WE FINALLY FINISHED IT... | Aerith VA Plays Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII Reunion FINALE

[@StrangeRebelGaming]

If you're looking for more Strange Rebel Gaming Final Fantasy content, look no further! Final Fantasy VII Rebirth playthrough is currently being streamed to this playlist here, so check it out! kzbin.info/aero/PLeNs2fU0UP2UY41Oj0w5kzMqA4Gwt4JnY

[@cloud77ism]

When my buddy first played this he asked where Zack is in ff7. I told him he retired and is living his life when he beat the game he called me and said I was a jackass lol. No regrets

[@h0neyb4dger7]

You're diabolical 😂

[@jessedyer1282]

That’s hilarious

[@Cerberus804]

You menace LOL

[@justinvalentine2950]

That's savage. Was it the Remake or the OG, I'm guessing Remake

[@pkscolax9480]

😅 Hah! Well, I think he would totally high five with dear Aerith VA Briana, even though she has a streaming gig and his is just life stream.

[@MMuraseofSandvich]

"Do not open until you get to the end credits" Clearly SE is watching your streams. GG Bri.

[@KevinDereckpoumpoum]

Baby Aerith to Elmyra : "A man you really really love just died. His heart came a long way to say goodbye. But he couldn't stay because he had to return to the planet" Now it's happening to her. Just like Elmyra, she was waiting everyday.

[@NuRm69]

great connection. She definitely felt him going into the lifestream just like with Elmyra's husband as a child.

[@bardinblue9830]

The corrupting of the DMW gets me every time...

[@emredev4745]

28:19 Zack and Cloud were in capsule for 4 years when Hojo captured them

[@lloydnorval1989]

@@emredev4745 tragic, isn't it? I'm pretty sure what Hojo put them through off-screen was torturously excruciating, from what I've heard about the lore, too. Maybe similar to what he did to Vincent. Hojo may be a genius when it comes to science, but when it comes to regard to life or having a conscience, he's a buffoon, unfortunately. I guess the only thing Sephiroth inherited from him was the potential to be evil. That only came out when Sephiroth seemed to only find out half-truths about his "creation", and not that he's actually human, just like every other soldier member. Poor bugger.

[@lloydnorval1989]

I cried when I realised it was Angeal coming down from the sky to collect Zack when he died 😢 best friends reunited

[@lloydnorval1989]

Also, I really hope Angeal makes a cameo appearance in part 3 of the Remake... He was Zack's inspiration... It would be nice to see him again

[@martingaXO]

The ending gets me every time!!! 😭😭😭💔

[@jovanacunha9996]

I cried so much when Cloud went to Zack's grave at the end of ACC and said to Denzel that is where a hero started his journey. His grave being the only place in the desert where yellow flowers grow and Cloud returning the Buster Sword to the church :( :(

[@n.c.g7149]

Congratulations for your nomination at VGA 2024 !!! 🎉🎉🎉

[@PierceArner]

47:33 - This was well worth the wait, and your name showing up in the credits was _PERFECTLY_ timed. I still remember back when the very first screenshots of an in-development *_Advent Children_* released in 2003, I had a dream of seeing that final scene with Zack in that level of fidelity, and I still remember playing the original *_Crisis Core_* when it came out, and even knowing what was going to happen, it still hits me in the heart SO deeply. Then I got to experience that all over again when I got to play *_Crisis Core Reunion_* for the first time, because I'd gotten more connections to the characters through *_Remake_* but _ESPECIALLY_ when it comes to Aerith's relationship with Zack in how she initially sees those echoes in Cloud that you portrayed really brilliantly AND because we see flashbacks to what appears to be Aerith's own memory of those events through the Whispers in the final chapter. It's something that has kept things growing for the two of them as some of my all-time favourite characters and how those connections have continued to show more about Aerith's feelings & struggle with that loss in *_Rebirth_* as well. It just... means a lot, especially since I've experienced a lot of that kind of loss over the last few years, the story has remained as an anchor to how I keep a sort of cheery & optimistic attitude glowing despite everything, and your portrayal of Aerith has been a significant part of that for the last few years, so thanks for always sharing your own experiences with the games and what they mean to you. Also - wanted to give you some additional props on catching that very obscure Weiss/Nero cameo of them picking up Genesis as it happened.

[@cassondras1435]

Ya I still cry each time I have watched this ending. Happy you got to play and enjoy it 😊 now you understand Zack and especially Cloud even more. His numb disposition I feel stemmed from seeing someone he truly admired and loved pass away in front of him. He carries the weight on his shoulders, the memory of Zack dying in front of him, and you see how it impacts him in 7. Like you said, it hits really hard, and I like how they include the intro for 7 because it made it a bit more emotional vs just starting from 7 only. Its carries the weight of the emotions to 7 in a beautiful way and how its supposed to be 😊 Cause just starting 7 you hear the happy battle music of “Let the Battle Begin” but the weight of what happened before in Crisis Core isn’t there if you just play 7. How they implemented the 7 intro after Crisis Core’s ending is great. Now, you just have to finish Rebirth! 😄😊

[@JasonYavan]

"My Honor and Dreams are yours" are very important words from zack to cloud....cuz zack was dreaming became a man which cloud became.......his words was always motivated Cloud....

[@bukojoetheslapsoils8273]

After all these years, it still gets me when Why by Ayaka kicks in.

[@pokerus6854]

35:51 If you wanna know the context, it’s the memory of Zack that keep his strength to fight throughout the journey now starting to fade away… And it hits even harder when Aerith is the last one… :(

[@cosmiccomet_2705]

@@pokerus6854 Yeah it’s literally his life flashing before his eyes 😭😭😭

[@NuRm69]

As confusing as this game was with the cryptic poetry and weird dialogue, I was still able to enjoy the gameplay of it, and 3 other things. 1. The Nibelheim section, where you get the Cloud and Tifa backstory...up until Genesis shows up 2. Zack as a character is very endearing. Compared to Sephiroth, Angel, Genesis, he seems like the only person who is a real. 3. The ending where Zack takes on the army. That was really beautifully done, and it helped illustrate the sad loss experienced between him and Aerith upon his death. Plus the song at the end was really good. Thank you for sharing your gameplay. I always enjoy your unique takes of the ff7 universe not only as the Aerith Voice actress, but also as the charming Briana White. I look forward to your continuation with rebirth and many other videos. Thank you for all the work you do!!!

[@cherrymay2]

Tifa and Aerith can have Cloud tbh, i'll take Zack, i love this man too much 😭❤😍😈

[@mibcd]

Cloud at the end of CC: I won't forget, Zack. Cloud at the start of FF7OG: I'm SOLDIER 1st class ... You should watch FF7 Last Order. It's just a cool short anime spin of the last bits of CC.

[@GameExplorer0115]

Man. the box at the end. That was savage. XD

[@charlienguyen1159]

I remember playing this on the bus going home from school and was traumatized by the ending lmao I went back to pokemon diamond and cried to my boy

[@joink25]

28:55 "Too many questions, it doesn't matter." Sums up Crisis Core in a nutshell.

[@AdamW-eo2yq]

I found it interesting that they decided to splice the remake opening then switch back to the crisis core cutscene agin at the end. Also what I always find quite funny about Cloud telling Zack he won’t forget is that he then preceded to go and forget

[@SuboJvR]

I dunno, I feel like Cloud forgets *himself* but not Zack... it's tragic and ironic... he promises Zack he won't forget and it's true, he must've been focusing so hard on remembering his story that it took over and he forgot so much of his own.

[@OrangeTrailBlazer]

The ending always gives me chills

[@XenoMoogle]

I remember playing this game on PSP as a teenager and SOBBING at the ending

[@bardinblue9830]

50:38 - And hit every time, it certainly does! At least for me. I played all the way through Crisis Core on Sony's PSP myself. And yes, watching your play through, the emotions did hit yet again. Of course, there's some degree of empathizing with you too. Plus the fact that you voiced Zack's main love interest and you empathize with her as well!

[@duketogo25]

I played CC (on PSP) two times. Never played it again because of Zack's last fight and that ending. Thank goodness for gigantic tear ducts, but I feel that ending every time I re-watch it.

[@allycatblues2770]

Fun Fact: The devs was not sure about the DMW, but when the final battle happened and Arieth was the last person Zack thought about, the devs knew they had to implement it cause of how impactful it was. And imo it worked. I thought it was a strange new mechanic at first until the end and it hit me hard. Zack is such an awesome character who did so much and so many things happened to him but he always stayed positive and it was just really sad to see he didn't make it after everything.

[@EscheroOfficial]

I was also generally iffy on it throughout the game, it felt like a harmless addition but didn't do much for me, but seeing it glitch out and slowly stop working as Zack kept getting more and more tired out fighting off Shinra troops, the images of the people most important to him fading away into nothing but silhouettes, even CLOUD and ANGEAL fading away but Aerith remains the last thing he fights for. And get this: the image of Aerith in the DMW during that last battle is the typical one of her praying, but the final part after he gets shot? It's the pose she was in during the "Hell-lloooo?", the first time he ever saw her. Having a physical manifestation of Zack's mind be fully visible and not only visually breaking down but also breaking down as a gameplay feature-- a thing we rely on throughout the entire game and just kinda expect to be there every time we enter a battle-- suddenly not doing what it's supposed to? That's *impactful*!! The DMW was good in the original game but the presentation here in Reunion is phenomenal. They absolutely nailed that final sequence.

[@KoichiSaito625]

I had just graduated high school when I first finished Crisis Core (played the Japanese copy on my PSP before subsequently buying the English version). Though the original combat was janky and the enemies/side quests annoying, I knew I would enjoy the game since this was Zack's story. Watching this journey of yours with the game, even with Square's rude gift to you, was just a joy to watch. Really brought back the memories of playing it when my old PSP wasn't a broken brick. Can't wait to continue watching the Rebirth streams and I look forward to hearing more of your Aerith in the future!

[@shogonekocosplay1416]

I played this on Switch and even though I knew how the ending was going to go, the controller vibrating at the final fight with the army is where I started to break. I WAS FINE UNTIL THEN. An interesting note is that Zack and Cloud wear the buster sword reversed, Zack has the cutting edge angled one way and Cloud has it angled the opposite.

[@Derysss]

4 years because that's the time they've spent inside the mako chambers :(

[@Oli7x]

Congrats and thanks for this playtrough This ending is very well done and so emotional. And this cutcene after credits make me realize, Crisis Core and FF7 begins the same way, with Zack and Cloud on top of a train, nice flash.

[@Adanu191]

Watching Clouds eyes turn blue due to the Jenova cells activating from Zack unintentionally breaking his mind is the moment that gets me. Zack made his choice with his friend and I can respect that. Cloud... never wanted to become a SOLDIER like that.

[@SamuraiSnake]

I never noticed that detail before.

[@BetaBlue42]

Holy cow, I never noticed!

[@Adanu191]

@@BetaBlue42 It's very subtle, but they zoomed in on his eyes for a reason in this scene, yep. It's the moment that everything changes for him.

[@kingofbudokai]

As a small point of correction, it's not Jenova DNA that turns Cloud's eyes the blue/green color, it's the Mako exposure. They state this multiple times both in this game and in FF7. His eyes changing had nothing to do with Jenova, having the Jenova cells just makes him extra, because Hojo wanted to attempt to recreate another Sephiroth. In fact, I'm pretty sure they were supposed to already BE blue, even before Zack took him out of the pod in the mansion, but you just couldn't tell until he turns his face to the light (when he's facing zack his face is in the shadows, and every other time we are looking through Cloud's perspective and can't see his eyes) The way it's animated it does look like they suddenly BECOME blue at that moment, so I get what you're saying there, but I don't believe that's meant to be understood that way. As far as his mind being broken, I wouldn't really say that Zack broke his mind, it's more that Zack DYING broke his mind, rather than anything Zack said or did in his last moments. He just couldn't handle the loss of his best friend in the altered, mako poisoned state he was in. But yes, that is the moment he finally snapped and allowed Jenova to start plaguing his mind.

[@Adanu191]

@@kingofbudokai Fully agree to disagree. I know what I'm seeing here.

[@justadarnminute474]

35:55 oh. My. God. 😭😭😭 That ending with his emotional reaching out to his dmw.

[@Jon_from_LI]

When I first played Crisis Core on the PSP, I enjoyed it but not nearly as much as I did recently with my playthrough of Reunion. It's just more effective on the bigger screen. And it was awesome to get treated with that FFVII opening with enhanced graphics at the end. I'm sure I was thinking of what could be a remake at the time.

[@DeityLink69]

I had this game on my PSP and the ending still hurts!😭

[@AceAwesome96]

Thank you for this playthrough, Bri. I appreciated your thoughts during the credits, especially the part of about loss. 52:27 I lost my mom almost three months ago and I think about her almost every day. She was a huge influence on me so her death has impacted me greatly. I teared up as I reflected on your words about how characters are different people before and after loss. I didn't realize how profoundly true that statement has been for me as well. I'm not the same man I was then, but I carry along those I hold dear despite how our paths diverged for now. Thank you for the entertaining playthrough and for engaging with us viewers in different ways.

[@christianmartinez4627]

Your so down to earth, love the videos, love watching your reactions and thank you for being you and your doing a great job as Aerith!

[@colbycompton8070]

I just finished it a week ago on hard mode. Great game as well as great casting characters and story! The final battle was definitely a tearjerker though!😢

[@jdzspace33]

My first FF was VI, from then on I was hooked. I loved 7 just like everyone else, though I preferred 8 personally. I played Crisis Core, and that ending. Yes it broke me, every single damn time even though i've seen it more than 100 times over the years. It is far and away my favorite ending to any video game period. Though I always preferred Tifa (in general and with Cloud), this game made me unable to accept Aerith being without Zack. Their journey, and their chemistry as characters is just next level.

[@brivnii]

45:37 is my fav part. I remember playing this part as a kid in the og, and this scene stuck with me forever. Love that you got to experience this!

[@jacks1678]

I teared up the most when Zack asked if he became a hero. That part killed me

[@deanwhan8100]

Yep Zack...you became a hero at the end😭

[@jacks1678]

My fav FF protagonist

[@jessedyer1282]

And immediately ruined in rebirth

[@nathanr.494]

That sword and the beginning of advent children will now be even more meaningful.

[@schikanski]

I just found that final video by accident and it woke up all the emotions I had back then, still had to cry again after seen Zack dying and knowing that Aerith won’t see him again… 😢 Back then, when I was younger I couldn’t accept that outcome of the fight against the Shinra Infantry and fought it several times again and again in hopes that there was a chance of winning and bringing Zack and Aerith back together…the pain still runs deep.. 😢

[@elfsong713]

It's so tragic that they were never able to reconnect. ❤😢

[@MaverickHunterVile]

The guy with the spiky white hair did indeed appear in Intermission. It's Weiss the Immaculate.

[@naturaldisaster6991]

Zack is my all time favourite Final Fantasy character! I had initially only played Remake back in 2022 and was extremely lost by the end, and Zack was something that had interested me. I had replayed Remake again at the end of 2023 and found out about Crisis Core, and I just had to play it! It made me fall in love with FF7 and now it's my favourite game of all time! Cannot wait for part 3 now!

[@boozeman4749]

Cloud and Zack were in those mako tanks for four years after being experimented on. Zack breaks out and goes on the run for almost a year, while trying to get back to Aerith. Then FF7 starts. Zack deserves all the flowers for carrying and looking after Cloud for months, while being haunted by Shinra and Genesis. Zack is goated.

[@andreyblaze]

49:25 Words worthy of the finale of this game.

[@johngans31]

This ff7 remake series and final fantasy x are awesome experiences emotionally - happiness, sadness, funny moments, hype moments, angry moments, etc.... Suzie Yueng wasn't kidding in that interview that you did with her years ago that you need to check out FFX someday, lol...

[@empty_melodies]

No matter how many times I see this ending, it still gets me 🤧

[@JerryMoore-l6g]

Happy early Halloween 🎃🎃

[@Karastardust]

It was rlly neat checking out crisis core reunion thanks for the journey

[@Searching4Rinoa]

Wow...the "you aren't supposed to win this fight" RPG trope taking to THAT degree. And then the rain... LOL, the "do not open until credits!" I've seen this on PS4, gotta play it for myself like I did Remake and laugh and cry with you. Looking forward for the edited Rebirth streams and everything else you do in the future.

[@Russel-28]

congrats on beating the game. when i first beat this game i bawled my eyes out. i never played the original but i've seen snippets of it. this game was a masterpiece. can't wait for your Rebirth gameplay. i'm ready

[@LlamaPunk]

Hey, Bri! First time commenter here. When I saw the title of this video I had to really mentally prepare myself for seeing the ending yet again lol I've played it through maybe four-five times now but each time it hits me just as hard and turns me into mush lol so I made sure to have a box of tissues handy XD I'm so glad I got to experience the game again through you! It was such a pleasure! You're the bestest Aerith :) !

[@emmyicon5598]

This made me cry lots rip zack 😢

[@drb6771]

Nicely done!!!!👏👏✨✨🌠🌠👋👋🙌🙌

[@notsocluelessretrogamer6889]

I remember playing this on psp... Damn i cried

[@joe_dns4625]

Rebirth has been out for almost 9 months, I’ve finished it twice (no spoilers), I’m halfway through hard mode, and I still have trouble believing that it’s real.

[@drb6771]

Grats! What a wonderful story.🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠

[@gcwang9752]

Thanks Briana for the great playthrough. I got the same feeling every time I played this game and its hits me hard. And the Buster Sword meant so much to me and I keep using Buster Sword till the end of FFVII. Can't wait for you to watch FFVII Advent Children next time. Embrace Your Dream ✊

[@KHhero]

Surprised Square Enix didn't send a Tonberry Plushie along with that handkerchief now 😂

[@justadarnminute474]

Thank you Bri! Your videos are always the highlight of my day, and this was no different. What an amazing end to an amazing ride.

[@StrangeRebelGaming]

So sweet of you! Thank you so much

[@LightStrife94]

Cloud:” I won’t forget” **immediately forgets**😭 My poor traumatized boy took on Zack’s memories and really became his “living legacy” I absolutely love Zack he’s such a puppy dog. It was so heart breaking watching him go. I hope we get more of him in Part 3 of remake.

[@erichaslam7952]

Ending always hits. Characters always hit

[@PLs379]

This has been such a enjoyable playthrough Bri!

[@cupcakeispie]

I don't know anyone who didn't cry.

[@TreyMcDonaldAnimator]

That was... one hell of a journey. A LONG journey lmao but a journey. I was way too young to appreciate this game growing up so to see it played out again, remastered, was something else. An epic saga of woe and adventure. I get why people are into Final Fantasy now. And once I'm done being a Nintendo fanboy I will hopefully one day engage in FF somewhere down the line. Good stride, Bri, glad to have been here to see it and not miss any of it. At all. Not one. Ish. LOL

[@SonShaSilhedgehog7]

I enjoyed the soundtrack of this game. That final scene hit me hard the first time I saw it though I knew what would happen. The music Wandering Under the Moonlight where Zack is on the run and battles robots in the field is also my favorite

[@LanaHammond-c8h]

S2KWORLDGAMING would love this channel...

[@noonie1993]

Any more games you want to play let me know.

[@dominicsavarese377]

Ending cut scene with aerith in Midgar staring at the life stream sad.

[@alexm8d13]

When they ask me "describe FFVII in one word" and I always answer "life". Life is full of joys but also of hard and sad moments that we have to overcome and move forward, so the happy moments that we have in our memories we must never forget in order to continue fighting and continue living. That is the great lesson of this story, among others such as identity, know who we are and what we want to do with our future.

[@MrShimmerMan]

Crisis core is the only FF7 game I played and I played it when I was young, so Zack will always be the main character for me. Transitioning to Cloud felt like those hopeful endings where someone else takes up the mantle to continue their legacy but it won't be the same. When Zack died, the story reached its end for me and I moved on from FF7, but Remake and Rebirth have brought me back because Zack is in it.

[@violetsky22]

Same! 😭

[@bigredxennial]

That scene with Aerith in the church really got me. Thankyou for sharing your playthrough on this game. Its been a lot of fun :)

[@BVargas78]

I bought this game recently for PS5 finding it a lot of fun!

[@tishtish4]

It still breaks me when I think about those 88 letters that Zack never got 😭😭

[@amandalewis5162]

Getting to the final fight through the PSP version of this game for the first time, it to my shock didn't get to me. Having to play the game and get to that fight again through the PSP a couple of years later left me sobbing. For Reunion, having to relive that moment after finishing the original really crushes me. It is very devastating.

[@asthargf]

If you cry I cry too 😭😭😭💖

[@KrystalRoseMG]

It seems like Aerith changes so much after Zack too, the whole "letters" thing was sad ❤

[@rokuwhitefox]

Zack is best boy. He will always be best boy

[@reaganching1967]

now i want an Aerith only story which takes place between when Zack died to the moment she met Cloud. 8)

[@violetsky22]

Zack died shortly before the start of FF7

[@reaganching1967]

@@violetsky22 doesn't have to be a game dude. Maybe a movie?

[@violetsky22]

​@@reaganching1967 Nojima usually write books

[@Avatarconner]

Oh this gonna hurt........

[@allangibbs4300]

This is unironicly my favorite game. Zack is my Final Fantasy character across the franchise. Congratulations on everything you've accomplished 👏 🎉❤

[@blondafro4112]

great playthrough 😊

[@h0neyb4dger7]

Spoiling myself, since I haven't finished CC yet, but still here for ze CONTEEENT~! 🎉 Congrats on (uploading the VOD of you) finishing the game, Bri! 👉👉

[@TheDragonhawkKnights]

Did you not do all the missions and get the accessories that make you ridiculously op?

[@thatsruffdog]

My girlfriend at the time asked why Cloud has the Buster Sword in FF7 and I told her that there’s more than one Buster Sword cos cloud liked it so much. I sent her pictures of the Fusion Sword and AC Buster Sword as “proof.” And I remember just after that, she said something like “Man, I love Angeal. He’s so cool.” That was right before Chapter 5.

[@davidmunroe-glada2098]

Yes we can also play Angeal for real in Ever Crisis: First Soldier in 2 more days, in new update coming this Thursday as of this week,, can’t wait for that moment as for that very release second! Got maybe most of the Game max out already, also might be too easy for me in storyline mode, I hope I’m wrong. 🤞

[@paulmhessing]

Zack & Aerith 🥹

[@hunterac45]

I was shocked how well everything came together when I first beat the game. A perfect send off to Zach and one of the greatest endings to any game I’ve played

[@toddolsen4604]

You were thinking of Weiss (pronounced Vice). He's the super boss you can fight in intergrade. He's from Dirge of Cereberus which kind of acts as a final epilogue to FF7. The game is....rough...to put it mildly. If they redo it after part 3 Dirge needs a MAJOR overhaul.

[@BetaBlue42]

This game.... oh man. Tears every time. Also now I want to reread a fanfic story, where they escape with the frog spell together, cause c'mon, Zack.

[@EulersIdentityCrisis]

I don't recall ever crying on any piece of media in my life. I'm like the anti-Bri in this regard. But I can't promise I won't ugly cry when part 3 of FF7 drops. Rebirth did things to me almost nothing else ever has.

[@JujuKek]

I'm so sad about Zack's fate in the end. I've come to appreciate the major change at the end of ff7 remake allowing us to be around Zack a little longer. WHAT A COMPILATION

[@Mog_the_Moogle7]

This ending absolutely killed me Kupo 💔😭💔

[@stoneruler]

Hi Briana. I'm not sure if you've talked about this in your other videos, but I always wanted to ask you, why do you and other VAs sound different in real life from the game characters? Thank you.

[@DaneofHalves]

Fantastic series and great job! Thank you for sharing! You're so cute, Bri!

[@renegade637]

29:39 "That spiky white hair kind of looked like....the guy from....Intergrade." You're talking about Weiss. If you listen closely, the other one sounds like Nero. If they are, not only is that a link to Intergrade, that's another link to Dirge of Cerberus.

[@ramonlrey99com]

We finally reach the end. Thank you

[@Eradicator18]

Congrats on finishing Crisis Core Bri. I still need to finish it myself & start ReBirth. I'm waiting till I get my PS 5 Pro though to start ReBirth so I can play it at its finest. 😁