levels. The skies of dying worlds, torn apart and fading into the planet’s embrace, provide chilling glimpses of his plan’s apocalyptic scale.
Aerith plays a crucial role in thwarting Sephiroth’s schemes, as her Cetra heritage enables her to wield White Materia. This magical artifact is the only defense against Sephiroth’s meteor. However, her journey is fraught with challenges. Throughout the story, her encounters with the Whispers drain the White Materia’s power, rendering it useless.
Through the multiverse, an alternate Aerith gives Cloud her White Materia, ensuring the main timeline has a chance at survival. Aerith’s death remains a poignant moment, as her destiny unfolds despite attempts to alter it. Her spirit lingers, offering reassurance and hope even after her physical demise.
Cloud Strife, the story’s protagonist, becomes an increasingly unreliable narrator as his mental and physical condition deteriorates. His fragmented mind causes him to experience reality in disjointed ways, blending truth, dreams, and hallucinations. This distortion becomes particularly evident during Aerith’s death. Cloud deflects Sephiroth’s blade, seemingly saving her, yet she still dies.
The scene’s glitch-like visuals and rainbow motifs hint at multiversal interference or a vision of another reality. Cloud’s struggle to distinguish between reality and illusion adds a layer of complexity to the narrative, keeping players questioning the truth.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (Photo: Square Enix)Promises and Parallel Worlds
In Rebirth’s emotional conclusion, promises play a vital role in tying the narrative threads together. Aerith’s spirit promises Cloud that she will protect the planet by praying for the Holy, a magical force capable of stopping the meteor. Cloud vows to defeat Sephiroth, echoing themes from the original game.
Meanwhile, in another timeline, Zack contemplates the possibility of merging his world with another. His hope stems from the dire state of his reality, where Cloud suffers from mako poisoning, and Aerith lies in a coma. These promises reflect the characters’ resilience and determination to shape a better future, even across universes.
The concept of the “Reunion” resurfaces, foreshadowing dark revelations in the trilogy’s final chapter. Cloud’s connection to Sephiroth and Jenova becomes more apparent as he discovers the Black Materia in his possession. This apocalyptic artifact, linked to a summoning meteor, ties Cloud to Sephiroth’s plans.
The narrative draws parallels to the original game, where Cloud and other victims of Jenova experiments are subconsciously drawn to the Reunion – a ritual initiated by Sephiroth. Cloud’s growing awareness of his role adds a sense of foreboding, as his connection to the antagonist blurs the line between hero and pawn.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirt (Photo: Square Enix)Shinra vs. Wutai Conflict
The climactic moments of Rebirth also reveal Sephiroth’s manipulation of world events. Glenn Lodbrok, a figure orchestrating the conflict between Shinra and Wutai, is revealed to be a puppet of Sephiroth. This fabricated war serves as a distraction, keeping Rufus Shinra preoccupied while Sephiroth searches for the Promised Land.
This location, rich in mako energy, is crucial to Sephiroth’s plans. Rufus ultimately uncovers the deception, but his realization comes too late to prevent the impending chaos. The escalating conflict sets the stage for a dramatic showdown in the trilogy’s final installment.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth masterfully weaves a complex narrative that blends familiar elements from the original game with bold new twists. Its exploration of the multiverse adds depth and unpredictability to the story, while the recurring themes of destiny, sacrifice, and hope resonate throughout.
The finale leaves players on the edge of their seats, with unresolved mysteries and looming threats setting the stage for the trilogy’s conclusion. As the characters grapple with their roles in a multiverse teetering on the brink of destruction, the stakes have never been higher. The final chapter promises to be a thrilling and emotional journey into the heart of fate and free will.
