Summary
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth showcases the effects of Shinra's warmongering through nuanced NPC interactions and themes of trauma and resilience.
- From characters like Robin adapting with SSL to memorials mourning those lost, Rebirth delves into the psychological and physical scars left by Shinra.
- The game doesn't shy away from both the beauty and pain of its world, offering a glimpse into the hope and despair that define its characters' experiences.
The world of Final Fantasy 7 is one that can be felt through both its environment and inhabitants, and Rebirth uses this strength well to serve the game's themes. The underlying trauma that Cloud and the party face is just an iota of the lingering effects posed by the Shinra Company, a byproduct of their warmongering and the destruction of the very planet itself. In showing Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's setting through the lens of its NPCs, the game's world becomes more tangible, as characters are forced to adapt and live on in spite of it all.
From Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's emphasis on degradation to the psychological turmoil of Shinra's victims, the traumas of the game's characters are both mental and physical. The tragedy of these circumstances, like the losses of North Corel's people and Sephiroth's attack on Nibelheim, are not understated. Rebirth doesn't shy away from showing both the beauty and pain of its world, and in doing so, the efforts to heal are felt everywhere, even in the smaller joys like a friendly Queen's Blood game.
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Moving Beyond the Party to Show Shinra's Effects in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Cosmo Canyon's Voiceless Challenger
In Cosmo Canyon's Syldra Inn, a man by the name of Robin challenges Cloud to a Queen's Blood match. He motions to say hello, and Cloud quickly recognizes his hand movements as SSL, Shinra Sign Language. Cloud remarks that he picked up the basics through Shinra's hand signals, and the two engage in a friendly match. Upon defeat, Cloud asks the man if he's ex-military too; yes, he responds. Losing his voice in the war, Robin notes that he doesn't need a voice to duel, not when he's got SSL.
The interaction with Robin is one of the more endearing ways that Shinra's effects are demonstrated, showing a man who, despite being left disabled, is able to adapt and find joy in the simplicity of playing cards, encouraging others to learn SSL along the way. The hope of moving on in the face of tragic circumstances is seen through other NPC interactions, too; Rocco, a child with a Queen's Blood savant for a dog, tells Cloud that their stardom will finally get them out of North Corel and onto better places.
The Trauma of Rebirth's World
The strength to continue forward in the face of adversity is a theme woven into so many of Rebirth's characters, though it doesn't understate the losses and pain that led to their circumstances. In Gongaga, a memorial replete with flowers is a reminder of those who died from the reactor; in Cosmo Canyon, lanterns light the sky to mourn those who have returned to the lifestream. There are glimpses of people who have suffered too much to go on, like Dyne, whose tragedy is intermixed with sheer anger. As Shinra continues its destructive path, Rebirth hones in on the people of its world and the many ways the company's effects have metastasized, oscillating between hope and despair.
In Zack's timeline, this tragedy hits especially hard through one line, spoken by Elmyra. As a rift opens up in the sky and all seems doomed, Marlene laments the absence of Tifa and Barret. Elmyra responds that they're all headed to the same place, and she'll see them again soon, a sentiment both comforting and disturbing in the face of the world's end. It is through these ways that Rebirth shows the detriment of Shinra's actions and the emotions evocative of the tragedies they've inflicted. The beauty and resilience of the planet and humanity are tested through the turmoil of Shinra's wrath, and the many reactions of Rebirth's NPCs show just how nuanced its characters are.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 92 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- February 29, 2024
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Franchise
- Final Fantasy
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 40 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
