Final Fantasy VII Rebirth has been out for a month and has since been amassing positive reviews. Square Enix has kept the remake faithful to the 1997 classic while also making some major changes. Even with all the differences from FF7, fans seem to love it.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is more of a reinterpretation and tries to add more depth to the already-told story. In doing so, the game revamps character introductions, brings in new lore, and makes big changes in the story. The differences almost make you feel like you are playing on a new timeline (or are you?). Now, if you came to play Rebirth to revisit all of your memories of the classic, you might find yourself getting lost at some points. No worries; we will help you spot the biggest FF7 Rebirth differences from the original game.
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Zack’s New Plot in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Zacks’s impact on the story of FF7 Rebirth is easily one of the most notable changes observed throughout the game. In the original, Zack was only shown in the cutscenes and barely played any role in the story. In comparison, Rebirth gave him a massive bump and made him one of the more significant characters. He was made into a playable character and even had a huge part to play at the end.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Zack
The multiverse theory was confirmed at the end of Rebirth, which was previously hinted at in the FF7 Remake. Zack was found alive in another universe with Aerith. Consequentially, both of them were set to take on Sephiroth, which might become a crucial factor in the sequel.
Yuffie’s Shift to Becoming a Main Story Character in FF VII Rebirth
Yuffie is one of the major characters in Rebirth that had their introductions changed. In the original, she is portrayed as an optional character. You would stumble upon her randomly in the forest. She would join your party if you could defeat her in battle.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Gaia
Whereas, in contrast, Rebirth features her as a main story character. You will encounter her in Junoon, where a monster attacks her. You will have to save her there, and after a chain of events, Yuffie finally joins your party. All of the above events occur during Chapter 6. As a result, you won’t be able to make Yuffie join your party before the above events take place.
A Reimagined Gaia in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
The world of Final Fantasy 7 was considered one of the most extensive and immersive during its time of release. But judging by today’s standards, it obviously has many shortcomings in terms of scaling and exploration.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Gaia Map
Differences in FF7 Rebirth are quite apparent. In the remake, Gaia is made into a fully open-world map, with the locations having equal scaling. But you cannot explore the whole map from the start, as you have to unlock every location one by one. Moreover, many locations from the original are left out in Rebirth, most notably the Wutai region. Rebirth has also seen many new locations in Gaia, with the most notable being Crow’s Nest.
Peek Into the Rich Lore of Black Materia
Black Materia is a powerful orb that plays a huge part in the main storyline of FF7. While the original game stated the significance of these mysterious objects, very little was revealed about their history and background.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Black Materia
This is where FF7 Rebirth has made one of the major changes. Rebirth explains the story behind Black Materia and how it influences Sephiroth. According to the remake, these orbs were developed by the GI beings, a tribe of aliens that came to Gaia during the time of Jenova. These objects would have the power to summon meteors. They made these orbs to destroy Gaia in order to relieve them of their eternal curse. Ultimately, they were locked away in the Temple of the Ancients.
Aerith Predicting Her Death in FF VII Rebirth
This marks one of the most notable differences between FF7 Rebirth and its original. In the original, Aerith seems to have no idea what will happen to her in the Forgotten Capital. The events completely came as a shock to everyone.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Aerith
But in Rebirth, Aerith got to predict her fate through her white Materia. She had hints of her death through cryptic visions. She could do that because of her roots in the Cetra tribe. And despite knowing, she still walked into the Forgotten Capital to face Sephiroth. The remake also shows how Aerith from another timeline knew about her fate and gave Cloud her white Materia.
Making Room for Future Developments
One of the most exciting changes FF7 Rebirth has seen is the possible inclusion of multiverse theory. In the original, Aerith dies at the hands of Sephiroth at the Forgotten Capital. Consequently, Zack dies offscreen while trying to save Cloud. Thus, their impact on the story seems to end there.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Ending
However, in Rebirth, Cloud could peek into another universe where Zack and Aerith are both alive. Aerith even gives advice to Cloud and gives him her white Materia. They also seem to go on to fight Sephiroth, as seen in the epilogue. All these strongly indicate a supposed crossover of universes and characters from different realities joining together. Crossover or not, these events set the path for future happenings in the last title of the trilogy.
Relationships and Romances Are Complex in FF VII Rebirth
Romance in FF7 is elementary compared to what Rebirth has featured. You could barely measure your relationship status with another character.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Romance
However, in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, differences in the relationship scenario are huge. Overall, the game has six relationship and romance options for Cloud. You can view the state of your relationship with a character by the icon above their head. Relationships with a character are affected by Cloud’s actions and dialogue choices.
Eventually, you will go on a Gold Saucer and Gold Saucer Skywheel date night with your party members in Chapters 8 and 12. Moreover, depending on your rating with other characters, you will have certain cutscenes and intimate scenes. Also, depending on your relationship with other characters, you may miss out on various side quests, cutscenes, or rewards.
