Ending Song Branch Display
The Resolution Event Summary Is Aerith
A Fated Encounter
A flower girl living in the Sector 5 slums. She is a surviving Cetra who can hear the voice of the Planet, and Shinra, wanting to exploit her abilities, has been keeping her under surveillance. Although she has experienced all kinds of cruel hardships since childhood, she has always maintained a cheerful, innocent, and upbeat personality. On the night of the No. 1 Mako Reactor explosion in the heart of Sector 8, she had a fateful encounter with Cloud, and when they met again at the church in the Sector 5 slums, she asked Cloud to be her bodyguard.
The BGM for their first meeting is the Promise of the Land
Sephiroth's Hallucination Dissipated ~Approaching Aerith~ Promise of the Land - Cycle of Fate -
The unpacked folder is named "Waiting for Cloud"
In the scene of their first meeting, the folder name in the unpacked files is "Waiting for Cloud"
Whispers guide the meeting of CA
Q: Why were the Whispers already interfering with Aerith before we met her? Could it be that Aerith had unknowingly disrupted the timeline?
[Toriyama]: The sensor that attached itself to Aerith in the heart of Sector 8 was not interfering with her, but guiding Cloud and Aerith to meet in that place. It kept her there to prevent her from fleeing amid the chaos in the Sector 8 area caused by the Mako Reactor explosion.
"Reunion"
Chapter 8 trophy
The romantic music of the church
In the original, the church in the Sector 5 slums was a very beautiful scene, where the decadent visuals and the romantic music formed a striking contrast. In this game, those details were crafted even more beautifully, so we wanted to convey a sense of fleeting transience, just like that rooftop path Cloud and Aerith walked along the rooftops—"the important things that exist now may be gone tomorrow"—so we also incorporated decadent elements into the music. For example, instead of the piano's usual bright tone, I chose a darker tone to emphasize the sound of the hammers swinging against the strings, and I also mixed in live strings with deliberately unstable pitch and playing technique.
Acting cool in front of Aerith
[Cloud]: ...I'm Cloud
[Aerith]: ...We meet again
(He actually remembers, but perhaps wanting to show off his cool side, he pretends not to)
[Cloud]: ...Is that so?
The rooftop date is a symbol of the original carried into the Remake
Q: The scene where Cloud and Aerith later walk along the rooftops is my personal favorite scene. I saw in a previous comment that Mr. Hamaguchi said the same, but why is it your favorite scene?
[Hamaguchi]: I believe one important aspect of the Remake is to recreate forms of expression that the technology of the time could not realize.
In the original, Aerith and Cloud simply leaped across the rooftops, but in the Remake, we were able to bring a real sense of presence to this scene, so that you can say "in fact, they saw scenery like this and had experiences like this..." and truly experience what your brain imagined when playing the original.
This kind of recreation is what the remake is all about, and the date with Aerith symbolizes that, which is why it is one of my favorite places in the game.
Getting Aerith home matters more than destroying Shinra
【Cloud】: We're falling back
【Barret】: Idiot, this is our chance to bring down Shinra!
【Cloud】: I'm taking Aerith home
Cloud's kindness
【Aerith】: I want to spend more time with you
(Faced with this overly straightforward remark, Cloud doesn't know how to respond. Aerith looks at him with an expression that seems to say "Can't I?"—a teasing feeling. Silence. Cloud lets out a gentle sigh。）
【Cloud】: ......Could you show me the way?
【Aerith】: Gladly.
The late-night ambush is one of the most romantic scenes
The late-night ambush
This song is used in the scene where Cloud and Aerith walk together while gazing at the night sky. Under the pretext of showing him the way, but the distance between the two is adorably tantalizing, making it one of the game's most romantic scenes。
This song was inspired by the neon lights and bustling city the team walked through during the Christmas season, evoking memories of that time of year. You may sense a Christmas element in the sparkling arpeggios and deep pads (the sustained tones in the song's background). We hope this soothing piece, combined with the scene, brings peace of mind in the interval between battles.
Cloud's heart races
The price of power
Aerith ambushes Cloud at the edge of town, hinting that she wants to spend more time together. As she walks off toward the Sector 7 slums, Cloud feels his heart race。
Cloud's tears
① Shedding tears as he watches Aerith's back
Late at night, Cloud slips out of the house alone, but Aerith sees through everything and waits at the slum exit. Hearing Aerith's straightforward words—"Because I want to be with you"—Cloud asks her to guide him to the Sector 7 slums. However, as Cloud watches Aerith's back walking happily along, tears fall from his eyes, for some reason.
② Because he recalled Aerith's death
Aerith hums a little tune happily as she sets off. Watching her back, a sudden wave of anxiety washes over Cloud. Static noise appears. Close-up in between (tingling fingertips), then fingertips to the head (a burning deep in the eyes). A single tear suddenly falls from the eye covered by his hand. Cloud is startled. He hurriedly turns his back to Aerith and wipes away the tear.
③ The happier the two are together, the more anxious the future becomes
Q: As Cloud watches Aerith's back walking ahead of him, just as the script notes describe—"tingling fingertips," "a burning deep in the eyes"—bringing to mind the Forgotten Capital event from the original "FF7", Cloud is struck by anxiety and sheds tears. Why is that?
【Toriyama】: The time spent together with Aerith—the happier it is, the heavier the contrast with the anxious future becomes. This scene is just an ordinary Aerith ambush scene, and precisely because of that, this precious time for Cloud and Aerith may also have played some role between the two of them。Also, it shares similarities with the scene from the original "FF7" where Aerith appears in the Sleeping Forest, in composition and movements, among other aspects, which may also be one reason it awakens memories of the future.
The distance between the two gradually shrinks
Q: How did you come up with the idea of Aerith wanting to high-five Cloud, and the scene where the two make multiple attempts at it afterward?
[Toriyama]: The journey from the Sector 5 slums to Wall Market was an important time for Aerith and Cloud, and part of Aerith saying "your payment is one date." To portray the relationship between the two, we used high-fives to express the distance between them steadily closing。
The romantic atmosphere of the collapsed road
Q: Which songs did you find especially satisfying to create this time? Also, if there were any songs that were difficult to compose or memorable, could you tell us why?
[Suzuki]: There is a scene where Cloud and Aerith walk along the collapsed road, looking up at the night sky, and the atmosphere is very romantic. There, we deliberately did not emphasize the background music, instead using ambient music. I really love the flow from the collapsed road to the explosive burst in the battle, and then the comedic effect after the beggar-turned-robber. I think I was able to develop a single scene across multiple songs.
The collapsed road is a date for the two of them
[Toriyama]: The collapsed road has an eerie, sinister feel due to the plate that fell in the past, but it is also a rare date spot with Aerith, so the BGM is bright and cheerful to balance the atmosphere.
I emphasized the melody from the very beginning of making the collapsed road (including the atmosphere of a date with Aerith and so on), and I am very pleased with the reception.
The distance between the two gradually closes
This field BGM plays while Cloud and Aerith explore the collapsed road, filled with both anticipation and anxiety as they take a new step. The strings were performed by Aska Strings. Mr. Asuka lives in St. Louis, so we recorded in Tokyo, mixed in Osaka, and exchanged MIDI data between Tokyo and St. Louis. If the seamless musical flow of "Ambush in the Night," "Collapsed Road," and "High Touch" lets you feel the distance between Cloud and Aerith gradually closing, I would be very glad.
From a rather lonely spot between the busy Sector 5 and Wall Market, the deepening of the relationship between Aerith and Cloud is portrayed. The arrangement is structured so that the sustained high strings begin to pause, an impressive piano phrase begins, then the notes start to overlap, and as the two grow closer and closer, the arrangement surges to a climax all at once. The key is that every instrument sounds very natural, which helps the production of the edited scene. At the same time, the slightly faded ambient sound of the park blends naturally with the music, creating a feeling of being enveloped in sound that draws you further into the story. After this scene, the music continues as field music with volume dynamics arranged, but the "SRS-WS1" has the additional advantage of being able to play the music at low volume without losing any detail.
Cloud, teased by Aerith, smiles
[Aerith]: Well, it's fine. There might actually be an even safer shortcut
Cloud thinks, "I figured as much—Aerith got the better of me."But if this is her way of wanting to spend a little more time with him, he doesn't feel it's so bad. Cloud smiles. Aerith, too, shows a mischievous grin.
Cloud's heart races
[Aerith]: I used to sell flowers here
[Cloud]: .....I see
Cloud comes to the top of the slide, keeping a distance from Aerith, and sits down. Aerith smiles and scoots closer, close enough that their shoulders touch. Cloud looks indifferent, but inside his heart is racing。
Cloud's conflicted feelings imagining Aerith dating someone else
Q: When Aerith says a name that sounds like Zack's, Cloud suddenly has a headache—is this caused by an attempt to protect his false memories?
[Toriyama]: This is a situation in which Cloud has an excessive reaction to a name he does not want to know or hear. This date scene in the leafy park also left a deep impression in the original Final Fantasy VII, but if you try to imagine Cloud's conflicted state of mind, “perhaps Aerith once had a date with someone else in this same place", there may be an even deeper meaning.
The two are called a couple
The two are called a couple, and Cloud never once denies it
In the Japanese version, the two are called a couple and are shown on dates etc. 7 times
In the English version, the two are called a couple, on dates, and an intimate couple 9 times
The old man says Aerith is his girlfriend
"Is she your girlfriend?"
"You'd better treasure her!"
Cloud worries about Aerith
While Aerith is changing clothes, Leslie, one of Don Corneo's men, tells Cloud what a terrifying person Don Corneo is. Cloud worries about Aerith's safety and tries to stop her from going to Don Corneo's mansion alone. However, Aerith has a secret plan.
Their romance keeps heating up
Were there any little anecdotes when coming up with track titles?
[Toriyama]: For the English title of the dance-off song at the Honeybee Inn, I wanted to convey, in a sexy atmosphere, the feeling of the two people's romance steadily heating up, but that was a bit difficult with my vocabulary, so I chose the one closest to that impression from the localization team's proposals. I believe Japanese players will also find this track title very cool.
The reasons Cloud dances and cross-dresses
1. Aerith persuades Cloud
Enough of whether to do it or not—let's talk about how to do it!
—In Chapter 9, Aerith persuades Cloud to cross-dress at the Honeybee Inn.
Aerith always thinks positively and tries to solve problems no matter the situation. It is a powerful and reassuring statement, but for Cloud at this moment, it is merely a merciless remark that cuts off his retreat.
2. Cloud dances after seeing Aerith cheer him on
Andrea snaps his fingers. Then the tune changes and the music becomes more intense. The audience gets excited. The dancers around them start dancing to the music. Andrea makes a gesture, as if inviting a dance. Cloud says, "Dance? You've got to be kidding," and tries to leave the stage, but the surrounding dancers dance to block his way. Then he notices Aerith in the audience.
[Cloud]: Wha...
Aerith strikes various poses, saying "Good luck." Cloud sighs and looks up at the ceiling. The dazzling light dyes his vision white. In that instant, an image of Zack, happy (smiling), flashes back (without visual effects—this simply sets up Cloud's subsequent actions). Cloud unconsciously recalls that Zack, the ideal First-Class SOLDIER in his mind, would surely enjoy a scene like this. Cloud is momentarily confused, but then he makes up his mind and steps in front of Andrea. Andrea smiles.
3. Aerith's joy makes him determined to succeed
No matter how you look at it, he looks like a beautiful woman. Cloud is carried in front of Andrea. Andrea extends his hand. Cloud hesitates a moment but still takes his hand. Amid the audience's cheers, Aerith's delighted figure comes into view. Cloud is determined to make the performance a success. Cloud and Andrea dance the final dance. After a gorgeous spin, Andrea embraces Cloud and strikes a natural finishing pose. Andrea turns to the audience to give his closing remarks.
The two stay to watch the show after getting Cloud's dress
Cloud is deeply shaken inside
Aerith takes Cloud's arm(the feel of a girl entering a haunted house with her boyfriend)
[Aerith]: Hey!
Cloud (with Aerith drawing close), deeply shaken inside, says calmly: Dealing with ghosts isn't my specialty
Tifa, imitating Aerith, clings tightly to Cloud.
[Tifa]: Don't say that—come on, do something.
Cloud is now holding the flowers with both hands, with no attention to spare for the ghosts. So that his wavering won't be noticed, he says quietly
【Cloud】: ......I know, let go of me
Aerith sounds like she's joking, Tifa is serious, and they hold on even tighter.
【Cloud】: (sigh)
He begins holding the flowers with both hands (and it becomes harder and harder to move)
The two who are fond of Cloud
Q: There's a famous scene where Aerith and Tifa grab Cloud's arms and urge him to lead the way into the vehicle depot. What were the three of them thinking? The atmosphere seems quite tense......
【Toriyama】: The situation we imagined was that they had entered a theme park haunted house, surrounded by the two who like him, but for those two, it was a situation where they had been badly frightened by the ghosts and were clinging tightly to Cloud.
Determination event: thoughts at odds with her true feelings
Q: What was the intent behind Aerith's line, "Don't fall for me, even if your heart skips a beat, it's just an illusion"?
【Toriyama】: ...... These are words spoken to Cloud, but I think part of them is her talking to herself. Also, her wished-for words may contain thoughts at odds with her true feelings。
Aerith's true feelings
Q: In the scene on the night before going to rescue Aerith, who was taken by the Shinra Company, where Cloud and Aerith talk in a flower field in a dream, what did you feel while voicing this character?
【Maaya Sakamoto】: It's a fantasy scene, and Aerith seems calmer than in other scenes, as if she is conveying her true feelings。
Normally, she shows a bit of a teasing side, but this time I wanted to express the honest part of her true self. But in this scene, I wanted to show Aerith's sincere side as she reveals her true self to Cloud。
Cloud protests "Don't fall for me"
【Aerith】: I'm so glad I met you, Cloud. Every word you've said to me, everything you've done for me — it all made me happy. Being with you makes me happy. But......
But, don't fall for me, okay?
(Cloud doesn't know how to react)
【Aerith】: Even if your heart skips a beat, it's just an illusion
(Before Aerith finishes speaking, her figure begins to disappear. Cloud hurriedly tries to grab Aerith's hand, but his hand passes right through hers.)
【Cloud】: You really do whatever you want, don't you
(Aerith gives no response to Cloud's protest —)
【Aerith】: It's morning. I have to go
(Splendid points of light suddenly appear, and Aerith gradually vanishes into the light)
【Cloud】: I'll come get you.
【Aerith】: Even though it's frustrating...... I'm glad
Aerith's words make Cloud's chest tighten
The sight of the meteor, as seen in their field of vision, appears in Cloud and the others' minds.
【Aerith】: I want to do something, to save everyone, and the Planet......
For some reason, Cloud's chest tightens strongly
Reuniting with the one they each love
In order to reunite
(When the group goes to Shinra to rescue Aerith,) Leslie gives them guns, and they wish each other luck in reuniting with their respective loved ones. Leslie leaves, and the three prepare to climb the wall
Cloud is bad at gauging his distance with Aerith, and cares about her too much
[Nomura]: With the same intent, I also asked Cloud's voice actor to slightly change his tone during recording depending on who he was talking to. When speaking with Aerith, he's putting on a tough front and acting cool; with Tifa, his true self shows a little; and with Jessie, you can tell he's at a loss. Especially with Aerith, because he cares too much, his replies end up becoming strange.
[Nojima]: Cloud is bad at gauging his distance with Aerith (laughs), and he's also flustered around Jessie, so Jessie finds it fun and keeps teasing him.
The two in Tifa's eyes
[Tifa]: It's fine, don't worry about me. See, how about going with them? Looks like fun.
At the end of that line of sight, Cloud and Aerith were facing off against a chocobo.
Aerith pulls the people around her forward
She is a woman who seems fragile but actually possesses an unshakable will. She has the strength that, once she's decided on something, will pull (引っ張っていく)the boy around her forward.
Hollow is a song about Cloud having lost something important in the rain
—Did you discuss the direction and themes of the lyrics with Mr. Kitase, Mr. Nomura, Mr. Uematsu, and others? Also, were the lyrics written from Cloud's perspective?
[Nojima]: Mr. Uematsu simply sent us an acoustic demo with a rough arrangement. There were no verbal explanations or requests at all. I felt a "bring it on" kind of spirit (laughs). We didn't specifically discuss the lyrics. It was the same with other songs I collaborated with Mr. Uematsu on. Mr. Nomura gave me the keywords "Cloud's perspective" and "standing in the rain". In my head, I wrote it as a song about "a man losing something important""。
The rain makes one feel Aerith; see Final Fantasy VII+Advent Children - The rain makes one feel Aerith
Aerith's line was incorporated into the theme song Hollow
A rock-style version of Hollow arranged by Yosh, the vocalist of Hollow, was released, with the album cover and video unveiled.
The song uses a line Aerith says at the end of RE: "I miss it. The steel sky"(In the English version this was an older line; it was later updated in an official patch to match the Japanese version's "The sky, I don't like it.")
World Smile Day — the two complement each other perfectly
One of SE's best smiles
Whether she's selling flowers on the streets of Midgar or whacking villains with a chair, Aerith always faces life with a positive attitude and a smile.
She lights up the screen of Final Fantasy VII Remake, forming a perfect complement to Cloud's cool and serious demeanor.
The scenes where Aerith completely ignores the mercenary's nonsense also bring plenty of laughs to the game. She ultimately gets Cloud to successfully complete a high-five with her — a victory as rare and thrilling as successfully sneaking through the monster-infested underbelly of Midgar.
Of course, Aerith's life hasn't been easy; she has long been watched and pursued by the evil Shinra corporation. Yet she never lets these troubles get her down. Her positive mindset is one of the reasons she has won the hearts of so many fans.
Rebirth Germany event
Hamaguchi retweeted CA art
Lego poll: church won
Classic scene poll; the scene with the highest votes could be made into a Lego brick set. As a prize, two lucky players were drawn and given
The scrapped idea of Cloud using a flower cart
Q: Do you have any ideas that were rejected?
A: In an early scene in Chapter 8, Cloud was supposed to make a bouquet of flowers at Aerith's house, and there was an idea as a homage to FF7CC of using a flower cart to transport the flowers. But at that stage we couldn't mention Zack, so it wasn't realized.
Valentine's generations song poll: FF7's representative song is Aerith's Theme
Do you remember that moment with that special someone who made your heart race? Finding the other half of your life is a magical feeling. Vote for the song that reminds you of that person.
In this generations song poll, FF7's representative music is Aerith's Theme
The PS4 theme's BGM is Aerith's Theme
The complimentary PS4 theme for Final Fantasy VII Remake is Cloud's back view + Aerith's Theme
Advent Children: Cloud goes to Aerith's house and the church
Standing at Aerith's front door and the church entrance is Cloud from the AC era
(In On the Way to a Smile, Cloud visited Elmyra, then left Tifa, Marlene, and Denzel and went to live at the church alone. See Final Fantasy VII + Advent Children - Bringing flowers to the Forgotten Capital and Final Fantasy VII + Advent Children - Cloud living in the church）
Tweets from various countries
Be part of their story and see how their fates intertwine.
