This video really hit home for me. A lot of people talk about Zack as this perfect chivalrous "hero" and that he is always happy and positive, which they say is the reason they love him. To that, his relationship to Aerith (but also to Cloud, Angeal, Sephiroth and Genesis) really tells us that he is not a perfect hero that can always save the day through. Where his strength lies, the reason that he is able to keep moving even through all this hardship, is rather his ability to stay connected to his and other's emotions, and that he shares his vulnerability with the people around him. The way he allows himself to feel worry and care for Angeal and empathizes with him, rather than shuns him and pushes him away during Angeal's moments of doubt and inner conflict. How he allows himself to properly mourn and cry in front of Aerith rather than pushing his feelings away, and then how after mourning properly being able to move forward in his personal growth. It is so rare to see male characters cry so earnestly and share it with other characters. and I lover how it is used to show that he has a very healthy connection to his feelings. I would love to hear you do a character analysis of Zack as a character as a whole, because this line of thought that you show here is really getting close to the very core of why Zack is such an important and impactful character, rather than just the surface level of "heroism".
On my first initial play through of FF7, I was a Cloud x Aerith shipper because of the contrast in their characters. Cloud was a self-contained person who did not open up to people but only to Tifa whom he shares a childhood connection with. It was Aerith’s puppy like energy that allowed for Cloud to begin opening up to people and to form the meaningful bonds to create a crew to go rescue her. However upon playing Crisis Core I immediately fell in love with Zack’s character. His free spirited passion reminded me so much of an Aerith who is looking at the world in a glass half full point of view despite all the monstrosities he is exposed to in his career as a first class soldier. It is in Crisis Core that we get to see a young Aerith who had not yet begun to possess her upbeat cheerful pure spirit. To which we learn that it was Zack’s faithful meeting and bond with her that opened Aerith up to become the beloved character we see in the main series. In other words: Zack’s bright optimistic spirit rubbed off onto Aerith whom then later passed it onto Cloud. And so the Cloud x Aerith ship no longer existed, for the real ship to set sail has been Cloud x Zack all along.
I think that’s also what I love about crisis core the most. Zack really helps Aerith open up and in turn it has a great affect on cloud. The connection between those 3 is wild
To be fair that’s the whole point in the original FFVII. It’s a tragic love triangle. It was supposed to be open. Zack X Aerith became a thing because of the Compilation.
@@zereimu That was in The Compilation. In the original game it was open because it was a game. It was left to the players choice and it helped the story since it was supposed to be a tragic love triangle.
You know, with the information they gave in VII originally, I didn’t think too hard on Zack. Sure, piecing it together with the information given, it said that the Jenova cells in Cloud kind of imprinted on Zack. But also using the limited information we had of Zack, it was pretty heavily implied that anything giving more focus on Zack would just be like seeing Cloud with long black hair. But playing Crisis Core, and seeing Zack so upbeat was incredible. And seeing the parallels after he meets Aerith to when Cloud meets Aerith. They both fall through the ceiling and land on the flowers. Zack offers a date and essentially becomes her bodyguard, Aerith offers Cloud a date and asks him to be her bodyguard. All because of how deeply she loved Zack and how closely Cloud resembled him. And it’s hilarious, my wife HATES seeing anything of Cloud together with Aerith after Crisis Core. “No! She’s supposed to be with Zack! Cloud is supposed to be with Tifa!”
@Aaron Roberto oh man, after Crisis Core, I got to agree with that wife. There's a chemistry here that cloud and aerith just don't have. I love Aerith to death as a character, but not enough to marry her through cloud and ship them together in the process.
I mean, given the similar chemistry between Cloud and Aerith, and also Aerith and Tifa, I'm going to have to go with the polyamory solution. Cloud x Zack x Aerith x Tifa = Everyone Wins
I have twenty-three tiny wishes, but you probably won't remember them all, so I put them all together into one... I'd like to spend more time with you. - Aerith
Nooooooooooo..... I felt enough pain replaying crisis core in reunion few days ago the wound is still fresh up till this day and this words makes it even deeper 😭
@kuyswe I'd say she did through cloud even if it wasn't really zack she knew even in the og game that cloud was imitating him so in a roundabout way she got her wish
I grew up with Crisis Core back then on PSP. I bought the PSP just for that game and it's one of my beloved games. Same as Zack. After CC just the mention and memories of Zack from CC make me tear up. Also after CC I can only ship Aerith with Zack (never shipped Tifa nor Aerith with Cloud and in Remake I found it funny that after Tifa and Aerith met they suddenly had so much more chemisty together than any of them with Cloud). That beautiful, pure, passionate love between them that was never meant to be because of cruel fate. Those two are honestly one of the best relationships I've ever seen. It was just perfect. Aerith not giving up for 4+ years on him and writing him letters. And Zack wanting to go back to Midgar just to go see her again. And it's so heart-wrenching seeing Zack dying being so close.. Midgar was just there. Aerith was so close. Just right there. And even when he was dying she was the last thing that was keeping him together. I hope there is at least one FF7 timeline where they are both alive and happy together.
I'm glad you make this video, as I am a big Zack fan and his importance to the story it's always a headache when some people say he wasn't important to the story of VII and his ties to Cloud and Aerith respectively. Hopefully, this will make ppl see his importance and will appreciate him as one of the OG character
People are reactive regarding Zack because he *wasn't* that important in the original game, considering he's simply part of Cloud's trauma and delusion. They're not denying anything, they're using the original game as leverage and that's perfectly fine. No one is forced to accept Crisis Core. Some people like it, some people don't. Using Zack in VIIR will obviously annoy the latter, it won't magically validate Zack as a character. If anything, it will make the game worse for them. That's why Zack is a "risk". The canonical imperative here is pretty clear. The revival of Crisis Core (as Reunion) might be pivotal to VIIR2 (Rebirth), but it certainly doesn't invalidate people's opinions about Zack and the OG VII. They can't retroactively make Zack important, but they can do just that in Rebirth through Reunion.
@@kimlee6643 Cloud’s trauma and delusions are a HUGE part of the original game… He based his fake persona on this guy, so how does that make him “not that important”?
@@peko2292 You answered your own question? Cloud based his SOLDIER persona on the little piece of Zack's backstory that mattered to him; he didn't even emulate the actual person at all, only his own idea of status. Everything else is drawn as a parallel to Cloud's own experience. CC uses the backdrop of Cloud's experience to then infuse Zack's character to then feed it back to Cloud. Why do so many people pretend Zack was written first and the devs simply hid him from people until CC? It's amazing I'm actually explaining this.
@@kimlee6643 The guy literally was shown to be Cloud’s friend who risked his life to save him in the original? I’m still wondering how does that not make him important to the story?
@@peko2292 What do you mean by "important"? He's a real part of Cloud's narrative momentum at the crux of the formation of his trauma into active (rather than passive) form. He reveals Cloud was no real veteran, no SOLDIER, nothing but a weakling who needed a literal sacrifice from another man to allow his story to occur. He is also, despite this, able to become a hero despite his catastrophic failures. That's a massive part of what OG VII entails. He's nowhere near as important as Cloud, because Cloud is the center from which the narrative emanates. Zack was written by folding Cloud's experience on itself, this is what makes CC work.
@@kamii_999 I'm impatient too, but great things come with time. Think about how much better it would be right now. Could have been structured so much better. I don't know how the rest of the game will ever hold up to the original. I doubt we'll even get open world at all. Just more hallways and corridors.
@@gnarcky6ix6 I also didn't want to give them more time to ruin it more. I was happy with the game and I even just got done with the platinum for crisis core reunion. Now I'm just happily awaiting the release of FF7 rebirth while hoping for a remaster of FFXIII which is my top 2 FF game just below FF7. I'm just glad we are getting games at all.
Thank you so much for making this video. Zack and Aerith mean so much to me, and their story is carved in my soul since I played the games for the first time. The church where they meet is my favorite place in the whole game, and I could "stay" there for hours and not get tired of its peaceful and soothing atmosphere.
This is exactly why I can't get behind the whole cloud and aerith thing. They put such emphasis on Zack with aerith I just can't see them breaking that dynamic
@RuneKatashima except in OGVII the relationship between Zack and Aerith was so close that after 5 years, Aerith was still so hung up on Zack that meeting his parents caused an emotional response. Plus, Zack knew she'd take Cloud and him in once they got back to Midgar. They were closer than Aerith led on, and the things she liked about Cloud were the parts he stole from Zack. Aerith saw right through his bs, too, and tells Cloud as much on their Gold Saucer date.
@Regina George And here's me who seem's to remember that Ifelna buys Aerith her pink ribbon in remake, and she wears it when she was a child. Yes Zack tells Aerith to wear pink in Crisis Core, anyone can see how stupid the dialogue is in Crisis Core, with copied and pasted cutscenes from og, and they never updated it in Crisis Core Reunion. 😀
@@KJames2345 Dude, that's not the truth. I just finished the game. Aerith didnt wear any ribbon when he and Zack met. Zack is the one that buys it for her. Sure, Aerith has a ribbon that Ifalna gave her but it's been years since she was a kid, any cloth can break. It's probably why Aerith chose the same pink ribbon when Zack asked her what she wanted to buy for her.
@@KJames2345 And it isnt stupid, it shows why Aerith clings to Cloud at the remake. It reminds her of the events she had with Zack. I played FF7 Remake first and rooted for Cloud and Aerith but after playing Crisis Core Reunion, it just makes more sense and adds more context to Aerith's character and why she acts that way. And I dont know about you, man, but I would never date my best friend's girl, especially if he died to protect me. It's just messed up
The nuances that are explored in Reunion between Zack and Aerith specifically were so beautiful to experience again. From the ribbon in her hair, to selling flowers, to seeing the sky for the first time … it all just hit me so hard.
@lw9515This is what I hate too...and why Tifa can get frustrating to me in OG as well... It gets too love interesty and weakens the female characters. Then again, I understand it is meant for guys anyways...
now that zacks back i think they’ll try to change the interpretation of cloud and aeritha relationship. in the og game, aerith was sort of a romantic option for cloud to choose from between her and tifa but in the new remake they kind of got it out of the way that aerith isn’t meant to be seen that way. a lot of aerith lines in the game have a double meaning to imply something deeper, so in the scene where cloud gets the aerith vision and she says “don’t fall in love with me” i think that was a line deliberately made for the player to understand that she’s not a romantic option. all the options in the game where the player has to choose between tifa or aerith could now mean “romance tifa or build a stronger friendship with aerith” which i think is way better since there won’t be any annoying love triangle plots once zack reunited with aerith. that’s just my theory though i hope it’s something along those lines
I’m leaning towards this line of thinking as well. Aerith also seems to be aware that Cloud is harboring secret feelings for Tifa, the way he got so defensive when she asked about the flower and who he gave it to, and then we get that scene where she clearly sees it in a vase behind the bar counter where Tifa worked. She saw right through him since the beginning lol. I love that she tried to tell Tifa about her first love Zack as well in the new novel. I wonder how Zack and Aerith will meet again. It’s gonna be crazy emotional 😭
The "Don't fall in love with me" is followed by "Even if you think you love me now, it's not real", she is clearly referring to the fact that his feelings for her are one of the things Zack imprinted on him during the trip to Midgar. I really struggle to understand why people think Aerith said that because she knew she died in the OG or give it more esoteric meanings, FF7R's writting isn't subtle at all...
I think Aerith was always intended to be seen as a red-herring, even in the OG I felt that her death, the reveal of Tifas importance after her death, and the reveal that Cloud was acting as ex made that pretty clear. Especially on re-plays, but yeah, in the time since SE has really doubled down on it.
Nice significance on Zack & Aerith!👍🏿 I have always shipped them since the OG Crisis Core game and definitely do in the new Remastered version now! See I kept saying that Cloud belongs with Tifa and Aerith belongs with Zack and now that what happened to Zack has been changed at the end of part 1 of the remake he may finally be seeing Aerith again soon enough hopefully in FF7 Rebirth (part 2) this coming winter.
Yes a guy who becomes a god who defeats a divine being such as Minerva, but can't do jackst against MP troopers, yes a tragic character indeed, glad they're changing that in remake, and Cloud is Zacks living legacy pile of horse st aswell.
@@KJames2345 i thought the same too but was operating off of hazy thoughts. after replaying it i realized how strong he was. bro has been on the run for almost a year probably without proper food and water, and on top of that he had to be cloud's 24/7 caretaker. he fought hundreds of nonstop troops and it just unfortunately weekend him so much in the end. sadly it only took beating 3 more elite soldiers but it was too late.
"No joke" 😭 dude y'all just bully us all the time and tell us how non existing our ship is. I have nothing against Tifa x Cloud and still value this ship as well! :(
@@erzdev5669"some" cloti are way more no joke, just look at old video of ff7 yearsssss ago, those "some" cloti are the bully one, excuse meh always playing victim
@Rob305 He was but number one Clouds memories were completely swiped he had no memories of Zack because of the Mako and the trauma, that doesn't change the fact that Zack WAS even in the OG an important part of Clouds story, as well as Aerith's. That's why Crisis Core being the sequel fleshes out the story and shows us Zacks back story and what his importance was in the Final Fantasy story. Just because Crisis Core came out after the OG doesn't mean he wasn't important to the story because he was even in OG. You just get more depth of his story with Crisis Core.
@Rob305 Im sorry, man. Im gonna have to disagree. I just finished the game and now I understand why the devs love Zack Fair so much too. In fact, I like Zack more than Cloud now but even so, I still like these too characters but Zack is just who I prefer now
This video is so well done and explaining just how important Zack is to the overall story as well as his relationship with Aerith and how they gave each other strength. Thank you so much!
Back when I played FF7, I didn't like Zack (I was a child, I thought Zack antagonized Cloud as Aerith's love interest) But then, I played Crisis Core. We can't dislike him after this game. It was the first and only time I cried playing videogame. That final battle, I already knew what was going to happen. It made me so desperate, I knew it was pointless to fight, but I kept fighting, wanting it to end differently
Isn't it awesome when you completely change your mind about a character? With the of FF7 alone, Zack it pretty unremarkable but post CC, he became one of the most lovable character ever!
I loved this so much ❤ Thank you for making it. I'm still playing through CCR right now, first time ever even though I have seen cut scenes from the OG cc 😅
I was always for Cloud x Aerith despite having not played Crisis Core and man... After completing Reunion, I felt so stupid. Loved it so much and made me appreciate FF7 and FF7R so much more. Really cannot wait for Rebirth.
I never really liked Aerith x Cloud, I just never saw it, even in OG I felt "....but that wasn't the point of their friendship", but playing the original CC really cemented for me what Cloud and Aeriths role in each others stories is. Anything other than Cloud x Tifa and Zack x Aerith just feels bizarre to me these days.
There’s nothing stupid about it that was the point of FFVII. It was a tragic love triangle. It’s the Compilation that cements Zack X Aerith but the original game is open game. That’s why the original > everything in the Compilation.
What a great video! Love these two as a couple! Interesting comments, too, lol. It's especially amusing to see the Cloud x Aerith vs Zack x Aerith debates, when it's all moot, because they're all forgetting one *major* component: Tifa. Cloud's been in love with Tifa his whole life. And if Aerith and/or Zack survive, the only question will be: will she attend Cloud and Tifa's wedding alone or together with the 'first guy she ever loved'? 😂
This has always amused me. Tifa is Cloud's main love, and she is, for Cloud, the main point of his development as a character. Most of his actions since his youth are clearly related to her, and even the potential move towards Aerith is a vectorless move towards "hero for a girl" (for Tifa), which is forgotten because of his change of persona. So Cloud has always been in love with her, and the game shows this quite well. Those who think that CxA would have had a chance after Cloud reclaimed his identity clearly don't understand the dynamics of their development.
@@rnkkhv Seriously, it's so funny to see some discussions when SHE is the reason why Cloud won't ever be with any other woman and there's simply no way around that lol
@@tinatinarmainteresebs9255 Yes, and many people try to argue as if it is not clear from the game that most of his life revolves around the desire to be with her. And as the conversation about ZxA begins, arguments begin, as if Cloud's opinion is not important, and only Aerith's desire to be with someone of these two is important. lol, no. First of all, CxT exists because Tifa is the most important person to him, not because Aerith died
Start from remake and get attached with ff7..then watching lore and playthrough of OG and CC, novel ToTP, ultis and so many..this video really sums it up for how important Zack is to Cloud. And i really fall in luv with Aerith x Zack relationship in CC/CcR..but its😣😣😫😭😭😭..how can the devs so evil making them tragically ughhh..but still luv the compilation no matter what..great video👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻
Zack and Aerith just make more sense to me. I actually played Crisis Core before the original FF7. But even after playing FF7, nah, it's Zack and Aerith for me.
I played FFVII as a kid, and loved it. But life got busy, and I forgot all about it. As a 31 year old, I revisited remake this year, and wow, remake brought back incredible memories. I always wondered why everyone loved these two together when from a FFVII pov, it seemed obvious it was a Cloud and Aerith thing. This video seems to perfectly capture the essence of why everyone loves these two together, and now I understand. Well, the plot just got a whole lot more complex haha.
"it seemed obvious it was a Cloud and Aerith thing." I will never understand this position, it just always makes me think "man, were we playing the same game?!". I'd love to just sit with someone who experienced the story like this, and actually play the games, watch the movies, while narrating what we're thinking, because I have the feeling we'd be narrating two entirely different stories XD
To be fair it was open in the original FFVII since it’s supposed to be a tragic love triangle. The Compilation is what cements Zack X Aerith. There is no reason for you to feel bad. It’s pretty much new.
@@DutchDread I hear what you're saying! And I don't believe either stance is right or wrong, between Aerith, Zack, Cloud & Tifa there seems to be a whole party of people on each different ship. I guess that's the brilliance of the way the story is being told, the story unfolds in a way that allows the viewer or participant to fill in the gaps with their imagination, it doesn't force us into its narrative, instead, it gives us room to breathe and to read into moments that could go either way. I guess with our own bias. I don't know whether the creators did this intentionally, but I also don't think its a coincidence!
I always wanted Cloud and Aerith but after playing Crisis Core Reunion (didn't get to play the orignal but I knew what happened) Now I want Zack with Aerith and Cloud with Tifa ! It just makes sense y'know?!?!
@naijahunt2338 Someone's salty their ship never sailed and will never sail xD Not only is Crisis Core cannon, it's so important to the story it got a remake to make sure people had access to it and it's story between parts of FF7 remake
@naijahunt2338 CC has never been retcon in the ZxA relationship. Zack have always been a major part of her interest in Cloud. CxA, on the other hand, has never existed. Since Cloud always loved Tifa, and was loyal. Even with the greatest development of Cloud x Aerith's relationship, you don't get a good reaction from him. At the same time, the game perfectly shows that all the way through his character development, it was his feelings for Tifa. CC only tried to give Aerith a moment that she could be happy and loved, which the original didn't show, although it didn't potentially close that development. So CxT and ZxA were always canon ships, it's just that in the original ZxA, it didn't have that good development. But CC fixed that.
As a OG FF7 and Crisis Core fan, thanks so much for making this video. Crisis Core is my favourite game but it's so sad i can't make myself play the Remake because of the new VA (no offense)
Aerith and Zack are definitely among my favorite fantasy couples, their chemistry is just amazing. I also love Tifa and Cloud for their story and journey, but man, I hope the addition of detail remake will give their relationship will live up to Aerith and Zack. But heej, if SE pulls off mideel, the lifestream sequence, and the highwind, that should be no problem.
Same here! Even though I was a CxA shipper before. Zack is just a great man. Just finished Crisis Core Reunion and I love it! I cant wait to see Zack reunite with Aerith!
Remake Aerith with Cloud about Zack: “GOTTA LOOK FORWARD, NOT BACK.” Ever Crisis Cloud to Aerith: “WHEN I’M WITH YOU, YOU BRING A PART OF ME OUT THAT I DIDN’T KNOW EVEN EXISTED.” Cloud x Aerith, Zack x Cissnei, Tifa x Barret
I came here by accident after Rebirth, Remake, and Crisis Core. I feel like a jerk when romancing Aerith because of Zack. Zack and Aerith’s chemistry is on another level compared to Cloud.
I never played the original FFVII Crisis Core, but enjoyed playing Crisis Core Reunion, I hope Square Enix add a playable Zack in Rebirth. I still prefer Cloud over Zack just my opinion. If they add Zack as a playable character they might add something similar to Final Fantasy VIII like they did with Laguna.
I used to breath crisis core from 2016 to 2019, replayed it at least 5 times, one of those playthroughs focusing on missions, while i only finished the og ps1 once. It became like a second home for me, and it still feels so weird having Crisis Core to get this return on the mainstream interest. I really wish that whatever comes from the remake, it doesn't ruin the impact from this piece of the syory. Some characters HAVE to stay dead. My favourite KH game was 358-2 days, but having KH3 reviving everyone like it was a checklist of plot points ruined what came before. I hope Aerith and Zack get different routes in the remake, but in the end, they NEED to stay dead. Consequences have to mean something.
Yeah I don’t think they will survive the end game. But I think zack and aerith will be monumentally important going forward, and yeah it’s nice to hear. Crisis core is a very comfortable game.
Aerith's death is a necessity. I think the Devs will give us a false hope scenario where they will make us think we can change Aerith's fate but ultimately she will die. Zack will probably die at the end of the game..... probably...... I hope.
@@mrshadow7738 No it isn't, she died because she left Cloud's party and went to the Forgotten City on her own, Jenova took a detour through the Forgotten City to complete her reunion with Sephiroth, and saw Aerith, and killed her in cold blood. If she never left the party she would of survived, maybe as far as the Whirlwind Maze, e.g Northern Crater, possibly she would of completed the game as there was a standing stone for Aerith character to stand on, while facing Bizarro Sephiroth. I say she will return to the lifestream willingly at the end of part 3, and nobody is changing my mind, if she reunites with Zack, that is a different matter regarding the trilogy. Whatever happens we will after wait.
You know I always found it weird when people ship CloudxAerith in the first places as if Zack doesn't exist?? Its like telling someone's girlfriend to get together with his brother because her ex lover just died...
@@reginageorge3399 3 months?! she had known Cloud for about 2 or 3 weeks in total. The whole FF7 plot lasts 42 days if I'm not confused, but no more than 49.
Dang it. After playing Remake, I didn't like the "Zack potentially being alive" bit. So, I had mixed feelings for Rebirth and all the next sequels. But seeing Aerith and Zack's relationship more in Reunion made me want to see a good ending for them. So yeah. I am kinda sold now.
Right! I mean, Advent Children showed us that they do find their happy ending and see each other again, but it is interesting to see if perhaps they saw each other again while they were both still alive.
Absoultely loved Crisis Core on the PS5. It was my first time playing this game, and the story drew me in almost immediately. I'd love to see Zack in FF7 Remake Part 2, and was surprised there wasn't a hard/100% completion alternative ending; to tease/show a little more between the ending of Crisis Core and the ending of FF7Remake Part 1.
I love this couple so much. It's clear that before Crisis Core, Zack wasn't meant to be a particularly important character. But CC changed that and after that, it seems wrong for Aerith to be with Cloud when you know just how much Cloud took after Zack.
I actually still have the original psp game funny enough. I might actually play through that first before I play through reunion which I did start playing a bit on ps5. But in all honesty I’m not the biggest fan of the idea of a prequel to ff7. It’s honestly a perfect enough game as it is but I’m a huge Zack fair fan since he was also in kingdom hearts brith by sleep so it’s a bit of catch-22 for me.
@@TheBayzent in all the people or characters I interacted his one of the best dude to talk too. His more friend to Zack a true comrade keeps tabs to you by phone
If Zack was alive in this continuity, it could be the best to keep Aerith alive as well. This way, the ships for Aerith-Zack and Clould-Tifa will be launched successfully.
i am so excited for rebirth, i never really paid attention to the original crisis core, so this remake was a prefect relaunch point for me. bought it on switch, ( i know i know but i wanted something for the platform it runs fine and has aiet graphics) and rebought ff7r intergrade on PC after only playing the original ff7r on release, just wish i did it a little bit later so i didn't have to wait a full year for rebirth lol
When Zack " wait was that all of them " in 7R was amazing, its EXACTly what his optimistic self would have said. I hadn't still played since 2008 and still remember that he was that positive, and that line was 100% what he would he would say. No one writing that forgot what his personality was like
This was a brilliant video more newcomers need to see this they need to understand the full context of remake.. I played and have the PSP version since 2008. I still have CCR on ps5 sealed , one day I'll play it again but not now.... I do think Angel and Genesis will be ack in the remake project
1:57 I think that Rebirth might revise Crisis Core during Zack's Alt Timeline and LATER these two timelines will converge. I don't have any in-game reason to think that tho, it just seems to make a lot of sense.
there is a DMW where zack tells aerith to wear pink whenever they are gonna meet and aerith wears pink all those years later because she is still waiting for him..this goes to those who put aerith with cloud....aerith is zack's girl people.
@Regina George The devs aren’t lying though you are. They’ve expressed that in the original game there is no canon shipping. The canon shipping exists in the compilation. As I said stop being in denial kid.
@@ironrex6979 Bro, enough. Youre the one that cant swallow the truth. Even I as a clerith shipper recognize what the developers are trying to convey. Zack is still very important to Aerith and she's still chasing his shadow. Enough, bro. You cant tell people that theyre lying when youre the one that does that.
@@aerithlover You know nothing about the game and are just a troll with a pathetic user name. Leave. Stop projecting your own issues on to others like your name sake.
@@ironrex6979 Uh I do 🙄 but unlike you, I dont throw tantrums harassing other people about the things that disagree with you. A grown man throwing tantrums on the youtube comments yikes😖
I wanted to ask: Did anyone notice that smoke came out of Clouds wound when Seph stabbed him in the reactor at Nibelhiem? The smoke almost resembled the ghosts/spirits that appeared in FF7R when you did something that went against the original story line. Was that in the original PSP game? 🤔
No it wasn't. When I noticed it in Reunion I first played it off as a rather cheap way to keep wounds in line with the age rating but it does seem quite the coincidence. I could be a post hoc explanation for how Cloud survived the incident in the first place - saved by the Whispers as it wasn't "his time" - as logically the stab should have been fatal seeing as Cloud at this point is just a normal human being with no experiments performed on him.
@@reginageorge3399 Could say the same about you Zack fanboys self-inserting as Zack. Seeing as you Zerith stans are treating Aerith like she is Zack's personal property, by denying she moved on to Cloud after accepting Zack's been long gone.
@@zerofudou5689 What's you and your lots problem? No one is self-inserting themselves as Zack wtf. I ship Cloud and Aerith too but it doesnt take a stupid and blind person to see that she still misses Zack. Sure Cloud is this and that but Zack is an amazing character and the people that deny that are you and the other people that are salty about getting in the way of a ship where it disregards what's written
When a mod or the OG VA's return, I'll gladly play. Already beat Minerva twice on the PSP; not about to tarnish a good memory involving my favourite franchise.
As much as I loved playing through Crisis Core Reunion, I do have a problem with it. Not as much of a problem as with Remake, though. Let's say Remake brought in new fans who didn't know about Zack. At the end, they find out he lived through the attack in the wasteland. Crisis Core Reunion shows him die, so for them this is confusing. And two, when Rebirth comes out and we get the Kalm flashback, these new fans are gonna get super confused when Cloud self inserts himself into Zack's role in the Nibelheim incident. It should have come out either at the end of the compilation or between parts 2 and 3 in order to not spoil anything for these new fans.
I really love crisis core's story. But I just can't play the remaster because of Zacks new VM. I hope there will be a patch that gets the original VM in.
@@lostforever773 not crying, it's observation with many fans, so making its to make game experience better, just be a good boy and let the people who care try and do something about it.
@@lostforever773 that's even worse I could let you off if this was your first game and hearing Zack for the first time but your an old person who might have played FF7 OG and appreciate the depth of it. Why OG Zack VM had more nuisance compared to this almost kid like dorky expression. But again if your happy with a much more childer like acting then you got what you want at least. Let the rest of us be reintroduced to proper nostalgia.
@@masturcheef123 Don't take the game too seriously, yes the story is serious and tragic at times but you're riding huge yellow chickens, having so many ridiculous over the top characters, such as Johnny and Dio and that gang of fools, and bodybuilders in the OG, and the cross-dressing scene and the tub scene, and dancing with a cactus 🌵... Plus there's a lot of metaphors. It's never meant to be realistic so people falling twice through the same roof is one of the more believable aspects of the game. It's serious and it's silly and both work together. Just relax and enjoy.
I dont think it's a bold move or a risk because it can go either way it can be ZackxArieth (aeris?)or CloudxAreith (Originally it was going to be either Septhiroth and Aerith as siblings or Septhiroth x Aerith so let that one sink in )
It's gonna be Zack/Aeris Cloud/Tifa now. I also think it's gonna be Zack vs. One sephiroth Cloud vs. another. This may have changed the mechanism of his death in the mako reactor as to how he wound up in the life stream and reincarnated on Mt Nibel., Too. We don't know. Zack got back up. Why can't Seph. I didn't like what FF7r did, but if they go, "okay we're gonna get DIFFERENT HERE." (Without TOO much dumb Nomura shit) They can still save it for me, if I can ever suspend my bias and stop comparing this game to one of the greatest games of all time. The og. Also, Zack didn't live long enough for us to know if the S cells took. Hojo documented BOTH experiments as failures. Yeah I know Zack has a higher tolerance cause of mako exposure, but I'm sure this will come to play some how. If the S cells could make cloud give up the black materia, what could he make Zack do? What is sephiroth planning? I really hope they don't kingdom hearts this shit up. This is their moment after "the force awakens." I hope they go balls to the wall. Kill most of the main cast, keep aeris alive, (cause they're gonna anyways) and make Zack the main protag for a whole game. I mean you play as Tifa for several hours of 7.
@@Heymrk dude. It's not an hour. I just replayed the game; like many I know it like the back of my hand. (Like several others do as well.) Plus considering how they bloated the midgar section of the games length into an entire game in 7r, it stands to reason by extrapolation that they would make a character switching moment, especially one with such significance to the story last hours and hours. But as to the og, I'm not being one of those dudes, but replay it again. It shocked me too I thought it was shorter.
So here is a dark, what if scenario. What if Cloud has to die because of his connection to Sephiroth? It’s been stated that Seph can keep coming back as long as Cloud lives because of the Jenova cells and his memories. This means that Cloud is stuck in a loop of fighting Seph whenever Seph manages to pop up again. Eventually Seph will win, I mean Cloud will grow old. So in order to break their connection, Cloud has to die. What if Cloud looses control like in the OG. But this time Zack has met up with the group, and we get some good moments between everyone before Cloud looses control. Then either a guilt ridden Cloud forces him too, or Cloud is fully taken over by Sephiroth. Either way, Zack is forced to kill Cloud. I highly doubt SE would go that route, I mean killing Cloud would be huge and shatter players. Especially if Zack, who originally gave his life to save Cloud is the one who is forced to kill Cloud in a similar way to how Zack had to kill Angeal. But, at the same time, Sephiroth has already been revealed in remake. And everyone knows Aerith fate. So if they want to go bigger and more soul shattering, this would be a way to do it. I hope, whatever SE does do, they answer how the connection between Cloud and Sephiroth is going to be broken. Because Clouds been through enough and deserves to find happiness. And I hope they don’t do my boy Zack dirty. As heartbreaking as his end was, it was a good, fitting end for his character.
@@genevieveachilles4662 Zacks ghost (cloud) vs the the ghost of sephiroth was a major theme of 7, until, imo, the two warriors the game was based on (a tale of a broadsword samurai and a long sword samurai) repeated it's self once more. (Actualized cloud vs sephiroth at the very end.) This is when the game was designed to adhere to themes. I say this to tell you, *They're going to f it up.* I'll tell you why. Nothing unexpected is likely going to happen here. Actually, that's not true, nothing with any weight will most likely happen here, but Nomura will most likely weigh one side of the scale down with "weird shit" to make it seem creative. Japan plans their market strategies and sales around characters. Popularity polls are given, (yes I know, but this is true, look it up) and toys and advertisements align with these. Zack has topped the FF character polls for a long time. Aeris is internationally beloved. Cloud is the face of quite possibly the biggest ip square has ever made. There is no way any of these characters will die, and if they do, it will be a trade with lesser impact, but one that has gotten character development to trick the player into thinking it's a balanced out loss. Avalanche members, a party member like Barret, Yuffie, or Red 13, etc. (Yes major characters, but not as integral to the plot when it comes to interacting with the mechanisms that drive it forward for more than Midgar or shortly after.) The hints will be there. Any new party members in 7r2? Is Jessie riding up on a motorcycle saying she's joining your journey? She Gon die. There's no way SE isn't ending this with TWO MAIN CHARACTERS VS TWO BIG BADDIES. ("Imagine the merch sales! Imagine the action!' that's what they're saying in the panning stages. Unfortunately many FF fans don't give a shit about these opinions, and they align with disgusting anime companies like Funimation. Plus, Nomura loves to do this. My God, look at the mess that is kingdom hearts. Starting from the second entry you had riku vs sora vs multiple people, in 3, it was like what, 7 vs 7 or some shit?) I'd love to see some risks being taken like the ones we have speculated on, even though people will come and call it fan fiction, it will probably be better than what actually happens. It would be great if sephiroth actually got closer to winning this time, or had a more direct influence. Hell, if there's two of him, have him get to it. Let's see a real sephiroth and not a jenova clone attack a city and Zack have to go counter him anywhere he goes (the only one string enough to fight sephiroth at this point.) I feel like this is another star wars situation, the force awakens was beloved or at least tolerated until it's sequels. We'll see.
I don’t understand how the “Cloud only likes Aerith because of Zack” is a thing? Cloud doesn’t recognise her at all, nor does he even try to flirt or anything with her. So how does this implication make sense? We know Aerith has all or some knowledge of the original FF7, so if she truly does know about Clouds troubled mental state, isn’t she essentially abusing him? I mean if she believes his feelings aren’t real because of the Zack nonsense, then she’s a terrible person for flirting with Cloud, and doing her best to spend more time with him, which could potentially make him fall for her. Just like the scene in FF7 Remake where she tells him not to fall in love with her, and that it’s not real. I sincerely hope she says that ONLY because she knows she’s gonna die, and not because of the Zack thing. Otherwise she’s messed with his head for her own selfish reasons, such as because he reminds her of her first love etc.
I think it's more apt to say that Cloud treated being Aerith's bodyguard as a role one that he created for himself as Tifa's protector. But because Tifa was strong and didn't need a bodyguard he used Aerith as a replacement. Cloud judging by the og text wasn't attracted to Aerith. With Aerith according to the novels she was watching as Cloud and Tifa put his mind back together and when Cloud admitted that Tifa was he one he loved all along, as well as a big reason for his persona. Knowing that she likely realized that he was superimposing Tifa onto her. That's why she tells him that his feelings for her are fake.
You’re exactly right. In the remake there were NO SIGNS of Cloud ever liking Aerith. Cloud has always liked Tifa. He even flirted with her several times. Aerith acknowledged that Cloud has feelings for Tifa.
Why wouldn't they, it's just one guys interpretation on the so called love triangle. Which was invented by non FFVII fans, who played the game for certain characters, or the first time when they were introduced to FFVII Crisis Core, I call them the fake fans, who just wanna ship their favourite characters.
@Regina George So petty, literally your best come back is reciting the same ragtag shit comment from another comment thread, labelling me a fake fan who never played anything FFVII related. I have everything released regarding the FFVII franchise, I brought original FFVII September 1997 on the actual release date, Dirge of Cerberus PS2, Advent Children and Advent Children Complete and the 4K version, I spend £70 on Crisis Core Reunion, have both Remake versions from PS5 and PS4, I have the books On a way to a Smile, and The Kids are alright a Turkside story, the Ultimanias, and pre ordered the book about Tifa and Aerith, I have the poster picture collection, that was released along with the game in 2020, I collect the figure's that get relaeased and other related content and memorabilia. I am possibly one of there biggest fans of the franchise, who studied the lore for the past 25 years just because I don't give a damn about the stupid shipping wars like the fake fans do, created by Nomura and his shit compilation, means I ain't any fake fan.
Since ive seen both timelines where zack doesnt die n where zack dies & cloud has the sword & doesnt. What if in this new final fantasy (Rebirth) we get cloud n zack from different timelines meet n explain their side of the story n such? n fight the evil ?
Plot twist cloud falls inlove with aerith in remake and becomes consumed in jealousy. This falling into the dark side and jointing sephiroth. Zach takes clouds role in the general party.
If you played it without playing the OG you definitely received the heaviest spoilers imaginable, you don't even know yet, what mystery of what happened in Nibleheim is basically the main plotarc of the rest of the game. Told people not to play CC if you haven't played the OG, but people wouldn't listen :(
I thought delivery was mostly fine. You also have to keep in mind they had to mimic the old actors delivery to match the animation of the psp game which wasn’t changed for this. Remake and rebirth were great. Especially Zack at the end of Yuffie DLC
@@Repaduski either way, I’m complimenting you dude for your analysis lol I watched all those scenes during my gameplay and didn’t get any of that until you explained it all here, that’s just the impression I got. You made it sound like some literary masterpiece writing and that’s not what I saw 😂 Kudos again to you
In the original official guidebook - Dismantled - from 1997 it clearly states that Aerith loves Cloud more than Zack. Just saying...Ultimania threw it all under the bus by scrapping some early concept entirely. CC took the falling through the roof scene, originally a Clerith moment, and shamelessly plastered on Zack. Cloud's entire gig during Disk 1 is apparently Zack talking through Cloud's lips now. The entire dynamic of their relationship, regardless of how sweet and emotional is now one giant, psychotic friendzoning session. Weak...just weak. 23 little wishes my a*s.
Stumbled onto this video after finishing Rebirth. There is a misconception that Zack has been cucked. Nothing could be further from the truth. Rebirth has taken great pains to setup a Zack/Aerith endgame just like it has for Cloud and Tifa. We are explicitly shown in this game why Cloud/Aerith could never have worked out. I wont spoil anything. Please do not fall for spurious arguments where anyone cites Maiden Who Travels the Planet and/or FFVII Dismantled as "proof" of Cloud/Aerith. These materials are extremely outdated and have been retconned so heavily by the greater Compilation that they exist now simply as quaint curios. They are not canon and never have been since the Compilation became a thing. I cannot believe this love triangle bs is still a thing after everything thats come out since Advent Chidren.
After Rebirth I find it hard to see Zack and Aerith having any romantic interactions in part 3. I don't see any signs of a Zack and Aerith endgame at all either. I'm a Zack fan who is not largely invested in ships and don't care for Cleriths much due to how hostile and pushy they are in general. In my view, Rebirth was heavy on Cloud and Aerith and they did Zack about as dirty as he can be done. Not only from a shipping standpoint but Zack was also shafted in terms of gameplay. For a guy on the cover of the game he only appeared in scarce cutscenes and was barely playable.
I know the whole cloud x Aerith or zack x Aerith debate has enraged many a nerd. I won’t lie. I’ve been one of them before. One thing this remake of crisis core on the OG game really shows me how much Aerith kinda took zacks mannerisms. The way she interacts with cloud in remake is a lot like how Zack interacts with Aerith. Even their hand movements and body language. The Aerith that meets cloud is far more outgoing and confident. I like the paradigm shift. I think which game you played first is gonna dictate who you want to see Aerith with. For me that will be cloud. It’s completely subjective. Especially as the games have changed the continuity. From the OG game it’s clear Zack was just a young love. Something short but burning bright. We’ve all had those loves. The way she grows to love cloud imo is more mature. Even tho they are still super young. If you played CC first then o get why you want to root for Zack. He’s definitely more likable than cloud. But cloud will always be more relatable to me. Especially since personally I’ve struggled with my own identity and who I’m supposed to be. So I get it. Root for who you want. Or enjoy both. They both have their merits. It’s sad. Both stories are incredibly tragic. For me that’s enough.
Cloud doesn’t love Aerith and Aerith is chasing traces of Zack she sees in Cloud. Cloud loves Tifa and Tifa loves Cloud. It’s been this way since 1997.
So many comments supporting Cloud x Aeris... just why?, i guess most of y'all are new players and don't know the whole story, and if some of you played the original game and still support Cloud x Aeris i repeat myself again... just WHY?. Shipping these two is so wrong on so many levels i don't even know where to start.
Funny because Clerith shippers existed before Zerith shippers, If anything Zerith shippers are newer to FF7 fandom than people who ship Cloud and Aerith.
@@reginageorge3399 Did I say he wasn't mentioned? No. I said Clerith shippers existed before Crisis Core made Zerith shippers a thing. No one shipped Zack with Aerith during OGFF7 days. Its not gaslighting, it's an absolute fact.
@@zerofudou5689 So what if Clerith first? I was a clerith fan but regardless, doesnt Aerith die in the OG? And she reunites with Zack after that. It doesnt matter which shipper came first or whatnot, but someone dying, that makes a pairing already impossible and to attack other people that prefer Aerith and Zack is just vile
@@aerithlover Hey. I didn't start attack fans for liking a pairing. The original commentor did so first by accusing anyone who shipped Cloud and Aerith of only playing the FF7 remake, as if Zack and Aerith were strong ship before Crisis Core.
I played Crisis Core Reunion and thought it was an absolutely garbage video game. Decent combat but nowhere near Remakes level, horrible dialogue, character assassinations. Zack falling through a random hole and somehow landing in Aeriths church had me rolling with laughter. Really? You couldnt be bothered writing an original scene. Just steal Cloud + Aeriths origin. Ohh and the missiles hitting Gongaga as though they're bullet bills from Super Mario Brothers. Pure Trash.
I’ve never played the original game, but I absolutely love Remake! I’ve played it 12 times, I’ve watched several TH-camr’s play throughs of the game, I’ve seen all boss battles multiple times, I’ve watched all of the trailers and reactions to the trailer, and I check every single day for new news on Rebirth lol Needless to say, it’s probably my favorite game of all time now. And I recently just played Crisis Core for the first time ever, and I gotta be honest……I didn’t get or like the “relationship” of Zach and Aerith at all….. I found they portrayed Aerith as this goodie goodie, that actually comes off as a user. They completely stripped away what made her so great in Remake! I actually felt like Zach and Cessenie (or however you spell it) came off much better.
Aerith gained a lot of confidence from zack! You have to understand the aerith in crisis core is 4-5 years younger. Hardly has a grasp on the reality of her situation. Zack helped guide her to the character you love in remake. Maybe that helps
@@Repaduski I guess…. But honestly, I just don’t think they were that great together. It seemed rushed, and I never felt that spark! Playing Remake for the first time I legit felt a connection towards Aerith…..I felt it THROUGH Cloud. I don’t even feel like Zach and Aerith really even saw each other that much, and every time they did Aerith was asking Zach to do something. I don’t know…..it just felt weird and off in my opinion. I feel like (from what I’ve seen so far) Cloud and Aerith are way better together.
@@fearlesscheshirecat1411 Gonna be honest, this is usually the position advocated by people who don't understand the story or characters. Especially trying to ship Zack off with Cisnei in an attempt to get him out of the way for Cloud and Aerith is a huge red flag that someone isn't being honest.
@@DutchDread I’m guessing you don’t remember, but we’ve had this conversation a handful of times already. I’ve seen you commenting about Cloti more times than I can count. You’re obviously WAY too biased about this topic. I understand the story and characters just fine. And every time I’ve given evidence about Cloud and Aerith vs Cloud and Tifa from Remake you would never message back. And that’s just my honest opinion. I didn’t feel or understand Zach and Aerith’s “relationship” at all. I didn’t even like how they portrayed Aerith in this. I can see why now a lot of fans that played the original were upset by her portrayal in CC and AC.
@@DutchDread I picked up on literally ZERO chemistry between these two. Just my opinion, that’s how I see it, and evidently I’m not the only one either. Even Hamaguchi has said the story seems to be pushing Cloud and Aerith together. And he’s now the head director for Rebirth. I don’t care who ends up together. As long as the character interactions in Rebirth are just as good as Remake’s. Like I’ve said, I’ve never played the original game, but going into playing Remake for the first time with no preconceived notions, expectations, or biases…….Cloud and Aerith only seem to be the only more “romantic” relationships from Remake. Cloud and Tifa had little moments in the beginning, but once Aerith got on the scene Cloud finally started opening up, and smiled more times with her than anybody, and Aerith is literally the only character in Remake that got Cloud to laugh throughout the entire game.
I could never really remember the relationship for those characters, but never bothered to answer it myself because I didn't care about FF7 that much. I still don't care about the plot of that game. I only care about the gameplay of those games. However the smaller interactions and relationships of the specific characters interest me rather than the grand plot. I would get the games more for them and gameplay lol.
Im not sure I know of a single game you truly care about lol. Im also still unsure what you look for in games week after week haha. Feel free to lay it out there
@@Repaduski You don't have to find me any games lol. Gameplay is the most important thing to me. If the game doesn't play well I don't want it. Engaging characters are important to. I never cared about saving the world because it's boring lol. I do care about a lot of games and can be open minded to try them. The most mainstream game I play are the Tales games. Everything else seems to not get talked about a lot. Indie games and hidden gems have always been more interesting to me more than popular AAA.
This video really hit home for me. A lot of people talk about Zack as this perfect chivalrous "hero" and that he is always happy and positive, which they say is the reason they love him. To that, his relationship to Aerith (but also to Cloud, Angeal, Sephiroth and Genesis) really tells us that he is not a perfect hero that can always save the day through. Where his strength lies, the reason that he is able to keep moving even through all this hardship, is rather his ability to stay connected to his and other's emotions, and that he shares his vulnerability with the people around him. The way he allows himself to feel worry and care for Angeal and empathizes with him, rather than shuns him and pushes him away during Angeal's moments of doubt and inner conflict. How he allows himself to properly mourn and cry in front of Aerith rather than pushing his feelings away, and then how after mourning properly being able to move forward in his personal growth. It is so rare to see male characters cry so earnestly and share it with other characters. and I lover how it is used to show that he has a very healthy connection to his feelings. I would love to hear you do a character analysis of Zack as a character as a whole, because this line of thought that you show here is really getting close to the very core of why Zack is such an important and impactful character, rather than just the surface level of "heroism".
On my first initial play through of FF7, I was a Cloud x Aerith shipper because of the contrast in their characters. Cloud was a self-contained person who did not open up to people but only to Tifa whom he shares a childhood connection with. It was Aerith’s puppy like energy that allowed for Cloud to begin opening up to people and to form the meaningful bonds to create a crew to go rescue her.
However upon playing Crisis Core I immediately fell in love with Zack’s character. His free spirited passion reminded me so much of an Aerith who is looking at the world in a glass half full point of view despite all the monstrosities he is exposed to in his career as a first class soldier. It is in Crisis Core that we get to see a young Aerith who had not yet begun to possess her upbeat cheerful pure spirit. To which we learn that it was Zack’s faithful meeting and bond with her that opened Aerith up to become the beloved character we see in the main series.
In other words: Zack’s bright optimistic spirit rubbed off onto Aerith whom then later passed it onto Cloud. And so the Cloud x Aerith ship no longer existed, for the real ship to set sail has been Cloud x Zack all along.
I think that’s also what I love about crisis core the most. Zack really helps Aerith open up and in turn it has a great affect on cloud. The connection between those 3 is wild
Not gonna lie, you had me in the first 99.9%
To be fair that’s the whole point in the original FFVII. It’s a tragic love triangle. It was supposed to be open. Zack X Aerith became a thing because of the Compilation.
@@ironrex6979 As I recall Aerith x Cloud was never a thing, they were just good friends. Cloud and Barret tho. (jk)
@@zereimu That was in The Compilation. In the original game it was open because it was a game. It was left to the players choice and it helped the story since it was supposed to be a tragic love triangle.
You know, with the information they gave in VII originally, I didn’t think too hard on Zack. Sure, piecing it together with the information given, it said that the Jenova cells in Cloud kind of imprinted on Zack. But also using the limited information we had of Zack, it was pretty heavily implied that anything giving more focus on Zack would just be like seeing Cloud with long black hair. But playing Crisis Core, and seeing Zack so upbeat was incredible. And seeing the parallels after he meets Aerith to when Cloud meets Aerith. They both fall through the ceiling and land on the flowers. Zack offers a date and essentially becomes her bodyguard, Aerith offers Cloud a date and asks him to be her bodyguard. All because of how deeply she loved Zack and how closely Cloud resembled him.
And it’s hilarious, my wife HATES seeing anything of Cloud together with Aerith after Crisis Core. “No! She’s supposed to be with Zack! Cloud is supposed to be with Tifa!”
@Aaron Roberto after Crisis Core? She’s absolutely right! Hell, she even ends up with Zack at the end of Advent Children!
@Aaron Roberto oh man, after Crisis Core, I got to agree with that wife. There's a chemistry here that cloud and aerith just don't have. I love Aerith to death as a character, but not enough to marry her through cloud and ship them together in the process.
I mean, given the similar chemistry between Cloud and Aerith, and also Aerith and Tifa, I'm going to have to go with the polyamory solution. Cloud x Zack x Aerith x Tifa = Everyone Wins
Zack is the franchises best and likely most well liked character
Zack Will join the party and all will survive by the third game, we know they can die in one timeline and be alive in another
I have twenty-three tiny wishes, but you probably won't remember them all, so I put them all together into one... I'd like to spend more time with you.
- Aerith
It’s so sad
Nooooooooooo..... I felt enough pain replaying crisis core in reunion few days ago the wound is still fresh up till this day and this words makes it even deeper 😭
@kuyswe I'd say she did through cloud even if it wasn't really zack she knew even in the og game that cloud was imitating him so in a roundabout way she got her wish
He's Gongaga
Me? Gongaga, You?
We. Are. GONGAGA.
LMFAO
yessir and based Kirigiri pfp
Done-and-gonegaga
I grew up with Crisis Core back then on PSP. I bought the PSP just for that game and it's one of my beloved games. Same as Zack. After CC just the mention and memories of Zack from CC make me tear up. Also after CC I can only ship Aerith with Zack (never shipped Tifa nor Aerith with Cloud and in Remake I found it funny that after Tifa and Aerith met they suddenly had so much more chemisty together than any of them with Cloud). That beautiful, pure, passionate love between them that was never meant to be because of cruel fate. Those two are honestly one of the best relationships I've ever seen. It was just perfect. Aerith not giving up for 4+ years on him and writing him letters. And Zack wanting to go back to Midgar just to go see her again. And it's so heart-wrenching seeing Zack dying being so close.. Midgar was just there. Aerith was so close. Just right there. And even when he was dying she was the last thing that was keeping him together.
I hope there is at least one FF7 timeline where they are both alive and happy together.
I'm glad you make this video, as I am a big Zack fan and his importance to the story it's always a headache when some people say he wasn't important to the story of VII and his ties to Cloud and Aerith respectively. Hopefully, this will make ppl see his importance and will appreciate him as one of the OG character
People are reactive regarding Zack because he *wasn't* that important in the original game, considering he's simply part of Cloud's trauma and delusion. They're not denying anything, they're using the original game as leverage and that's perfectly fine. No one is forced to accept Crisis Core. Some people like it, some people don't. Using Zack in VIIR will obviously annoy the latter, it won't magically validate Zack as a character. If anything, it will make the game worse for them. That's why Zack is a "risk".
The canonical imperative here is pretty clear. The revival of Crisis Core (as Reunion) might be pivotal to VIIR2 (Rebirth), but it certainly doesn't invalidate people's opinions about Zack and the OG VII. They can't retroactively make Zack important, but they can do just that in Rebirth through Reunion.
@@kimlee6643 Cloud’s trauma and delusions are a HUGE part of the original game… He based his fake persona on this guy, so how does that make him “not that important”?
@@peko2292 You answered your own question? Cloud based his SOLDIER persona on the little piece of Zack's backstory that mattered to him; he didn't even emulate the actual person at all, only his own idea of status. Everything else is drawn as a parallel to Cloud's own experience. CC uses the backdrop of Cloud's experience to then infuse Zack's character to then feed it back to Cloud.
Why do so many people pretend Zack was written first and the devs simply hid him from people until CC? It's amazing I'm actually explaining this.
@@kimlee6643 The guy literally was shown to be Cloud’s friend who risked his life to save him in the original? I’m still wondering how does that not make him important to the story?
@@peko2292 What do you mean by "important"? He's a real part of Cloud's narrative momentum at the crux of the formation of his trauma into active (rather than passive) form. He reveals Cloud was no real veteran, no SOLDIER, nothing but a weakling who needed a literal sacrifice from another man to allow his story to occur. He is also, despite this, able to become a hero despite his catastrophic failures. That's a massive part of what OG VII entails.
He's nowhere near as important as Cloud, because Cloud is the center from which the narrative emanates. Zack was written by folding Cloud's experience on itself, this is what makes CC work.
Praying everyday that Rebirth comes asap and doesn't get delayed
Seems like it’s moving fast! They are confident in that
I wish they were still working on part one this whole time and released it this January instead of what we got.
@@gnarcky6ix6 hell nah I'm impatient and I loved ff7 remake
@@kamii_999 I'm impatient too, but great things come with time. Think about how much better it would be right now. Could have been structured so much better. I don't know how the rest of the game will ever hold up to the original. I doubt we'll even get open world at all. Just more hallways and corridors.
@@gnarcky6ix6 I also didn't want to give them more time to ruin it more. I was happy with the game and I even just got done with the platinum for crisis core reunion. Now I'm just happily awaiting the release of FF7 rebirth while hoping for a remaster of FFXIII which is my top 2 FF game just below FF7. I'm just glad we are getting games at all.
Thank you so much for making this video. Zack and Aerith mean so much to me, and their story is carved in my soul since I played the games for the first time. The church where they meet is my favorite place in the whole game, and I could "stay" there for hours and not get tired of its peaceful and soothing atmosphere.
This is exactly why I can't get behind the whole cloud and aerith thing. They put such emphasis on Zack with aerith I just can't see them breaking that dynamic
Because Cloud x Aerith started in OG VII, where Zack x Aerith was basically non-existent, existing only in a very soft implication.
@RuneKatashima except in OGVII the relationship between Zack and Aerith was so close that after 5 years, Aerith was still so hung up on Zack that meeting his parents caused an emotional response. Plus, Zack knew she'd take Cloud and him in once they got back to Midgar. They were closer than Aerith led on, and the things she liked about Cloud were the parts he stole from Zack. Aerith saw right through his bs, too, and tells Cloud as much on their Gold Saucer date.
@Regina George And here's me who seem's to remember that Ifelna buys Aerith her pink ribbon in remake, and she wears it when she was a child.
Yes Zack tells Aerith to wear pink in Crisis Core, anyone can see how stupid the dialogue is in Crisis Core, with copied and pasted cutscenes from og, and they never updated it in Crisis Core Reunion. 😀
@@KJames2345 Dude, that's not the truth. I just finished the game.
Aerith didnt wear any ribbon when he and Zack met. Zack is the one that buys it for her.
Sure, Aerith has a ribbon that Ifalna gave her but it's been years since she was a kid, any cloth can break. It's probably why Aerith chose the same pink ribbon when Zack asked her what she wanted to buy for her.
@@KJames2345 And it isnt stupid, it shows why Aerith clings to Cloud at the remake. It reminds her of the events she had with Zack.
I played FF7 Remake first and rooted for Cloud and Aerith but after playing Crisis Core Reunion, it just makes more sense and adds more context to Aerith's character and why she acts that way.
And I dont know about you, man, but I would never date my best friend's girl, especially if he died to protect me. It's just messed up
The nuances that are explored in Reunion between Zack and Aerith specifically were so beautiful to experience again. From the ribbon in her hair, to selling flowers, to seeing the sky for the first time … it all just hit me so hard.
The comments about the Sky are so nice to hear again. They really followed through on such small details in Remake. Was beautiful
Yeah, aerith had personality before. Now shes just zacks girlfriend. Gosh, crisis core is a disgrace.
@lw9515This is what I hate too...and why Tifa can get frustrating to me in OG as well...
It gets too love interesty and weakens the female characters. Then again, I understand it is meant for guys anyways...
now that zacks back i think they’ll try to change the interpretation of cloud and aeritha relationship. in the og game, aerith was sort of a romantic option for cloud to choose from between her and tifa but in the new remake they kind of got it out of the way that aerith isn’t meant to be seen that way. a lot of aerith lines in the game have a double meaning to imply something deeper, so in the scene where cloud gets the aerith vision and she says “don’t fall in love with me” i think that was a line deliberately made for the player to understand that she’s not a romantic option. all the options in the game where the player has to choose between tifa or aerith could now mean “romance tifa or build a stronger friendship with aerith” which i think is way better since there won’t be any annoying love triangle plots once zack reunited with aerith. that’s just my theory though i hope it’s something along those lines
cloud is for tifa
zack is for aerith
"Don't fall in love with me" because she knows she's dying? Is that too obvious an interpretation?
I’m leaning towards this line of thinking as well. Aerith also seems to be aware that Cloud is harboring secret feelings for Tifa, the way he got so defensive when she asked about the flower and who he gave it to, and then we get that scene where she clearly sees it in a vase behind the bar counter where Tifa worked. She saw right through him since the beginning lol. I love that she tried
to tell Tifa about her first love Zack as well in the new novel. I wonder how Zack and Aerith will meet again. It’s gonna be crazy emotional 😭
The "Don't fall in love with me" is followed by "Even if you think you love me now, it's not real", she is clearly referring to the fact that his feelings for her are one of the things Zack imprinted on him during the trip to Midgar.
I really struggle to understand why people think Aerith said that because she knew she died in the OG or give it more esoteric meanings, FF7R's writting isn't subtle at all...
I think Aerith was always intended to be seen as a red-herring, even in the OG I felt that her death, the reveal of Tifas importance after her death, and the reveal that Cloud was acting as ex made that pretty clear. Especially on re-plays, but yeah, in the time since SE has really doubled down on it.
Nice significance on Zack & Aerith!👍🏿
I have always shipped them since the OG Crisis Core game and definitely do in the new Remastered version now! See I kept saying that Cloud belongs with Tifa and Aerith belongs with Zack and now that what happened to Zack has been changed at the end of part 1 of the remake he may finally be seeing Aerith again soon enough hopefully in FF7 Rebirth (part 2) this coming winter.
Zack is such a tragic character and that is why i find him the best character in the series and one of the most relatable
Yes a guy who becomes a god who defeats a divine being such as Minerva, but can't do jackst against MP troopers, yes a tragic character indeed, glad they're changing that in remake, and Cloud is Zacks living legacy pile of horse st aswell.
@@KJames2345 He was weakend that's why he couldnt win, not a plot continuity problem
@@KJames2345 i thought the same too but was operating off of hazy thoughts. after replaying it i realized how strong he was. bro has been on the run for almost a year probably without proper food and water, and on top of that he had to be cloud's 24/7 caretaker. he fought hundreds of nonstop troops and it just unfortunately weekend him so much in the end. sadly it only took beating 3 more elite soldiers but it was too late.
You’re so brave to make this video. Some Cleriths are no joke.
Bring them on
"No joke" 😭 dude y'all just bully us all the time and tell us how non existing our ship is. I have nothing against Tifa x Cloud and still value this ship as well! :(
Lmao same goes to Ur "some cloti"
@@erzdev5669"some" cloti are way more no joke, just look at old video of ff7 yearsssss ago, those "some" cloti are the bully one, excuse meh always playing victim
What's crazy is how there are people that were bold enough to wrongfully claim that Zack Fair never existed in the OG FF7..., when he clearly did.
@Rob305 He was but number one Clouds memories were completely swiped he had no memories of Zack because of the Mako and the trauma, that doesn't change the fact that Zack WAS even in the OG an important part of Clouds story, as well as Aerith's. That's why Crisis Core being the sequel fleshes out the story and shows us Zacks back story and what his importance was in the Final Fantasy story. Just because Crisis Core came out after the OG doesn't mean he wasn't important to the story because he was even in OG. You just get more depth of his story with Crisis Core.
@Rob305 Im sorry, man. Im gonna have to disagree. I just finished the game and now I understand why the devs love Zack Fair so much too.
In fact, I like Zack more than Cloud now but even so, I still like these too characters but Zack is just who I prefer now
This video is so well done and explaining just how important Zack is to the overall story as well as his relationship with Aerith and how they gave each other strength. Thank you so much!
Back when I played FF7, I didn't like Zack (I was a child, I thought Zack antagonized Cloud as Aerith's love interest)
But then, I played Crisis Core. We can't dislike him after this game. It was the first and only time I cried playing videogame. That final battle, I already knew what was going to happen. It made me so desperate, I knew it was pointless to fight, but I kept fighting, wanting it to end differently
Isn't it awesome when you completely change your mind about a character? With the of FF7 alone, Zack it pretty unremarkable but post CC, he became one of the most lovable character ever!
I loved this so much ❤ Thank you for making it. I'm still playing through CCR right now, first time ever even though I have seen cut scenes from the OG cc 😅
Thank you so much for watching it! I hope you have a great rest of your playthrough :)
@@Repaduski Thank you ❤ I was already getting teary-eyed leaving Aerith to go to Nibelheim haha
I was always for Cloud x Aerith despite having not played Crisis Core and man... After completing Reunion, I felt so stupid. Loved it so much and made me appreciate FF7 and FF7R so much more. Really cannot wait for Rebirth.
Zack x Aerith and Cloud x Tifa, will go best together 👌
I never really liked Aerith x Cloud, I just never saw it, even in OG I felt "....but that wasn't the point of their friendship", but playing the original CC really cemented for me what Cloud and Aeriths role in each others stories is. Anything other than Cloud x Tifa and Zack x Aerith just feels bizarre to me these days.
There’s nothing stupid about it that was the point of FFVII. It was a tragic love triangle. It’s the Compilation that cements Zack X Aerith but the original game is open game. That’s why the original > everything in the Compilation.
@Naija Hunt CC is 100 percent canon lol, it was written by the same writers as the og 7. Keep up with the cap lol
Nothing to feel stupid about. Cloud x Aerith was a completely normal ship before Crisis Core was released.
The "Steel Sky" line makes much more sense now... thank you
What a great video! Love these two as a couple!
Interesting comments, too, lol. It's especially amusing to see the Cloud x Aerith vs Zack x Aerith debates, when it's all moot, because they're all forgetting one *major* component: Tifa. Cloud's been in love with Tifa his whole life. And if Aerith and/or Zack survive, the only question will be: will she attend Cloud and Tifa's wedding alone or together with the 'first guy she ever loved'? 😂
This has always amused me. Tifa is Cloud's main love, and she is, for Cloud, the main point of his development as a character. Most of his actions since his youth are clearly related to her, and even the potential move towards Aerith is a vectorless move towards "hero for a girl" (for Tifa), which is forgotten because of his change of persona. So Cloud has always been in love with her, and the game shows this quite well. Those who think that CxA would have had a chance after Cloud reclaimed his identity clearly don't understand the dynamics of their development.
@@rnkkhv Seriously, it's so funny to see some discussions when SHE is the reason why Cloud won't ever be with any other woman and there's simply no way around that lol
@@tinatinarmainteresebs9255 Yes, and many people try to argue as if it is not clear from the game that most of his life revolves around the desire to be with her. And as the conversation about ZxA begins, arguments begin, as if Cloud's opinion is not important, and only Aerith's desire to be with someone of these two is important. lol, no. First of all, CxT exists because Tifa is the most important person to him, not because Aerith died
Start from remake and get attached with ff7..then watching lore and playthrough of OG and CC, novel ToTP, ultis and so many..this video really sums it up for how important Zack is to Cloud. And i really fall in luv with Aerith x Zack relationship in CC/CcR..but its😣😣😫😭😭😭..how can the devs so evil making them tragically ughhh..but still luv the compilation no matter what..great video👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻
Zack and Aerith just make more sense to me. I actually played Crisis Core before the original FF7. But even after playing FF7, nah, it's Zack and Aerith for me.
Zach was such an amazing character. I can't wait to see what they do with him with the reimagined final fantasy 7 Series
I played FFVII as a kid, and loved it. But life got busy, and I forgot all about it.
As a 31 year old, I revisited remake this year, and wow, remake brought back incredible memories.
I always wondered why everyone loved these two together when from a FFVII pov, it seemed obvious it was a Cloud and Aerith thing.
This video seems to perfectly capture the essence of why everyone loves these two together, and now I understand.
Well, the plot just got a whole lot more complex haha.
That means so much! thank you for seeing it through. I love making deeper videos like this but am always unsure if there is an audience for them
Yea zack had it first
"it seemed obvious it was a Cloud and Aerith thing."
I will never understand this position, it just always makes me think "man, were we playing the same game?!".
I'd love to just sit with someone who experienced the story like this, and actually play the games, watch the movies, while narrating what we're thinking, because I have the feeling we'd be narrating two entirely different stories XD
To be fair it was open in the original FFVII since it’s supposed to be a tragic love triangle. The Compilation is what cements Zack X Aerith. There is no reason for you to feel bad. It’s pretty much new.
@@DutchDread I hear what you're saying! And I don't believe either stance is right or wrong, between Aerith, Zack, Cloud & Tifa there seems to be a whole party of people on each different ship.
I guess that's the brilliance of the way the story is being told, the story unfolds in a way that allows the viewer or participant to fill in the gaps with their imagination, it doesn't force us into its narrative, instead, it gives us room to breathe and to read into moments that could go either way. I guess with our own bias.
I don't know whether the creators did this intentionally, but I also don't think its a coincidence!
bro this is a great video!!
Thank you so much! loved doing it
I always wanted Cloud and Aerith but after playing Crisis Core Reunion (didn't get to play the orignal but I knew what happened) Now I want Zack with Aerith and Cloud with Tifa ! It just makes sense y'know?!?!
Its so fun to hear the opinions of people new to this game who came from 7 Remake. They really do change your mind
That'd be ideal
its the way to go 🥰🥰
@naijahunt2338 Someone's salty their ship never sailed and will never sail xD
Not only is Crisis Core cannon, it's so important to the story it got a remake to make sure people had access to it and it's story between parts of FF7 remake
@naijahunt2338 CC has never been retcon in the ZxA relationship. Zack have always been a major part of her interest in Cloud. CxA, on the other hand, has never existed. Since Cloud always loved Tifa, and was loyal. Even with the greatest development of Cloud x Aerith's relationship, you don't get a good reaction from him. At the same time, the game perfectly shows that all the way through his character development, it was his feelings for Tifa. CC only tried to give Aerith a moment that she could be happy and loved, which the original didn't show, although it didn't potentially close that development. So CxT and ZxA were always canon ships, it's just that in the original ZxA, it didn't have that good development. But CC fixed that.
As a OG FF7 and Crisis Core fan, thanks so much for making this video. Crisis Core is my favourite game but it's so sad i can't make myself play the Remake because of the new VA (no offense)
Thank you so much for just watching it. i got sentimental on this one
The old VA was pretty bad and I'm glad it got chucked. Reunion is superior to the PSP game in every way.
@@Heymrk You needed a mental asylum more than the remake. Misplaced priorities.
Aerith and Zack are definitely among my favorite fantasy couples, their chemistry is just amazing. I also love Tifa and Cloud for their story and journey, but man, I hope the addition of detail remake will give their relationship will live up to Aerith and Zack. But heej, if SE pulls off mideel, the lifestream sequence, and the highwind, that should be no problem.
I can’t even begin to think about how crazy Rebirth can be for some moments since it’s next gen only
It’s probably going to be different and if the rumors are true multiverse shenanigans
Same here! Even though I was a CxA shipper before.
Zack is just a great man. Just finished Crisis Core Reunion and I love it! I cant wait to see Zack reunite with Aerith!
@@aerithlover That’s your problem not mine. I’m stating development facts I’m not giving opinions on shippings.
Okay this video is cool and all, very informative and no misinformation like the clerith shippers always do. Now do a vid about Cloud and Tifa next.
Zack is really a prequel kind of guy when you think about it right? In both kingdom hearts and final fantasy 7 I mean.
He is in Birth by Sleep!
@@Repaduski yep that’s right!
Remake Aerith with Cloud about Zack: “GOTTA LOOK FORWARD, NOT BACK.”
Ever Crisis Cloud to Aerith: “WHEN I’M WITH YOU, YOU BRING A PART OF ME OUT THAT I DIDN’T KNOW EVEN EXISTED.”
Cloud x Aerith, Zack x Cissnei, Tifa x Barret
Great video! Love the summary of their relationship in Crisis Core.
Thank you so much!
I came here by accident after Rebirth, Remake, and Crisis Core. I feel like a jerk when romancing Aerith because of Zack. Zack and Aerith’s chemistry is on another level compared to Cloud.
I never played the original FFVII Crisis Core, but enjoyed playing Crisis Core Reunion, I hope Square Enix add a playable Zack in Rebirth. I still prefer Cloud over Zack just my opinion.
If they add Zack as a playable character they might add something similar to Final Fantasy VIII like they did with Laguna.
I used to breath crisis core from 2016 to 2019, replayed it at least 5 times, one of those playthroughs focusing on missions, while i only finished the og ps1 once. It became like a second home for me, and it still feels so weird having Crisis Core to get this return on the mainstream interest. I really wish that whatever comes from the remake, it doesn't ruin the impact from this piece of the syory.
Some characters HAVE to stay dead. My favourite KH game was 358-2 days, but having KH3 reviving everyone like it was a checklist of plot points ruined what came before. I hope Aerith and Zack get different routes in the remake, but in the end, they NEED to stay dead. Consequences have to mean something.
Yeah I don’t think they will survive the end game. But I think zack and aerith will be monumentally important going forward, and yeah it’s nice to hear. Crisis core is a very comfortable game.
They will die to bring us Tears again! 😢😢😢
Aerith's death is a necessity. I think the Devs will give us a false hope scenario where they will make us think we can change Aerith's fate but ultimately she will die. Zack will probably die at the end of the game..... probably...... I hope.
I think Zack is a ghost who hasn't rejoined the Lifestream in this new continuity.
@@mrshadow7738 No it isn't, she died because she left Cloud's party and went to the Forgotten City on her own, Jenova took a detour through the Forgotten City to complete her reunion with Sephiroth, and saw Aerith, and killed her in cold blood.
If she never left the party she would of survived, maybe as far as the Whirlwind Maze, e.g Northern Crater, possibly she would of completed the game as there was a standing stone for Aerith character to stand on, while facing Bizarro Sephiroth.
I say she will return to the lifestream willingly at the end of part 3, and nobody is changing my mind, if she reunites with Zack, that is a different matter regarding the trilogy.
Whatever happens we will after wait.
You know I always found it weird when people ship CloudxAerith in the first places as if Zack doesn't exist?? Its like telling someone's girlfriend to get together with his brother because her ex lover just died...
Also Zack is kinda dead, so Aerith was free game again. That at least made sense for me, i don't think most of the fandom would agree tho
He is dead , so is Aerith. Perfect for the other
@@reginageorge3399 3 months?! she had known Cloud for about 2 or 3 weeks in total. The whole FF7 plot lasts 42 days if I'm not confused, but no more than 49.
Dang it. After playing Remake, I didn't like the "Zack potentially being alive" bit. So, I had mixed feelings for Rebirth and all the next sequels.
But seeing Aerith and Zack's relationship more in Reunion made me want to see a good ending for them. So yeah. I am kinda sold now.
I think he will end up gone again. But this time maybe we aerith by his side
Right! I mean, Advent Children showed us that they do find their happy ending and see each other again, but it is interesting to see if perhaps they saw each other again while they were both still alive.
Absoultely loved Crisis Core on the PS5. It was my first time playing this game, and the story drew me in almost immediately. I'd love to see Zack in FF7 Remake Part 2, and was surprised there wasn't a hard/100% completion alternative ending; to tease/show a little more between the ending of Crisis Core and the ending of FF7Remake Part 1.
I love this couple so much. It's clear that before Crisis Core, Zack wasn't meant to be a particularly important character. But CC changed that and after that, it seems wrong for Aerith to be with Cloud when you know just how much Cloud took after Zack.
I actually still have the original psp game funny enough. I might actually play through that first before I play through reunion which I did start playing a bit on ps5. But in all honesty I’m not the biggest fan of the idea of a prequel to ff7. It’s honestly a perfect enough game as it is but I’m a huge Zack fair fan since he was also in kingdom hearts brith by sleep so it’s a bit of catch-22 for me.
PSP game holds up alright. but the gameplay is quite the adjustment
@@Repaduski but it is definitely similar in some aspects.
Hope to see kunsel again in rebirth
He got namecalled in the Remake, I thought we were gonna see him, in all his broness.
@@TheBayzent in all the people or characters I interacted his one of the best dude to talk too. His more friend to Zack a true comrade keeps tabs to you by phone
Hes the real homie
Something I like about Zack's new VA, is he feels so much more venerable. He's feels so much weaker, yet so much stronger at the same time
This is true!
Crisis Core is the game with the most beautiful story I've ever played. And I've completed over 2500+ games in my entire life.
If Zack was alive in this continuity, it could be the best to keep Aerith alive as well. This way, the ships for Aerith-Zack and Clould-Tifa will be launched successfully.
This was the only real function of remaking Crisis Core - for 4K stock footage when referencing the story in video essays
i am so excited for rebirth, i never really paid attention to the original crisis core, so this remake was a prefect relaunch point for me. bought it on switch, ( i know i know but i wanted something for the platform it runs fine and has aiet graphics) and rebought ff7r intergrade on PC after only playing the original ff7r on release, just wish i did it a little bit later so i didn't have to wait a full year for rebirth lol
This game made a 15 year old dream come true when i played crisis core 15 years ago
7:11 guys only want one thing.
When Zack " wait was that all of them " in 7R was amazing, its EXACTly what his optimistic self would have said. I hadn't still played since 2008 and still remember that he was that positive, and that line was 100% what he would he would say. No one writing that forgot what his personality was like
This was a brilliant video more newcomers need to see this they need to understand the full context of remake.. I played and have the PSP version since 2008. I still have CCR on ps5 sealed , one day I'll play it again but not now.... I do think Angel and Genesis will be ack in the remake project
CC is such a great game. Already put in close to 60 hrs of game play 😆
Same
1:57 I think that Rebirth might revise Crisis Core during Zack's Alt Timeline and LATER these two timelines will converge. I don't have any in-game reason to think that tho, it just seems to make a lot of sense.
“No way… he just ate my hair!”
there is a DMW where zack tells aerith to wear pink whenever they are gonna meet and aerith wears pink all those years later because she is still waiting for him..this goes to those who put aerith with cloud....aerith is zack's girl people.
@Regina George That’s all made up by the compilation and does not come from the original game. Stop being in denial and lying.
@Regina George The devs aren’t lying though you are. They’ve expressed that in the original game there is no canon shipping. The canon shipping exists in the compilation. As I said stop being in denial kid.
@@ironrex6979 Bro, enough.
Youre the one that cant swallow the truth.
Even I as a clerith shipper recognize what the developers are trying to convey.
Zack is still very important to Aerith and she's still chasing his shadow.
Enough, bro.
You cant tell people that theyre lying when youre the one that does that.
@@aerithlover You know nothing about the game and are just a troll with a pathetic user name. Leave. Stop projecting your own issues on to others like your name sake.
@@ironrex6979 Uh I do 🙄 but unlike you, I dont throw tantrums harassing other people about the things that disagree with you.
A grown man throwing tantrums on the youtube comments yikes😖
I never pairs cloud with arith it was tifa for me it just feels right and zack and arith are truly a romance
I agree with ya😉
7:18 😭💔
Always gets me
I wanted to ask: Did anyone notice that smoke came out of Clouds wound when Seph stabbed him in the reactor at Nibelhiem? The smoke almost resembled the ghosts/spirits that appeared in FF7R when you did something that went against the original story line. Was that in the original PSP game? 🤔
Yes. It was smoke because they couldn't show blood spilling or else they'd push the T rating.
No it wasn't. When I noticed it in Reunion I first played it off as a rather cheap way to keep wounds in line with the age rating but it does seem quite the coincidence. I could be a post hoc explanation for how Cloud survived the incident in the first place - saved by the Whispers as it wasn't "his time" - as logically the stab should have been fatal seeing as Cloud at this point is just a normal human being with no experiments performed on him.
ever since i played crisis core, the cloud x aerith is so stupid
@Rob305 it is so your reasearch
@Rob305 could you elaborate on why crisis core is not canon?
@Rob305
Delusion or misinformation?
@@reginageorge3399 Could say the same about you Zack fanboys self-inserting as Zack. Seeing as you Zerith stans are treating Aerith like she is Zack's personal property, by denying she moved on to Cloud after accepting Zack's been long gone.
@@zerofudou5689 What's you and your lots problem?
No one is self-inserting themselves as Zack wtf.
I ship Cloud and Aerith too but it doesnt take a stupid and blind person to see that she still misses Zack.
Sure Cloud is this and that but Zack is an amazing character and the people that deny that are you and the other people that are salty about getting in the way of a ship where it disregards what's written
When a mod or the OG VA's return, I'll gladly play. Already beat Minerva twice on the PSP; not about to tarnish a good memory involving my favourite franchise.
As much as I loved playing through Crisis Core Reunion, I do have a problem with it. Not as much of a problem as with Remake, though. Let's say Remake brought in new fans who didn't know about Zack. At the end, they find out he lived through the attack in the wasteland. Crisis Core Reunion shows him die, so for them this is confusing. And two, when Rebirth comes out and we get the Kalm flashback, these new fans are gonna get super confused when Cloud self inserts himself into Zack's role in the Nibelheim incident.
It should have come out either at the end of the compilation or between parts 2 and 3 in order to not spoil anything for these new fans.
I really love crisis core's story. But I just can't play the remaster because of Zacks new VM. I hope there will be a patch that gets the original VM in.
Cry less
@@lostforever773 not crying, it's observation with many fans, so making its to make game experience better, just be a good boy and let the people who care try and do something about it.
@@driftingmemories5737 yes crying
I'm not a boy
Women game
Probably have been gaming longer than you, kid
@@lostforever773 that's even worse I could let you off if this was your first game and hearing Zack for the first time but your an old person who might have played FF7 OG and appreciate the depth of it. Why OG Zack VM had more nuisance compared to this almost kid like dorky expression. But again if your happy with a much more childer like acting then you got what you want at least. Let the rest of us be reintroduced to proper nostalgia.
@@driftingmemories5737 learn English, kid
What original do you mean?
Still wish they would’ve completely remade it like they did the FF7 remake 2020.
The only thing that bothers me in this whole story is that both Cloud and Zack fell through the same roof
Yeah destiny loves irony
It's a running gag, everyone falls through Aerith's roof. It happens in Before crisis too 😅
@@masturcheef123 Don't take the game too seriously, yes the story is serious and tragic at times but you're riding huge yellow chickens, having so many ridiculous over the top characters, such as Johnny and Dio and that gang of fools, and bodybuilders in the OG, and the cross-dressing scene and the tub scene, and dancing with a cactus 🌵... Plus there's a lot of metaphors. It's never meant to be realistic so people falling twice through the same roof is one of the more believable aspects of the game. It's serious and it's silly and both work together. Just relax and enjoy.
Nice writing 👍
This is my favorite game of all time
Tidus is mad at you
@@Repaduski I’m sorry but zanarkand will have his turn
I dont think it's a bold move or a risk because it can go either way it can be ZackxArieth (aeris?)or CloudxAreith
(Originally it was going to be either Septhiroth and Aerith as siblings or Septhiroth x Aerith so let that one sink in )
Aerith+Zack and Cloud+Tifa are endgame. ❤️
It's gonna be Zack/Aeris
Cloud/Tifa now.
I also think it's gonna be
Zack vs. One sephiroth
Cloud vs. another. This may have changed the mechanism of his death in the mako reactor as to how he wound up in the life stream and reincarnated on Mt Nibel., Too. We don't know. Zack got back up. Why can't Seph. I didn't like what FF7r did, but if they go, "okay we're gonna get DIFFERENT HERE." (Without TOO much dumb Nomura shit) They can still save it for me, if I can ever suspend my bias and stop comparing this game to one of the greatest games of all time. The og. Also, Zack didn't live long enough for us to know if the S cells took. Hojo documented BOTH experiments as failures. Yeah I know Zack has a higher tolerance cause of mako exposure, but I'm sure this will come to play some how. If the S cells could make cloud give up the black materia, what could he make Zack do? What is sephiroth planning? I really hope they don't kingdom hearts this shit up. This is their moment after "the force awakens." I hope they go balls to the wall. Kill most of the main cast, keep aeris alive, (cause they're gonna anyways) and make Zack the main protag for a whole game. I mean you play as Tifa for several hours of 7.
You play with Tifa for maybe an hour, tops. Unless you purposely don't do certain things. I usually do Wutai with her as part leader. It's hilarious.
@@Heymrk dude. It's not an hour. I just replayed the game; like many I know it like the back of my hand. (Like several others do as well.) Plus considering how they bloated the midgar section of the games length into an entire game in 7r, it stands to reason by extrapolation that they would make a character switching moment, especially one with such significance to the story last hours and hours. But as to the og, I'm not being one of those dudes, but replay it again. It shocked me too I thought it was shorter.
So here is a dark, what if scenario.
What if Cloud has to die because of his connection to Sephiroth? It’s been stated that Seph can keep coming back as long as Cloud lives because of the Jenova cells and his memories. This means that Cloud is stuck in a loop of fighting Seph whenever Seph manages to pop up again. Eventually Seph will win, I mean Cloud will grow old. So in order to break their connection, Cloud has to die. What if Cloud looses control like in the OG. But this time Zack has met up with the group, and we get some good moments between everyone before Cloud looses control. Then either a guilt ridden Cloud forces him too, or Cloud is fully taken over by Sephiroth. Either way, Zack is forced to kill Cloud.
I highly doubt SE would go that route, I mean killing Cloud would be huge and shatter players. Especially if Zack, who originally gave his life to save Cloud is the one who is forced to kill Cloud in a similar way to how Zack had to kill Angeal. But, at the same time, Sephiroth has already been revealed in remake. And everyone knows Aerith fate. So if they want to go bigger and more soul shattering, this would be a way to do it.
I hope, whatever SE does do, they answer how the connection between Cloud and Sephiroth is going to be broken. Because Clouds been through enough and deserves to find happiness. And I hope they don’t do my boy Zack dirty. As heartbreaking as his end was, it was a good, fitting end for his character.
@@genevieveachilles4662 Zacks ghost (cloud) vs the the ghost of sephiroth was a major theme of 7, until, imo, the two warriors the game was based on (a tale of a broadsword samurai and a long sword samurai) repeated it's self once more. (Actualized cloud vs sephiroth at the very end.) This is when the game was designed to adhere to themes. I say this to tell you,
*They're going to f it up.*
I'll tell you why.
Nothing unexpected is likely going to happen here. Actually, that's not true, nothing with any weight will most likely happen here, but Nomura will most likely weigh one side of the scale down with "weird shit" to make it seem creative.
Japan plans their market strategies and sales around characters. Popularity polls are given, (yes I know, but this is true, look it up) and toys and advertisements align with these.
Zack has topped the FF character polls for a long time.
Aeris is internationally beloved.
Cloud is the face of quite possibly the biggest ip square has ever made.
There is no way any of these characters will die, and if they do, it will be a trade with lesser impact, but one that has gotten character development to trick the player into thinking it's a balanced out loss. Avalanche members, a party member like Barret, Yuffie, or Red 13, etc. (Yes major characters, but not as integral to the plot when it comes to interacting with the mechanisms that drive it forward for more than Midgar or shortly after.)
The hints will be there. Any new party members in 7r2? Is Jessie riding up on a motorcycle saying she's joining your journey? She Gon die.
There's no way SE isn't ending this with TWO MAIN CHARACTERS VS TWO BIG BADDIES. ("Imagine the merch sales! Imagine the action!' that's what they're saying in the panning stages. Unfortunately many FF fans don't give a shit about these opinions, and they align with disgusting anime companies like Funimation. Plus, Nomura loves to do this. My God, look at the mess that is kingdom hearts. Starting from the second entry you had riku vs sora vs multiple people, in 3, it was like what, 7 vs 7 or some shit?)
I'd love to see some risks being taken like the ones we have speculated on, even though people will come and call it fan fiction, it will probably be better than what actually happens. It would be great if sephiroth actually got closer to winning this time, or had a more direct influence. Hell, if there's two of him, have him get to it. Let's see a real sephiroth and not a jenova clone attack a city and Zack have to go counter him anywhere he goes (the only one string enough to fight sephiroth at this point.) I feel like this is another star wars situation, the force awakens was beloved or at least tolerated until it's sequels.
We'll see.
Heartbreaking story. I hope the rest of remakes releases further things through flashbacks.
Wish they wouldn't have changed Zack's voice actor.
The FFVII saga is the best tradegy(think Shakespeare play) on the PlayStation series on consoles
Zaerith 100%
I don’t understand how the “Cloud only likes Aerith because of Zack” is a thing? Cloud doesn’t recognise her at all, nor does he even try to flirt or anything with her. So how does this implication make sense?
We know Aerith has all or some knowledge of the original FF7, so if she truly does know about Clouds troubled mental state, isn’t she essentially abusing him? I mean if she believes his feelings aren’t real because of the Zack nonsense, then she’s a terrible person for flirting with Cloud, and doing her best to spend more time with him, which could potentially make him fall for her. Just like the scene in FF7 Remake where she tells him not to fall in love with her, and that it’s not real. I sincerely hope she says that ONLY because she knows she’s gonna die, and not because of the Zack thing. Otherwise she’s messed with his head for her own selfish reasons, such as because he reminds her of her first love etc.
I think it's more apt to say that Cloud treated being Aerith's bodyguard as a role one that he created for himself as Tifa's protector. But because Tifa was strong and didn't need a bodyguard he used Aerith as a replacement. Cloud judging by the og text wasn't attracted to Aerith.
With Aerith according to the novels she was watching as Cloud and Tifa put his mind back together and when Cloud admitted that Tifa was he one he loved all along, as well as a big reason for his persona. Knowing that she likely realized that he was superimposing Tifa onto her. That's why she tells him that his feelings for her are fake.
Cloud's feelings are his own. They're not influenced by Zack or anything.
@@BunnyCakes I never said they were, I said that Cloud canonically cares about Aerith but doesn't love her.
@Bright Light oh no no I agree with you! lol I was just commenting in general on what White Wolf said. Sorry for the confusion ^^
You’re exactly right. In the remake there were NO SIGNS of Cloud ever liking Aerith. Cloud has always liked Tifa. He even flirted with her several times. Aerith acknowledged that Cloud has feelings for Tifa.
I always said that zack and earith are to be together. And cloud and tifa are made for each other.
Anyone who disagrees is delusional.
They do the love triangle thing for a reason. Kind of makes sense there are differing opinions
Spell her name correctly then
@Rob305 did you fuck up her name on purpose or is this irony just that funny?
@Rob305 Now theres a gay romance with cloud with a dude named Eric?
Dam i trully am not up to speed. My bad dude.
Cleriths aint gonna like this video 😭😂
Why wouldn't they, it's just one guys interpretation on the so called love triangle.
Which was invented by non FFVII fans, who played the game for certain characters, or the first time when they were introduced to FFVII Crisis Core, I call them the fake fans, who just wanna ship their favourite characters.
@Regina George So petty, literally your best come back is reciting the same ragtag shit comment from another comment thread, labelling me a fake fan who never played anything FFVII related.
I have everything released regarding the FFVII franchise, I brought original FFVII September 1997 on the actual release date, Dirge of Cerberus PS2, Advent Children and Advent Children Complete and the 4K version, I spend £70 on Crisis Core Reunion, have both Remake versions from PS5 and PS4, I have the books On a way to a Smile, and The Kids are alright a Turkside story, the Ultimanias, and pre ordered the book about Tifa and Aerith, I have the poster picture collection, that was released along with the game in 2020, I collect the figure's that get relaeased and other related content and memorabilia.
I am possibly one of there biggest fans of the franchise, who studied the lore for the past 25 years just because I don't give a damn about the stupid shipping wars like the fake fans do, created by Nomura and his shit compilation, means I ain't any fake fan.
Zack x Aerith all the way. There's no changing my mind. Zerith is the best ❤
Since ive seen both timelines where zack doesnt die n where zack dies & cloud has the sword & doesnt. What if in this new final fantasy (Rebirth) we get cloud n zack from different timelines meet n explain their side of the story n such? n fight the evil ?
Zack is the franchises best and likely most well liked character
I think you may be biased Zac ;)
@@Repaduski No the same name is a coincidence…. Lol …everyone doesn’t have to agree with me but it’s a common opinion.👍😀
@@zacatkinson3926 I’m just messing around man. He’s an amazing character lol
@@Repaduski I knew you were... "Never in doubt"
I have never liked final fantasy. But since you upload the video I watch
Plot twist cloud falls inlove with aerith in remake and becomes consumed in jealousy. This falling into the dark side and jointing sephiroth. Zach takes clouds role in the general party.
How does Cloud fall in love with Aerith, and becomes consumed in jealousy?
Yeah… pretty new to that storyline and I feel like I had some thing spoiled🥲🥲
If you played it without playing the OG you definitely received the heaviest spoilers imaginable, you don't even know yet, what mystery of what happened in Nibleheim is basically the main plotarc of the rest of the game. Told people not to play CC if you haven't played the OG, but people wouldn't listen :(
I will throw a fit if Zack and Aerith aren't reunited In Rebirth.
Considering he's still alive(?) that's the least they could give us now, right 🥺
@@livelyoh8816 I think he's a ghost who has refused to travel to the Lifestream.
I didn’t take away any of that from the flat delivery in the interactions between Aerith and Zack in CC reunion, thanks for the breakdown
I thought delivery was mostly fine. You also have to keep in mind they had to mimic the old actors delivery to match the animation of the psp game which wasn’t changed for this. Remake and rebirth were great. Especially Zack at the end of Yuffie DLC
@@Repaduski either way, I’m complimenting you dude for your analysis lol I watched all those scenes during my gameplay and didn’t get any of that until you explained it all here, that’s just the impression I got. You made it sound like some literary masterpiece writing and that’s not what I saw 😂 Kudos again to you
@@TrvisXXIII lol it’s definitely not masterfully written but I for sure find the relationship to be very well executed haha. Thanks so much!
Aerith and Zack, Cloud and Tifa.
Can someone explain to me what Genesis goal is in Crisis core? I know he wants to become THE hero and save himself from degrading. Is that it?
Some still dont know
@@Repaduski I imagine that's it🤷I never understood
Square Enix already seen this by take this note.
In the original official guidebook - Dismantled - from 1997 it clearly states that Aerith loves Cloud more than Zack. Just saying...Ultimania threw it all under the bus by scrapping some early concept entirely. CC took the falling through the roof scene, originally a Clerith moment, and shamelessly plastered on Zack. Cloud's entire gig during Disk 1 is apparently Zack talking through Cloud's lips now. The entire dynamic of their relationship, regardless of how sweet and emotional is now one giant, psychotic friendzoning session.
Weak...just weak. 23 little wishes my a*s.
AHHHHHHHH 😭
Is the Aerith true love.
Stumbled onto this video after finishing Rebirth. There is a misconception that Zack has been cucked. Nothing could be further from the truth. Rebirth has taken great pains to setup a Zack/Aerith endgame just like it has for Cloud and Tifa. We are explicitly shown in this game why Cloud/Aerith could never have worked out. I wont spoil anything.
Please do not fall for spurious arguments where anyone cites Maiden Who Travels the Planet and/or FFVII Dismantled as "proof" of Cloud/Aerith. These materials are extremely outdated and have been retconned so heavily by the greater Compilation that they exist now simply as quaint curios. They are not canon and never have been since the Compilation became a thing.
I cannot believe this love triangle bs is still a thing after everything thats come out since Advent Chidren.
After Rebirth I find it hard to see Zack and Aerith having any romantic interactions in part 3. I don't see any signs of a Zack and Aerith endgame at all either. I'm a Zack fan who is not largely invested in ships and don't care for Cleriths much due to how hostile and pushy they are in general.
In my view, Rebirth was heavy on Cloud and Aerith and they did Zack about as dirty as he can be done. Not only from a shipping standpoint but Zack was also shafted in terms of gameplay. For a guy on the cover of the game he only appeared in scarce cutscenes and was barely playable.
I know the whole cloud x Aerith or zack x Aerith debate has enraged many a nerd.
I won’t lie. I’ve been one of them before.
One thing this remake of crisis core on the OG game really shows me how much Aerith kinda took zacks mannerisms.
The way she interacts with cloud in remake is a lot like how Zack interacts with Aerith.
Even their hand movements and body language.
The Aerith that meets cloud is far more outgoing and confident. I like the paradigm shift.
I think which game you played first is gonna dictate who you want to see Aerith with.
For me that will be cloud. It’s completely subjective. Especially as the games have changed the continuity.
From the OG game it’s clear Zack was just a young love. Something short but burning bright. We’ve all had those loves.
The way she grows to love cloud imo is more mature. Even tho they are still super young.
If you played CC first then o get why you want to root for Zack. He’s definitely more likable than cloud.
But cloud will always be more relatable to me. Especially since personally I’ve struggled with my own identity and who I’m supposed to be. So I get it.
Root for who you want. Or enjoy both. They both have their merits.
It’s sad. Both stories are incredibly tragic.
For me that’s enough.
U forgot Cloud is in love with Tifa not Aerith, so Zack will save Aerith in part 2 and it wil be happy ending.
Zack is more relatable to me because for some people all we have is hope and dreams for the future.
Cloud doesn’t love Aerith and Aerith is chasing traces of Zack she sees in Cloud. Cloud loves Tifa and Tifa loves Cloud. It’s been this way since 1997.
@@sakuracardcaptor4709 I see u don;t even play the game. Squerenix even years ago official confirmed he in love with her.
@Kog'Maws Tv Show doesn't really matter what they confirmed lol because when you play the game it's abundantly clear that cloud has feelings for Tifa.
In ff7 they make me 😢😢 for many years know he is alive 😡
And ya know. Zack x cissnei kind of not bad too. Just saying.
I do not like aerith. EXCEPT when she's with Zack. I don't know what it is but outside of crisis core I can't stand her
So many comments supporting Cloud x Aeris... just why?, i guess most of y'all are new players and don't know the whole story, and if some of you played the original game and still support Cloud x Aeris i repeat myself again... just WHY?. Shipping these two is so wrong on so many levels i don't even know where to start.
Funny because Clerith shippers existed before Zerith shippers, If anything Zerith shippers are newer to FF7 fandom than people who ship Cloud and Aerith.
@@zerofudou5689 Exactly. Lol.
@@reginageorge3399 Did I say he wasn't mentioned? No. I said Clerith shippers existed before Crisis Core made Zerith shippers a thing. No one shipped Zack with Aerith during OGFF7 days. Its not gaslighting, it's an absolute fact.
@@zerofudou5689 So what if Clerith first? I was a clerith fan but regardless, doesnt Aerith die in the OG? And she reunites with Zack after that.
It doesnt matter which shipper came first or whatnot, but someone dying, that makes a pairing already impossible and to attack other people that prefer Aerith and Zack is just vile
@@aerithlover Hey. I didn't start attack fans for liking a pairing. The original commentor did so first by accusing anyone who shipped Cloud and Aerith of only playing the FF7 remake, as if Zack and Aerith were strong ship before Crisis Core.
😍😍😭😭👍
Yeah me too lol
I played Crisis Core Reunion and thought it was an absolutely garbage video game. Decent combat but nowhere near Remakes level, horrible dialogue, character assassinations. Zack falling through a random hole and somehow landing in Aeriths church had me rolling with laughter. Really? You couldnt be bothered writing an original scene. Just steal Cloud + Aeriths origin. Ohh and the missiles hitting Gongaga as though they're bullet bills from Super Mario Brothers. Pure Trash.
I’ve never played the original game, but I absolutely love Remake! I’ve played it 12 times,
I’ve watched several TH-camr’s play throughs of the game, I’ve seen all boss battles multiple times, I’ve watched all of the trailers and reactions to the trailer, and I check every single day for new news on Rebirth lol
Needless to say, it’s probably my favorite game of all time now.
And I recently just played Crisis Core for the first time ever, and I gotta be honest……I didn’t get or like the “relationship” of Zach and Aerith at all…..
I found they portrayed Aerith as this goodie goodie, that actually comes off as a user. They completely stripped away what made her so great in Remake! I actually felt like Zach and Cessenie (or however you spell it) came off much better.
Aerith gained a lot of confidence from zack! You have to understand the aerith in crisis core is 4-5 years younger. Hardly has a grasp on the reality of her situation. Zack helped guide her to the character you love in remake. Maybe that helps
@@Repaduski I guess….
But honestly, I just don’t think they were that great together. It seemed rushed, and I never felt that spark! Playing Remake for the first time I legit felt a connection towards Aerith…..I felt it THROUGH Cloud.
I don’t even feel like Zach and Aerith really even saw each other that much, and every time they did Aerith was asking Zach to do something.
I don’t know…..it just felt weird and off in my opinion. I feel like (from what I’ve seen so far) Cloud and Aerith are way better together.
@@fearlesscheshirecat1411 Gonna be honest, this is usually the position advocated by people who don't understand the story or characters. Especially trying to ship Zack off with Cisnei in an attempt to get him out of the way for Cloud and Aerith is a huge red flag that someone isn't being honest.
@@DutchDread I’m guessing you don’t remember, but we’ve had this conversation a handful of times already. I’ve seen you commenting about Cloti more times than I can count.
You’re obviously WAY too biased about this topic. I understand the story and characters just fine.
And every time I’ve given evidence about Cloud and Aerith vs Cloud and Tifa from Remake you would never message back.
And that’s just my honest opinion. I didn’t feel or understand Zach and Aerith’s “relationship” at all. I didn’t even like how they portrayed Aerith in this.
I can see why now a lot of fans that played the original were upset by her portrayal in CC and AC.
@@DutchDread I picked up on literally ZERO chemistry between these two.
Just my opinion, that’s how I see it, and evidently I’m not the only one either.
Even Hamaguchi has said the story seems to be pushing Cloud and Aerith together.
And he’s now the head director for Rebirth.
I don’t care who ends up together. As long as the character interactions in Rebirth are just as good as Remake’s.
Like I’ve said, I’ve never played the original game, but going into playing Remake for the first time with no preconceived notions, expectations, or biases…….Cloud and Aerith only seem to be the only more “romantic” relationships from Remake. Cloud and Tifa had little moments in the beginning, but once Aerith got on the scene Cloud finally started opening up, and smiled more times with her than anybody, and Aerith is literally the only character in Remake that got Cloud to laugh throughout the entire game.
I could never really remember the relationship for those characters, but never bothered to answer it myself because I didn't care about FF7 that much. I still don't care about the plot of that game. I only care about the gameplay of those games. However the smaller interactions and relationships of the specific characters interest me rather than the grand plot. I would get the games more for them and gameplay lol.
Im not sure I know of a single game you truly care about lol. Im also still unsure what you look for in games week after week haha. Feel free to lay it out there
@@Repaduski You don't have to find me any games lol. Gameplay is the most important thing to me. If the game doesn't play well I don't want it. Engaging characters are important to. I never cared about saving the world because it's boring lol.
I do care about a lot of games and can be open minded to try them. The most mainstream game I play are the Tales games. Everything else seems to not get talked about a lot. Indie games and hidden gems have always been more interesting to me more than popular AAA.