Like most Final Fantasy games, Final Fantasy 7 has deep lore with a devoted fanbase that knows it by heart. Widely regarded as one of the best games in the series, the 2020 remake of FF7 was heavily anticipated, and some changes to the canon of the original game have posed questions that even hardcore fans can't answer just yet.
In particular, really big changes have been made to the character Zack Fair, and since his significance is only fully explained in the prequel game Crisis Core. As such, many new players are unfamiliar with just how important this character is to Cloud Strife's journey, as well as other characters in the game.
Final Fantasy 7 and Crisis Core
Zack is first introduced in Final Fantasy 7, mainly through flashbacks. He is an intentionally mysterious character that has a huge influence on Cloud, the full extent of which is only fully elaborated upon in Crisis Core. The most significant detail from FF7 is that Zack serves to emphasize Cloud's unstable mental state. Cloud becomes an unreliable narrator through the reveal that he has confused his own past with Zack's. This in turn has affected his relationship with Aerith, who had a previous romantic relationship with Zack.
Since he has died before the events of FF7, Zack really only exists in Cloud's confused memories and in passing mentions in the original game; however, his enigmatic nature within a narrative with a cast of strongly developed characters made Zack a memorable and intriguing character for fans of the series.
Thus, his story was expanded upon in Crisis Core, as players could finally assume control of Zack. Crisis Core is essential in establishing the majority of the lore surrounding Zack, as well as elaborating on why he is such a fan favorite and how he might figure into the upcoming Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2. Zack is a member of SOLDIER and Cloud's best friend. This prequel game, which was only ever available on PSP, follows Zack's time fighting for Shinra and depicts Cloud's past before his memories became confused. It also showcases Sephiroth's past as part of SOLDIER, and Zack's relationship with Aerith.
Crisis Core ends with the most pivotal moment in both Cloud and Zack's history, which is where Zack's final act before dying is to help Cloud reach Midgard and give him the Buster Sword. For the first part of Final Fantasy 7, the playable character is a Cloud who has confused himself with Zack and is thus a representation of the two characters. Zack makes a minor appearance in Final Fantasy 7: Advent Children, a film sequel to FF7, through a vision that Cloud has (once again reiterating his importance to who Cloud is).
Final Fantasy 7 Remake
The Final Fantasy 7 Remake threw a couple of curveballs players' way, including the mysterious Whisper creatures and a rewritten canon. Arguably one of the biggest of these surprises is a clip at the end of the game showing that Zack is alive, having survived the encounter with Shinra infantry that originally killed him en route to Midgard. This has huge ramifications for where the plot could go in the second part of the remake, as originally Zack was merely a ghost in the narrative without an active role.
These changes truly solidified the remake as something much more than merely a remaster of the same game with new technology. Numerous points in the remake emphasize that this is not the same game players remember from 1997, and Zack's survival is a big one. Additional ending scenes added to Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade seem to imply that Zack is alive in the same universe as Cloud, possibly disproving the fan theory that the Zack seen at the end of the remake is in an alternate universe.
So much of Cloud's story and character were developed because of his trauma over Zack's death, leading him to confuse his own past with Zack's. As such, Zack living is undoubtedly going to have huge ramifications for Cloud's character development. Fans have already noticed some changes in the remake for Cloud, such as him being a little more laid back than the original, and Zack's survival is going to alter the Cloud we knew from the original game in some unexpected ways.
What's Next for Zack Fair?
Zack was originally a small addition to Final Fantasy 7 and was designed to be a mysterious character. As his character grew over the course of development, he morphed into a double for Cloud. The symbolism behind the comparison of these characters is clear from their surnames, Fair and Strife, which are intentionally meant to evoke opposing imagery. Zack also became somewhat of a fan favorite, with a particular interest in his relationship with Aerith. Thus, Crisis Core was an opportunity to develop this character and his bonds with some of the main agents from FF7.
However, everything released up until the remake had a definitive death date for Zack, so his story ultimately ended at the same point. Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2 is going to deliver a brand-new story in terms of where Zack goes next, which adds even more to the already soaring anticipation around this game. Other huge questions about Part 2 of the remake concern the fates of Aerith and Sephiroth in particular, as well as the rest of the cast of characters. Since Aerith, Cloud, and Sephiroth all have close ties to Zack, his survival will likely heavily influence the direction of these characters' stories.
Zack's original importance and his revival in the remake elucidate how deep and twisting the lore of these games are. Zack still evokes mystery though, as he did in the original game. Only now it is not only the memory of him that lives in Cloud that is important, but the actual character himself. His metaphorical rise from the dead opens so many doors for the second part of the remake that it is hard to predict where Zack's story will go, but his survival is undoubtedly going to have some absolutely huge ramifications in the next game. This makes the second part of a remake of a nearly 25-year-old game extraordinarily appealing to play, an impressive feat in itself.
Final Fantasy Remake Part 2 is currently in development.