A game met with much anticipation and an absolutely gorgeous remake, Final Fantasy VII has one of the most convoluted and confusing storylines in the entirety of all Final Fantasy games. Yet, there may be a method to Square Enix’s madness. At least, in the remake. 

Starting off with an introduction to the eco-activist group AVALANCHE and the very handsome and very dashing protagonist Cloud Strife, Final Fantasy VII seems to have a fairly straightforward vision, doesn’t it? Well, maybe not. 

As the player advances through the game and learns the mechanics, whether manual or automatic fighting styles, they too learn the stories of the characters: Barret, Tifa, Marlene, Biggs, Jessie and Wedge.

These characters, in theory, are very crucial to the plot and help the player throughout the game, yet they are not normally where the confusion occurs. The confusion settles in when the player is faced with Aerith, Sepheroth, Zack and Nanaki (Red XIII). 

Aerith Gainsborough, said to be the last surviving Cetra, or “Ancient”, is one of the first confusing characters Cloud meets. They are first introduced as a flower peddler and later end up being rescued by Cloud and joining AVALANCHE in their fight against Shinra and Sephiroth.

Sephiroth, the main antagonist and previous soldier for Shinra, is a character who is assumed to be from Cloud’s past. Sephiroth is supposedly “killed” by Cloud, yet comes back to torment Cloud years later, nearly destroying the entire world with the help of the biological lifeform Jenova. 

Zach Fair, Cloud’s best friend, mentor and the person who gave Cloud their famous Buster Sword, is rarely seen in the Final Fantasy VII remake. This character is the main headache to many players as their role is primarily for the mystery aspect of the game and there are no exact conclusions to their story.

Nanaki, also known as the feline Red XIII, garnering their name from being Hojo’s thirteenth test subject, is another confusing installment to FFVII. Nanaki, while not playable in the FFVII remake, plays a huge role in learning the darker secrets of Final Fantasy VII, of which will hopefully be presented in FFVII Rebirth. 

The Final Fantasy universe in general is a brilliant collage of intertwining and confusing storylines with mysteries which continue to interest and amaze millions of fans and game critics across the globe.