A playable demo for the Final Fantasy VII Remake consisting of the game’s first chapter, "The Destruction of Mako Reactor 1," has given players their first taste of the upcoming Square Enix Game and received high praise from both long-time fans of the franchise and new players alike. However, what many players likely missed is that the demo offers a secret ending, unlocked by making a certain choice during the demo.
About halfway through the demo, main characters Cloud Strife and Barret Wallace reach their destination (the eponymous Mako Reactor 1) and prepare to destroy it. As they set the timer on the bomb, players are given two choices: a 30-minute timer or a 20-minute one. The choice determines how much time the player is given to escape the level before the entire thing goes up in flames.
Giving yourself extra time seems like the logical choice, but choosing the 20-minute timer is the key to unlocking the secret ending. Choosing the longer timer elicits a condescending “Hah! That long enough for you?” from Barret, while selecting the shorter timer will prompt him to say, “Pretty cocky, ain’t you?” This signals that the secret ending has been activated.
After making this choice in the middle of the demo, the secret ending won't come into play until much later. Once the demo is finished, a short trailer plays, teasing what will come next in Final Fantasy VII Remake. Then, the game’s logo flashes on screen to end the demo.
However, players who chose the 20-minute timer back in the reactor will have about fifteen seconds of additional footage after the logo. In it, Cloud is seen in shock, apparently lost in a flashback. We then see what is troubling him as Sephiroth stands and slowly turns towards the camera amongst flames.
Fans of the series will instantly recognize this image of Sephiroth surrounded by flames as a recreation of an iconic moment from the original Final Fantasy VII. The flashback scene in the original release occurred after Midgar. However, since the remake is making some changes to the original game, this flashback may appear sooner rather than later. Sephiroth is a fan-favorite antagonist from a highly acclaimed game, and his relationship with Cloud is a major source of drama in the original. While his appearance in the demo was a surprise, it isn’t too shocking to see the appearance of such a popular character being teased this early.
Final Fantasy VII Remake is developed and published by Square Enix. The game hits PlayStation 4 on April 10.