~ Warning: This post contains SPOILERS for Final Fantasy 7. ~Several PS5 players are now finishing their journey inFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and a frustrating 3-to-4-year wait will begin for the people after they secure the platinum trophy. We already knowSquare Enixplanned its mammoth remake project of the original 1997 masterpiece to be modernized into three separate games -Remake, Rebirth, and the concealed Part 3 - and the title of the final game is now up for debate within the fandom.
However, this discussion would have been relatively short before 2022 and the release of Crisis Core - Final Fantasy 7 - Reunion, because before this game was released, many fans had their eyes set on one title to conclude the remake project: Reunion. Remake, Rebirth, Reunion just rolls off the tongue, and it also ties in perfectly with the themes and plot points of the story’s conclusion - except Crisis Core’s title stabbed Masamune right through that idea. The primary reason why the third and final part of the remake project should have been titled Reunion is that it directly references the union, or reunion, of the scattered Jenova cells once theorized by Professor Hojo.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Turned Red XIII Into A Laughing Stock
Cloud’s Honeybee dance in Final Fantasy 7 Remake was bad enough.
The Reunion Theory
~ Warning: Major SPOILERS ahead for Final Fantasy 7. ~After the Nibelheim Incident, the survivors were injected with Jenova cells by Shinra, turning most into the mindless, robed men we see scattered in Rebirth. Fans of the original Final Fantasy 7 will know that Zack and Cloud were also injected with Jenova cells but Zack was not affected by the experiment while Cloud developed Mako poisoning. This is why Cloud and the robed men have been drawn to Sephiroth, participating in the reunion of Jenova cells without knowing it. The one-winged angel ended up slaughtering the clones in the original game and coerced Cloud into giving him the Black Materia. This reunion narrative is such a pivotal twist in the story that it’s now synonymous with the third part of the remake project, so much so that it should probably be referenced in the title.
…the reunion narrative is such a pivotal twist in the story that it’s now synonymous with the third part of the remake project.
Another tip of the hat towards Reunion lies simply in the fact that every fan, gamer, and their grannies will be having their reunion with the Planet, lore, and beloved characters for the last time when the third and final part releases. It will also be the first time in the remake project that we’ll see all the party members from the original game together in the modern action-adventure team. Cid featured in Rebirth but never became a party member, andVincent Valentinefollowed the group on their travels at the end of the sequel but only joined the party briefly. Therefore, this is another reunion for these characters to gather together again three decades later in glorious PS5 graphics. Fans will also be aware of how Aerith reconnects with the party after her death to help combat meteor and save the Planet from destruction, offering another link to the Reunion title.
According to creative producer, Tetsuya Nomura, the decision to add “Reunion” to the end of the Crisis Core title lies in the story’s connection to Final Fantasy 7’s lore and the term being a sort of middle ground between a remake and a remaster.
Speaking in an interview withEveryeye, Nomura said: “The reasons are many. … the term ‘Reunion’ is really important in Final Fantasy VII’s lore. The game has a fundamental meaning. As the story of Crisis Core plays a huge role in the continuity, we wanted to transmit a sense of gravity and the feeling that the events are essentials. I’m our opinion the term “Reunion” can express all of this. From the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy’s point of view, Crisis Core is a prequel and its story can be seen as an introductory chapter. Keeping in mind the way the plot fits into the FFVII’s main mythology, the subtitle ‘Reunion’ should also transmit the idea of bringing together the story of Crisis Core with the one of the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy. The last reason is due the fact that, as we stated before, we cannot decide if it’s a remake or a remaster. Using a subtitle similar to the ones used in the chapters of the Remake series gave us the impression of transmitting a different meaning from each case. Not a remake, not a remaster, but a middle ground.”
“Revenge Of The Sitheroth”
It’s clear that the creative team behind Crisis Core gave the extended title some thought, but it also stole a significant heading away from the remake’s conclusion that would have fit like a glove. Is there still a chance that Square Enix could title Part 3 Reunion? Absolutely. However, the chances are slim to avoid confusion, meaning Part 3 will likely have to settle for another word beginning with R and E.
“Resolve” is another option, signifying the conclusion of the story, the conflict, and our time gallivanting around Gaia with these charismatic characters.
Luckily, the fandom has been on the hunt to find Part 3’s name for a while now, and some of the results are impressive, others comical, and some downright bizarre. The simple title of “Return” has been thrown into the mix, meant to highlight the final visit to the Planet before everything kicks off. “Resolve” is another option, signifying the conclusion of the story, the conflict, and our time gallivanting around Gaia withthese charismatic characters. Of course, there are always some jokers among the fandom that like to express their creative side, and perhaps their subconscious wishes to see Final Fantasy 7 merge with other franchises. “Revenge of the Sitheroth” was a popular addition among Star Wars fans, and followers of the Keanu Reeves’-led sci-fi franchise The Matrix contributed “Revolutions” to the mix - but we know Part 3’s title needs something short and sweet.
Even though it’s unlikely we’ll see Final Fantasy 7 Reunion pop up in the next remake teaser trailer, there’s still a chance we get a title that resonates more with the conclusive chapter of this masterful story, rather than being another synonym for remake. My contribution? Final Fantasy 7 Restamp would be the perfect segue to return the lovable Avalanche mascot for the final frontier, but Nanaki may have a thing or two to say about not being the only animal in the party anymore.
