GITCY: Final Fantasy VII Aeris/Aerith Death

[@TheIceLurker]

I think the worst part is, she doesn't even get any last words or prominent scene before this. she just...dies. Gone before Cloud even caught her. A character's death usually has some sort of goodbye to it, but this was just quick an sudden. no one expected this in the least.

[@Dusclops4009]

Um... I doubt they will change it, it's too iconic

[@victorcna]

+TheIceLurker Just like real life...

[@jkranites]

+Victor Oliveira +TheIceLurker that was kinda the point the creators were going for...Real Life. Death always comes sudden, and unexpected. The fact you feel that way after she passes means they did a great job

[@Bearsusx]

Played this 1998, was 14 back then and can confirm. Cant say Aeris was a fave char of mine but it was like "WHAT". And that moment when the materia that comes from her hair drops on the floor and the music starts, breaks me every time

[@danarobertduthie8433]

that was the point, death isn't supposed to be expected,

[@weakestlink20]

The stab that not only stabbed Aeris, but the player.

[@heinzdoofenshmirtz8643]

🇩🇪💣🔫🔪💣🔫🔪 Sephiroth, that 🇩🇪💣🔫🔪🔪💣🔫! I want to 💣🔫🔪🇩🇪🔫💣🔪 kill him, like he did to Aerith! As Shulk would say: "I'LL KILL YOU!"

[@BeeUltima]

Yes

[@gdassspar6nar]

Not really.She wasn't bad or unlikable,but for some reason i don't care about this scene

[@joshuasocoy]

i guess it depends on the player? i didnt really care too much about aerith and i felt i was much more "stabbed" by sephiroths words "ha ha ha.... stop acting as if you were sad. there's no need to act as though you're angry either. because, cloud. you are...." i felt personally targeted by these words the first time i played through this game.

[@AnimeWins]

I was 9/10 when I played in 97/98 and cried so hard at this scene and even now at 33 the music still gets me teared up

[@BOLPutube]

Quite possibly the most shocking and saddest scenes in video game history.

[@aryabharadwaj9879]

Not quite possibly, It IS the most shocking and tragic scene in Video Game History

[@foxmulder5871]

quite possibly the most predictable take in history

[@keay879]

That was before Xenoblade went out...

[@kanemccarthy1979]

@@foxmulder5871 well some takes are predictable for a reason damnit

[@truelyricist2]

this scene could make you 1. Cry 2. Break Your TV 3. Tearing Up Your Whole House.

[@sougetsukazama]

many of you younger guys probably never knew why, but the director's mother passed away while making this game. he decided to show the sudden and sadness that death brings!

[@aeryangkim1454]

makes sense *sniff*

[@Eeter26]

sougetsukazama ohno

[@M3gaM4nZero]

Nobue Uematsue also used the passing of his mother as inspiration for Aerith's theme.

[@cebolla3922]

that's not what happened. Early in the development, there were going to be three playable characters: Cloud, Aerith and Barrett. They decided that, at some point in the game, one of them should die. Aki, the director's mother, died after that, so he decided that the game was going to be about life, death and earth.

[@bradydavis5791]

Doubt that's the story buddy.

[@jak3564]

That's why, in Kingdom Hearts, I dedicated defeating Sephiroth to Aerith.

[@Justforvisit]

I dedicated defeating Sephiroth to Aeris / Aerith and a whole lot of other things in Final Fantasy VII. That very last Face off between Cloud & Sephiroth there is so damn insane....

[@Gemnist98]

Even though she actually survives that series?

[@bogymanthedark]

@@Gemnist98 he will probably kill her in kingdom hearts 3

[@foxmulder5871]

this is the gayest thing ive ever read

[@thecardusguy5610]

Bogyman the dark lmao nope

[@khfan4life365]

This is gonna be a lot worse when the game is remade. The first time was like a paper cut. The remade version will pour salt on the wound.

[@kissadev.]

Rythli Drake Cloud bleed in AC... in HD

[@bbaerga121697]

Especially if they get good voice actors and animation but I'm guess it's going to be the same engine as 15.

[@pallafox]

khfan4life365 meh. I would love to see a new way for her to die. It was effective back then allowing our imagination to take over the overall scenario with such vertex graphics. The experience will be much more better if the game successfully provides aerith better character development

[@xXnotslyfoxhoundXx]

salt on a WOUND? more like icing on a delicious cake of sadism, I found her death hilarious. I really dont understand why people get so emotional over her, she was so fucking annoying.

[@AmirysMewen]

+xXnotslyfoxhoundXx get out now

[@vanadiumd]

Aerith: The sky scares me. Zack: Why? Nothing's going to fall from the sky... *years later* *Cloud falls from sky* Cloud: Let's go on an adventure! :D Aerith: ...Okay? *Finds out a giant meteor is falling from the sky* Cloud: Let's go on an adventure... To stop the meteor! :D Aerith: ...Okay? *Sephiroth falls from sky and stabs Aerith* Aerith: I f*cking hate the sky. -.- *dies* Aerith in a nutshell.

[@schwasha000]

Meteor came after her death.... >_>

[@vanadiumd]

shhhh don't ruin the joke xD

[@josecuestas7246]

Perhaps her fear to the sky was a foreshadow to her demise.

[@akiramaika1144]

nice xD

[@Pikachu-qr4yb]

Shadow Force well it still affects her. It's her who cleanse up that mess from the life stream after all

[@heymikkao]

This tragic scene has become so iconic that you'll always know it's coming, but you're still in denial after all these years... and I can't wait to witness it and cry during the HD remake.

[@Speed_13]

+Michael Kao Hell, I just played this scene through again tonight. What an end to Disc 1. Possibly the most iconic moment in gaming history. It hits you harder than you are ever prepared for.

[@vanpiisu88]

+Michael Kao Yeah T___T.....sniff, I always cry in this scene.

[@Crimson_Snake1]

I'm from a future and let's just say it's completely different.

[@mrmusickhimself]

People are crying for different reasons...and they have every right to.

[@eos_aurora]

Comments that aged like milk (Rip)

[@WestCoastDon448]

I remember when I was 10 in 97' and watched my brother play the game the whole way. when I watched this seen I was sick to my stomach and couldn't sleep that night. amazing what the director of this game accomplished with the soundtrack and story giving you such a emotional experience

[@jonathandobey4093]

I was 10 at that time and actually played it. It fucked me up so bad for at least a month. 😅

[@thefoxoflaurels3437]

The way Aerith has been bastardized in our collective memories is a shame. Aerith wasn’t some pure waif. She liked teasing cute boys, roasting people. She was feisty, flirty, witty, even petty at times. She was independent. She was smart enough to realize Cloud wasn’t who he was acting like he was, even if she didn’t know herself. She was her own person. In many ways, she was a very ordinary woman in her 20’s with very ordinary interests. She didn’t really fight well or anything. But she was good. Not Virgin Mary good. Then her death wouldn’t resonate. She had flaws. But she was the type of good that was intuitive towards other people. Was willing to do the right thing. Aerith’s death is significant because she was a fully realized character that was in most regards ordinary but in the most important ways extraordinary. And in many ways, it’s ordinary people with incredible kindness and bravery that manage to ultimately make the difference. Did Aerith want to die? Of course not. She had boys to hit on and hijinks to take part in and girly cocktails to drink! But she knew that she might have to die because she knew that she was the only one who could save the world. Cloud is a great main character. But the hero is Aerith and I think that’s one of the most essential themes. That Cloud’s idea of masculine stoicism and martial prowess can make a difference, but it’s giving a shit that really matters. And Aerith? Aerith gave a shit. That’s a strong female character. Not physically strong, but dynamic. A good but realistic role model. In a modern online discourse where people think being a sort of an ambivalent smug show-off is something that’s cool, in the end it comes down to giving a shit. About ideas, other people, the whole fucking Planet, that ultimately wins out. That’s why Aerith’s death fucks with me man. It’s a life of a cool, realistic person interrupted. It seemed so senseless and cruel when little me first witnessed it. But knowing what ultimately happened, and it was the nice, funny, flower girl that seemed so incredibly ordinary that ultimately turned the tide? Fucks with me. “I’ll be going now. I’ll be back when it’s all over.” :’)

[@moonmoon2479]

The Fox of Laurels Yep, that makes sense. If only that mattered now. This scene now makes me roll my eyes now. And it will probably only get worse. But hey, it might stop fucking with you.

[@lakedentist4819]

Why can't I like this comment more than once???? You're so right. The spinoffs really destroyed peoples' perceptions of her character. Thankfully, the remake really got her characterization right. In my opinion, OG Aerith and Remake Aerith are the only valid versions of her character lol.

[@BinaryDood]

Also being the last member of her race, becoming one with the lifestream... Sakaguchi's mom...

[@lezard2102]

The term is Flanderized.

[@andyblanton6570]

So She's the best character because feminism and shit?

[@sega310982]

The sad thing is that this was one of the first clips of FF7 I saw before even playing the game.

[@WalkthruGuides]

Aye me too fucking internet

[@Jpiddypops]

sega310982 You still loved it when you played it though... You know it!

[@sega310982]

P-dizzles That is true.

[@wilsonyang4505]

That kinda sucks, played this when I was 10 when we had dial up internet, you couldn't use the phone when you were connected.

[@xlaythe]

an asshole friend i had said "watch this" so I sat down and it was spoiled for me. None the less, I can't help but feel a ton of emotion during this.

[@mview4843]

I have a friend who is playing this for the first time. He knows nothing about the game and always has Aeris in his main party. He has invested alot of time into levelling up her character. I for one can not wait till he gets to this point.

[@Girichoko]

You. Are. Evil. Make a video of his reaction, please!

[@jrodtopo]

Make sure he gets her highest limit break. I for one never tried to do that.

[@theeverythingfanatic5092]

That is so cruel!

[@mview4843]

I know this was a while ago but to anyone interested he said that his jaw dropped and he didn't see it coming at all hahaha. He also enjoyed the game which confirms it's not a nostalgia driven good game but is genuinely fun.

[@Thaicedog]

Michael Rich Good you didn't spoil it. When I played this game almost sixteen years ago, I didn't see this one coming at all. She was one of my favorite characters, mostly because she felt like a pure and genuine good spirit, like she was something more special than the other characters. Seeing her death was like a sudden slap in the face and when that Aerith's theme starts playing.....it was such a powerful and sad moment

[@Eriennexton]

In all my years of playing final fantasy....I never knew to appreciate just how beautifully concise this scene is. I've never once since the games conception walked away from this scene wondering if Aerith was dead or not.

[@islandboy9381]

Also no sappy Hollywood scene of Aerith saying some last words for 2 minutes before dying.

[@efkay9878]

The most iconic death in video game history.

[@Gemnist98]

Second only to the Baby Metroid, IMHO.

[@honor2425]

Persona series spoilers Shinjiro got me for a few days with the sad.

[@kanemccarthy1979]

@@Gemnist98 L

[@XXXTENTAClON227]

Replaced by Arthur Morgan in my book

[@xaby996]

​@@XXXTENTAClON227😂

[@moondoor9031]

For me, this whole scene is one of the saddest momments in videogame history. - Aerith was a good person, she never harm anyone and even living a hard life, she still remains with a good heart. - When she leaves Cloud to summon the Meteor, she knew she was going to die, she knew that was her last momment with Cloud, at least in the material world. - And even knowing about that, she sacrifices herself to save the world. - Even in her last momments she looks at Cloud and smiles, because even if she knew what is going to happen, Cloud was still there for her. - And then... Sephiroth killed her with a cold heart and still smiles to see Aerith dying. - That was so cruel and evil, it was one of the momments that I knew that Sephiroth needs to be stopped. And after seeing Aerith death, we still have to fight with a boss with her theme in the background. - It was one of the saddest fight bosses that I've ever seen. - But the good thing in all of this is that Aerith is powerful even after her death, and she is always watching over her friends. #FinalFantasy7

[@moondoor9031]

***** Yeah, Aerith is so kind... I just love her. :)

[@Antonio-is2cn]

And then Super Paper Mario happened

[@oofyalDAMMIT]

think of this like Rin Nohara of FF7

[@TJGAMINGSCOTLAND]

I cry every time I played this and got to the end of disc 1. When Cloud's laying her to rest at the water in the city... Damn. He is basically saying, " dont you worry my angel, I am gonna kick sephiroth's ass and use Holy for good "

[@oofyalDAMMIT]

@@TJGAMINGSCOTLAND I think he's properly disposing/returning her back to the Lifestream. Unlike Sephiroth's way of just killing her and then throwing her away.

[@xanafer]

When I first saw this, I started to cry from "Aeris (or Aerith) will no longer talk, no longer laugh, cry......or get angry......." that really did it for me

[@islandboy9381]

That monologue of Cloud is timeless

[@Mattreyu199]

I was 11 when I was playing FF7 for the first time. I got really too emotionally attached to the game but more'so towards Aeris. Needless to say when she dies and that song started playing, I lost my shit. This terrible dread feeling enveloped me, I was depressed for at least a few weeks. It's funny thinking about how attached I was to a damn video game character. Pretty embarrassing, but true. Kudos to Square for the engrossing storyline that can make kids or even grown ass adults bawl like a baby.

[@Beeslaughter]

I was five years old when this happened and I can honestly say I’m not over it.

[@cookiedough44]

I remember watching my brother play this game when I was little and I cried so hard because I LOVED Aeris. I can NEVER watch this without getting choked up.

[@Seth-ng5oy]

PHOENIX DOWN GODDAMN IT!!!

[@Seth-ng5oy]

Liam Roach LIFE 2 GODDAMN IT!!!

[@AnonymousRandomDude]

Liam Roach But the description of the Pheonix Down is often read as, and I quote: "Restores life."

[@smirkingspyFO76]

Seth_Nile If Life 3 was in this game i would fucking spam it on everyone

[@xXSaiyanElite757Xx]

Seth_Nile Full Life!!!

[@heinzdoofenshmirtz8643]

USE THE 1-UP MUSHROOM!

[@MilD_Voices]

it's 2016... and this still makes me cry....

[@TonyBMan]

I know, right? And the saddest part is that she dies immediately. No last words, no lingering death sequence, just dead.

[@wayneandrewstheoldbeekeepe220]

Such as life

[@AleBaldeon]

2019 bro

[@mariosonic987pac-hero4]

2020 and it made me cry.

[@NikiWonoto26]

2024

[@TheCaptain904]

2:26 my reaction after seeing the trainwreck that was FFVII Rebirths ending 😵‍💫.

[@JaeJunBrianLee]

Yea rebirth ruined it. I am pissed

[@anonymousanonymity2815]

🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

[@crimsonnoventa7381]

It's supposed to be an alternative timeline. Remember how wedge lived through the plate falling instead of being the first to die from a 100 foot fall after being shot. Know your lore, otherwise you're a weeb

[@AnomalySource]

I get why they did it differently in Rebirth but god this version hurts so much. Clouds speech breaks me. It’s a shame we didn’t get that in Rebirth

[@Yell_Dead_Cell]

My thinking is cloud cloud is still delusional and can't believe she's gone. Once he snaps back to being himself in the next game we'll probably see the real thing

[@islandboy9381]

@@Yell_Dead_Cell It's not just Cloud being delusional, he literally is stuck between 2 different timelines, one where Aerith dies and one where he saves her. That was the point of the scene where he walks through the Whisper wall before reaching Aerith.

[@Smellbringer]

We kinda did. When the flashes start occuring we see Cloud say words we can't hear. That combined with Clouds own delusional state implies we'll get it in Part 3 when he's brutally snapped back to reality.

[@ArbitraryZer0101]

But all emotional impact to show it is now gone. They had one chance, doing it again will probably happen but the impact is gone

[@albertosalguero9497]

​@@ArbitraryZer0101 not really, they have the opportunity with Cloud arc to show it next to how Zack died in front of his face too. Its going to be an arc to deal with the death, lost for sure, and mental health too.

[@ashketchum1377]

i like how they continued to play the theme through the battle. Very impactful.

[@imthinkinwacky2859]

This scene is going to be remade...which means... *SPOILER ALERT!*

[@IsaButecos]

+DETA #time I know it because here in Brazil many youtubers dont have teh good sense to put an spoiler alert, so I was in like 30 hours of the game and I already knew it this was going to happen.

[@stabbymcpokey5901]

🤨

[@hencytjoe]

8 years later, it was remade and it was... Absolute gorgeous. Different, but by all means a work of art

[@xaby996]

​@@hencytjoecope. They ruined it. It was not artistic at all.

[@hencytjoe]

@@xaby996 this is probably going to be hard to grasp, but i do NOT agree. Look at that. It's not cope, I thought it was awesome. Stop trying to press your opinions as facts. Just because you've got a hard time understanding what's happening doesn't mean it's bad. It thought it was even better than I was hoping for.

[@Skunch0383]

My heart still sank after seeing this again 20+ years later

[@renren47618]

They really took a heartbroken moment that also happens to be the most iconic twist in the history of gaming from one of the most iconic games of all time and made it into a Marvel spectacle wirh Multiverse plot and Kingdom Hearts contrived presentation. Well, at least, the classic will be forever remembered.

[@yuchenchen8012]

Rebirth tripped so hard at the finish line, just like Remake. I think the creators got way too obsessed with making everything "bigger and better." Did we really need Sephiroth to appear so much? And the way they presented Rebirth's ending appealed to no one, as the ending had none of the emotional impact of the OG. The fans that were interested in the "changing destiny aspect" also gets blue balled by Aerith dying anyways, just in a far inferior way to the original.

[@renren47618]

@@yuchenchen8012 exactly.

[@pancakes8670]

Thank you, that's exactly what I keep saying. Yes, the remade version was poorly done. However, the original is still here and it always will. I get sick of people whining about how everything's been "ruined!" This isn't Star Wars where George Lucas/Disney actively try to erase the original content. This scene isn't going anywhere, the best version already exists.

[@tiseenderwelke]

i will remember this scene for the rest of my life its the first time real sadness struck me in a game i remeber i put my controler down and thought this isnt hapening a truly touching scene that is burned in my mind for eternity

[@vanpiisu88]

Gotta love what Cid yells at Cloud: "Dumb "#¤%5& !" lol

[@Neezy2]

Evelyn L. Cloud almost tried to kill Aerith/Aeris with the Buster Sword before this cutscene happened, but that's only if Cid is in your party when you go down there.

[@pkradical4515]

Sirr Tipsy why?

[@Defqonsigliere]

@@pkradical4515 Because Sephiroth was capable of screwing with Cloud's mind due to their connection through the JENOVA cells.

[@FrYLocK41]

Never do you get such an epic mixture of raw emotions from any other game.

[@triforcepower73]

Three words: The Last Story.

[@StandingCow2]

Bothers: A tale of two sons and the telltale walking dead game (part1) are the only other games to evoke the same sort of reaction from me.

[@acedetective9542]

Agreed, I’ve felt sad at other games but Aerith’s death compare to anything and the music is beautiful

[@wilsonjonah]

"What about MY pain? My fingers are tingling, my mouth is dry, my eyes are BURNING!!!" 😭 😭 😭

[@andrew_oid]

I started shedding tears at that line.

[@taiyou9563]

they better have that line in the Remake

[@supermariojack2091]

@@taiyou9563 i agree

[@ruintheday13]

@@taiyou9563I dunno, it’s better on text.

[@gonzalito1213]

He can kill random flowergirls and put on gloves at the same time.

[@meowsandstuff]

I know right? He must be Superroth. XD

[@M3gaM4nZero]

Lmao out of I dony even know how many times I've played and finished this game I've nevered notice it until you said it 😂

[@Pikachu-qr4yb]

Lol wtf how has no one ever pointed this out to me 🤣

[@roboguy75]

So, looks like this game will be remade, especially this scene....Oh dear god. Men, bring the buckets to our soldiers, for we are expecting a flood

[@xlaythe]

That's EXACTLY the first thing that came to me knowing about the remake.

[@lennymosca9099]

@@xlaythe you and me both a lot of fans are going to go ape shitt when this happens can you imagine the idiots send an email to Square Enix to revive her

[@lennymosca9099]

@Jokester Kitsune The greatest of the Final Fantasy 7 remake said the only difference would be more missions in the opening disc but the game will stay true to the original intent and storyline of the Final Fantasy 7 so they'll be no way to save her Her death helped some stop the Meteor As well as the LifeStream virus that occurs don't Final Fantasy 15 children's Adventures she cannot do Neither of of these events without being the LifeStream

[@lennymosca9099]

@Jokester Kitsune From the Case Files of the LifeStream Final Fantasy 7 compilations😒

[@lennymosca9099]

@Jokester Kitsune The original game you playing or the remake And don't forget to watch Final Fantasy 7 children's Adventures movie You'll see what I refer to their as well

[@robbyg1232]

Rebirth fumbled this with the boss rush at the end having the multi verse was bad enough, but then having a sephiroth fight with aerith and cloud wasn’t needed not was safer sephiroth this early.

[@Lunaria.Praesentia]

Don't you looooove the overly used resource of MULTIVERSES in almost every piece of media nowadays??? Brilliant writing!!!!!

[@igaKusuri]

You mean Bizarro? But yeah, not a big fan of the whole boss rush. Would much rather have Cid & Vincent playable by this point in the story.

[@misanthrope5865]

It's alright I don't mind it since I never watched the marvel multi verse thing. It was new to me

[@LordMalice6d9]

​@@misanthrope5865Multiverse stories are the products of incompetent writing anyway not matter the medium.

[@korgauri]

The most memorable scene I ever watched

[@sendylie1774]

Thumbs up if you cried everytime watching this...

[@ruffus8012]

As a teenager playing this great game yes I did shed a tear. Long live the best RPG ever!

[@sendylie1774]

joseph newcomb I admit I'm also shed tears too.

[@andreast2124]

yeah i cry for this but i still prefer FF VI , a lot more of cry there along with laugh , smile and anger.

[@lilblamem]

I cri evrytiem

[@FirithPanda]

lorren cornelius I just laugh

[@ipw6fp]

Ugh, idk, there's just something about how this played out back in 1997 that just couldnt be captured today like in Rebirth. I understand they tried to fool us, but the stillness when Sephiroth stabs her, the slow moving White Materia to the water, the powerful music playing, Cloud's speech... i cant watch this without crying my eyes out. I was sad in Rebirth, but it definitely didnt even hit a 10th as hard as it did here.

[@danomitedan]

The music is better in this scene.

[@JaeJunBrianLee]

They completely ruined it. I am pissed

[@cbgg1585]

Because you knew what was coming. There was NOTHING like it in terms of unexpected death in a video game before in 1997. The unpredictability and death of such an innocent character made it even harder to comprehend. It’s not that hard to comprehend. Remake is also NOT meant to be a 1:1 replacement for the original. It is merely a remaining and a love letter to the original, so stop trying to imply the Remake is some sort of mess and failure of a game when we still have the third and final part of the game to wrap up the loose ends that are currently left unresolved.

[@islandboy9381]

@@cbgg1585 It fails at being a love letter too sometimes, like making Sephiroth lose more and more of his impact every part the more he gets his ass beat

[@DarthSironos]

I have been searching ever since this game for something that even came close to this level of sadness and emotion in anything, be it movies, books, series, anything at all. I have found nothing that can begin to compare, and I am starting to think I never will, this is simply one of the ultimate emotional moments of cultural history, damn you ff7 for being as close to perfection as rpg's will ever get (in everything but graphics)

[@DoubleH313]

you ever watch The Green Mile?

[@SGRev1]

Aeris is in my Top 10, but I don't think even she can ever top these: 1. watch?v=tZVF5DTQbts 2. watch?v=gz-queZul8I 3. watch?v=5DoBY8M_bCg 4. watch?v=eGVRQ4_Oqas

[@islandboy9381]

The remake team really looked at this absolutely tragic and concise death scene and thought ''you know what this needs? horrible ADHD camera direction, rick and morty universe trolling, Marvel quips, AU fanfiction, Kingdom hearts boss fight gauntlet, characters not reacting like actual humans to move the plot and Hollywood corny scenes''.

[@seafoam6119]

Nomura and his consequences have been a disaster to Final Fantasy

[@pennvessaren2]

@@seafoam6119 Nomura didnt direkt this.. Nojima did..

[@kmo20794]

They ruined it, it’s very sad

[@islandboy9381]

@@seafoam6119 I wouldn't go that far, Nomura came up with the idea of Aerith's death in the OG after all and even stopped the stupid idea of other members dying during Midgar air raid. It was also Kitase who wanted to portray her death in this iconic way. Now with the remake project you have 5 different directors or so involved including Nomura and of course Kitase and Nojima and the effect of this starts to shows once they implement new stuff besides adapting the old it becomes a muddled mess of half baked ideas.

[@israelruiz8706]

Tbh they were never going to be able to replicate this in the remake. If you had a 1-1 replica of this scene in gorgeous graphics. It would've made some people happy but it wouldn't have had the same impact as it did in the 90s. If you saved aerith, same thing. Some folks will be happy but it would've diminished the impact of the original scene. Becoming too hollywood. So instead they went a bonkers rick and morty style direction. Which you can talk all shit you want. It's gonna be built upon in part 3. Till then we will see if their decision was the best. They essentially wrote themselves more time but also into a corner.

[@carlose.jimenez-cordero1895]

Will this scene have blood in the remake? We shall see.

[@supermariojack2091]

i hope all the party members say their goodbyes also

[@Crimson_Snake1]

It does

[@aaronmayo2250]

Cried as a kid and still cry now as a grown ass man, for me this game iwill always be unsurpassable.

[@TYRANTToneZ]

The fact that you gotta fight JENOVA with the fucking music playing, too.. jesus christ, this was too much for me in 1997 at, like 8 years old...

[@dangansonaplays]

I love the low quality of this, it's perfect, I feel like it encapsulates what it really felt like to play it for the first time back in 97. RIP Aerith

[@markspivak5743]

Gotta love how Vincent walks on top of Aeris's dead body, looks at Cloud, then walks away.

[@Doc_Fun]

Laporaptor I "Gotta wipe my shoes after that last battle. How about you? No? Okay, later."

[@stabbymcpokey5901]

😏

[@chriswelcome8102]

1:32 This sound. This sound kills me. I will never forget this moment for as long as I live

[@AerisUltima]

That’s when the tears hit, even now 😢

[@StupidJellyfish]

Back when saving the girl was a common thing in games, this shocked the masses.

[@Kaffeebaum]

After so many times I have seen this scene... The music setting in at 1:33 gives me goosebumps and tears to my eyes every single time

[@zackaryslawtandnuggetfan653]

Even knowing this, she's always in my party! Easily my favorite character in the game.

[@rudeboy076]

So......... who's here after seeing rebirth's ending?

[@komerihimura]

Me Honestly all of the multiverse stuff seems cool and I like the concept of Cloud hallucinating that he saved Aerith in order to cope/Jenova rewriting his memories. But holy shit, there was not enough emphasis on her death. It was all just taken backseat for fan service and... Bizzaro Sephiroth 💀 The excessive final boss at both ends of remake and rebirth are really going to dampen my mood for Part 3's final boss because if it's Sephiroth AGAIN, then I'll just feel hollow.

[@jacopom.7477]

It's soooooo fucking bad man, why they ruined this scene, just why

[@juanbriones5989]

I didn't like the way they handled aerith death in rebirth

[@kitezzz360]

just further reinforces why I hate the concept of remakes, leave the classics alone

[@eevee4]

i can't wait to see cloud's speech in part 3 when a flashback reveals what *actually* happened at that moment, it's gonna be so good.

[@sy2pie]

After 14 years it still never gets any easier!

[@supermariojack2091]

Cloud catches Aerith as she falls, and cradles her broken body to him, murmuring to himself that this can't be real. Sephiroth, ignorant to the depth of Cloud's pain, tells him that Aerith will soon be part of the Lifestream before going on about his own plans for the future. Still grieving, Cloud cuts his speech off and tells him to "shut up", and that the cycle of nature and Sephiroth's stupid plan don't mean a damn thing because Aerith is gone. The way his shoulders move and his speech on how his eyes are burning heavily imply that he's crying. Even more heart wrenching is when he says "What about my pain?", because it makes it clear that at that point, Cloud cannot focus on anything - not the impending doom of the planet, not even the fact that his archenemy is standing right there - but his grief over Aeris/Aerith's death.

[@oofyalDAMMIT]

write my paper dammit

[@GorgonDrageil]

*This was the first major death of my childhood* 😞 I watched my brother play thru this game when I was 7 (in year 2000) And how great was the soundtrack? This whole game is a masterpiece.

[@shakaama]

show of hands, how many of you men cried when the sword went through? i was deathly sick playing this, so that's my excuse. weakened manly system

[@SirMac27]

+shakaama I turned the game off for a few days and refused to play because of this scene. And my dad had warned me a few days prior not to worry about leveling her up...but I didn't hear why. Sephiroth was my sworn enemy from then on. I've never despised any video game character as much as I did him that day.

[@dorugu]

+shakaama i culdnt continue 2 play after this so nvr finished th game

[@SirMac27]

dorugu Oh, you should. Use him as the catalyst to finish.

[@SuntopKinseeker]

+dorugu You missed out on the epic revenge. And you may see her again...

[@TyMarshall007]

+shakaama I did

[@jilmerjohncariaso6825]

Is it normal to feel thst this scene is way more sad than the rebirth? In the rebirth... I can't feel Cloud's sadness, then we see Aerith both alive and dead. Like how am I suppose to feel the pain knowing somewhere else Aerith lives?

[@giuseppepappalardo851]

They should've just kept it like the original, i'm in love with both remake and rebirth, but both the endings have that nomura's style that can work on kingdom hearts but wasn't necessary for ff7 (in my opionion)

[@НикитаСимонян-ж5е]

Because he is not sad at all after she wakes up. Its even in ultimania. Everyone except Cloud feeling emotions.

[@jonbradley4044]

​@@giuseppepappalardo851agree, ending of both Games are big L's. Fighting Sephiroth directly to conclude both games diminishes the inevitable final showdown with him. Now it's just gonna be "oh this guy again" instead of a climactic confrontation that had been built up over dozens of hours of playtime. The ambiguity surrounding Aeriths death is also a big L. They had a chance to end the game on a hard hitting emotional note by keeping this scene the same but instead it's now a muddled mess.

[@ninjanizzle]

THE FEELS LIVE ON FOREVER!

[@nexusanphans3813]

I just came here after seeing the Rebirth ending.

[@taiyou9563]

just imagine the voice acting and cloud being shown shedding tears in the remake

[@supermariojack2091]

What about us..... what are WE supposed to do? what about my pain?!

[@user-ee6lk1pb6w]

I hope they make cloud cry like a b*tch. It will be hilarious

[@KOOTIES510]

Man just man

[@jonbradley4044]

How disappointed you must be with how much they butchered this perfect scene.

[@WinterandNoodle]

You guys didn't cry because she got stabbed it's the music that hits you.

[@IidosGamingDen]

This is the truth. Her theme started at pretty much the perfect moment to hit home with the emotion...as that little Materia of hers, that she always kept with her, clinked down the pillars and fell into the water. Even more impactful, IMO, is how her theme continues to play even as you go into battle with Jenova LIFE. It's like a requiem, while you fight for vengeance...

[@bananaman2157]

The Lannisters send their regards.

[@Renji9031]

+The Ninth Doctor Sephiroth eats Lannisters for breakfast, noob.

[@crisiscore991]

spooks

[@shanks6404]

Fuck off

[@gustavovillegas95]

Shut Up Kylo Ren.... The dark side of the force and your stupid plan don't mean a thing! Han Solo is gone. Han will no longer talk, no longer laugh, cry.................. or get angry! What about us?! What are WE supposed to do?! What about my pain?! My fingers are tingling... my mouth is dry..... my eyes are burning!!!!!!!!

[@crisphate95]

Shut up, Cipher. Reuniting the world and your stupid plan don't mean a thing! The Boss is gone. The Boss will no longer talk, no longer laugh, cry... or get angry! What about us? What about MY phantom pain?

[@senorfredericksen9895]

Shut up, Blizzard... The subs and your stupid "content" don't mean a thing! Varian Wrynn is gone. Varian will no longer talk, no longer laugh, cry... or get angry! What about us? What are WE supposed to do?! What about our pain...

[@hououinkyouma3864]

What are you saying? Are you trying to tell me you have feelings for him too? HAHAHAHAHA *Goes berserk for a moment of tantrum Stop acting as if you knew him or that you were sad. There is no need to act as though You're angry either. Because, Rey you're a Marry Sue.

[@texansgregory5041]

Shut up Frieza Reuniting the universe and your stupid plan don't mean a thing! Krillion is gone Krillion will no longer talk no longer laugh cry...or get angry What about us what about My pain This time your going to PAY FRIEZA

[@jay-praru236]

Man rebirth did not do this part justice at all

[@revit4909]

It’s another story dude another universe not the same

[@jay-praru236]

@@revit4909 I just don’t like the way cloud acts at all and how aerith acts tbh, it went from real instant raw emotion, to like a musical theatre level amounts of how dramatic they made it out to be, has nothing to do with the actual new things they changed

[@thepatternofchairs9814]

What if I told you the OG didn’t handle it that well, but it was the first, so we didn’t have anything to compare it to?

[@jogymogy3691]

Well we expected this scene. And they tried to build tension towards this moment. It's an iconic moment. They knew it. But for people who don't know anything about the original will be confused af.

[@islandboy9381]

@@thepatternofchairs9814 please name better examples now, because Aerith still shocks new people to this day

[@zack19192]

Sephiroth's smirk after killing Aerith has to be the most badass moment in gaming.

[@kefkapalazzo1092]

zack19192 and we shall see this with today's graphics soon XD,remake confirmed.

[@zack19192]

Jef Drouin Yeah I jizzed all over the screen when I saw the trailer XD.

[@kefkapalazzo1092]

zack19192 me too XD.

[@bryanheater2730]

+zack19192 I think the single most hair raising moment ever in a game was walking into the room with Ganondorf playing that piano and the music stopping and just hearing that evil laugh. Ocarina of Time is the best game ever made hands down to me.

[@zack19192]

***** Yes.

[@HolySilverStrike]

I remember when I played this for the first time. About 10 years ago and this moment was so shocking that I felt sick to my stomach. I couldn't believe it.

[@vanpiisu88]

+griefmaker88 I felt the same... :C

[@MrRiswanluthfi]

Mee too. Until now

[@BlitzCookiez]

At least she's with Zack now...

[@FREEZERQC]

crisis core was emo and emo's are even worse than rap and rap suck ass

[@astevens1919]

😭😭😭😭

[@nagatopain92]

the death of zack is worse, that death I can't get over it T_T

[@giovanimontoya4517]

for me it hurt more after the day before her death, she confesed like she want to be more than friends, that she wanted to meet Cloud more, like she was in love of Cloud but she will never be with Cloud...so sad

[@MarcoLongoMusic]

3:02 wow that escalated quickly

[@GeneseesQuihui]

I’m not prepared to see this in the remake! That jewel hitting with the music gets me every time.

[@TheBlur2010]

I just know I’m going to cry so much more in the remake this one just tore my heart apart 😭

[@aureliacortez3625]

Ya it’s definitely ruined in rebirth they moved on with in minutes did not cry was confused why this didn’t hit me at all.

[@jonbradley4044]

Because they set up this weird multi universe crap with Zack and the end of the first game and I saw it coming a mile away. They missed the mark so badly with this attempt at fan service. The fans love Aerith but fundamentally changing the plot like this is stupid. If they wanted to keep her around they could have her stick around as a lifestream projection like a Star Wars force ghost, which is kinda what it seems they're doing (Cloud thinks she's alive but she's just talking to him through the lifestream) but even then, it just ruins such a key moment in the story that is so important to the overall plot and the protagonists character arc.

[@youngsplikak5867]

The fucking music man. I can’t stop crying

[@MrSmith888]

When I first played this I was about 8, I didn’t use her much, but she was so innocent and pure, that when Sephiroth killed her, I was FILLED with so much anger and sadness. Tears were streaming down my face and as I gave Jenova the BEATING of a lifetime. I have never to this day been so angry at a fictional character. Still hits me to this day…

[@simonstrane]

It's incredible how much I can relate to Cloud Strife even though it's a fictitious character. Hollywood, please play this game.

[@ghoul1713]

No please you saw what they did to avatar and DBZ

[@kefkapalazzo1092]

Ghoul 17 ff7 remake confirmed.

[@ThoseCrazyTeenz]

First video games where taking notes from movies and now movies should be taking notes from video games.

[@meggi8048]

if hollywood made that scene today, the moment sephiroth is about to stab her, aerith grabs the blade with her hands, and slams sephiroth down to the ground, then beats the crap outta him. after that she cuts her hair short, colors the remaining pink and green and sues cloud for child support.

[@simonstrane]

@@meggi8048 And becomes a Buddhist.

[@reinsama2.09]

One of the most iconic moments in gaming history ruined.... Thanks Tetsuya Nomuron, Thanks square Enix.... I fucking hate it

[@Crimson_Snake1]

Well what did you expect? Shit gets changed all the time when something gets remade. But yeah I wasn't fond of how they managed it either

[@reinsama2.09]

@@Crimson_Snake1 that's a terrible excuse, LOOK at persona 3 Reload then come back

[@Crimson_Snake1]

​@@reinsama2.09It's true.

[@cooppp]

I honestly thought things couldn't get that much worse after FFVII Remake's awful pacing, ruining Sephiroth and the clusterfuck of an ending but Nomura never lets me down. I continue to say the only legitimately good FFVII content is the original game and all of the spinoff games and Advent Children are mostly awful fan fiction but have cool moments.

[@mrmusickhimself]

It felt like they went out of their way to ruin it and make a spectacle out of it. I never forgot strugging to fight Jenova through tears.

[@sebcubille]

My take on the scene starting at 3:28: The way that the camera angle is set up implies that you, as the viewer, are some kind of omnipresent force watching the events unfold. You, like the characters, are basically helpless and can only watch. Even though you can see all the reactions from all the characters, there's no dialogue (not just voices, text) to be seen/heard. This shows the emotional disconnect (and sort of irony) between the characters and the player; you can see everything happening and how all the characters react (and you are the ones that control them), but you cant perfectly see their emotions. Rather, you can only see how they choose to express how they feel about Aeris. Tifa and Yuffie are incredibly distraught, looking for comfort in Cloud/running away; Barret and Cid, the more "tough" characters, act less emotional, but still show it; Cid is distraught and leaves (he's already been destroyed by his dream of going into space being shut down, so he doesn't have much emotion left), and Barret braces Cloud, as if he's saying that he knows the struggle he's going through (as he's been there before too). At first glance Vincent seems like he doesn't care, but he does something important; he looks at Aeris, then looks at Cloud, as if he is trying to show that even though he looks cold, he's been in the same position before. The music is the icing on the cake; as the only form of sound in the whole scene, it does a job of reminding you how important Aeris is/was to them and fills in the 'gap' that words could not fill. It's a really beautiful scene, and if there's ONE scene I want to be remade exactly shot-for-shot, it's this one. Also love how the guy was playing on an old CRT tv; gives it that "old antique" feel that couldn't be replicated with the Steam version or something.

[@JacksonIsDeath]

This death hit harder in my most recent playthrough. Recently my friend passed away and we only went on one date before she died the next day. So going on that date with Aerith then watching her die 2 hours later just hit close to home

[@Aerial_Morello]

I've never played a final fantasy game in my life and never understood what the hype was about. Yet in less than 6 minutes i was crying. An 18 year old man reduced to tears over a group of characters i don't even know. Damn it, i will have to do so much to feel manly again.

[@DakkonDS]

tifa and yuffie in the group make this part even more sad,

[@chuteriuselva5278]

You should play it man...

[@lvlasterGK]

Play Rebirth up to Chapter 13 and then switch to OG. Now that's a perfect remake :)

[@НикитаСимонян-ж5е]

Nah rebirth also fucked up cosmo canyon

[@jaidens.g.1920]

​@@НикитаСимонян-ж5еand Gold Saucer. And Corel Prison. And Nibelheim/Shinra Manor.

[@weirdotzero7065]

Thank You, Gaming in the Clinton Years, for spoiling this scene for me 14 years ago.

[@Sondox]

Ah yes, the perfect way to get spoiled is via George Wood from the Land of Mary

[@cloudshines812]

1:09 Always gives me chills. The way she initially feels weakened by a sudden force only to widen her eyes and notice a massive sword impaling her is such a scary attention to detail

[@meta527II]

I just got to this moment in my copy of the game, and in spite of all these MORONS who keep spoiling it JUST TO MAKE A JOKE, I still found this scene very sad when I got to it. I knew it was coming from a mile away, I knew about it for 7 years before I got the game, and even then, I still found this scene very sad! I hope you can all respect my opinion for saying that.

[@Aerith17]

The games almost 20 years old. Not much of a spoiler anymore.

[@maikunpog4809]

I know her death 10 years before actually play this game. But i'm still sad as hell

[@jokertokashi6183]

This moment destroyed me as a child.

[@Melvin-cd1oy]

The original is way better than the remake version

[@НикитаСимонян-ж5е]

Because they muted Cloud og lines in rebirth and make battles too damn long, and confused everyone with her presence

[@SayaAensland]

I was 13. It wasn't my game, but my brother's. I loved watching him play it. I remember I wasn't so much sad as I was... in awe. I was in awe that video games had come to the point where they could convey beauty and emotion.

[@kitezzz360]

whos' here after seeing the scene ruined in rebirth?

[@НикитаСимонян-ж5е]

everyone. Its like they forget what actually caused emotions

[@jonbradley4044]

I loved the game overall but the bringing Zack back fan service and weird ambiguity over Aeriths death are big L's. Cheapens both their characters as well as Cloud's arc by having them stick around, even If it's just as a "lifestream ghost" or "whisper" or from some parallel timeline. Their deaths are fundamental to the story and Cloud's development, especially in Advent Children. What are they gonna just retcon a canon feature length film now? "Oh why are you depressed Cloud? You don't need to feel guilty about their deaths when you can just have a Mako- Zoom call with them anytime"

[@johntracy72]

This is the most emotional death scene ever in a video game.

[@noidrite32]

I remember playing this on a friend's PSX, and when I got to this part he walked out of the room.

[@jonbradley4044]

He just went to the kitchen to cut some onions quickly.

[@Kaboomboo]

"No long talk, laugh, cry, or get angry" the feels man! Things we do every day that we don't even think about. Things others do that we don't even think about, and they can be gone in an instant. The feels yo!

[@Gabiii47]

I love how there is no battle theme. Just the sad Aerith theme. Nobuo Uematsu said in an interview that he wanted to resonate what the player should be feeling in every area. Here there is no action theme for the battle, no creepy or scary theme for Jenova. Just sadness for Aerith...

[@chadanderson5736]

This scene of the video game was just as sad as Leonardo DiCaprio's death in Titanic.

[@ChristopherSmith-Art]

I'm here after Rebirth, why didn't they just stick to the way it was done before? They removed all the dialogue and Cloud doesn't even seem sad, why

[@amuroray9115]

Cloud was crying

[@pancakes8670]

You still have the original right here. It's not going anywhere. Just because it was remade poorly in the recent game doesn't mean you're gonna lose the original. You're sitting here watching it, there's no reason to get mad.

[@ChristopherSmith-Art]

@@pancakes8670 Did I say I was mad? I liked the remake game, am I not allowed to say I dislike the way it was remade? Come on....

[@islandboy9381]

@@amuroray9115 He was in 1 timeline but in the other he wasn't, I can see why people would find this annoying writing.

[@mariothomas2822]

The game is called a remake for a reason. It’s REMADE so you’re going to get a different way to tell the story. Can’t make everybody happy I guess

[@davidhodson8131]

I like this video because the music ties in better when the battle occurs, when the screen goes blurry the music is just in the right place.

[@Klaus-]

Cloud's backchat to Sephiroth at 2:10 is so powerful and I'm disappointed they didn't include it in Rebirth..

[@maxlab-gn4gt]

there actual did it just mute he still has og line

[@SkulShurtugalTCG]

Cody Christian said in an interview that he actually did record those lines. My guess is we'll see this scene in Part 3 as it REALLY happened, not just as Cloud saw it. Remember, just like in the original game, he is an unreliable narrator.

[@Nicomanism]

Nomura screwed this moment in Rebirth. This one just works for me.

[@n1belheim]

nomura didn't do anything in rebirth, he is literally not even the writer

[@alexandersmith4731]

​@@n1belheimhe's literally one of the fucking director 😂😂😂😂

[@n1belheim]

@@alexandersmith4731 damn. you’re right 💀 i honestly thought he was just the designer. my b lmao

[@alexandersmith4731]

@@n1belheim nah nah its OK, I didn't know either until I checked the credits and interviews

[@islandboy9381]

@@alexandersmith4731 He isnt the director who came up with all the wacky changes like whispers, it was the other main director and the scenario writer of the original FF7 that came up with it. They actually wanted to introduce even crazier changes to the remake but Nomura stopped them on that, he only conceded on the Whispers.

[@RetreatHell518]

The worst part is when you fight jenova while this music is playing

[@yasukizzi]

i played OG FF7 and has always liked cloud and aerith eversince midgar and she was always in my party, the 3rd person i switched every now and then to level up to date, she was with me since midgar and this happened, u cant imagine how trainwrecked i was and i prolly catched a glimpse of depression, i was really down in real life (i was 9 or 10 when i played, imagine a kid feeling all this) after this scene, seeing all her materia, equipments in my inventory, i carried them all the way until we defeated sephiroth, didnt put her materia or equipments on any other members, they were just there in the inventory until the end

[@56Tyskie]

7 seconds from the moment we see Sephiroth to the moment Aerith gets impaled....

[@mattjackson2799]

"7 seconds till the end.Time enough for you.Perhaps.But what will you do with it?Lets see."

[@jonb3392]

I can't wait to see this in the remake. Here we see that Aerith dies instantly and without an expression, but i assume that this will change now that you got more expressions and details in the characters as the trailer showed. What will be Aerith's final expression? Will she scream? Will she remain calm? How much pain will she suffer? Will she say something to Cloud befores she dies? If she screams it will be devastating, if she shows pain it will be terrible for me (i know). She may even show a last smile for Cloud, making it sadder for me. Now i understand why Cloud can't forgive himself after seeing her dies in front of him.

[@kuni-d8r]

Am the only one that thinks rebirth wasn’t as emotional or dramatic as the original

[@kylewilson2819]

Rebirth's ending almost ruined the game for me. It's confusing, convoluted and took the emotional pinnacle of the game and turned it into a jumbled mess for the sake of "We have to be DIFFERENT!"

[@kaycomvieng5387]

When her theme hit.. damn. It felt like it pierced your heart.