It’s fair to say fans of Square Enix have had to digest a lot of news headlines over the last few weeks. Between the unexpected sale of some of its western studios, to teases regarding upcoming games like Final Fantasy 16 and Kingdom Hearts 4, the Japanese publisher has been proactive. One game that hasn't been spoken about in-depth recently though, is the highly anticipated Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2.
After teasing fans for decades with CGI tech-demos, Square Enix finally revisited the world of Final Fantasy 7 in 2020. For the most part, the first chapter of the re-imaging turned sequel was met with praise. Now that Part 1’s director Tetsuya Nomura has promised news from the universe of FF7 will be shared next month, fans are hopeful for an update regarding Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2. While it’s likely too soon for anything significant to be unveiled, it’s worth taking another look at where the game’s heroes currently are.
Please note this article will have MAJOR SPOILERS for the original Final Fantasy 7 and Final Fantasy 7 Remake.
Cloud Strife
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Despite Square Enix’s elaborate naming conventions, Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 1 ended up being as much a sequel to its PS1-era namesake, as it was a true recreation. This can be observed partly through the game’s spiky haired protagonist. While Cloud’s backstory and connections to Sephiroth are still intact within the latest game, the character is a far more realized human-being from a personality perspective.
Having already squared off against Sephiroth at the end of Part 1, Cloud is currently leading his party in pursuit of the franchise’s primary antagonist. When Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2 launches, fans can look forward to the action picking up on the outskirts of Midgar. Unlike the original timeline though, Cloud’s quest to stop Sephiroth is being haunted by the latter’s parting words. What "seven seconds till the end" means will likely play a significant part in the journey of the sequel.
Tifa Lockhart
Just like the original Final Fantasy 7, Tifa Lockhart plays a pivotal role in the trajectory of Remake Part 1’s narrative. Between her no-nonsense fighting style and compassionate personality, it’s easy to see why the hero has remained a fan favorite. At this point in the story for example, Tifa has already saved Cloud on several occasions, including most notably during his fight with Rufus Shinra.
Having driven the party out of Midgar at the end of Part 1, Tifa is currently with the other members of Cloud’s team. Unsurprisingly following their confrontation with the Whispers and Sephiroth, Tifa was one of the first to commit herself to the group’s quest to save the world. With the pair's backstory still seemingly intact, Remake Part 2 will likely explore Tifa’s unique relationship with Cloud in more detail.
Barret Wallace
Unlike the other members of Cloud’s party, Barret Wallace’s journey was changed significantly in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 1. Even though his connections to Avalanche are left unaltered, and his rough and ready personality is familiar, Barret’s story plays out differently than it did back in 1997. Most notably, following a confrontation with Sephiroth in the Shinra building, the group’s gun-arm-wielding member is unexpectedly murdered.
Even though Barret is revived by the timeline-protecting Whispers, it stands to reason that his brush with death will have impacted his outlook on life. Following the group’s fight with fate and Sephiroth, Barret pledges to continue fighting in order to protect the planet. With the group currently hitching a ride with Chocobo Bill, it's likely that Barret’s past will eventually catch up with him in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2.
Aerith Gainsborough
Out of all the characters that Square Enix reintroduced fans to in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 1, Aerith is the one who senses something is wrong with the timeline the most. With her Cetra lineage and tragic upbringing remaining intact within the new reality, her connections to the planet are arguably more acute than anyone else. It's for this reason that her typically carefree attitude becomes stern when the party confronts Sephiroth at the end of the first game.
Even though Aerith is ultimately the one who encourages Cloud and the others to defy the Whispers and their destinies, there’s a sense that she knows more about what’s happening than she’s let on. Right now Aerith is with the rest of the party heading away from Midgar, and into uncharted territory. With her personality having taken on a darker edge, it remains to be seen if she’ll escape her own iconic demise in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2.
Red XIII
Although his time with the party is brief in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 1, Red XIII has still left a mark on the franchise’s fan-base. Even though players aren’t able to control the wolf-like character directly, his sharp personality and courageous attitude has made him a fan-favorite. Thanks to his lack of screen-time though, little is known about his backstory for certain in the re-imagined timeline.
After explaining to the party who the Whispers are and what they want, Red XIII joined Cloud and the others in their escape from Midgar at the end of Part 1. With the group currently heading out into the desert, and his home of Cosmo Canyon, it stands to reason that more of Red's history will be explored in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2.
Yuffie Kisaragi
Unlike the previously mentioned main characters of Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s universe, Yuffie Kisaragi stands apart from everyone else. That’s partly because, thanks to her starring role in the Intergrade expansion, she hasn’t officially met Cloud’s party yet. Due to Square Enix’s decision to release an upgraded version of Part 1, players were treated to an intimate examination of Yuffie’s backstory.
Having witnessed the death of her companion Sonon during the end of that journey, Yuffie is currently in the desert outside Midgar. Even though she currently only has a Chocobo for company, Yuffie has pledged to continue her quest to stop Shinra and restore Wutai's glory. Having declared that she also wants new companions to help her, the stage is seemingly set for her to meet Cloud in the desert during Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2.
Cait Sith
Back during the original Final Fantasy 7, Cait Sith was one of the more unique party members players could control. While the rest of Cloud’s party are flesh and blood, Cait was revealed towards the end of the game to technically be a robot. Even though he appears as a cat riding a Moogle, in reality the disgruntled Shinra employee Reeve Tuesti was pulling his strings all along.
Within the continuity of the new Final Fantasy 7 timeline, both Cait Sith and Reeve have already appeared on-screen. In an attempt to prevent Shinra from dropping the Sector 7 Plate on to the slums, the latter dispatched the robot to help in Part 1. Having failed to prevent that particular tragedy from happening, both are currently trapped within Midgar. With Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2 on the horizon, it stands to reason that Cait will eventually help the rest of the cast in some shape or form.
Cid and Vincent
As it stands right now, only two members of Cloud’s original party have yet to appear in the Remake timeline. Considering how both Vincent Valentine and Cid Highwind are iconic cast members, it stands to reason that both will show up in some capacity in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2. Unless Square Enix diverts from the past dramatically, Vincent is likely trapped within the basement of Shinra’s Nibelheim manor right now. While Cid is probably based in Rocket Town, working away on his spaceship.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2 is in development.