Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will bring back a ton of fan-favorite elements from the PS1 classic, alongside some infamous story elements from Remake. Zack Fair is set to play a major role in the sequel, but that also means the return of the Whispers, for better or worse.
Naoki Hamaguchi, the sequel’s director, spoke with Geek Culture and seemingly confirmed the return of these continuity ghosts. While Geek Culture was quick to point out that this wasn’t an actual confirmation, the director’s words say otherwise.
“In the previous game, we brought in the Whispers, so for the player, they can expect to see if there are any further developments for the Whispers,” Hamaguchi said. “Not only will they appear, Zack is showing up as well, so it’s like, ‘What will happen to Zack?’ This is the exciting point.”
Based on Hamaguchi’s wording, it seems that the Whispers might play a completely different role in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. The director’s comments also make it seem like these spirits will be Zack’s problem since he was supposed to die at the end of Crisis Core.
When these Whispers first appeared in Final Fantasy VII Remake, fans had mixed opinions about them appearing. On one hand, the meta-narrative was somewhat appreciated, as the game was self-aware about being a remake. However, their continued presence started feeling like a deus ex machina, annoyingly killing and reviving characters without any rhyme or reason.
Having Cloud and his gang beat them in the end felt cathartic for fans and also left a lot of possibilities open. After the Whispers are beaten, we see both Zack and Biggs survive their previously fatal encounters, with small hints that Jessie made it as well. Gamers will have to wait until Final Fantasy VII Rebirth hits the scene, so we can see what consequences come from these actions.
If the Whispers are kept with Zack, then Rebirth should be a good time for Final Fantasy fans. Vincent Valentine will make his HD debut, played by beloved VA Matt Mercer, alongside Cait Sith and (hopefully) Cid. We're also getting the Golden Saucer, home to numerous mini-games like Chocobo racing.
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Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is coming to the PlayStation 5 on February 29, 2024. Gamers can purchase Final Fantasy VII Remake now on PS4, PS5, and PC.