This is BY FAR the biggest project I’ve ever done - not just in terms of video length but writing, structure, endurance, etc. It was a grueling process, to say the least, and I’m so glad to be able to finally get it out there. This sort of video really isn’t going to amass many views, and I knew that before starting the work for it. This is primarily for me, and if no one were to watch it or comment, I’d still be satisfied. That’s the type of mindset you need to have for videos like this, I think. However, I’m honoured that you clicked on the video and are reading this, and I’m honoured that you’re giving this monster a chance. Please feel free to share your thoughts on anything about the game or the video, whether you agree or disagree or have something to add or whatever. Sharing my experience with Rebirth with you guys is a great joy, and I’d love to read some of your thoughts back. Thank you. -- Small error - Jenova appeared on the planet 2000 years ago, not 200. Misspoke. -- Table of Contents: 0:00 - Introduction, Disclaimers, and Overall Thoughts on Rebirth 21:56 - Chapter 1 and The Background Lore of FF7 53:08 - Chapter 2 and Kalm 1:03:05 - Chapter 3 and The Turks 1:07:48 - Chapter 4, Junon & Rufus 1:33:55 - Chapter 5 1:43:13 - Chapter 6 andCosta Del Sol 1:58:54 - Chapter 7 and Mount Corel/Corel 2:23:00 - Chapter 8, the Gold Saucer, Corel Prison and Dyne 2:55:12 - Chapter 9, Gongaga and Tifa in the Lifestream 3:36:59 - Chapter 10, Cosmo Canyon, the Gi and Theories about Retrilogy's World 4:40:19 - Chapter 11, Nibelheim, Vincent and Roche 5:23:59 - Chapter 12, the Gold Saucer Revisited and the Dates 6:00:57 - Chapter 13, the Temple of the Ancients and the Trials 6:49:41 - Chapter 14 - Aerith's Date, Sephiroth, Zack and the White Materia 7:25:25 - Chapter 14 - The Forgotten Capital, Aerith's Death and the Final Battle 8:14:02 - The Final Scene, Theories, Speculation and Final Thoughts -- Sources: My videos - - The Story of Final Fantasy 7 .. So Far | A Comparative Analysis of the Original AND Remake: ua-cam.com/video/Ak0CliamogQ/v-deo.html&ab_channel=Aleczandxr - Final Fantasy 7 Remake: Episode INTERMission | Story Review: ua-cam.com/video/hg_cmeBylcs/v-deo.html&ab_channel=Aleczandxr Miscellaneous Sources - - FFVII Rebirth Ultimania - FFVII Remake Ultimania - Final Fantasy VII Ultimania - Traces of Two Pasts by Kazushige Nojima - The mentioned tweet thread theorizing about the ending (user currently banned): x.com/TurquoiseHammer/status/1772324135089181110 - The mentioned tweet theorizing about the state of the setting and the plot: twitter.com/omnicloudv7/status/1779006258952945927?s=46&t=L2O8QblcHoJ0GyOgFcZSiQ - Inside Final Fantasy VII Rebirth video series: ua-cam.com/play/PL2A8F9VO2BGPIBlPKz4jBs8r5SX7NJNai.html - Max Plays: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth: ua-cam.com/play/PLitZkRNNn1LitPSUh3vYrrXd-j1UPlXUN.html - Final Fantasy VII Rebirth - Spoiler Mode w/ Maximilian Dood: ua-cam.com/video/euPgi8zOWnk/v-deo.html&ab_channel=EasyAllies - The TRUTH About Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's Ending: ua-cam.com/video/8G5VcZY2kYE/v-deo.html&ab_channel=TheNightSkyPrince - MASSIVE FF7 REBIRTH TALK: ua-cam.com/video/UPoxy4nu0yo/v-deo.html&ab_channel=BltzZ Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Ultimania translations provided by - - twitter.com/aitaikimochi - twitter.com/ShinraArch Video footage provided by - - Shirrako: ua-cam.com/play/PLCLeSTzz6trZ0Kb6ZN5NvNbG4oEk6L5wl.html - Gamer’s Little Playground (Also provided Crisis Core footage): ua-cam.com/video/wv9VnAhUQ6w/v-deo.html&ab_channel=Gamer%27sLittlePlayground - Lorerunner: ua-cam.com/video/6cc0RNeZ5PQ/v-deo.htmlsi=pSwimJ4qvY3N4Y-A - louiseyhannah: youtube.com/@louiseyhannahVODs?si=1hAWwa-kAxt3ZGN_ - Maximillian Dood: ua-cam.com/video/TyqobkS7Csg/v-deo.html - IGN: ua-cam.com/video/zK7i3-MMgSo/v-deo.html - Chris Of The Vale: ua-cam.com/video/AJHnbw1mgyw/v-deo.html&ab_channel=ChrisOfTheVale - Pierce Arner: ua-cam.com/video/Y2PNbO-YO3w/v-deo.html&ab_channel=PierceArner - Ever Crisis - Faz Faz: ua-cam.com/video/-GfC43JvZ44/v-deo.htmlsi=t1xh3dB6pyJiplno - Nova Crystallis: ua-cam.com/video/IZGzumO1aug/v-deo.html - Xygor Gaming: ua-cam.com/video/yPindmUNoOM/v-deo.html - Gast mention from Chasloth: ua-cam.com/video/3mROvymYEAo/v-deo.htmlsi=5yH5AWkOOvWjJ5xm - PowerPyx (Specific sidequest footage): ua-cam.com/video/hMxE089NFBY/v-deo.html - BuffMaister (Dirge footage): ua-cam.com/video/S-rp-MWkZiU/v-deo.html
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a miracle of a game. There isn't a category that it doesn't excel in in terms of anything. Narrative? Brilliant all around, not perfect but brilliant regardless. Gameplay is varied and enriched. World is beautiful. Music, stunning. The vast majority of slanderous criticisms I've seen towards it (slanderous, not honest) are insubstantial and don't hold any weight, from insecure traditionalists inflexible and incapable of being open-minded to the vision of this game. Already see some in the comments but that's just what happens lol. But that aside, kudos for putting this out there. Can't wait to dig into this, thank you.
Honestly you say it won't get many views but it has 20,000 now. It's obviously not equal to the work but in but that must be pleasing, it's a lot of people.
This is by far, one of the greatest achievements in the FF7 fandom to date. Not only is this video lovingly written, chapter by chapter, it is mixed with lore, current mysteries, and theories that just culminates in a gripping video for diehard fans. Your passion for the series radiates from this video, and not only am I trying to share this wherever I can, but like all of the great FF7 fan creators out there, you have elevated to source and have only amplified my feelings of the game. As you said in the beginning, REBIRTH is one of the best, and one of my favorite, games of all time. For you to write this love letter to the experience means the world to me, thank you AJ.
Wow, this is incredibly beautiful to read. I’m so happy that the video spoke to you so profoundly and that you enjoyed so thoroughly. Thank you so much, comments like this make all the work put into it feel MORE than worth it :’)
@@phantomslay5612 Seconded, and its not close. Obviously some videos or discussions go into great depth on certain individual elements or scenes of the game, or characters, but as a full package there is nothing on this level and I doubt there ever will be. And I'm not even done, only in the middle of the Shinra Manor/Vincent section
What a masterpiece of a video and a labor of love this must have been. If I were the developer of a game and saw a 9-hour video dedicated to it, I would simply dissolve into a happy puddle of tears. Even as just an FF7 fan, I am so inspired by your appreciation and understanding of what this trilogy accomplishes and aims to accomplish. There’s so much from your video I want to talk about lol but for now, thank you for sharing your thoughts and analysis in such a clear and concise way. I thoroughly enjoyed watching and already want to rewatch it!
That means so much to me, thank you! That’s incredibly kind of you to say, and if you ever feel so inclined I’d love to read some of your more specific thoughts that you have about certain parts of the video like you mentioned! Of course though if you’d rather leave it here then I totally understand, thank you for watching and for the support :)
Thank you so much. This game moved me more than any other fictional work has done in my life. I’ve seen fans having pointless arguments over nitpicking the plot apart. This video is the exact kind of discussion I’d rather have. ♡ You did an excellent job and should be very proud.
I never considered the "Zack as a fallen hero" angle and wow, I think that's spot on. Like yeah, he survives the Shinra assault and winds up sleeping on a ratty old mattress in the Midgar slums. How sad.
It makes his whole story sadder in my opinion, either doomed to sacrifice himself or doomed to lose his purpose and come back to a world destined to die. I really hope something changes in part 3, he deserve better! The dude is an actual hero 😂
After a being quite disappointed with the lack of recognition for what a triumph that Rebirth is at the Game Awards, this video comes at the perfect times. Can't wait to devour everything about it.
@WarrenValion , Hi. Do you know who is part of the "jury" that decide what Awards should be given to what game ? just Google it please ... your disappointment will be turned into bitterness , or a smile , depend of how cynical and based of a person you are. Question is , How much of a sweet summer child one need to be in order to believe that game Awards are made to celebrate game quality and achievement ? Games awards, like movies Awards , are an echo chamber, it is marketing and lobbying , it' is about money and political agenda. I and many others did understand that many years ago and where called fools.. but just you wait ..even you, yourself right now express disappointment regarding this masquerade.. who in his right mind is gonna give credit to an IGN reviews nowadays ? Is Alyssa Mercante somebody you thrust when it come to a give a faire 'X out of ten" score representative of a game overall quality ?. Is Variety reliable when it come to assessing game design and quality ? Is a turd stop tasting like a turd because it has been elected "Delicacy od the year" by turd eaters ? FF part 3 is going to be awesome ,i have faith in SQE ...Awards be damned! they don't mean sh*t
34:00 It is insane to me that Sephiroth going crazy just boils down to him picking the wrong door in the basement. One door had the correct answers. The other door had the wrong answers. Somewhere out there, there is a universe where Sephiroth finds Vincent and they go off to find Lucrecia together.
Just think of all the coincidences that happen in 7. Like the video says, it is almost unbelievable how many slim chances occurred even just to have Shinra mistake Jenova for an Ancient. And this isn’t an unintentional artificial element to the story; coincidences form history and the present in the real world and in FF7.
And in that universe, imagine what other characters would've got up to that are intertwined with Sephiroth. Cloud, president Shinra, Hojo, Aerith surviving. It's an entirely different story taking place in the same universe just maybe where Sephiroth isn't a villain, where he stays true to his heart.
Amazing video. I especially appreciate that this video does not hold back on anything and keeps the entire compilation in mind. Also loved how you wrestled with the different theories of the ending. Thank you for the incredible video!
Rebirth was a game I couldn’t put down. I didn’t play the original and I know it’s great and legendary. There’s so much going on in rebirth that this video is definitely exciting
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AJ, I just want to thank you for all the hard work & passion that you've put into this video. Because I understand that it takes an enormous amount of dedication, patience & love for this game, to create a behemoth like this. I'll be taking my sweet time to slowly & meticulously savour this video, and then maybe comment my thoughts after I properly watch it. You've earned the longest vacation in Costa del Sol. Thank you for your service SOLDIER. 🙏🙌
Finished this after a few days and it was a delight. A great partner to a lot of my holiday business. It’s so clear that so much research was done and so much thought put into it, and the analysis is the best I’ve heard from anyone in the community - seriously, no one I’ve seen has dug this deep into the characters and themes. But most of all, this video was full of heart and soul and your passion bled through, so much so that it was a comfort to watch and listen to and it just effortlessly made me fall deeper in love with Rebirth. Thank you.
I started watching and never stopped. My word, I so appreciate the work you did. Your view and passion in every aspect is next to mine with this game. Your closing and the 8 hours and 14 mins before hand was a masterpiece. Thank you very much.
Honestly can't imagine how rough the journey to making this must have been. Congratulations on getting it out there, and getting seven thousand eyes on it alone for something this grand and personal must be gratifying.
God I love Chapter 4 so much and you pointed out several things about it that I hadn't realized before, like the details of Aerith's and Tifa's lines during the speech with the troops. Also love how you describe Under Junon, its very similar with Midgar.
you pretty much explained every reason why i love this game outside of its flaws.played the video while i worked my shift. made my whole day go by quicker. fire video
Little thing, but I just wanna show appreciate for the way you dug into Gast’s character. Finding pretty hidden dialogue to connect to his role in the story, etc. I always found Gast to be one of the most interesting characters in FF7 so thank you for talking about him a bit.
Of course! I tried to give every notable element of this story and world a bit of time and spotlight, and Gast is really interesting and essential to the lore - and Rebirth expands on him a bit - so he deserved it!
1 hour in and the way you’ve contextualized the story as well as the thoughtful cinematography and intent the directors have had is fantastic. Phenomenal work! This would sway even the haters!
I’m only an hour into the video so far but had to stop and say, absolutely wonderful work! Your video on Remake is one of my favorite analyses on the game and was really excited to see this
I was JUST thinking to myself yesterday, I can't WAIT Till Aleczandxr posts the Rebirth analysis video and BEHOLD!!! I can't wait to watch this over the next few days. Thank you for your hard work!!
I've been eagerly anticipating this, thank you! I listened to the discussion you had with King Recon which was a really good teaser for what your full thoughts were going to be. Will be enjoying your new video over the next while!
What I really like about your theory of Aerith showing herself alive to Cloud, is how it puts him that much closer to Sephiroth. While Aerith represents the hope and optimism of the dead not really being gone, Sephiroth represents denial and lashing out at the idea of death, with Cloud being somewhere in the middle being pulled along by both influences. If your theory is true and Aerith is the one showing the illusion to Cloud so his mind doesn't break fully, it would double the tragedy because she's not just pushing him away from what she is, but also towards what Sephiroth is. The one she loves most has to become more like the one she opposes the most by her own hands to save him.
Yeah that’s exactly it. If that ends up being true then Aerith is committing what she undoubtedly believes is an evil that pushes Cloud towards Sephiroth for the sake of the big picture, it’s insane irony.
Glad you enjoyed! My pleasure. Although please don’t expect more MASSIVE projects, putting this together took so much out of me that I don’t think it’s healthy for me to take on stuff of this size until maybe the next Retrilogy video. It also isn’t very financially viable. But you can look forward to comparatively smaller projects on anime, TV shows and games and you can also check out the streams if that’s your thing!
@Aleczandxr definitely! Your vids on Breaking Bad and Berserk are what brought me here years ago so I'm staying tuned in for the healthier part of what you do as well! 👌
Dude, it took me a week of watching off and on at work, but I've finished this finally. Fantastic work immersing me in this world and this story. Way back when your first one dropped, i was riding my motorcycle to a friends house LATE late at night through miles and miles of dark roads with woods surrounding me everywhere. Nothing but your voice in my headphones, the stars above in clear view and a seemingly endless empty road. That memory has stuck with me for all this time as few videos do. It's an honor to finally experience the follow up to that now. And am very much looking forward to the finale and your thoughts on that as well.
Wooooooow! That’s an incredible and beautiful memory, I’m so glad to have been a part of it. Thanks for sticking with such long videos, and I’m so glad you enjoy them.
Rebirth was a profound gaming experience, especially as a fan of the original. I can’t wait for this saga to come to a massive cathartic close in part 3. It’s gonna be a hell of a ride!
While waiting to play this masterpiece again on the pc, I watched every single minute of your video, and now I treasure this game even more. Thank you.
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Finally watched the whole video. What an incredible piece of work this is. No words are sufficient to express my feelings & praise it deserves... I've been inspired by it many times, so I've written down some of my thoughts as I was watching. It also reminded me of some INSANE information about THE Aerith scene, that Cody Christensen revealed in one interview. Sorry if I indulge myself a bit too much: First, I 100% agree with the only real issue being them not letting the emotional scenes linger properly & the whole Cait Sith box segment. Of course, they have to stick the landing for part 3 with Cloud, Tifa & Aerith especially, but I have a ton of faith in them. Now unto the praise. Regarding Sephiroth's descent into madness in Ch1. I too was awestruck by his descent. Especially when he was first shown panicking & hyperventilating, repeatedly breathing heavily before completely snapping. Then after him burning Nibelheim to the ground & walking into the fire, showing his last genuine smile to Cloud (Zack), before completely cutting off the innocent boy that Sephiroth once was off. So tragic, especially knowing his devastating childhood thanks to Hojo & what EC reveals. (Giving him Lucrecia's picture & saying her name is Jenova etc...) Love that you mentioned how Sephiroth struggled against the Weapon in Gongaga. The first time this deific Sephiroth has shown any semblance of physical weakness. Despite going beyond time and acting as a god, it tells us that under it all, he's still a vulnerable, lonely boy, who only puts up a front to realize his twisted dream of a peaceful world. And with that I also mean that he puts up a front for himself too. Convincing himself that is the only way. Because he genuinely doesn't understand humanity's perspective. It's also worth mentioning how the Gold Saucer LOVELESS play mirrors the story of LOVELESS from CC to a tee & thus makes it feel so grand & much more than just a play. A re-enacment & interpretation of this planet's natural destiny, facing off against the incomprehensible. Which honestly makes me appreciate CC's focus on it more. Alongside her happiest moments, Aerith's murals from Remake also have a very tragic & sad undertone, even depicting Meteor. And seemingly Cetra's story, their tragic past & foreboding future of the planet. Their history mirroring Aerith's life & current struggles. I think the Black Materia that Sephiroth drops for Cloud to fetch is the real one. After Aerith states it, he acknowledges the one in the Temple as a fake that serves as the Key to the real one, hidden between worlds. The sentiment of what you said stays completely the same though. It's him flauting his power over Cloud & making Cloud's guilt unbearable for the future. 6:54:00 that reminds me so much of Y'shtola's words in EW within UT... When it comes to Cloud's fragmented mind during Aerith's last moments. I agree that they're saving it all for Part 3. Don't know if you read this. But in an interview, Cody revealed that they recorded the whole Aerith's death scene, with Cloud's iconic speech from the OG, her funeral, everything... It was a Screen Rant Cloud interview and some other sources. He said that everyone in the studio, including him, were crying while recording it. Whole scene is in fact completely done. They recorded it alongside one that we got in Rebirth and used only tiny visual snippets of it in Rebirth, when it flashes to Cloud's inaudible speech from the OG. That's also why the ending credits photos have holes/empty spots only around that segment of the story. They're intentionally saving it all for later and using it as a way to show that Cloud has completely repressed those memories, even in the ending credits. Speculation on "I give you my blessing" is that it's during this moment that Sephiroth gives Cloud the Black Materia. It's super interesting that soon after that we see the portal wormhole scene, replicating the one from the OG's finale, just like Remake did before Cloud faces Spehiroth in EoC. It could imply something really significant for Part 3. Since in the OG, it signified Cloud purging Sephiroth from his mind by defeating his last remnant within his inner world. I don't blame you for liking the cheesy "Protect your honor as a SOLDIER" scene. To me, it was actually really sad. Because it represents how Cloud's still living the lie through Zack, just like at the start of the game within the Nibelheim flashback. Despite Zack being right there in front of him, moments ago. Those are not his words, and it just makes me feel so bad for him & shows how broken he currently is. And lastly, one theory. I think that the comatose Aerith from one of the alt worlds will now wake up, after she died in the Beagle timeline. After all, Marlene says that Aerith waking up there would mean that the scary man killed her. And those alt worlds possibly are dream worlds within the lifestream, or something similar. I'll end with this. This analysis/retrospective is an essential watch for any FFVII fan. Marvelous work AJ, once again!
Thank you so much for such a thoughtful comment - there’s so much to reply to but I’ll keep it brief and begin and end with this - the Y’shtola EW connection wasn’t one that was intended in the moment you refer to, but I guess it just goes to show how universal, intimate and significant this sort of idea is and displays how effective and creative this artists and writers are at conveying it in such different ways. I love XIV, I love Rebirth.
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@@Aleczandxr Exactly AJ. That's why we love FF so much.
I was finally able to watch this video in totality. I got emotional many times through it. I always marvel at how well you are at breaking things down, and love your interpretations on things. This video has me yearning to replay Rebirth when it comes out on Steam
This is going to be awesome I’m glad it’s finally here! I loved your original video on the first remake so this is going to be amazing! Thank you for making this I love this series and am glad to see someone go in depth like this man. I remember rewatching your first video right before rebirth came out crazy how fast time has gone already wow. I appreciate your hard work on this man I will enjoy it.
I'm in awe at this game. I played the original a few years after release, loved it, became an elitist at the idea of a Remake that may not be 1:1, ultimately gave Remake a try and really enjoyed it, only to be stunned with the realization that Rebirth represents this world and these characters in ways I could never have imagined 20+ years ago. It's a dream come true. Can't wait foer your take on it.
I've been watching you since your anime analysis on HxH aeons ago and this is probably my favourite video from you. Your hard work on this video was conveyed and made for a 9 hours that I didn't even notice fly by. Fantastic work
I remember back in 2020 when Remake released, I didn't know how to feel about the complete 180 they did with regards to their approach to Sephiroth. After some thought, I realized I didn't like it that much, and even said I hated the ending. I remember that the ending of Rebirth similarly disappointed me wholly because of Sephiroth once again being the final boss. I never thought I'd come to change my mind about it. Hearing you talk about Sephiroth's role in this story, I understand now that a different approach was necessary with the new story they were trying to tell. I was one of those people who really rejected the new, but through watching your Rebirth and Remake videos, I've come to change my mind. It's so refreshing hearing someone talk so positively about the new stuff the Remake Trilogy is bringing to the table. I thank you for this video, and your Remake one!!! The theories you posited at the end were also giving me so much food for thought. I'll be thinking about this for months to come. I watched a cutscene movie, but I'm so glad to have watched this just in time for Rebirth to launch on PC in a few days which would grant me the opportunity to play it myself. I'll be keeping your video on my mind and keeping an eye on all these little details in my own playthrough!!!
2:51:48 one of my favorite moments in anything ever. Cloud coming full circle and his “I mean it man.” The way Barret looks up like damn he does it’s so damn good it sent me into tears the first time just that humanity and love towards one another
It's always refreshing to see someone appreciate the Re-trilogy as much as I do. I love these games and this video cemented that even more. Thank you so much for this masterpiece!
This is a lovely analysis deconstructing all the multiple layered themes throughout and a refreshing take. I enjoyed it and glad it didn't delve into, 'But mah nostalgia!' territory. I can't wait to see how Part 3 will play out
I'm so glad you think that kiss with Tifa comes a bit too soon. Tifa is 100% the girl for Cloud but it's too soon, neither one of them are really ready for that step. I'd argue similarly if it were a kiss with Aerith, I'm her case because their relationship never actually becoming a thing is a part of the tragedy.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a miracle of a game. There isn't a category that it doesn't excel in in terms of anything. Narrative? Brilliant all around, not perfect but brilliant regardless. Gameplay is varied and enriched. World is beautiful. Music, stunning. The vast majority of slanderous criticisms I've seen towards it (slanderous, not honest) are insubstantial and don't hold any weight, from insecure traditionalists inflexible and incapable of being open-minded to the vision of this game. Already see some in the comments but that's just what happens lol. But that aside, kudos for putting this out there. Can't wait to dig into this, thank you.
Given modern discussion I think looking for fair critique is a futile endeavor lol. Not that it isn't out there, but most of the time its all desperate, sweaty slander.
one of my favorite moments was right after the “Cool.” response to Yuffie - when she joins, she examines everyone’s positioning and posing, then picks the exact spot and pose to fill in the “missing piece” of the party.
Thank you so much for putting this out to the world, im all for anyone gushing over Rebirth. To me its an absolute masterpiece, as someone who played OG back in 97 i couldnt have ever imagined ff7 looking so good. Remake set the bar high and I knew that Rebirth would be better because of all of the nostalgia attached to places like Niblehiem, the gold saucer and cosmo canyon. I did not expect Rebith to be so expansive, the sheer amount of content and depth is mindblowing. Im so glad you enjoyed the game so much, i love how you articulate what makes the game so good and how you highlight the lengths that the devs went to to recreate this world. Im 2 hours into your video, i will absolutly be listening to it all. Excellent work! 💯 🔥 👏
@Aleczandxr Thank you for replying! You've raised so many great points already and its so nice to hear someone talk about ff7 so passionatly, I know how polarising the retrilogy can be so it's so good to hear someone gush about the game. OG is the reason I am a gamer today, it taught my young mind so much about life and loss. I think it's profoundly important in the development of gaming, everything they are doing with the retrilogy has taken OG and perfected it, in my humble opinion. I can't wait to hear your theories on the end of the game and see how they align with my own! Only 6 or so hours to go! 🤣 Thank you again, Rebirth needs this level of coverage and respect! 🙏👏 🙌
Haven't started the video yet, but I just want to congratulate you for your dedication. I cannot even begin to imagine how long this took, and it speaks volumes about how much this game means to you.
both of your Retrospectives enhance the Remake Trilogy to new levels, I cannot wait for the release of the third part and your Retrospective about it because the Game won't feel complete without it.
Never played through FF7 or the Remakes, so I thought I'd only watch the first 5 or so minutes then dip. Ended up blasting through the first hour of the video cuz it was so engaging. Fantastic work!
@@Aleczandxr I was surprised by how easy I was able to follow without any sort of prior context. The script is simply superb. Will def watch this video in full one day.
You mention that they change the energy of Junon into this more nationalistic, boisterous celebration of a city. Along with the rationale you explained I imagine it was also done to ramp up the "fun" factor for this game prior to the horrifying tragedy that you describe later, really just getting as much cheesiness and charm out of the setting while that was possible before Aerith died and Cloud snapped.
I genuinely wish I could share your love for the overall product. While there are elements of Rebirth that I think are about as good as a game can be, these were often sullied by segments that felt designed to frustrate. To be so modern in its graphical presentation, parts of Rebirth felt as though Square had missed two decades of improvements in game design.
@Aleczandxr I don't have a ton of time right now, but a few examples that come immediately to mind include: 1. The world design, particularly in Gongaga and Cosmo Canyon, felt unnecessarily labyrinthine. I often spent more time trying to figure out how to get to a place than I did on the challenge once I arrived. Watching a guy who soars through the air obliterating enemies get stymied by a ledge I could climb is exasperating. 2. The open world game loop wasn't particularly satisfying after the first couple zones and really only served to pad out the play time. It just felt tedious after a while. 3. A few of the mini games, particularly the ones that gated content (Gears and Gambits and Fort Condor for example) were incredibly frustrating. 4. The entire Cait Sith section was just painful to play. The person who designed the box throwing mechanic should be beaten with a rubber hose thrice daily. 5. THE DAMNED CHICKEN QUEST 6. I have several complaints with the story changes, but the biggest offender was the ending. Square took what should have been an emotional gut punch in Aerith's death and made it more confusing than tragic. This may sound like I hated my experience, but I still think there's a lot to love in Rebirth; there are elements of the game that are genuinely brilliant. I just wish it hadn't frustrated me as often as it amazed me. At its best, it's a genre-defining RPG. At its worst it's frustrating and tedious. While neither Infinite Wealth or Metaphor: Refantazio reached the heights of Rebirth, their consistency made them my two favorite RPGs of 2024. And I haven't finished the video yet (I intend to do so today), but the first half was excellent. I'll post my full thoughts once I've seen the rest.
I agree with 3 and 4 and you probably heard me explain 4. But the majority of the mini games were big hits for me, especially QB, so I don’t mind a couple of misses. Don’t agree with the rest and you’ll hear me expand on why in the rest of the video but either way thanks for explaining! Glad you’re liking the video! Hope you enjoy the rest.
After watching the introduction i'm completely convinced to sub and go back and watch your FF7 videos in order (and pokemon Gen 4 video) i'm honestly hyped to listen to these while i work on my own world and characters. Thanks for the hard work.
A fun detail about the part where Cloud is trying to get the black materia from Aerith is what happens if you try to go any other direction than towards her. He moves like a marionette forward. My Cloud resisted that and the part where he tries to attack her, which makes for a heartbreaking image of him battling himself. Additionally, I love how you used ff14 music peppering this video. Really great.
I just finished the last 40 or so minutes(watched so much yesterday) and you really helped me put together a lot of stuff in my head that didnt connect before. To go over, I loved the exploration of Yuffie and Barret’s dynamic that had sort of flown over my head a bit, i could feel how they grew closer for sure but the way they sort of fill a hole the other has in their heart at that point of their lives is soo good. On the subject of Barret you also help me better process and appreciate the differences with how they did the Dyne scenes in this game, i didnt exactly hate them, but i didnt know how to put it when others would criticize it in comparison to the og, and the scene of him getting to meet Eleonore again really got me in my feelings watching it here even compared to when i first played. Also the way Rufus believes that all his struggles are what make him strong and Glen/Sephiroth actually commends that about him, helps me to more strongly connect Sephiroth’s overall ideology that suffering and despair is what will make Cloud strong. Your explanation of how you see Cloud deflecting Seph in the ending also makes a lot of sense to me, the idea that these splintering worlds ultimately have the vestige of their original fate and such, Aerith probably does legitimately live on, for a little bit, in this alternate world that ultimately also will end. All in all really just congratulations for finishing this unbelievable undertaking of a project.
i do have some specific disagreements i think with the idea of “natural” and “artifical” destiny i just dk if i see such a distinction overall with this game but it’s more a personal belief thing ig, and you know about my own insane theories regarding Sephiroth but those are crazy and unlikely haha, also massive thank you just for stating by the end that yes Aerith does truly love Cloud even if she wasn’t totally over Zack by the end either, it’s sooo frustrating i feel like people try to remove so much of Aerith’s agency in all this because they don’t want her to “lose” or something like let her just have this unfulfilled but true love with Cloud! i think it resonates with me so hard the idea that in life it’s possible to have lost your greatest and one true love and all the same you have to keep living with that and move on
i want to explain something a bit on the significance of “arigatou” in Japanese the literal meaning of the kanji of the word is “this hardly ever happens” or “there was quite a bit of hardship to get here” so you can use it in this very casual context but depending on the context it can have this very grand significance of “it’s a miracle you even came into my life” or “man we really went through so much to get to this point huh” which is why you might see it used in really intense scenes in Japanese stories, you might know for example Yuna’s “arigatou” in the japanese FFX was translated to “i love you” in english not quite right to do that much but you can see they were trying to create this powerful connotation
About 7 hours in, man you’ve truly enhanced almost every single character and this is already my favorite game ever. Aerith’s trial has got to be one of the most emotional things I’ve experienced and hearing you go through it had me fighting back tears at work lol. The way ifalna held on until she knew Aerith would be safe man :(
5:56:07 they seem to me to be allowing pretty much any set of relationships the player wants (narratively). It’s quite deftly done in my opinion. You can read the text in favour of Cloud and Aerith, Cloud and Tifa, Aerith and Tifa, Cloud and Zack, or Zack and Aerith. Or even some simultaneous combination of these. That’s not easy to pull off, especially to still make the text support any of them enough that people will swear blind that their interpretation is the only valid one. It’s also justified, narratively, because every combination shows a different thing: Aerith pushes Cloud out of his awkwardness and gives Tifa a chance to have fun, Tifa believes in Cloud and calms Aerith’s recklessness, Zack gives Cloud a feeling of being protected and cared for for once (calming his anxiety; as the emails in CC show) and doesn’t treat Aerith as being weird and different (as the graveyard scene in Remake shows drags on her). That’s tricky character writing and I want to tip my hat at them.
THIS IS A MASTERPIECE I loved both games so much and as someone who didn't play the og, I felt like Aerith's supposedly death scene lacked something, and the glitching mental state of Cloud made it much more confusing on my first playthrough (I did expect to have some emotional damage on this scene but the story wanted to say something else which i guess not everyone fans expected, expecting we'd have to see that scene in 4k but instead we got something cryptic). Your analysis here gave much more clarity to both Aerith and Sephiroth's actions in some scenes where they opposed the main gang and also even putting the spotlight to slight facial expressions by the characters, the parallels, etc. What an absolute journey to experience Rebirth again through this piece. Thank you.
Just as Aerith is Clouds Guardian Angel , you are Rebirths , matey - providing truth and ultima lore in a masterful package of flashbacks , chapter progression and foreboding for the reunion. The "This shit is my heroin" line OMG and also the LOTR allusions with Frodo are brilliant - SO WELL DONE 🎉🎉
@Aleczandxr Having a 360 and a PS4 , my first experience of the Final Fantasy worlds has been 13 (yeah) which i loved the whole longform experience of it all (91hrs of play time for me). Should also try to get thru 13-2 , Lightning Returns , X/X-2 , The Zodiac Age before there is Remake and my quest for a Ps5 for Rebirth. I know the constant sidequests and worldbuilding annoy a lot of people , but ive primed myself by a lot of hours put in. And having Briannas personally signed Streamily photo and comment "Oh Yea of Zero Faith" is always a great statement to keep hope alive.
Haven’t watched yet, but I can’t wait!! Just wanted to say THANK YOU for all the hard work you put into this, it truly is for the love of the game! Respect 🙏🏼
Hey, this is amazing and you should be proud to have accomplished such a long project. RE: the Whispers taking Aerith's memories in Remake - those are what Rebirth contextualizes as Sephiroth's Whispers, black like his cloaked men (and later Glenn). They took her memories to kneecap her and take out Holy. There's a scene that makes more sense now where a black Whisper hovers over Cloud as he sleeps and Sephiroth's voice says "Dream for me Cloud." (Also given what Rebirth is about...Sephiroth wanting Cloud to dream seems huge.) I would say the Whispers as we seem them in Remake are not fully corrupted but are on their way, with complete control being made by Sephiroth by Remake's climax (i.e. HE literally uses them in his boss fight as well as a mechanic, which is a big hint toward their role in Rebirth.) While I'm talking about Remake, Barrett's death/not death seems like a specific parallel by the devs to the climax of Rebirth. Even for new players it's sort of a setup.
The only problem with that for me is I don’t personally see much evidence within Remake that it’s a gradual transition for the Whispers onto Sephiroth’s side. I view it much more as a swift reversal after the Arbiter is defeated, and I don’t see through what mechanism Sephiroth would be corrupting them. It would explain a couple of things in a clean way for sure though! And thank you!
I have a question tho: if cloud is made to believe that aerith is still alive via the illusion she's planted in him, how do you reconcile the fact that the rest of the party won't see her and the eventual scenes or discussions where they say as much to cloud?
You can’t reconcile it. That’s one of the biggest conflict points for Part 3 and I have no idea how they’re gonna do it, but whatever the reason Cloud thinks Aerith is alive and the party know she’s dead and that’s without doubt going to lead to conflict. I suspect Tifa will play a big role.
This is BY FAR the biggest project I’ve ever done - not just in terms of video length but writing, structure, endurance, etc. It was a grueling process, to say the least, and I’m so glad to be able to finally get it out there.
This sort of video really isn’t going to amass many views, and I knew that before starting the work for it. This is primarily for me, and if no one were to watch it or comment, I’d still be satisfied. That’s the type of mindset you need to have for videos like this, I think. However, I’m honoured that you clicked on the video and are reading this, and I’m honoured that you’re giving this monster a chance. Please feel free to share your thoughts on anything about the game or the video, whether you agree or disagree or have something to add or whatever. Sharing my experience with Rebirth with you guys is a great joy, and I’d love to read some of your thoughts back.
Thank you.
--
Small error - Jenova appeared on the planet 2000 years ago, not 200. Misspoke.
--
Table of Contents:
0:00 - Introduction, Disclaimers, and Overall Thoughts on Rebirth
21:56 - Chapter 1 and The Background Lore of FF7
53:08 - Chapter 2 and Kalm
1:03:05 - Chapter 3 and The Turks
1:07:48 - Chapter 4, Junon & Rufus
1:33:55 - Chapter 5
1:43:13 - Chapter 6 andCosta Del Sol
1:58:54 - Chapter 7 and Mount Corel/Corel
2:23:00 - Chapter 8, the Gold Saucer, Corel Prison and Dyne
2:55:12 - Chapter 9, Gongaga and Tifa in the Lifestream
3:36:59 - Chapter 10, Cosmo Canyon, the Gi and Theories about Retrilogy's World
4:40:19 - Chapter 11, Nibelheim, Vincent and Roche
5:23:59 - Chapter 12, the Gold Saucer Revisited and the Dates
6:00:57 - Chapter 13, the Temple of the Ancients and the Trials
6:49:41 - Chapter 14 - Aerith's Date, Sephiroth, Zack and the White Materia
7:25:25 - Chapter 14 - The Forgotten Capital, Aerith's Death and the Final Battle
8:14:02 - The Final Scene, Theories, Speculation and Final Thoughts
--
Sources:
My videos -
- The Story of Final Fantasy 7 .. So Far | A Comparative Analysis of the Original AND Remake: ua-cam.com/video/Ak0CliamogQ/v-deo.html&ab_channel=Aleczandxr
- Final Fantasy 7 Remake: Episode INTERMission | Story Review: ua-cam.com/video/hg_cmeBylcs/v-deo.html&ab_channel=Aleczandxr
Miscellaneous Sources -
- FFVII Rebirth Ultimania
- FFVII Remake Ultimania
- Final Fantasy VII Ultimania
- Traces of Two Pasts by Kazushige Nojima
- The mentioned tweet thread theorizing about the ending (user currently banned): x.com/TurquoiseHammer/status/1772324135089181110
- The mentioned tweet theorizing about the state of the setting and the plot: twitter.com/omnicloudv7/status/1779006258952945927?s=46&t=L2O8QblcHoJ0GyOgFcZSiQ
- Inside Final Fantasy VII Rebirth video series: ua-cam.com/play/PL2A8F9VO2BGPIBlPKz4jBs8r5SX7NJNai.html
- Max Plays: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth: ua-cam.com/play/PLitZkRNNn1LitPSUh3vYrrXd-j1UPlXUN.html
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth - Spoiler Mode w/ Maximilian Dood: ua-cam.com/video/euPgi8zOWnk/v-deo.html&ab_channel=EasyAllies
- The TRUTH About Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's Ending: ua-cam.com/video/8G5VcZY2kYE/v-deo.html&ab_channel=TheNightSkyPrince
- MASSIVE FF7 REBIRTH TALK: ua-cam.com/video/UPoxy4nu0yo/v-deo.html&ab_channel=BltzZ
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Ultimania translations provided by -
- twitter.com/aitaikimochi
- twitter.com/ShinraArch
Video footage provided by -
- Shirrako: ua-cam.com/play/PLCLeSTzz6trZ0Kb6ZN5NvNbG4oEk6L5wl.html
- Gamer’s Little Playground (Also provided Crisis Core footage): ua-cam.com/video/wv9VnAhUQ6w/v-deo.html&ab_channel=Gamer%27sLittlePlayground
- Lorerunner: ua-cam.com/video/6cc0RNeZ5PQ/v-deo.htmlsi=pSwimJ4qvY3N4Y-A
- louiseyhannah: youtube.com/@louiseyhannahVODs?si=1hAWwa-kAxt3ZGN_
- Maximillian Dood: ua-cam.com/video/TyqobkS7Csg/v-deo.html
- IGN: ua-cam.com/video/zK7i3-MMgSo/v-deo.html
- Chris Of The Vale: ua-cam.com/video/AJHnbw1mgyw/v-deo.html&ab_channel=ChrisOfTheVale
- Pierce Arner: ua-cam.com/video/Y2PNbO-YO3w/v-deo.html&ab_channel=PierceArner
- Ever Crisis - Faz Faz: ua-cam.com/video/-GfC43JvZ44/v-deo.htmlsi=t1xh3dB6pyJiplno
- Nova Crystallis: ua-cam.com/video/IZGzumO1aug/v-deo.html
- Xygor Gaming: ua-cam.com/video/yPindmUNoOM/v-deo.html
- Gast mention from Chasloth: ua-cam.com/video/3mROvymYEAo/v-deo.htmlsi=5yH5AWkOOvWjJ5xm
- PowerPyx (Specific sidequest footage): ua-cam.com/video/hMxE089NFBY/v-deo.html
- BuffMaister (Dirge footage): ua-cam.com/video/S-rp-MWkZiU/v-deo.html
HOLY SHIT 9 HOURS
And I thought the FIRST video had tons of sources..
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a miracle of a game. There isn't a category that it doesn't excel in in terms of anything. Narrative? Brilliant all around, not perfect but brilliant regardless. Gameplay is varied and enriched. World is beautiful. Music, stunning. The vast majority of slanderous criticisms I've seen towards it (slanderous, not honest) are insubstantial and don't hold any weight, from insecure traditionalists inflexible and incapable of being open-minded to the vision of this game. Already see some in the comments but that's just what happens lol. But that aside, kudos for putting this out there. Can't wait to dig into this, thank you.
I’m glad you made this video and appreciate the work man. I’m 2 hours in and love it just like I did your first video.
Honestly you say it won't get many views but it has 20,000 now. It's obviously not equal to the work but in but that must be pleasing, it's a lot of people.
This is by far, one of the greatest achievements in the FF7 fandom to date. Not only is this video lovingly written, chapter by chapter, it is mixed with lore, current mysteries, and theories that just culminates in a gripping video for diehard fans. Your passion for the series radiates from this video, and not only am I trying to share this wherever I can, but like all of the great FF7 fan creators out there, you have elevated to source and have only amplified my feelings of the game. As you said in the beginning, REBIRTH is one of the best, and one of my favorite, games of all time. For you to write this love letter to the experience means the world to me, thank you AJ.
Wow, this is incredibly beautiful to read. I’m so happy that the video spoke to you so profoundly and that you enjoyed so thoroughly. Thank you so much, comments like this make all the work put into it feel MORE than worth it :’)
Ew
@@Aleczandxrhonestly, this is the best analysis of this game I’ve ever seen.
@@phantomslay5612 Seconded, and its not close. Obviously some videos or discussions go into great depth on certain individual elements or scenes of the game, or characters, but as a full package there is nothing on this level and I doubt there ever will be. And I'm not even done, only in the middle of the Shinra Manor/Vincent section
Video is a masterpiece just like the game 😭✨️💖
Holy! Massive congrats on this whole thing. Gonna chip away at it on my end through the next few days 😂. Glad you enjoyed the podcast 🙏🏾
Hope you like it! And thanks a bunch for the pod, it was a great accompaniment to my experience with the game and helped a lot with the video!
Thank you for helping to inspire with this video, it is very much appreciated
And thank you for bringing the community together in a way that would help provide a reference for a video like this.
Mr blitz! Hi goat 🐐
ITS FINALLY HERE
NSP! It's here and it's beautiful :')
NSP hi goat 🐐 🖤
@ hi!!
@@contemptman3646 hello!
Right on time as I start my 12 hour shift at work
Best shifts
@kussamanga I used to do 36/48 hr alternating weeks. It's awesome having 3 and 4 day weekends.
Long form retrospectives are my hero for work
Literally same 😂
8 hour drive for me 😅
Well.. this will keep me company for the next two weeks. Thank you so much for the dedication.
My pleasure, hope you enjoy.
Same
Just finished it. A wonderful accompaniment to my days and holiday business. I’ll surely revisit many times in the future.
What a masterpiece of a video and a labor of love this must have been. If I were the developer of a game and saw a 9-hour video dedicated to it, I would simply dissolve into a happy puddle of tears. Even as just an FF7 fan, I am so inspired by your appreciation and understanding of what this trilogy accomplishes and aims to accomplish. There’s so much from your video I want to talk about lol but for now, thank you for sharing your thoughts and analysis in such a clear and concise way. I thoroughly enjoyed watching and already want to rewatch it!
That means so much to me, thank you! That’s incredibly kind of you to say, and if you ever feel so inclined I’d love to read some of your more specific thoughts that you have about certain parts of the video like you mentioned! Of course though if you’d rather leave it here then I totally understand, thank you for watching and for the support :)
7 hours and 59 minutes into the video "all this is to say, i love aerith" so real king. so real.
The rest was filler tbh
@@Aleczandxr filler of pEAK and CINEMA
relatable
Thank you so much. This game moved me more than any other fictional work has done in my life. I’ve seen fans having pointless arguments over nitpicking the plot apart. This video is the exact kind of discussion I’d rather have. ♡ You did an excellent job and should be very proud.
Thank you very much, so happy you enjoyed it.
Exactly how I feel as well
I never considered the "Zack as a fallen hero" angle and wow, I think that's spot on. Like yeah, he survives the Shinra assault and winds up sleeping on a ratty old mattress in the Midgar slums. How sad.
It really forms the foundation for an underlying but pretty comprehensive arc for him. I can’t wait to see the full payoff in Part 3.
It makes his whole story sadder in my opinion, either doomed to sacrifice himself or doomed to lose his purpose and come back to a world destined to die. I really hope something changes in part 3, he deserve better! The dude is an actual hero 😂
Him being in the fetal position on the mattress is so sad to me. But he had never reached this low in CC, so it makes the highs higher.
@@cloudsurfertom3268”fate has one twisted sense of humour, but I’m sick of taking its shit.”
It's a different sort of low compared to when he lost Angeal, and it's very compelling to see him drag himself up.
Been waiting patiently for this since Rebirth released after adoring your wonderful Remake video. To say I can't wait is an understatement.
Appreciate you❤️
After a being quite disappointed with the lack of recognition for what a triumph that Rebirth is at the Game Awards, this video comes at the perfect times.
Can't wait to devour everything about it.
Hope you enjoy!
@WarrenValion , Hi.
Do you know who is part of the "jury" that decide what Awards should be given to what game ? just Google it please ... your disappointment will be turned into bitterness , or a smile , depend of how cynical and based of a person you are.
Question is , How much of a sweet summer child one need to be in order to believe that game Awards are made to celebrate game quality and achievement ?
Games awards, like movies Awards , are an echo chamber, it is marketing and lobbying , it' is about money and political agenda. I and many others did understand that many years ago and where called fools.. but just you wait ..even you, yourself right now express disappointment regarding this masquerade.. who in his right mind is gonna give credit to an IGN reviews nowadays ? Is Alyssa Mercante somebody you thrust when it come to a give a faire 'X out of ten" score representative of a game overall quality ?. Is Variety reliable when it come to assessing game design and quality ? Is a turd stop tasting like a turd because it has been elected "Delicacy od the year" by turd eaters ? FF part 3 is going to be awesome ,i have faith in SQE ...Awards be damned! they don't mean sh*t
It deserved the lack of recognition. It was awful.
@@kellevichyI don’t think you know what “awful,” means. Other then Metaphor and Astro Bot, no other games this year came close to its quality.
@@Erikthedood Don't worry about him, he's a rage baiter.
Christmas has come 11 days early. Sincerely, thank you.
You're welcome! Hope you enjoy it!
34:00 It is insane to me that Sephiroth going crazy just boils down to him picking the wrong door in the basement. One door had the correct answers. The other door had the wrong answers. Somewhere out there, there is a universe where Sephiroth finds Vincent and they go off to find Lucrecia together.
Just think of all the coincidences that happen in 7. Like the video says, it is almost unbelievable how many slim chances occurred even just to have Shinra mistake Jenova for an Ancient. And this isn’t an unintentional artificial element to the story; coincidences form history and the present in the real world and in FF7.
And in that universe, imagine what other characters would've got up to that are intertwined with Sephiroth. Cloud, president Shinra, Hojo, Aerith surviving. It's an entirely different story taking place in the same universe just maybe where Sephiroth isn't a villain, where he stays true to his heart.
Amazing video. I especially appreciate that this video does not hold back on anything and keeps the entire compilation in mind. Also loved how you wrestled with the different theories of the ending. Thank you for the incredible video!
My pleasure, you’re very welcome!
Rebirth was a game I couldn’t put down. I didn’t play the original and I know it’s great and legendary. There’s so much going on in rebirth that this video is definitely exciting
AJ, I just want to thank you for all the hard work & passion that you've put into this video. Because I understand that it takes an enormous amount of dedication, patience & love for this game, to create a behemoth like this. I'll be taking my sweet time to slowly & meticulously savour this video, and then maybe comment my thoughts after I properly watch it. You've earned the longest vacation in Costa del Sol. Thank you for your service SOLDIER. 🙏🙌
Finished this after a few days and it was a delight. A great partner to a lot of my holiday business. It’s so clear that so much research was done and so much thought put into it, and the analysis is the best I’ve heard from anyone in the community - seriously, no one I’ve seen has dug this deep into the characters and themes. But most of all, this video was full of heart and soul and your passion bled through, so much so that it was a comfort to watch and listen to and it just effortlessly made me fall deeper in love with Rebirth. Thank you.
I started watching and never stopped. My word, I so appreciate the work you did. Your view and passion in every aspect is next to mine with this game. Your closing and the 8 hours and 14 mins before hand was a masterpiece. Thank you very much.
That’s honestly incredible, thank you for giving it the chance and I’m so happy it was engaging enough to keep you watching the entire time!
Honestly can't imagine how rough the journey to making this must have been. Congratulations on getting it out there, and getting seven thousand eyes on it alone for something this grand and personal must be gratifying.
God I love Chapter 4 so much and you pointed out several things about it that I hadn't realized before, like the details of Aerith's and Tifa's lines during the speech with the troops. Also love how you describe Under Junon, its very similar with Midgar.
you pretty much explained every reason why i love this game outside of its flaws.played the video while i worked my shift. made my whole day go by quicker. fire video
Appreciated🙏
Little thing, but I just wanna show appreciate for the way you dug into Gast’s character. Finding pretty hidden dialogue to connect to his role in the story, etc. I always found Gast to be one of the most interesting characters in FF7 so thank you for talking about him a bit.
Of course! I tried to give every notable element of this story and world a bit of time and spotlight, and Gast is really interesting and essential to the lore - and Rebirth expands on him a bit - so he deserved it!
1 hour in and the way you’ve contextualized the story as well as the thoughtful cinematography and intent the directors have had is fantastic. Phenomenal work! This would sway even the haters!
I LOOOOOVE THE THEORY THAT REEVE WAS BEHIND THE GONGAGA MEMORIAL!
IT JUST WORKS
I’m only an hour into the video so far but had to stop and say, absolutely wonderful work! Your video on Remake is one of my favorite analyses on the game and was really excited to see this
Thanks very much, hope you enjoy the rest!
MY GUY THIS IS INSANE (i’m vibrating from excitement)
This video is simply amazing. So well researched, edited, and thought out. Well done my man! I'm definitely going to rewatch it again one day.
Much obliged, I’m honoured you’re interested in rewatches for something this gigantic and really hope you enjoy them whenever you do!
I was JUST thinking to myself yesterday, I can't WAIT Till Aleczandxr posts the Rebirth analysis video and BEHOLD!!! I can't wait to watch this over the next few days. Thank you for your hard work!!
My pleasure! Hope you enjoy.
I've been eagerly anticipating this, thank you! I listened to the discussion you had with King Recon which was a really good teaser for what your full thoughts were going to be. Will be enjoying your new video over the next while!
What I really like about your theory of Aerith showing herself alive to Cloud, is how it puts him that much closer to Sephiroth. While Aerith represents the hope and optimism of the dead not really being gone, Sephiroth represents denial and lashing out at the idea of death, with Cloud being somewhere in the middle being pulled along by both influences. If your theory is true and Aerith is the one showing the illusion to Cloud so his mind doesn't break fully, it would double the tragedy because she's not just pushing him away from what she is, but also towards what Sephiroth is. The one she loves most has to become more like the one she opposes the most by her own hands to save him.
Yeah that’s exactly it. If that ends up being true then Aerith is committing what she undoubtedly believes is an evil that pushes Cloud towards Sephiroth for the sake of the big picture, it’s insane irony.
💯 on board with this, my thoughts exactly!!
greatest game of all fucking time tears in my eyes
Until Part 3!!
What a staggering amount of work and thought went into this. Hats off to you. I enjoyed listening to it off and on over the last day.
Thanks very much for giving it a listen!
FF7 Rebirth is one of the greatest games I’ve ever played.😊
You never disappoint, but the amount of work, dedication, and analysis is beyond outstanding.
Thank you so much!
FF7 remake and rebirth are the only games I love enough to compel me to watch a 9 hour analysis 😂
Funny thing is it isn't even padded out, the runtime is completely justified for games with this amount of detail and content.
I had no clue I needed this. Thanks for the immense amount of work here. Can't wait to see more massive projects from you.
Glad you enjoyed! My pleasure. Although please don’t expect more MASSIVE projects, putting this together took so much out of me that I don’t think it’s healthy for me to take on stuff of this size until maybe the next Retrilogy video. It also isn’t very financially viable. But you can look forward to comparatively smaller projects on anime, TV shows and games and you can also check out the streams if that’s your thing!
@Aleczandxr definitely! Your vids on Breaking Bad and Berserk are what brought me here years ago so I'm staying tuned in for the healthier part of what you do as well! 👌
Dude, it took me a week of watching off and on at work, but I've finished this finally. Fantastic work immersing me in this world and this story. Way back when your first one dropped, i was riding my motorcycle to a friends house LATE late at night through miles and miles of dark roads with woods surrounding me everywhere. Nothing but your voice in my headphones, the stars above in clear view and a seemingly endless empty road. That memory has stuck with me for all this time as few videos do. It's an honor to finally experience the follow up to that now. And am very much looking forward to the finale and your thoughts on that as well.
Wooooooow! That’s an incredible and beautiful memory, I’m so glad to have been a part of it. Thanks for sticking with such long videos, and I’m so glad you enjoy them.
Thank you for this video and your work in general. On my first viewing but believe you me, I’ll definitely be watching this more than once
Much appreciated, really hope any viewings you have, first and repeat, end up being enjoyable and valuable. I really don’t take it for granted!
Hes back. I love you man. Cant wait to do this.
Rebirth was a profound gaming experience, especially as a fan of the original.
I can’t wait for this saga to come to a massive cathartic close in part 3. It’s gonna be a hell of a ride!
While waiting to play this masterpiece again on the pc, I watched every single minute of your video, and now I treasure this game even more. Thank you.
Finally watched the whole video. What an incredible piece of work this is. No words are sufficient to express my feelings & praise it deserves... I've been inspired by it many times, so I've written down some of my thoughts as I was watching. It also reminded me of some INSANE information about THE Aerith scene, that Cody Christensen revealed in one interview. Sorry if I indulge myself a bit too much:
First, I 100% agree with the only real issue being them not letting the emotional scenes linger properly & the whole Cait Sith box segment. Of course, they have to stick the landing for part 3 with Cloud, Tifa & Aerith especially, but I have a ton of faith in them. Now unto the praise.
Regarding Sephiroth's descent into madness in Ch1. I too was awestruck by his descent. Especially when he was first shown panicking & hyperventilating, repeatedly breathing heavily before completely snapping. Then after him burning Nibelheim to the ground & walking into the fire, showing his last genuine smile to Cloud (Zack), before completely cutting off the innocent boy that Sephiroth once was off. So tragic, especially knowing his devastating childhood thanks to Hojo & what EC reveals. (Giving him Lucrecia's picture & saying her name is Jenova etc...)
Love that you mentioned how Sephiroth struggled against the Weapon in Gongaga. The first time this deific Sephiroth has shown any semblance of physical weakness. Despite going beyond time and acting as a god, it tells us that under it all, he's still a vulnerable, lonely boy, who only puts up a front to realize his twisted dream of a peaceful world. And with that I also mean that he puts up a front for himself too. Convincing himself that is the only way. Because he genuinely doesn't understand humanity's perspective.
It's also worth mentioning how the Gold Saucer LOVELESS play mirrors the story of LOVELESS from CC to a tee & thus makes it feel so grand & much more than just a play. A re-enacment & interpretation of this planet's natural destiny, facing off against the incomprehensible. Which honestly makes me appreciate CC's focus on it more.
Alongside her happiest moments, Aerith's murals from Remake also have a very tragic & sad undertone, even depicting Meteor. And seemingly Cetra's story, their tragic past & foreboding future of the planet. Their history mirroring Aerith's life & current struggles.
I think the Black Materia that Sephiroth drops for Cloud to fetch is the real one. After Aerith states it, he acknowledges the one in the Temple as a fake that serves as the Key to the real one, hidden between worlds. The sentiment of what you said stays completely the same though. It's him flauting his power over Cloud & making Cloud's guilt unbearable for the future.
6:54:00 that reminds me so much of Y'shtola's words in EW within UT...
When it comes to Cloud's fragmented mind during Aerith's last moments. I agree that they're saving it all for Part 3. Don't know if you read this. But in an interview, Cody revealed that they recorded the whole Aerith's death scene, with Cloud's iconic speech from the OG, her funeral, everything... It was a Screen Rant Cloud interview and some other sources. He said that everyone in the studio, including him, were crying while recording it. Whole scene is in fact completely done. They recorded it alongside one that we got in Rebirth and used only tiny visual snippets of it in Rebirth, when it flashes to Cloud's inaudible speech from the OG. That's also why the ending credits photos have holes/empty spots only around that segment of the story. They're intentionally saving it all for later and using it as a way to show that Cloud has completely repressed those memories, even in the ending credits.
Speculation on "I give you my blessing" is that it's during this moment that Sephiroth gives Cloud the Black Materia. It's super interesting that soon after that we see the portal wormhole scene, replicating the one from the OG's finale, just like Remake did before Cloud faces Spehiroth in EoC. It could imply something really significant for Part 3. Since in the OG, it signified Cloud purging Sephiroth from his mind by defeating his last remnant within his inner world.
I don't blame you for liking the cheesy "Protect your honor as a SOLDIER" scene. To me, it was actually really sad. Because it represents how Cloud's still living the lie through Zack, just like at the start of the game within the Nibelheim flashback. Despite Zack being right there in front of him, moments ago. Those are not his words, and it just makes me feel so bad for him & shows how broken he currently is.
And lastly, one theory. I think that the comatose Aerith from one of the alt worlds will now wake up, after she died in the Beagle timeline. After all, Marlene says that Aerith waking up there would mean that the scary man killed her. And those alt worlds possibly are dream worlds within the lifestream, or something similar.
I'll end with this. This analysis/retrospective is an essential watch for any FFVII fan. Marvelous work AJ, once again!
Thank you so much for such a thoughtful comment - there’s so much to reply to but I’ll keep it brief and begin and end with this - the Y’shtola EW connection wasn’t one that was intended in the moment you refer to, but I guess it just goes to show how universal, intimate and significant this sort of idea is and displays how effective and creative this artists and writers are at conveying it in such different ways. I love XIV, I love Rebirth.
@@Aleczandxr Exactly AJ. That's why we love FF so much.
I was finally able to watch this video in totality. I got emotional many times through it. I always marvel at how well you are at breaking things down, and love your interpretations on things. This video has me yearning to replay Rebirth when it comes out on Steam
Thanks so much for giving it the time!
@@Aleczandxr Of course! Thank you for the video.
This is going to be awesome I’m glad it’s finally here! I loved your original video on the first remake so this is going to be amazing! Thank you for making this I love this series and am glad to see someone go in depth like this man. I remember rewatching your first video right before rebirth came out crazy how fast time has gone already wow. I appreciate your hard work on this man I will enjoy it.
My pleasure, hope you have a fun time with it!
I'm in awe at this game. I played the original a few years after release, loved it, became an elitist at the idea of a Remake that may not be 1:1, ultimately gave Remake a try and really enjoyed it, only to be stunned with the realization that Rebirth represents this world and these characters in ways I could never have imagined 20+ years ago. It's a dream come true. Can't wait foer your take on it.
I've been watching you since your anime analysis on HxH aeons ago and this is probably my favourite video from you. Your hard work on this video was conveyed and made for a 9 hours that I didn't even notice fly by. Fantastic work
Appreciated, thank you!
I remember back in 2020 when Remake released, I didn't know how to feel about the complete 180 they did with regards to their approach to Sephiroth. After some thought, I realized I didn't like it that much, and even said I hated the ending. I remember that the ending of Rebirth similarly disappointed me wholly because of Sephiroth once again being the final boss.
I never thought I'd come to change my mind about it. Hearing you talk about Sephiroth's role in this story, I understand now that a different approach was necessary with the new story they were trying to tell. I was one of those people who really rejected the new, but through watching your Rebirth and Remake videos, I've come to change my mind. It's so refreshing hearing someone talk so positively about the new stuff the Remake Trilogy is bringing to the table. I thank you for this video, and your Remake one!!! The theories you posited at the end were also giving me so much food for thought. I'll be thinking about this for months to come. I watched a cutscene movie, but I'm so glad to have watched this just in time for Rebirth to launch on PC in a few days which would grant me the opportunity to play it myself.
I'll be keeping your video on my mind and keeping an eye on all these little details in my own playthrough!!!
Hollow: This time I will never let you go.
NPTK: Take my hand and never let me go.
2:51:48 one of my favorite moments in anything ever. Cloud coming full circle and his “I mean it man.” The way Barret looks up like damn he does it’s so damn good it sent me into tears the first time just that humanity and love towards one another
It's always refreshing to see someone appreciate the Re-trilogy as much as I do. I love these games and this video cemented that even more. Thank you so much for this masterpiece!
My pleasure, thanks for watching!
This is a lovely analysis deconstructing all the multiple layered themes throughout and a refreshing take. I enjoyed it and glad it didn't delve into, 'But mah nostalgia!' territory. I can't wait to see how Part 3 will play out
Much appreciated!
I'm so glad you think that kiss with Tifa comes a bit too soon. Tifa is 100% the girl for Cloud but it's too soon, neither one of them are really ready for that step.
I'd argue similarly if it were a kiss with Aerith, I'm her case because their relationship never actually becoming a thing is a part of the tragedy.
oh my god... I cant wait. congrats on this!
Thanks!
AJ I am so excited to watch this entire video. I am so grateful for you and your content and all I can keep saying is thank you!
You’re incredibly welcome!
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a miracle of a game. There isn't a category that it doesn't excel in in terms of anything. Narrative? Brilliant all around, not perfect but brilliant regardless. Gameplay is varied and enriched. World is beautiful. Music, stunning. The vast majority of slanderous criticisms I've seen towards it (slanderous, not honest) are insubstantial and don't hold any weight, from insecure traditionalists inflexible and incapable of being open-minded to the vision of this game. Already see some in the comments but that's just what happens lol. But that aside, kudos for putting this out there. Can't wait to dig into this, thank you.
Given modern discussion I think looking for fair critique is a futile endeavor lol. Not that it isn't out there, but most of the time its all desperate, sweaty slander.
Good to some, flops to others.
It’s truly incredible. Yeah it has some flaws but they pale in comparison to the staggering achievement of the full package and vision.
@@jimmyichigo7410 True, and the way the vast amount of people that criticize it conduct themselves speaks for itself
one of my favorite moments was right after the “Cool.” response to Yuffie - when she joins, she examines everyone’s positioning and posing, then picks the exact spot and pose to fill in the “missing piece” of the party.
She’s adorable
I didn't have as big a problem with Cait Sith's section as everyone else, but I get your point lol. Shinra Manor definitely could've been more.
Especially with how they nail the atmosphere in other sections!
Thank you so much for putting this out to the world, im all for anyone gushing over Rebirth. To me its an absolute masterpiece, as someone who played OG back in 97 i couldnt have ever imagined ff7 looking so good. Remake set the bar high and I knew that Rebirth would be better because of all of the nostalgia attached to places like Niblehiem, the gold saucer and cosmo canyon. I did not expect Rebith to be so expansive, the sheer amount of content and depth is mindblowing.
Im so glad you enjoyed the game so much, i love how you articulate what makes the game so good and how you highlight the lengths that the devs went to to recreate this world.
Im 2 hours into your video, i will absolutly be listening to it all. Excellent work! 💯 🔥 👏
Thank you so much! I really hope you enjoy the rest of it, and I’m so happy that you were so pleased by the Retrilogy as a fan of the original!
@Aleczandxr Thank you for replying! You've raised so many great points already and its so nice to hear someone talk about ff7 so passionatly, I know how polarising the retrilogy can be so it's so good to hear someone gush about the game. OG is the reason I am a gamer today, it taught my young mind so much about life and loss. I think it's profoundly important in the development of gaming, everything they are doing with the retrilogy has taken OG and perfected it, in my humble opinion. I can't wait to hear your theories on the end of the game and see how they align with my own! Only 6 or so hours to go! 🤣 Thank you again, Rebirth needs this level of coverage and respect! 🙏👏 🙌
Thank you for using almost 9 hours for love and not cynical hate. You have a platform and made a choice. Thank you! 🙏
Of course! I’m an enjoyer and a lover of stories, I don’t have it within me to make a video like this and have it be cynical. Glad you enjoyed!
Haven't started the video yet, but I just want to congratulate you for your dedication. I cannot even begin to imagine how long this took, and it speaks volumes about how much this game means to you.
Thank you very much!
Love the take on Roche. He bloomed in this game.
I will be coming back to this video when I get and finish FF7 Rebirth on PC.
Hope you enjoy Rebirth!
You make a great point about the look of Gongaga. But I'll always hate the traversal with the mushrooms that fling you across the map 😂😂
Listened and watched the entire video. This is now my favorite ff7 video of all time. You are amazing man.
Appreciate the support and glad you loved it!
both of your Retrospectives enhance the Remake Trilogy to new levels, I cannot wait for the release of the third part and your Retrospective about it because the Game won't feel complete without it.
That’s an incredible compliment, thank you!
@@Aleczandxr Thank you for all your hard work!
Rebirth is deserving of such a masterclass video and in 4K hot damn!
Never played through FF7 or the Remakes, so I thought I'd only watch the first 5 or so minutes then dip. Ended up blasting through the first hour of the video cuz it was so engaging. Fantastic work!
Damn, that’s insane. Appreciate it, hope it wasn’t too hard to follow without context!
@@Aleczandxr I was surprised by how easy I was able to follow without any sort of prior context. The script is simply superb. Will def watch this video in full one day.
Get on that dude. Start with ff7 remake and then rebirth
i’ll be back here when i fully catch up 🙏🏾 good work AJ
You’re a mad lad, but I’m totally here for it
Well that was a day spent well, definitely a great watch
I love your love for the more minor characters like Roche, Biggs and Elmyra
The insert of the "Never again" clip from Cait Sith at 5:01:02 is VERY aptly placed🤣
You mention that they change the energy of Junon into this more nationalistic, boisterous celebration of a city. Along with the rationale you explained I imagine it was also done to ramp up the "fun" factor for this game prior to the horrifying tragedy that you describe later, really just getting as much cheesiness and charm out of the setting while that was possible before Aerith died and Cloud snapped.
I can see that for sure! It’s just cohesive all-around.
Just finished. Congratulations, I’m sure I’ll revisit for months to come.
I genuinely wish I could share your love for the overall product. While there are elements of Rebirth that I think are about as good as a game can be, these were often sullied by segments that felt designed to frustrate.
To be so modern in its graphical presentation, parts of Rebirth felt as though Square had missed two decades of improvements in game design.
That’s unfortunate. What are you talking about in specifics? And what did you think of the video?
@Aleczandxr I don't have a ton of time right now, but a few examples that come immediately to mind include:
1. The world design, particularly in Gongaga and Cosmo Canyon, felt unnecessarily labyrinthine. I often spent more time trying to figure out how to get to a place than I did on the challenge once I arrived. Watching a guy who soars through the air obliterating enemies get stymied by a ledge I could climb is exasperating.
2. The open world game loop wasn't particularly satisfying after the first couple zones and really only served to pad out the play time. It just felt tedious after a while.
3. A few of the mini games, particularly the ones that gated content (Gears and Gambits and Fort Condor for example) were incredibly frustrating.
4. The entire Cait Sith section was just painful to play. The person who designed the box throwing mechanic should be beaten with a rubber hose thrice daily.
5. THE DAMNED CHICKEN QUEST
6. I have several complaints with the story changes, but the biggest offender was the ending. Square took what should have been an emotional gut punch in Aerith's death and made it more confusing than tragic.
This may sound like I hated my experience, but I still think there's a lot to love in Rebirth; there are elements of the game that are genuinely brilliant. I just wish it hadn't frustrated me as often as it amazed me. At its best, it's a genre-defining RPG. At its worst it's frustrating and tedious. While neither Infinite Wealth or Metaphor: Refantazio reached the heights of Rebirth, their consistency made them my two favorite RPGs of 2024.
And I haven't finished the video yet (I intend to do so today), but the first half was excellent. I'll post my full thoughts once I've seen the rest.
I agree with 3 and 4 and you probably heard me explain 4. But the majority of the mini games were big hits for me, especially QB, so I don’t mind a couple of misses. Don’t agree with the rest and you’ll hear me expand on why in the rest of the video but either way thanks for explaining!
Glad you’re liking the video! Hope you enjoy the rest.
Finally it is here, we are so blessed
After watching the introduction i'm completely convinced to sub and go back and watch your FF7 videos in order (and pokemon Gen 4 video) i'm honestly hyped to listen to these while i work on my own world and characters. Thanks for the hard work.
My pleasure, I hope you enjoy it all!
This will take me a while to get through, but a game like Rebirth is worthy of a video of this size.
Really hope you enjoy it! And yes it absolutely is!
Yep I just sank 9 hours into this and this is so good! Awesome analysis and sharing, great work!
Thanks, so glad it was worth the time!
9 hr video!!! Let's freakin go!!!! Excited to watch this over the week. Love your vids bro
Hope you enjoy!
Storyboarding takes a long time and now I have this to pass the time
I'm gonna be listening to this at work for the next 3 months 🙏🙏🙏🐐🐐
Thank you for making such an in depth analysis on the greatest idea game of all time, amazing video.
My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed.
A fun detail about the part where Cloud is trying to get the black materia from Aerith is what happens if you try to go any other direction than towards her. He moves like a marionette forward.
My Cloud resisted that and the part where he tries to attack her, which makes for a heartbreaking image of him battling himself.
Additionally, I love how you used ff14 music peppering this video. Really great.
I just finished the last 40 or so minutes(watched so much yesterday) and you really helped me put together a lot of stuff in my head that didnt connect before. To go over, I loved the exploration of Yuffie and Barret’s dynamic that had sort of flown over my head a bit, i could feel how they grew closer for sure but the way they sort of fill a hole the other has in their heart at that point of their lives is soo good. On the subject of Barret you also help me better process and appreciate the differences with how they did the Dyne scenes in this game, i didnt exactly hate them, but i didnt know how to put it when others would criticize it in comparison to the og, and the scene of him getting to meet Eleonore again really got me in my feelings watching it here even compared to when i first played. Also the way Rufus believes that all his struggles are what make him strong and Glen/Sephiroth actually commends that about him, helps me to more strongly connect Sephiroth’s overall ideology that suffering and despair is what will make Cloud strong. Your explanation of how you see Cloud deflecting Seph in the ending also makes a lot of sense to me, the idea that these splintering worlds ultimately have the vestige of their original fate and such, Aerith probably does legitimately live on, for a little bit, in this alternate world that ultimately also will end. All in all really just congratulations for finishing this unbelievable undertaking of a project.
i do have some specific disagreements i think with the idea of “natural” and “artifical” destiny i just dk if i see such a distinction overall with this game but it’s more a personal belief thing ig, and you know about my own insane theories regarding Sephiroth but those are crazy and unlikely haha, also massive thank you just for stating by the end that yes Aerith does truly love Cloud even if she wasn’t totally over Zack by the end either, it’s sooo frustrating i feel like people try to remove so much of Aerith’s agency in all this because they don’t want her to “lose” or something like let her just have this unfulfilled but true love with Cloud! i think it resonates with me so hard the idea that in life it’s possible to have lost your greatest and one true love and all the same you have to keep living with that and move on
i want to explain something a bit on the significance of “arigatou” in Japanese the literal meaning of the kanji of the word is “this hardly ever happens” or “there was quite a bit of hardship to get here” so you can use it in this very casual context but depending on the context it can have this very grand significance of “it’s a miracle you even came into my life” or “man we really went through so much to get to this point huh” which is why you might see it used in really intense scenes in Japanese stories, you might know for example Yuna’s “arigatou” in the japanese FFX was translated to “i love you” in english not quite right to do that much but you can see they were trying to create this powerful connotation
Oh god, nine hours. This video is longer than what it takes to beat OG FF VII. This will be perfect for my shift at work later. See you then.
You play FF7 on turbo or something?! It's still a decently long game, 25-30 hours or so without cheats. Besides the point though, enjoy your shift ^.^
@@michaelyu6250 The WR full game speedrun is less then 7 hours
About 7 hours in, man you’ve truly enhanced almost every single character and this is already my favorite game ever. Aerith’s trial has got to be one of the most emotional things I’ve experienced and hearing you go through it had me fighting back tears at work lol. The way ifalna held on until she knew Aerith would be safe man :(
So glad to hear it. I teared up multiple times writing, recording and editing that segment too😭
Nine hours.
This is the encyclopedia of Rebirth
NINE HOURS HOLY-
Christmas came early!
This makes me do the dance where it looks like I'm crossing my knees, but I'm not, it's just my hands.
5:56:07 they seem to me to be allowing pretty much any set of relationships the player wants (narratively). It’s quite deftly done in my opinion. You can read the text in favour of Cloud and Aerith, Cloud and Tifa, Aerith and Tifa, Cloud and Zack, or Zack and Aerith. Or even some simultaneous combination of these. That’s not easy to pull off, especially to still make the text support any of them enough that people will swear blind that their interpretation is the only valid one.
It’s also justified, narratively, because every combination shows a different thing: Aerith pushes Cloud out of his awkwardness and gives Tifa a chance to have fun, Tifa believes in Cloud and calms Aerith’s recklessness, Zack gives Cloud a feeling of being protected and cared for for once (calming his anxiety; as the emails in CC show) and doesn’t treat Aerith as being weird and different (as the graveyard scene in Remake shows drags on her). That’s tricky character writing and I want to tip my hat at them.
THIS IS A MASTERPIECE
I loved both games so much and as someone who didn't play the og, I felt like Aerith's supposedly death scene lacked something, and the glitching mental state of Cloud made it much more confusing on my first playthrough (I did expect to have some emotional damage on this scene but the story wanted to say something else which i guess not everyone fans expected, expecting we'd have to see that scene in 4k but instead we got something cryptic). Your analysis here gave much more clarity to both Aerith and Sephiroth's actions in some scenes where they opposed the main gang and also even putting the spotlight to slight facial expressions by the characters, the parallels, etc. What an absolute journey to experience Rebirth again through this piece. Thank you.
My pleasure, thank you so much for giving it a chance and letting me share with you :)
DUDEEEE!!!!!! CONGRATS!!!! THE VIDEO OF LEGEND RAHHHHH LFGGGGGGG
Just as Aerith is Clouds Guardian Angel , you are Rebirths , matey - providing truth and ultima lore in a masterful package of flashbacks , chapter progression and foreboding for the reunion. The "This shit is my heroin" line OMG and also the LOTR allusions with Frodo are brilliant - SO WELL DONE 🎉🎉
Thank you so much, so glad you enjoyed it and I really appreciate you giving the whole thing a go!
@Aleczandxr Having a 360 and a PS4 , my first experience of the Final Fantasy worlds has been 13 (yeah) which i loved the whole longform experience of it all (91hrs of play time for me). Should also try to get thru 13-2 , Lightning Returns , X/X-2 , The Zodiac Age before there is Remake and my quest for a Ps5 for Rebirth. I know the constant sidequests and worldbuilding annoy a lot of people , but ive primed myself by a lot of hours put in. And having Briannas personally signed Streamily photo and comment "Oh Yea of Zero Faith" is always a great statement to keep hope alive.
Haven’t watched yet, but I can’t wait!! Just wanted to say THANK YOU for all the hard work you put into this, it truly is for the love of the game! Respect 🙏🏼
My absolute pleasure, I hope you enjoy it!
Hey, this is amazing and you should be proud to have accomplished such a long project. RE: the Whispers taking Aerith's memories in Remake - those are what Rebirth contextualizes as Sephiroth's Whispers, black like his cloaked men (and later Glenn). They took her memories to kneecap her and take out Holy. There's a scene that makes more sense now where a black Whisper hovers over Cloud as he sleeps and Sephiroth's voice says "Dream for me Cloud." (Also given what Rebirth is about...Sephiroth wanting Cloud to dream seems huge.)
I would say the Whispers as we seem them in Remake are not fully corrupted but are on their way, with complete control being made by Sephiroth by Remake's climax (i.e. HE literally uses them in his boss fight as well as a mechanic, which is a big hint toward their role in Rebirth.) While I'm talking about Remake, Barrett's death/not death seems like a specific parallel by the devs to the climax of Rebirth. Even for new players it's sort of a setup.
The only problem with that for me is I don’t personally see much evidence within Remake that it’s a gradual transition for the Whispers onto Sephiroth’s side. I view it much more as a swift reversal after the Arbiter is defeated, and I don’t see through what mechanism Sephiroth would be corrupting them. It would explain a couple of things in a clean way for sure though!
And thank you!
Wow. Christmas really did come early. Absolutely wonderful vid!
Thank you, and happy holidays!
GREAT video! Thank you for all this!
My pleasure! Thanks for watching!
I have a question tho: if cloud is made to believe that aerith is still alive via the illusion she's planted in him, how do you reconcile the fact that the rest of the party won't see her and the eventual scenes or discussions where they say as much to cloud?
You can’t reconcile it. That’s one of the biggest conflict points for Part 3 and I have no idea how they’re gonna do it, but whatever the reason Cloud thinks Aerith is alive and the party know she’s dead and that’s without doubt going to lead to conflict. I suspect Tifa will play a big role.
This is absolutely amazing brother. Great work and thank for you for the content 🫡
My pleasure, glad you liked it!