The official X (formerly Twitter) handle for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth has noted some key storytelling within the game’s box art.
The piece of art features three key characters in the game’s story and history: Cloud Strife, Sephiroth and Zack Fair. At first, one might think that this is simply a callback to the original game while also embracing what’s coming up in the remake’s second part via the untold history between the characters and beyond. However, the X post reveals that Creative Director Tetsuya Nomura personally made the art, and it’s full of details and story hints. That includes how the characters are tied to the three worlds that the remake’s story balances on.
The Trinity of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
As the first X post notes, Sephiroth is the focal point of everything on this “axis” because he manipulates the events that have affected all their lives. In a follow-up post, the team notes: “Cloud and Zack are on the side as they represent their destinies being torn apart by Sephiroth. The image of blood, fire, and red that evokes Sephiroth, stains the sky and spreads over the world. The subtle red shade in the logo is also inspired by the same imagery.”
As fans can see, this isn’t only stylistic art but serves a philisophical purpose. In the original story, Zack Fair was a SOLDIER First-Class and served alongside Sephiroth in the wars that helped make the Shinra Electric Company a powerhouse in the world. However, when Sephiroth learned the truth about his heritage, he went mad, and it was up to Zack to stop him alongside a grunt named Cloud Strife. Things didn’t go as they hoped; Zack died, and Cloud accidentally took his memories, which would heavily affect him as he reconnected with Sephiroth years later.
However, in the first part of the remake, things have changed. Zack Fair was revealed to be alive and is searching for Aerith, as the two fell in love before his death in the original canon. While Cloud is still trying to pursue Sephiroth, the One-Winged Angel has a plan to rewrite not only the world but also his own destiny. The first game was filled with references to how the world is trying to “keep the timestream correct” per the original story, but things kept changing, especially when Sephiroth became involved. This is why the game’s second story is vital and could change the fate of a key character based on where it will end.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth comes to PS5 on Feb. 29, 2024.
Source: X (formerly Twitter)
