Ultimate Myth 7 is without doubt one of the biggest video games ever made, and that’s thank you, largely, to the improbable narrative choices made through its director, Yoshinori Kitase, and co-writer, Tetsuya Nomura. Those no longer most effective formed the narrative but additionally gave beginning to one of the crucial most original and loved gaming heroes ever created. Ultimate Myth 7 has stood the check of time on account of those choices and has even resulted in a surprisingly a hit and seriously acclaimed trilogy that kind of respects them.
Caution. This text comprises spoilers for the unique Ultimate Myth 7, Ultimate Myth 7 Remake, and Ultimate Myth 7 Rebirth.Alternatively, one a part of Ultimate Myth 7’s narrative virtually went in an absolutely other route, and I’m completely baffled through it. Almost each a part of FF7’s narrative is absolute best, however this one exchange will have undone all of that arduous paintings and led not to only a considerably worse sport but additionally the elimination of certainly one of gaming’s maximum iconic moments. As happy as I’m that this by no means came about, it’s undeniably attention-grabbing that each Nomura and Kitase virtually went in an absolutely other route when it got here to Ultimate Myth 7’s maximum heartbreaking loss of life.
Ultimate Myth 7 May Have Killed Off Barret
It Was once Between Him & Aerith
We all know that Aerith dies in FF7, and it is without doubt one of the maximum stunning, saddening, and catastrophically heartbreaking deaths in all of video video games. Frankly, each the unique and Rebirth’s model of Aerith’s loss of life made me uncontrollably weep, a deeply rooted unhappiness gripping my middle for days after, even even supposing I knew precisely what used to be coming. Alternatively, what many, together with myself till lately, would possibly not know is that all the way through building, Nomura and Kitase virtually killed every other persona as a substitute of Aerith. That is proper, Cloud virtually held Barret in his palms within the Forgotten Capital.
In a 2005 interview with Digital Gaming Per 30 days, archived through FF7 Citadel, Nomura and Kitase mentioned how they had been torn between killing Aerith or Barret all the way through the pivotal second in Ultimate Myth 7. Prior to Tifa used to be even within the image, Nomura and Kitase had simply 3 characters to paintings with: Cloud, Aerith, and Barret. They knew they sought after to kill off certainly one of them, however Cloud used to be clearly no longer an choice. So, it used to be as much as both Barret or Aerith to be slain through Sephiroth, and for some time, Barret looked like a sensible choice.
Tifa used to be added to the roster at a miles later date, which Nomura makes certain to indicate in that interview. He explains that whilst a large number of enthusiasts might assume that they killed Aerith to exchange her with Tifa, that used to be by no means the case.
In fact, of all of the superb birthday party participants in FF7, avid gamers would have hated to look Barret move. It looked like, a minimum of to some extent, Nomura got here to the similar conclusion. In what used to be described as a “very, very lengthy” dialog between Nomura and Kitase, they sooner or later determined that killing off Barret used to be “too obtrusive“, and that, after a lot debate, they determined to “sacrifice Aerith.” In truth, figuring out the opposite used to be Barret, I am extraordinarily happy they determined to kill Aerith, as unhappy as her loss of life is, as a result of it’s an infinitely extra stunning selection.
Aerith’s Loss of life In FF7 Is So A lot Extra Surprising
It Is Means Extra Impactful
The primary explanation why I, and reputedly Nomura and Kitase, imagine that Aerith demise over Barret is for the most efficient is since you truly do not be expecting it. I imply, through this level, almost we all know it’s coming, particularly with FF7 being some of the best-selling Ultimate Myth video games of all time. Alternatively, a minimum of on the time, or even now with the ones utterly new to Rebirth, Sephiroth killing Aerith at the sort of pivotal second, and after Cloud and her had grown so shut, it used to be utterly sudden, a in fact jaw-droppingly stunning second not like another.
Nomura defined in that Digital Gaming Per 30 days interview that earlier Ultimate Myth video games had featured a most often heroic male persona nobly sacrificing himself with a purpose to lend a hand the birthday party reach their targets. This is a not unusual trope within the JRPG style, serving as each a studying second for the protagonist and a simple strategy to tug on the heartstrings – I’m going to by no means disregard Vandham demise within the biggest RPG of all time, Xenoblade Chronicles 2. So, to keep away from repeating the “courageous, last-man status, Barrett-type persona” sacrificing themselves in Ultimate Myth 7, Nomura and Kitase modified techniques.
Comparable
Ultimate Myth 7 Rebirth’s Best possible Facet Quest Might Additionally Be Its Worst
One in all Ultimate Myth 7 Rebirth’s facet quests in Cosmo Canyon is concurrently good and in addition finds its narrative’s biggest flaw.
To them, “Aerith’s loss of life gave the impression extra herbal and practical“, which I utterly trust. Barret would sacrifice himself with out query, however that is what makes Aerith’s loss of life really feel all of the extra actual. She’s an positive, being concerned, mild persona, the sort you would not be expecting to die in any respect, let on my own have a heroic loss of life. So, she does not. She’s cruelly taken through Sephiroth, which serves to cement his position as probably the most evil online game villain whilst nonetheless reaching the similar tear-jerking response from the participant. This is a loss of life that makes Ultimate Myth 7’s tale really feel utterly unpredictable whilst nonetheless feeling earned.
FF7 Remake Performs With Barret’s Loss of life
Sephiroth Kills Him
Sadly, Barret by no means controlled to really get away demise in Ultimate Myth 7. There have been a large number of key adjustments made to Barret in Ultimate Myth 7 Remake, however some of the largest used to be being killed through Sephiroth all the way through the sport’s climatic finale. He is stabbed ruthlessly through the long-lasting Masamune, and in fact dies. In fact, those that’ve performed Rebirth – or did not surrender the second one he died – know that he comes again to existence virtually instantly, because of the Whispers reverting his destiny to be sure that Cloud and Co. stick with Ultimate Myth 7’s an identical of the sacred timeline.
In some way, it appears like this used to be Nomura’s strive at in the end attending to kill Barret with out totally committing to it. I think adore it indisputably will have to be a meta connection with that preliminary very lengthy dialog between him and Kitase, which makes that scene immensely extra relaxing in hindsight. Alternatively, it additionally reinforces that killing Aerith used to be undeniably the best transfer. Whether or not or no longer Rebirth’s many tale adjustments relatively tarnished its model of her iconic loss of life, it nonetheless feels simply as impactful, largely on account of how surprising and completely merciless it’s.
Aerith does not move out utterly with out explanation why, however her loss of life does not happen after she valiantly defends in opposition to Sephiroth, deflecting blows whilst defiantly combating again. She simply dies, a sword chopping thru her like she’s simply every other enemy in Sephiroth’s approach. Barret demise a noble loss of life would have robbed Ultimate Myth 7 of that cruelty, one thing that defines its latter part and is helping to contextualize Cloud’s descent into fantasy. Up to I don’t need Aerith to die in Ultimate Myth 7, I am certain happy it used to be her and no longer Barret.
Supply: FF7 Citadel, Super Mauro Games/YouTube
Ultimate Myth 7
- Launched
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January 31, 1997
- ESRB
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T for Teenager: Blood, Myth Violence, Language, Delicate Suggestive Topics
- Developer(s)
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Sq. Enix
- Writer(s)
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Sq. Enix
- Engine
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Unreal Engine 4
- Move-Platform Play
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playstation, computer
