After Crisis Core Reunion, FF7 Rebirth’s Story Is A Bit Clearer

Zack Fair’s journey in Crisis Core Reunion, and particularly the game’s ending, makes the story for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth a little less mysterious.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion gives players a chance to experience a story that was originally only released for the PlayStation Portable, but still sheds light on the recent remake timeline heading into Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Many expected this remake of Crisis Core to have changes like those Square Enix made to the main story of Final Fantasy 7 when it was remade. Now that it’s been released, it’s possible to see where Crisis Core Reunion fits and if it’s staying in the original continuity or part of the new, remake universe.

[Warning: This article contains spoilers for Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion.]

Zack’s story is important for understanding Cloud in the beginning of Final Fantasy 7 and its remake. Multiple characters from the main game show up as side characters in Crisis Core: FF7 Reunion, and the story shows crucial events for some, such as Sephiroth, Cloud, Tifa, and Aerith. While it might not seem like Crisis Core Reunion has given much information about the storyline for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, there are some elements it confirms about the new remake universe.

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Crisis Core Reunion Is Canon For Both Final Fantasy 7 Continuities

Crisis Core Reunion’s story is the same as the original game, so Square Enix didn’t make major changes to its canon in the way that some players anticipated. However, it’s still canon for both the original universe and remake continuity because the events of Crisis Core Reunion need to be the same as the first Crisis Core in order for the events of Final Fantasy 7 Remake to play out. However, Crisis Core: FF7 Reunion missed an opportunity by not being a full-fledged remake akin to FF7R, especially in light of the updated voice acting.

Zack Fair Needed To Die In Crisis Core: FF7 Reunion

Zack’s death is part of what causes Cloud to confuse his own memories with Zack’s due to trauma, and that’s the reason for his SOLDIER persona, which gets him involved with AVALANCHE. However, Zack’s death being canon in Crisis Core Reunion and then him being shown as alive at the end of Final Fantasy 7 Remake is further evidence that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will continue in an alternate timeline. Fighting against Fate seems to have created a butterfly effect, and Zack’s fate has also been changed as a result. The scene showing Zack’s survival is also why players might want to play INTERmission before Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.

The Final Fantasy franchise isn’t new to convoluted storylines, but keeping Crisis Core Reunion unchanged and still having it fit with both Final Fantasy 7 timelines makes sense. It shows that players likely won’t be able to anticipate what happens in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth because the timeline is different, so the story’s original events may or may not come to pass in the remake continuity. It might be best for this remake to keep its narrative largely unchanged, especially since this might be players’ first chance to experience Zack’s story in Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion.

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