Looking back at the 5-year journey that redefined the remake of Final Fantasy 7.

In a gaming industry constantly bombarded with remakes that offer minimal changes, or worse, are virtually indistinguishable from remasters, titles like Final Fantasy 7 Remake and its successor, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, stand out as true icons.

It's been five years since Final Fantasy 7 Remake, the first installment in a trilogy aiming to redefine the original Final Fantasy 7 masterpiece, was released. It not only set a new standard for what a remake can achieve, but also demonstrated the potential for sequels to break the boundaries of the original.

The title Final Fantasy 7 Remake itself carries a profound dual meaning. Indeed, it's the beginning of a trilogy that invested heavily in modernizing the gameplay, graphics, and music of Final Fantasy 7. But more importantly, it did something bold that many considered impossible: it daringly redefined the original story. In that way, Final Fantasy 7 Remake is truly a remake, introducing Final Fantasy 7 to a new generation of gamers with a completely new perspective on the storyline, while retaining its soul. However, instead of making the biggest changes right from the start, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, released five years ago, primarily served as a prelude to the transformations that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth later explored extensively, even to the point of causing considerable controversy.

Are the Whispers overshadowing the original storyline of Final Fantasy 7?

While Final Fantasy 7 Remake features some adjustments to the original storyline, many of these changes are insignificant when compared to the introduction of the Whispers. In Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Whispers are supernatural, ethereal entities whose job is to preserve the narrative events of the original 1997 game. They even intervene whenever characters deviate from their predetermined path. A prime example is when Sephiroth unexpectedly fatally wounds Barret; the Whispers intervene to revive Barret, maintaining the accuracy of the storyline between the original Final Fantasy 7 and the Remake trilogy.

With the inclusion of the Whispers, Final Fantasy 7 Remake seemed to want to ensure the trilogy remained somewhat faithful to the original storyline, while still allowing the development team to explore new directions, albeit temporarily. However, by the end of Final Fantasy 7 Remake, the main characters confronted and ultimately defeated the Whispers. This action freed the rest of the trilogy from its fateful constraints, paving the way for extremely bold choices regarding the official storyline of Final Fantasy 7. This had the most direct and powerful impact on Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth when it was released nearly four years later.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth continues with a completely new storyline?

Since the Whispers were removed in Final Fantasy 7 Remake, the game's reality has been fragmented into multiple parallel timelines – a concept that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth explores deeply, making these branching realities central to the story, character development, and world-building. In these new timelines, characters face entirely different fates than those in the original game.

Most notably, Zack Fair, a key character who sacrificed himself in the original story, is revealed to still be alive in another reality in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Similarly, the fate of Aerith, one of the greatest and most haunting losses in the original game, is also left open, with the possibility that she is still alive in another timeline at the end of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.

In other words, Final Fantasy 7 Remake took a bold step five years ago by introducing the Whispers. While ultimately, it was the Whispers' failure that directly challenged and altered the original storyline, if they hadn't been included from the start, the official Final Fantasy 7 timeline might have remained intact in the Remake trilogy. Whether this decision was right or wrong depends on each player's perspective and judgment.

However, there's no denying the innovation and influence that Final Fantasy 7 Remake brought five years ago, and its value remains relevant today, as well as its potential to guide future game remake projects.