“Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Developers Dive into Sephiroth & Aerith Redesigns, Unveiling Insights”

In the realm of RPGs, there are few villains as iconic and enigmatic as Sephiroth. With his striking silver hair, formidable odachi blade, and a theme song composed by the legendary Nobuo Uematsu himself, Sephiroth has left an indelible mark on gaming history. First introduced in the original Final Fantasy VII in 1997, he captivated players as a once-revered war hero turned madman, hell-bent on destroying the very planet that birthed him unnaturally.

But there is much more to Sephiroth than meets the eye. In Final Fantasy VII Remake, he appears sporadically, haunting the memories of our protagonist, Cloud, and his friends as they strive to thwart the nefarious Shinra corporation’s plans to drain the planet’s life essence, mako, for their own gain. However, it is in the upcoming Final Fantasy VII Rebirth that we will witness Sephiroth in all his glory.

We had the opportunity to sit down with Producer Yoshinori Kitase to discuss the reimagination of this iconic character in the Remakes. Kitase shared, “Final Fantasy VII Rebirth picks up where the team escapes Midgar and takes us all the way to the Forgotten Capital. In the original game, Sephiroth had minimal presence during this section. However, in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, he becomes the driving force that propels the story forward, filling that void. We delve even deeper into his character, making him an even more charismatic and compelling antagonist than before.”

It’s important to remember that Sephiroth first made his mark as a silent, pixelated character on the original Playstation. The latest Destined for Rebirth trailer showcases just how far he has come since then. We spoke with Mr. Kitase and Creative Director Tetsuya Nomura about their thoughts on witnessing Sephiroth come to life through modern game mechanics.

Kitase expressed his excitement, saying, “The scene at the beginning of the game where Sephiroth joins your party and fights alongside Cloud was incredibly thrilling. One of the standout features of this game is the new synergy system, where characters team up to perform combination attacks. Seeing Cloud and Sephiroth fight together in this manner was truly exhilarating.”

Nomura added, “The evolution of these characters has been a gradual process, seen across multiple spin-off titles and even within Final Fantasy VII Remake itself. In Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, we take their development even further. Sephiroth, in particular, has appeared in various games, each adding more layers to his character. This portrayal of Sephiroth can be seen as a return to his roots in the remake series, allowing for a much deeper and clearer presence than in the original game. With fans’ increased knowledge and understanding of Sephiroth, I hope they can appreciate his appeal even more strongly.”

The tumultuous relationship between Cloud and his once-hero-now-arch-enemy Sephiroth lies at the heart of the game. However, Sephiroth is also deeply intertwined with another crucial character—Aerith. It was Aerith’s fate back in 1997 that left an indelible mark on countless players, ranking among the most shocking and memorable moments in video game history.

Kitase emphasized the importance of Aerith’s fate in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s story, stating, “I want players to experience it firsthand rather than me spoiling it here. However, I can confidently say that the extra level of detail in how the characters are portrayed will evoke a wide range of emotions compared to the original scene. Reimagining a classic like Final Fantasy VII is no small feat. While it is vital to maintain the essence of the original, we also wanted to introduce new elements that would shake up the storyline and create anticipation for what lies ahead. The addition of the Whispers has already proven appealing to fans.”

So, what can we expect for Sephiroth and Aerith in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth? The trailer for ‘No Promises to Keep’ stirred up intense emotions, leaving players both fearful and hopeful for the trajectory of the story. Mr. Kitase had a message for those eagerly awaiting the game’s premiere and the revelation of our beloved flower peddler’s fate.

Nomura explained, “Whatever I say might give away too much, so it’s challenging to answer. I want players to experience the conclusion of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth firsthand and interpret it for themselves. Different people will react differently, but I believe they will be driven to pursue that feeling and embark on their next journey soon.”

Kitase concluded with an invitation, saying, “I invite you all to play Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and witness how the modern generation of players will respond to Aerith’s fate—a moment that left a profound emotional impact on countless gamers 27 years ago.”

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is set to launch on PS5 on February 29, 2024. In the meantime, we encourage you to revisit Final Fantasy VII Remake and catch up on The Story So Far. And if you can’t wait to dive back into the world of Final Fantasy, consider pre-ordering the Final Fantasy VII Remake & Rebirth Twin Pack, which includes Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (available at launch) and Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, playable as soon as the Twin Pack is pre-ordered.