In 2005, Square Enix released a tech demo showcasing the power of the PlayStation 3 that would be discussed throughout the decade. This tech demo entirely recreated Final Fantasy VII's opening cutscene. From the moment that tech demo debuted, Final Fantasy fans had their heart set on seeing a remake of the iconic, but aging, FFVII. Ten years later, Square Enix finally announced Final Fantasy VII Remake, which was released five years later in 2020.

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Remake is only the first of three games covering FFVII's story, at least in theory. In truth, Remake wasn't an exact recreation of FFVII's story. Remake introduced numerous deviations to FFVII's narrative leaving FFVII fans clueless about what direction Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and the third game will go. While some changes and retcons were seen as controversial, each provides some level of intrigue for the two games that will follow.

This list contains spoilers for Final Fantasy VII Remake

10 Shinra Was The One To Blow Up Mako Reactor 1

Mako Reactor 1 explodes in Final Fantasy VII Remake

One of the first notable changes FFVII fans noticed comes during the bombing mission at the very beginning of both FFVII and Remake. During the bombing mission, Cloud joins the eco-terrorist group AVALANCHE to blow up one of Shinra Electric Power Company's Mako energy reactors.

Cloud and Barret place a bomb on the core of Mako Reactor 1, but the explosion caused by the bomb is much bigger than the characters anticipated, resulting in civilian deaths. Common interpretation in the original version of FFVII attributed this to the inexperience of AVALANCHE member, and bomb-maker, Jessie. In Remake, however, it's shown that Shinra themselves set off the large explosion to paint AVALANCHE as an evil terrorist group. It's a minor retcon to the FFVII, but one that does well to set up Shinra's evil nature.

9 Whispers Ensure That No One Leaves Their Predetermined Path

Tifa and Cloud encounter Whispers in Final Fantasy VII Remake

The common theme of Remake centers around finding free will in a predetermined world, not unlike the Disney+ series Loki. In the world of FFVII, every event, action, high, and low is established in advance. In some respects, this is a meta-reference to a player playing through FFVII multiple times, with the story Remake serving to break that cycle.

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In Remake, the proper order of the timeline is depicted through Whispers – ghosts that ensure each character sticks to their predetermined paths and don't die ahead of time. Whispers are seen blocking pathways and saving characters from fatal falls. Remake is when FFVII characters become aware of Whispers' existence for the first time.

8 Remake Introduces New Characters And Integrates Compilation Characters

Chadley and Kyrie in Final Fantasy VII Remake

A remake of a classic video game, especially one designed to take the story down a different road than the original, makes for the perfect opportunity to introduce new characters and expand on minor characters. Two notable new characters include Chadley, a technical wizard who aids Cloud's party through his research, and Roche, a 3rd Class Soldier who battles Cloud on his motorcycle.

Remake also took this opportunity to integrate characters who initially debuted in later Compilation of Final Fantasy VII titles, such as the Deepground organization from Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII and Kyrie Canaan from the novel The Kids Are Alright: A Turks Side Story.

7 Yuffie Makes A Visit To Midgar

Yuffie holding a green Materia in Final Fantasy VII Remake Intermission/Integrade

When players learned Remake would take place entirely in the early Midgar portion of FFVII, fans assumed they wouldn't get the opportunity to see characters like Yuffie until the sequel. However, square Enix subverted those expectations by introducing a DLC titled "Episode INTERmission," starring the energetic Wutai ninja Yuffie in a completely original story.

Through this DLC, Remake establishes that Yuffie made a trip to Midgar during the early events of FFVII. Yuffie aligns herself with another Wutaian in Sonon in hopes of taking down Shinra herself. "Episode INTERmission" is a fantastic DLC that provides a deep dive into who Yuffie is before Cloud's party gets a chance to meet her.

6 Fort Condor Is A Board Game In The Remake

Fort Condor mini-game battle in Final Fantasy VII Remake Integrade

Font Condor was a brief section of FFVII, which involves Cloud needing to protect a giant condor and her egg from a Shinra assault. This condor rests upon a Mako Reactor that houses the Huge Materia, which is sought after by both Cloud's party and Shinra.

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Fort Condor makes an appearance in "Episode INTERmission" in the form of a strategy tower defense board game where both players must protect three condor stations from the opposing player's assault. Players can challenge characters of varying difficulties and build up their collection of pieces for plenty of replayability. It's unknown if the original Fort Condor section of the story will make its way into Rebirth.

5 Underground Test Site Is A Brand New Area

A monstorus failed experiement in Final Fantasy VII Remake

Remake recreates many memorable areas from FFVII. Whether it's towns like Sector 7 Slums or the massive Shinra building, each area looks more gorgeous than ever. Yet one area, in particular, was an entirely new area within FFVII's world: the Underground Test Site.

The Underground Test Site is a research facility found below Sector 7 and is discovered by Cloud's party after Shina drops the massive Sector 7 plate onto the Sector 7 Slums. In this Underground Test Site, Cloud's party encounters numerous grotesque creatures, unique to Remake, that were failed experiments of Professor Hojo.

4 Biggs And Wedge Survive The Sector 7 Tragedy

Biggs and Wedge survive Final Fantasy VII Remake

One of the saddest portions in the early stages of FFVII was the collapse of the Sector 7 plate onto the Sector 7 Slums. In the process, three allied characters in Jessie, Biggs, and Wedge were presumed dead. None of those three returned in FFVII or any other portion of the Compilation, lending credence to the belief that all three did, in fact, die.

With how much more depth and characterization all three characters received, it would've been even more heartbreaking if that remained true for Remake. Still, Square Enix went in a different direction. Wedge survived the collapse of the Sector 7 plate and is found in the Underground Test Site, whereas Biggs was injured, only waking up during the ending of Remake. Jessie's fate remains unknown, but given the circumstances of her departure in Remake, it's unlikely she survived.

3 Sephiroth Is A Force From The Very Start

Cloud And Sephiroth Clash Swords In Final Fantasy 7 Remake

Sephiroth is one of gaming's most iconic and recognizable villains. He even made a playable appearance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as one of the final DLC characters. So it was understandable that Square Enix sought to include Sephiroth in Remake.

In FFVII, Sephiroth doesn't appear until after Cloud's party leaves Midgar in what would be the beginning of Rebirth if that game follows the same story beats as FFVII. They are still aware that Sephiroth viciously kills President Shinra, establishing that he's a villain to be feared. In Remake, however, Sephiroth debuts much earlier to break the predetermined flow of time.

2 Remake's Ending Changes Everything

Tifa, Barret, Cloud, Aerith, and Red XIII gaze upon the open world during the ending of the Final Fantasy VII Remake.

Sephiroth's goal is realized through the ending of Remake. The final chapter of Remake takes Cloud's party to what is known as Singularity, represented by a mixture of Midgar during its destruction thanks to Meteor and Aerith's vision of the Lifestream.

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Within Singularity, Cloud's party fights an onslaught of bosses culminating with a battle against the Whisper Harbinger, a massive being that controls the flow of time. After its defeat, and Sephiroth's right after, the time cycle is broken, leading to many adverse effects. Cloud's party returns to reality where, like the player, they have no idea what the future holds.

1 Zack Fair Is Now Alive And Well

Zack Fair helping Cloud Strife Final Fantasy VII Remake Ending

Remake's ending sent a massive ripple effect in the world of FFVII, with most of the ramifications yet to be explored. One shocking moment during the ending was that Zack Fair has now survived his heartbreaking last stand.

Zack is briefly seen carrying an injured Cloud toward Midgar. In "Episode INTERmission," there is a scene where Zack is knocking on the door of Aerith's church in hopes that Aerith is still there. It's fascinating to consider what Zack's newfound survival could mean for the future of the remake trilogy, and how it may affect Cloud and Aerith's story arcs. All the more reason to be excited to revisit Zack's story in Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion.

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