Summary
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s co-director, Motomu Toriyama, recently unveiled the poignant lines spoken by Cloud during Aerith’s death scene: “My mouth is dry. My eyes are burning!” Toriyama’s insight into this pivotal moment in the game has sparked discussions among players, providing clarity and context to a scene that holds immense emotional weight forFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthfans.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, developed and published by Square Enix, continues the story fromFF7 Remakeas the second installment in a trilogy reimagining the original 1997 PlayStation classic. Set after the events in Midgar, players follow Cloud Strife and Avalanche as they strive to prevent Shinra from exploiting the planet’s life force. The game features a blend of real-time action, strategic elements, and role-playing mechanics, including an expanded overworld and a dynamic combat system combining melee, magic, and the Active-Time Battle system.Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthreceived critical acclaimupon its PlayStation 5 release in February 2024.
Reader Beware: End Game Spoilers for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth follow
One of the enigmatic elements ofFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s ending scenewas Cloud’s unspoken dialogue. Despite these words not being voiced in the game, Motomu Toriyama’s recent revelation confirms that Cloud indeed speaks the lines “My mouth is dry. My eyes are burning!” These were his lines during Aerith’s death scene in the originalFinal Fantasy 7. This revelation adds depth to the emotional impact of the moment, providing players with a clearer understanding of Cloud’s internal turmoil and grief as he witnesses Aerith’s last moments.
The Iconic Aerith Death Scene in Final Fantasy 7
In the originalFinal Fantasy 7, players witness a heart-wrenching sequence where Aerith meets a tragic fate at the hands of Sephiroth. As Aerith prays at an ancient temple, attempting to activate the White Materia to save the planet from Sephiroth’s cataclysmic plans, she is ruthlessly struck down, leaving players and Cloud devastated.Aerith’s death is considered one of the most iconic deaths in videogamesand fans were eagerly waiting to see howFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthwould handle this moment.
However, despite the newfound clarity offered by Toriyama’s comments, players' responses indicate mixed feelings about the portrayal of the scene. Some express dissatisfaction with the decision to present Cloud’s lines as a flashback, believing it detracts from the original scene’s emotional intensity. Concerns about the scene’s impact and coherence within the narrative have led to discussions about the effectiveness of translating iconic moments from the original game into the remake.
WhileFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthaims to modernize and expand upon the original RPG, the handling of Aerith’s death scene remains a point of contention among players. However, despite mixed feelings about this aspect of the game,Aerith’s death is still one ofFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s saddest momentsand will continue to spark passionate discussions among players.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
WHERE TO PLAY
Discover a vibrant and vast world in this standalone entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake project. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the second entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake project, which retells the story of the genre-redefining RPG across three distinct games. Iconic heroes Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Aerith and Red XIII have escaped from the dystopian city Midgar and are now in pursuit of Sephiroth, the vengeful swordsman from Cloud’s past who was thought to be dead. This new adventure can be enjoyed by all players, even those who have yet to play Final Fantasy VII Remake or the PlayStation original. Expect a new standard of cinematic storytelling, fast-paced combat and rich exploration across a vast world.
