Massive spoilers for the original FFVII and Rebirth.
The Theme of Life and Death
The original game developers comprised of Hironobu Sakaguchi, Yoshinori Kitase, Tetsuya Nomura and Kazushige Nojima. These four men were flustered with Hollywood's portrayal of death especially Nomura. A death that would show a hero making a noble sacrifice for a loved one.
One of Final Fantasy VII's core themes is life and death. The original game's developers wanted to drive this theme home. Sakaguchi wanted to make a story with a realistic death. In turn, he wanted to ditch the sacrificial deaths that were prevalent in America and Japan. In order for them to proceed with this mission. They decided to have a main character die.
Except this character would not come back to life. No Phoenix Down. No other way to revive them. Nomura made this statement that death should be sudden and unexpected. And such a death shouldn't be involve someone noble sacrifice.
Three Choices
Once the developers made the decision to kill off a main character. They had three choices to consider. And these choices were Cloud, Barret and Aerith.
Cloud was the main protagonist of the game. Killing him was out of the question. Barret was too obvious. An obvious choice like Barret would not have the same dramatic effect. Then the developers were down to their final choice: Aerith.
In the real world things are very different. You just need to look around you. Nobody wants to die that way. People die of disease and accident. Death comes suddenly and there is no notion of good or bad. It leaves, not a dramatic feeling but great emptiness. When you lose someone you loved very much you feel this big empty space and think, 'If I had known this was coming I would have done things differently. These are the feelings I wanted to arouse in the players with Aerith's death relatively early in the game. Feelings of reality and not Hollywood. - Yoshinori Kitase
Creating Aerith
Deciding to go forth with killing Aerith. The developers went to great lengths into Aerith’s character and story. Motomu Toriyama said he and the other developers went to great lengths to make Aerith as appealing as possible. They wanted players to value her as an irreplaceable party member.
They wanted players to like Aerith. Cherish Aerith. So when the time came for her ultimate fate. Leaving players heartbroken and sad.
Aerith and Tifa
Since Aerith was chosen to kill off permanently. The development team focus on Aerith's relationships. Since one of the main heroines would die in the story. This led to creation of another heroine. And that heroine is Tifa Lockhart.
In addition, the developers liked the idea of having a rival for Aerith vying for Cloud’s affection. However, Tifa is not just a love rival for Aerith. Throughout Final Fantasy VII and Remake, two become the best of friends. Besides her bonds with Cloud and Zack, Tifa is also Aerith's strongest bond.
The novel, Traces of Two Pasts, Tifa asked Aerith about her childhood. A tale that Aerith shares with Tifa and only with Tifa. When they are not in the party, the two were often seen together.
Tifa shares her secret concerns about Cloud. While Cloud recounts the Nibelheim flashback with the party. Tifa tells Aerith that she never saw Cloud five years ago. Of course, Tifa never knew that Cloud was dressed as a Shinra Infantryman. In order to hide his shame and embarrassment for failing to make SOLDIER.
Aerith and Cloud
First Encounter
Aerith also had a strong bond with Cloud Strife. Cloud meets Aerith in Sector 8 after the first bombing mission. Cloud gets a yellow flower from Aerith. The yellow flower is Aerith’s trademark flower. The symbol for the yellow flower means reunion. Surely enough, Cloud and Aerith would reunited once more.
Aerith’s Bodyguard
Cloud falls from the topside of the Sector 5 plate. Fortunately, he lands in the flowers of the Sector 5 church. Once he wakes up, Cloud meets Aerith again. Aerith hires Cloud as her bodyguard. Cloud is already put to work as Reno of the Turks arrives at the church.
After besting Reno and eluding his group of soldiers. Cloud and Aerith go to the Sector 5 slums. The two helped out the locals with side quests.
Upon meeting Elmyra Gainsborough, Aerith’s mother, Cloud is instructed by her to leave Aerith in the middle of the night. Elmyra feels Cloud’s status as a SOLDIER would put Aerith in trouble. Cloud noticeably disappointed by Elmyra’s request.
Cloud reluctantly complies with Elmyra’s request. However, Aerith doesn’t as she joins Cloud by the Collapsed Highway. Before Aerith takes Cloud’s home, Cloud has a vision of Aerith’s possible death. Aerith assures Cloud it is okay.
The two helped each other get through the Collapsed Highway. Along the way, Aerith gets Cloud to start opening up. Getting him out of his comfort zone while teaching him to be softer. Cloud willingly gives Aerith a high five showing his growth.
Breaking Cloud Out of His Shell
As Cloud and Aerith continues to spend more time with each other. Their bond grows. At first, Aerith is attracted to Cloud because he resembles her first love: Zack Fair. As Aerith gets to know Cloud. She realizes that Cloud is a different person.
They battle in Corneo’s Colosseum in the order to get Aerith’s dress. Once Cloud sees Aerith in the dress, his breath is taken away. Aerith is the one who persuades Cloud into crossdressing as a woman. In order to enter Corneo’s Mansion to save Tifa. In Remake, this leads Cloud to Andrea Rhodea.
Another side of Cloud is shown. In order to win Andrea’s approval, Cloud must impress him with dance skills. Once Cloud wins Andra approval, the EX Soldier gets a makeover. Aerith will tease Cloud and comment on how pretty he is.
Aerith brings out a lighter side of Cloud. She teaches him to be a better human. The chemistry between these two is natural. And a lot of NPCs will comment how much of a lovely couple they are. After their achievements in the Colosseum, Aerith and Cloud are known as a lovely battle couple.
The Dream Scene
After the Sector 7 plate fall, Cloud is the first person who wants to save Aerith from Shinra. Initially, Elmyra is against this as she is distraught by the entire situation. Although, Elmyra does let the party sleep in her home since she is taking care of Marlene.
If the player has the strongest bond with Aerith during the Resolution scene in Chapter 14 of Remake. Aerith will appear in the flower garden in a dream sequence. She thanks Cloud for the all of the words, memories, and moments they shared. Aerith expresses, “You have made me happy more than you know.”
Aerith warns Cloud, “You can’t fall in love with me.” Cloud responds, “Do I get a say in all this?” Aerith’s warning does not deter Cloud from coming to save her. Although Aerith is somewhat resolute in Cloud’s respond. Regardless, Aerith smiles and says, “If that’s what you want, thank you.”
This is a powerful scene. Not only does this scene expresses Aerith’s feelings for Cloud. But she attempts to warn Cloud about not falling in love with her. This scene hints that Aerith knows that she about her upcoming fate.
In Remake, Aerith has hinted that she knows what’s going on. She seems to have some future knowledge thanks to the Whispers. Also, Aerith may be privy to Sephiroth’s endgame. More importantly, Aerith may have knowledge of her eventual death.
Aerith’s Original Death
White and Black Materia
After the party acquires the Black Materia. Sephiroth takes control of Cloud. While under villian's influence, Cloud gives Sephiroth the Black Materia. The instrument that Sephiroth needs to summon Meteor, the ultimate black magic spell.
To counter Sephiroth, Aerith goes to the Forgotten Capital of the Ancients. She plans to use White Materia to summon Holy. Holy is the ultimate white magic spell and it is only spell that can counter Meteor.
Before she departs, she has another dream sequence with Cloud. Cloud apologizes for his actions, but Aerith easily forgives him. Aerith explains to Cloud that she the only one who stop Sephiroth.
As the last surviving Cetra, she is the only one who counter the Black Materia and Sephiroth. She bids Cloud farewell. However, she assures Cloud that she will return to him.
Sephiroth is listening to their conversation. And he concludes that we must stop her. Suggesting he and Cloud must do the unthinkable.
Cloud awakens from the dream. And informs the party of Aerith’s plans. He also tells them that Sephiroth is on to Aerith. Initially, Cloud is afraid to go after them. But his friends encourages him to go. Cloud's friends also assured him that they will be by his side.
Aerith’s Return to the Planet
Cloud and the party reaches the Forgotten Captial. But there is no sign of Aerith or Sephiroth. The party decides to rest. In the middle of the night, Cloud hears Aerith’s voice calling for him. The party discovers Aerith’s location in an underground city of the Forgotten Capital.
The party sees Aerith on an altar praying. Cloud approaches Aerith. As he gets near, Sephiroth starts to take control of Cloud again. Cloud nearly kills Aerith, but his friends intervene.
Aerith looks up and sees Cloud. She smiles at him. But this is Aerith’s final smile. Sephiroth descends from above. He impales Aerith. As Sephiroth slowly pulls out his sword from Aerith, her life passes. With the White Materia falling into the water below.
Cloud catches Aerith as she falls. He cradles her in his arms. Our hero attempts to wake her up but to no avail. Aerith is gone. Gone forever.
Sephiroth gloats but Cloud shouts, “The cycle of nature or your stupid plan doesn’t mean a thing. Aerith is gone.” Cloud continues to express mixed emotions of anger and sadness towards Aerith’s death. Sephiroth asks Cloud if he is actually sad. Cloud furiously retorts, “Of course, I am! Who the hell do you think I am?”
Sephiroth mocks Cloud and flies away. The One-Winged Angel leaves behind another Jenova for Cloud to fight. After dispatching Jenova-Life, Cloud and friends mourn Aerith’s passing. Cloud carries Aerith’s body and lays her to rest.
The Impact of Aerith’s Death
Story
While Sephiroth succeeds in murdering Aerith. He didn’t stop her from summoning Holy. During their return trip to the Forgotten Capital, the party learns that Aerith was successful in summoning Holy. Her death was not in vain.
However, Holy wasn’t moving. Thanks to Sephiroth holding it back. After settling their score with Shinra once and for all, the party goes after Sephiroth. They managed to defeat Sephiroth for good. But they are too late.
Meteor descends upon Midgar as it rips the City of Mako to pieces. Holy arrives too late to have an impact. All seems lost until large amounts of the lifestream flow from the planet's surface. The lifestream fuses with Holy and together they proceed to destroy Meteor. This would not have been possible with Aerith's death.
Aerith summoned Holy. And she uses the lifestream to empower Holy. Stopping the Meteor from destroying the world.
Real World
Players were shocked and saddened by Aerith’s passing. Numerous players tried to revive Aerith through various means. Back in the day, players would use a Game Shark code to bring back Aerith. However, this caused the original game to crash. Mods were also used to bring back Aerith.
No matter what fans did to bring Aerith back. The unfortunate truth that could not be denied. Aerith was gone. And her death left a void that could never be filled. Meaning Nomura, Kitase and the other developers successfully deliver the message of actual death.
The developers have accomplished their mission. But Rebirth is looming over the horizon. Are they going to go through with killing Aerith again? Plus, they brought back Zack during the end of Remake. Throwing a huge wrinkle in the original game's events.
Zack's survival introduces the possibility of things not playing out the same. So could Aerith will live this time? Or will she be struck down again?
The Answer
While we won’t know the answer until we finish Rebirth. It seems to me that they are going to kill Aerith again. I would venture to say that they are going to shock us more. And break our hearts even more this time.
Game Informer Interview
Toward the end of the Game Informer Interview, Brian Shea asked about the iconic scene in the Forgotten Capital. The jovial mood of the interview instantly vanished. Replaced with a somber atmosphere. Nomura proceeds to reiterate the original theme of life and death from Final Fantasy VII. This time, he concludes like we did with the original.
Hamaguchi also painfully hinted that the infamous scene in Rebirth would be shocking to the player. Nonetheless, they hinted that we all be heartbroken all the same. In fact, Hamaguchi suggests players will be devastated by the ultimate fate of the Forgotten Capital.
“Beginning with the original Final Fantasy VII, when we had started working on it, it was already decided from the get-go that ‘life’ would be the central theme surrounding Final Fantasy VII,” Nomura says. “I knew that we had to depict life and death within this title. Prior to Final Fantasy VII, there have been other titles where characters have experienced tragedy, but many of them have come back or been revived in some way.
But I believe that loss is something that happens unexpectedly, and it’s not something so dramatic or drawn out, but is something in which a person that you have just conversed with is suddenly gone and never to come back. I believe that the person who dies should not return in this title, and that is what we did with the original.” - Tetsuya Nomura Game Informer FFVI Rebirth Cover Story
The Theme Song Trailer
Aerith is singing the theme song of FFVII Rebirth. The theme song is “No Promises to Keep.” Remake’s theme song, "Hollow", was about Cloud. No Promises to Keep is about Aerith. At least, it could be interpreted that way.
However, the trailer could have been Aerith’s farewell trailer. Coupled with the theme song, there is a familiar scene at the end of the trailer. Aerith is praying at an altar. The same altar where Aerith meets her demise.
Aerith is also seen on the Gold Saucer date with Cloud. The two nearly kiss each other. And Aerith lovingly holding Cloud’s arm. Cloud and Aerith also execute a synergy in the trailer.
Synergy
This synergy is called Firework Blade. During the Gold Saucer date, fireworks light up the night sky as Cloud and Aerith riding the Gondola. Firework Blade could also be a reference to “Interrupted by Fireworks” and “Midnight Rendezvous."
More importantly, Synergy is one of the major ways that builds affinity between characters. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will have an affinity system. To build affinity with synergies, two characters must use them in battle once. Furthermore, there are synergies that are unique to two characters. Firework Blade is unique to Cloud and Aerith.
Team attacks are one way to build bonds with party members. At least, they are attacks that can represent the unique bond between characters. Various video games use team attacks for this purpose. Rebirth will be no exception.
Side Content
Another way that Rebirth will build up affinity is side content. Hamaguchi emphasizes that side content is another way to build affinity. There will be side quests between Cloud and another party member. For example, Hamaguchi tells us of a quest between Cloud and Red XIII. After completing the quest, Cloud and Red XIII’s affinity grows.
It’s a given that Cloud will side quests with Aerith. And their affinity will increase. And this will develop their bond even further. And this bring me to next point.
“Or there might be people who want to delve into the side content and go really in-depth into the character relationships and understand the story deeper, or just the balance of those two. We wanted to give that freedom.” -Naoki Hamaguchi
Breaking Bonds
Since we will be controlling Cloud mostly in Rebirth. Cloud’s affinity with party is our affinity. Meaning we are forging these bonds too.
There is one way to break a bond. Taking away a loved one. CS1 wants us to build relationships with party through Cloud. This is especially true with Aerith.
When Aerith dies again. We will all be heartbroken again. The pain will be even worse than the OG. The OG did a spectacular job of breaking our hearts with Aerith’s first death. With all of the side content and synergies contained in Rebirth, affinity is the key to devastating us even more.
Ready For the Ultimate Fate?
I am ready for Aerith to die again? Hell no. I don’t want to experience that again. In reality, I am split on the notion of Aerith dying again.
I know it has to happen because it is too fundamental to Final Fantasy VII as whole. However, I love Aerith. She is my favorite heroine of Final Fantasy VII. I was an emotional wreck when it happen the first time.
And my multiple replays of the OG hasn't numb the pain either. In fact, the pain of Aerith’s death has gotten worse as I grew up. Heck, the possibility of seeing Aerith’s death in Rebirth has me reeling already.
When the ultimate fate occurs again. I will be devastated even more. With the developers doubling down on Aerith’s fate makes me believe that it will happen again. And all of our hearts will be shattered.
Sources
Article: Game Informer FFVII Rebirth Cover Story, Final Fantasy Wikia - Final Fantasy VII, Aerith and Aerith's Death. Ign - Resurrecting Aerith.
Video: Final Fantasy Youtube
Images: Square Enix, Game Informer
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