What a shipwreck the ending was...

[マルコ]

For me the ending ruined this game.
Before it, I was 100% sure I would platinate it (which I only do for games I love), after the ending, I don't even feel like touching this mess ever again.

They had a great story on their hands, but someone at Square was like: "you know what would be great? If we take this beatiful but moderately involved story and we add a layer of complexity and convolution to it" ...

Moments that where supposed to be strong and impactful like Aerith death and funeral at the Lake had no chance to be meaningful because the player is overwhelmed by the sense of confusion

Confusion generated by this new plot with multiple dimensionions and realities and scenes switching and you can't even get your bearing on what the hell you're looking at now or where you are... and I've completed the original 1997 game multiple times so I had some grounding and still completely confused by the end, so I can't imagine how new players would live this...

And then to add insult to injury, a cheap final boss fight (on dynamic difficulty) - it could have be nice if it wasn't for his final move (rotating blender with 2 death beams), which if you don't know in advance is going to happen and you don't happen to have 4 ATB bars at the ready to stagger him it's essentially GG... a big middle finger to all players.

Seriously, during the entirety of the ending I couldn't even pay attention anymore at that point, I was just wishing it would be done with the cutscenes faster so I could exit the game and forget all of this ever happened, like if I played this disaster on another reality.

Anyway, enough of my opinions, and please don't fight it because you're not going to change it.
But I would like to know how others felt about this ending, especially those who experienced the original PS1 game

[A]

Is dynamic harder than normal?

Also, I found the radial whisper attack worse than the spinning cannon thing. If you don't have ATB you're running around at 1 HP lol.

I never really played the OG, but I played the spinoffs like Crisis Core and Dirge. I guess I'm biased whenever Zack is on the screen.

Funny that they won't seem to let Zack. I'm hoping to see more of him in part 3--I hope an interaction in Gongaga with his parents and Cissnei.

[LexAnimex]

Originally posted by マルコ:

Moments that where supposed to be strong and impactful [...] had no chance to be meaningful because the player is overwhelmed by the sense of confusion

I agree. Never played OG but I knew Aerith would die somehow. I didn't feel anything at the end because as you said there was no time for grief/sorrow. I also really despise how death is portrayed in Rebirth. Everything has to be a little bit more positive compared to OG. I watched some scenes afterwards like Dyne's death. OG definitely feels more bitter and mature overall

[Eastgrove]

I was confused in the OG, but in the sense that I couldn't believe what happened had just happened. Ever since, there's always a mix of emotion when Aeris's theme plays. And the boss fight that follows isn't supposed to be particularly changeling. It's certainly not there to overshadow the event that just transpired, but rather a way for the player to let out their anger and grief. To make them feel powerful while having an emotional moment. And then a bit empty and lost when the fight is over and it doesn't make a bit of difference.

From what I understand, in Rebirth, the main point seems to be prevent Sephiroth from executing Aeris like a bad ass. He's forced to struggle to kill her, and ultimately the only reason he succeeds is because she allows it. The writers are literally denying the game's VILLAIN from having any agency.

[IL_Davu]

I agree that the decision not to show Aerith's funeral was a missed opportunity.

But honestly, they also know it's one of the most important scenes in gaming, one that has remained etched in people's minds. But honestly, considering it was a different world when FF7 was released, I think Squaresoft knew about its impact even back then when they were launching the game..

Let me tell you the story of the first spoiler I ever received in my life... I bought the PSX specifically for FFVII (FF wasn't available on PC yet, so you had to buy a console). I had abandoned the SNES to buy the PSX for FFVII. I went to the store, bought the game, and on the back cover of the game, there was the scene of Aerith's funeral. So when I started the game and saw Aerith for the first time in Midgar, I said, "Okay, she's going to die..."

So, knowing the impact of the scene, they removed it to redo it in part 3. The thing is, besides being on a journey to the other world, at this point in the story, Cloud is completely insane until Tifa manages to bring him back to reality.

So, knowing the power of the scene before launching the game, they included it on the cover... after it became an iconic scene, the hypothesis is probably that Cloud is in complete denial (like when he kept saying, "Aerith, wake up," etc.), and maybe the funeral will be revisited later when Cloud "returns" to reality.

Even if, at the moment, the funeral scene was ruined, it still remained a very sad moment in a different way (at least judging by how people reacted).

Also, I'm doing a 100% run, and when I finished the game, I didn't want to touch it for two days to let everything sink in...

Anyway, despite it being just a part of the story where nothing happens,(OG) FFVIIR is a great game. At least for me, those two days without access and reflecting on everything left a void that only a great title can create...

Thank goodness for MH Wilds, since I'm about to finish the 100% (I only have one objective left, but with mods, etc., I'll keep playing it. XD)

[Tiberius]

Originally posted by IL_Davu:

I agree that the decision not to show Aerith's funeral was a missed opportunity.

But honestly, they also know it's one of the most important scenes in gaming, one that has remained etched in people's minds. But honestly, considering it was a different world when FF7 was released, I think Squaresoft knew about its impact even back then when they were launching the game..

Let me tell you the story of the first spoiler I ever received in my life... I bought the PSX specifically for FFVII (FF wasn't available on PC yet, so you had to buy a console). I had abandoned the SNES to buy the PSX for FFVII. I went to the store, bought the game, and on the back cover of the game, there was the scene of Aerith's funeral. So when I started the game and saw Aerith for the first time in Midgar, I said, "Okay, she's going to die..."

So, knowing the impact of the scene, they removed it to redo it in part 3. The thing is, besides being on a journey to the other world, at this point in the story, Cloud is completely insane until Tifa manages to bring him back to reality.

So, knowing the power of the scene before launching the game, they included it on the cover... after it became an iconic scene, the hypothesis is probably that Cloud is in complete denial (like when he kept saying, "Aerith, wake up," etc.), and maybe the funeral will be revisited later when Cloud "returns" to reality.

Even if, at the moment, the funeral scene was ruined, it still remained a very sad moment in a different way (at least judging by how people reacted).

Also, I'm doing a 100% run, and when I finished the game, I didn't want to touch it for two days to let everything sink in...

Anyway, despite it being just a part of the story where nothing happens,(OG) FFVIIR is a great game. At least for me, those two days without access and reflecting on everything left a void that only a great title can create...

Thank goodness for MH Wilds, since I'm about to finish the 100% (I only have one objective left, but with mods, etc., I'll keep playing it. XD)

I definitely can see they're saving that scene for the lifestream section. I think it will also be the perfect time to reveal the story between cloud and zack.

[Ofca]

Originally posted by マルコ:

But I would like to know how others felt about this ending, especially those who experienced the original PS1 game

What helps is not approaching this game with "FF7 but with better graphics and in 3D" attitude. If you want that, then just replay original FF7, perhaps with some mods. I'm looking forward to FF7R conclusion, as I'm sure this is the part where most diversion from original story will happen. I've already experienced Aerith dying in original FF7, and now I want to experience alternate story where she does not die. Guess I'm a sucker for happy endings ;)

[マルコ]

Originally posted by Ofca:

I've already experienced Aerith dying in original FF7, and now I want to experience alternate story where she does not die

Didn't she already died in fact, though?
When the Jenova boss fight starts everyone has their Limit Break fully charged due to the grief of finding Aerith dead except for Cloud, which is coping by rewriting his memories and imagining himself parrying Sephiroth attack preventing him from stabbing her, or when he wakes Aerith up after the boss fights but he's the only one seeying her awake, it's all in his mind, everyone else is sad and crying - same in the following scene with Barret crying and everyone looking depressed, but there Cloud probably thinks they are just chilling by the lake... beyond denial, his mind is simply mostly gone by the end I feel.

Hell, Cloud himself could have slain her this time around, and it will be revealed in the third game when he's ready to come to terms with what he has done (after falling into the lifestream).
This is my theory, because when she hand's him the white materia and hugs in the church, she says to him: "whatever happens, don't blame yourself".

And by the way, I've understood most of the above partly by watching someone's playtrough and youtube comments under it, because when I've first played through it I was convinced it was 2 different timelines... what a way to lose your audience... this whole multiverse situation was so unnecessary... like they where convinced that being more "extra" equals being better/superior to the original...

[Taika]

SPOILERS obviously... would assume the whole thread is.

As a fan of OG7, Rebirth's ending is my least favorite part, although I love the Remakes overall. It robs us of one of the most powerful moments in gaming history through ambiguity. However, I also don't think (so far) that it's bad writing. It doesn't feel at all like the Star Wars sequel trilogy that was all over and had no idea idea where the plot was going... here it feels like they know exactly where they are going and what they want to present. And some points are actually brilliant... the displaying of Cloud's fracturing is arguably better to me than the OG (I just don't think it was worth the cost) and there appears careful rhyme and reason to the multiple worlds, even though time travel & multiverses are my least favorite story elements of all time. So it's enough for me to give the benefit of the doubt that they can tie it together in a satisfying ending in Part 3, even though it's a new story and NOT the one I wanted. It's arguably even brilliant - it's hard to spoil because even people who saw and put a lot of thought into it can't say 100% what is happening and what will come. (Which is a huge factor for fans who had to await the PC release.)

I think right from the beginning, there was always a faction of fans who desperately wanted Aerith to survive or be resurrected. But even though she was likely my favorite character in the original, I was not one of them. It takes guts to kill a main character, elevated the story to one of the most memorable of all time, establishes BELIEVABLE high stakes that really hit you, and is something all too rare in games and movies. It is totally unbelievable that any group, even with super powers, could face an extinction level invasion or disaster beyond human power without a single person dying. Or being ridiculously "brought back." Yet it happens constantly in game and movie stories, to the point where now we just expect deaths to be fakeouts or "temporary," and no stories can be ever be taken seriously. But death IS real, and permanent. Not all endings are happy. And only in the context of that sorrow and loss can the fleeting beauty of life be truly understood and treasured. And a very sincere expression of the loss the creator was experiencing while writing the story.

So that's why Aerith's death was brave, heart-wrenching, and absolutely vital for the story. And reversing it would undo all that meaning, for a moment of popcorn satisfaction. So it's really unfortunate to me that they leaned directly into ALL the run-of-the-mill tropes that undermine the stakes... death fakeouts, multiple versions of people running around in different worlds, ambiguity as to whether characters are even alive or dead... instead of a simpler, more beautiful story. It's worth noting that the dilution probably began with all the spinoffs - which I originally saw as harmless fan-service, not particularly good or compelling stories, that would water down the core store if taken seriously. Unfortunately, they seem to be trying to incorporate all that into the core now.

It's trading one of the greatest stories of all time for one that seems likely to be far less memorable.

[Diabolical Taco]

First play I didn't know what was coming for his last 10% and still cleared it on dynamic. Sounds like a skill issue.

[Diabolical Taco]

Originally posted by Ofca:

Originally posted by マルコ:

But I would like to know how others felt about this ending, especially those who experienced the original PS1 game

What helps is not approaching this game with "FF7 but with better graphics and in 3D" attitude. If you want that, then just replay original FF7, perhaps with some mods. I'm looking forward to FF7R conclusion, as I'm sure this is the part where most diversion from original story will happen. I've already experienced Aerith dying in original FF7, and now I want to experience alternate story where she does not die. Guess I'm a sucker for happy endings ;)

The problem is Aerith has to die, and that's the whole point they're making.

[seph]

I just finished it the other day on Dynamic and I tend to agree with you.

I'm a huge fan of the OG game and totally agree with the comment that if I found the ending confusing than younger players new to FF7 wouldn't have a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ clue what is going on.

Plus they straight up removed the scene where Cloud lowers Aerith into the water! WTF was that!? I initially thought I must of pressed a button and skipped it by mistake, but they really removed it.

Finally regarding the final boss; it was a mess. No fight should be 8-9 phases long. Then add in gimmicks to ensure your party has a variety of elemental materia for Giga Sephiroth's wings. What a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ time waste.

The game designers really failed here. I don't know if its a Japanese gamer culture thing, but "padding" encounters like that just feel absolutely terrible. I'm fine with maybe 3 good quality "phases" in a story orientated battle, but when its 45mins of not difficult, but just trash content - thats inexcusable.

I hope they move away from the BS time wasting mega "gauntlet" fights in the next game. If its like this again, no buy from me.

[マルコ]

Originally posted by Diabolical Taco:

First play I didn't know what was coming for his last 10% and still cleared it on dynamic. Sounds like a skill issue.

If that was your experience, you were likely lucky enough to have his stagger bar nearly full when he started casting his final move. That’s not 'skill' - because you just didn’t know, timing simply happened to align in your favor.

In my case, I reached that phase right after a stagger, so he started his finisher with an empty stagger bar and my ATBs drained. No skill involved - it's a trap reliant on luck the first time around and foreknowledge afterward so that you can time the stagger properly, as I did in my winning attempt.

[drewcell21]

I agree wholeheartedly. The fact that they handled Jessie's death in remake better than aeriths death in rebirth is absolutely insane. I really hope someone makes a mod that fixes the end to make it more emotionally impact rather than the confusing mess we got. This was a bad ending to a video game.

[Ofca]

Originally posted by マルコ:

This is my theory, because when she hand's him the white materia and hugs in the church, she says to him: "whatever happens, don't blame yourself".

That's a theory, yes. Guess we'll need to wait and see what's in store for us. There was no fighting the fate in Original FF7. FF7R seems to be about 'the unknown journey'. At this point in time, we really don't know what's in store for us in final part of the trilogy - story can really go anywhere from ep. 2 finale.

[Serafie1999AD]

The ending takes the Multiverse of Madness to a whole new level, as there's also a meta level to the ending. Cloud presents the biggest fans of the game. The fans try to stop the writers from ruining the original story, but the story ends up wrecked anyway. They can't believe the story has been destroyed like that, so they go on copium and imagine the story is still somewhat alive and sensical. Meanwhile, all the other players are devastated by the tragic death of the storyline.