Together with his lengthy silver hair, huge odachi blade and epic theme music composed by legendary Nobuo Uematsu himself – Sephiroth is among the most recognizable antagonists in RPG’s historical past.
The one-winged angel debuted within the authentic Closing Fantasy VII in 1997 as a once-loved battle hero and first-class SOLDIER who descended into insanity and promised to destroy the planet upon studying of his unnatural creation. However there may be rather more to Sephiroth than simply that.
In Closing Fantasy VII Remake, Sephiroth seems sporadically, primarily as a haunting reminiscence, because the story focuses on Cloud and his pals attempting to cease the evil company Shinra from killing the planet by utilizing its life essence, mako, as an power supply.
Within the upcoming Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, nonetheless, we’ll see Sephiroth in his full glory. We requested Producer Yoshinori Kitase to debate reimagining this iconic character within the Remakes.
Yoshinori Kitase: The story in Closing Fantasy VII Rebirth begins after the staff has escaped Midgar and continues all the way in which as much as the Forgotten Capital. Within the authentic sport, Sephiroth barely appeared throughout this part, however in Closing Fantasy VII Rebirth, he’s the driving drive that pulls the story alongside to fill that void. He’s depicted in much more depth than within the authentic sport, and I believe this makes him an much more charismatic and interesting antagonist than earlier than.
Let’s keep in mind that Sephiroth has constructed his legacy as a silent tiny 3D character performed on the unique PlayStation. The most recent Destined for Rebirth trailer reveals how a lot has modified since then. We requested Mr. Kitase and Artistic Director Tetsuya Nomura the way it feels to see Sephiroth absolutely come to life because of fashionable sport mechanics.
Kitase: The scene initially of the sport the place Sephiroth joins your social gathering and fights along with Cloud was very thrilling. One of many distinctive options of this sport is the brand new synergy system the place characters staff as much as carry out mixture assaults and seeing Cloud and Sephiroth combat collectively like that felt so thrilling.
Nomura: The evolution of the characters wasn’t a sudden mutation – we’ve seen gradual modifications over a number of spin-off titles and in Closing Fantasy VII Remake itself, and they’re evolving even additional in Closing Fantasy VII Rebirth. Of all of the characters, Sephiroth, particularly, has appeared in a number of totally different video games, with every look including extra layers of element, making him that a lot deeper as a personality.
In a sure sense, we’re seeing this advanced and in-depth portrayal of Sephiroth as him now “returning” to his roots within the remake collection, and so naturally, his presence shall be a lot deeper and clearer than it was within the authentic. However, the followers have now a a lot better data and understanding of Sephiroth, so I hope the gamers can see the character’s attraction much more strongly.
A tumultuous relationship between Cloud and his once-hero-now-arch-enemy Sephiroth, is the central motif of the sport. Nonetheless, Sephiroth is linked to yet one more necessary character – Aerith. And it was Aerith’s destiny again in 1997 that’s thought-about by many some of the stunning and memorable moments in online game historical past.
Kitase: Aerith’s destiny is among the most necessary themes in Closing Fantasy VII Rebirth’s story. I actually need folks to play the sport and really feel it straight, so I cannot say an excessive amount of right here, however when evaluating this scene to the way it was introduced within the authentic, I’m assured that the viewers will really feel a terrific breadth of emotion from the additional degree of element in how the characters are portrayed.
Reimagining the story of a basic like Closing Fantasy VII isn’t a small process. The unique sport is among the most influential RPGs of all time, and Closing Fantasy VII Remake has been a large success, promoting over 7 million copies. Closing Fantasy VII Rebirth itself has already gained a number of ‘Most Anticipated Sport of the Yr’ awards. We requested Mr. Kitase how the event staff approached balancing followers’ expectations and creating a brand new and expanded storyline.
Kitase: As there are various followers of the collection, I felt it was important to maintain nearly all of the weather from the unique sport. However, if we merely adopted alongside, holding the story unchanged, it will solely attraction to folks’s nostalgia. We added the Whispers as a brand new ingredient that might “shake up” the storyline and thus create a sense of anticipation in the direction of the place issues had been going. I believe that has already proved to be interesting to the followers.
So, what does this all imply for Sephiroth and Aerith? ‘No Promises to Keep’ evoked many sturdy feelings in gamers, together with worry and hope for a way the story will play out. Right here’s the message Mr. Kitase left for these counting days to Closing Fantasy VII Rebirth’s premiere and discovering out what destiny awaits our favourite flower peddler.
Nomura: No matter I say will give folks a touch about what will occur, so that is very tough to reply. Actually, I can solely say that I would like gamers to expertise what waits for them on the finish of Closing Fantasy VII Rebirth and really feel it for themselves slightly than getting that second-hand. Completely different folks will reply to it otherwise, however I believe that they’ll need to pursue that feeling, no matter it’s, and set out on their subsequent journey quickly.
Kitase: I invite you all to play Closing Fantasy VII Rebirth and see with your individual eyes how the fashionable era of gamers will react to Aerith’s destiny, a second that created such an emotional affect on an enormous variety of avid gamers 27 years in the past.
Closing Fantasy VII Rebirth launches on PS5 on February 29, 2024. Within the meantime, we invite you to revisit Closing Fantasy VII Remake with a short recap of The Story So Far:
And if you wish to expertise the sport for your self, why not pre-order the Closing Fantasy VII Remake & Rebirth Twin Pack which incorporates Closing Fantasy VII Rebirth (out there at launch) and Closing Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade which is accessible to play as quickly because the Twin Pack is pre-ordered.
