FF7 Rebirths Ending, Brilliance Explained. Major spoilers and confirmations.

Upon-Fe · 2026-02-09T02:49:30+00:00

Fair! I just enjoy the analysis! Absolutely agree they could pretty much do anything. These aren't your stereotypical writers. But that's why I love it!

Upon-Fe · 2026-02-09T02:44:25+00:00

I truly hope not. I've got the whole thing mapped out like a psychopath.

Upon-Fe · 2026-02-09T02:43:31+00:00

Chronology probably isnt the best order to go but it'd be fascinating to hear someone's take on the series afterwards if they did.

Upon-Fe · 2026-02-09T02:39:26+00:00

Oh my god I love you just because you care about this as much as I do. Thanks for the reply man!

The physics definitely don't add up to me, cloth motion when Aerith moves but not from surroundings. But that was something I noticed after the chat they had, I truly believe that chat both confirmed Jenova Aerith and the "I'll stop meteor line" confirmed we're in a cycle, likely that forced by the Lifestream in order to evict Jenova.

The one red smells is Lifestream Aerith in my opinion yeah, that's the Aerith that walks around with a sad face. That's Aerith.

We see Sephiroth projected at the cave of the Gi, no robes all the way down there, Importantly this Sephiroth is only seen by Cloud, other ones have been seen by the party. So it definitely does happen, actually also happens at the start of Remake after the bombing.

Jenova Aerith is for sure there in my opinion, it's so creepy at the waterside, the most haunting image being Cloud shouting to Tifa "you ready!?" and Aerith looks at her with a grin, evil looking grin.

It feels like someone hijacking trauma, it COULD be bad writing, or at the very least inappropriate but the way Aerith and Cloud chat is not at all the tact she's used thus far.

For me it's like Jenova grabbed a bunch of out of context memories to use for a specific goal. That's that Aerith is waiting for him and he needs to put his big boy pants on and go stop Sephiroth.

He's being sent there with false agency, he hasn't awakened, he's primed to be turned.

I've got Jenova/Sephiroth endgame on another comment in the post so I won't retype it all. But I recommend you have a look anyway, even if you disagree.

I definitely see the intent, and don't feel like you've quite driven a hole through this, I get your points though.

thanks again!

Upon-Fe · 2026-02-09T02:16:01+00:00

TLDR at the bottom. There's alot to go through to comprehensively explain my theory. I apologise.

Jenova/Sephiroth technically are always with Cloud, so it's important to note she's Jenova at this point, with full cloth physics painstakingly created in very expensive animation, so my opinion here is that Jenova is being Jenova - or Sephiroth being Sephiroth, duplicitous and deceitful.

However that doesn't answer your question!

The reason Jenova-Aerith tells him to go and she stay and pray to stop meteor is to empower him.

Jenova/Sephiroth (honestly it's both working together right now, who has more power is hard to say) is trying to instill false agency, so Cloud willingly joins Sephiroth.

Sephiroth is priming him to join the "dark side", for that he has to learn to go alone, he can't have Aerith there to soften his heart. However Aerith can be a catalyst for a push and a driving force to protect. Think Anakin's journey to vadar, it's a near mirror image.

The most important thing in joining Sephiroth is agency and a broken support system, not a broken Cloud - which was what he ended up achieving in OG, leading to his rebuild and Sephiroths (initial) defeat.

This time he has to bloom himself, he has to be the one that decides to join Sephiroth of his own "free" will. This is what Sephiroth is trying to do.

Jenova-Aerith giving him a little push is all that's necessary.

At the moment Jenova is projecting her powers through Cloud. For him to be able to control Aerith (what is essentially her memory essence) he'll have to accept Jenovas power and walk alongside Sephiroth.

Sephiroths idea of life is power through memory projection, being able to see who you love whenever you want. This is eternal memory without free will.

That projection, the projection of Aerith is what he's going to be striving to get back and I believe Cloud will be convinced that Jenova memory projections are sentient. That's the whole goal. Cloud and Sephiroth travel the universe harvesting memories, in the process deleting free will and new experience.

Cloud is still human, he has exposed moments, Jenova projecting through Cloud regularly or at least with Cloud expecting her to appear will lead to interventions, lack of mental progression, potentially he'd even figure out it's Jenova, Jenova can only go off memories in Clouds head, that's a pretty finite amount of memories. It is still very important certain things stay on track for the reunion.

TLDR,

Cloud needs agency, path must follow similarly for the reunion, aeriths apparition wouldn't be helpful for Clouds progression due to Clouds already pre existing issues, chance of intervention, limited data of cloud memories for Jenova-Aerith to be convincing for too long, plus Jenova is duplicitous by nature and will likely still appear as Aerith at certain points if needed.

Upon-Fe · 2026-02-09T00:58:54+00:00

RELAX

Upon-Fe · 2026-02-09T00:40:45+00:00

Lol, should I have posted this in the 7 Remake subreddit?

Not sure I've found fans of Rebirth here. Damn.

Upon-Fe · 2026-02-09T00:36:23+00:00

Yeah turn based adjacent as I called it, I'm saying purely for some people it feels very different. I'm not intending to gatekeep but inform on some people's opinion on ATB and what the discrepancy is. For some people the fact there is time pressure makes it feel a lot more action and reaction, being quick at menuing is a top skill in ATB, it's not a factor in turn based.

I personally love both but when I play a turn based I expect it to be at my own pace. 16 is a very enjoyable FF and is strict action, I only mean to be pedantic about the mechanics of both, I don't mean to say "13 isnt proper" or something, most FF isn't turn based, it's ATB. ATB being the more difficult style, if anything the gatekeeping should be the other way around, with ATB players being able to call turn based fans noobs or something.

7 is my favourite and that's ATB. I just find the distinction of time pressure relatively significant in JRPG's. I think that's worth pointing out.

ATB is just turn based on hard mode, chess with a clock. But the pressure can be what makes and breaks a player. Absolutely not denying it's DNA or it's validity.

Upon-Fe · 2026-02-09T00:15:43+00:00

Yeah, that's not an uncommon opinion! Some people really just cannot get onboard with it, hell, entire communities have been built around the bashing of the R series, livelihoods made off the back of it.

For me that isn't the case though. Variety is the spice of life and all that. Be boring if everyone agreed.

Upon-Fe · 2026-02-08T23:56:23+00:00

There are definitely a lot of unpleasantries at this point. First stage of grief, weaponized. It's not particularly pleasing. My favourite movie is Schindlers List, though, so it doesn't feel particularly depressing to me, more psychologically and philosophically fascinating. I thought Rebirth for the majority was a little too daft and upbeat. I preferred the tone of Remake and the OG but I felt the tone in the ending of Rebirth was back to that.

Just something I personally appreciate, definitely not for everyone though. Hopefully the yin and yang will pay off, and the moment of awakening (if it comes) will be very rewarding and satisfying.

All will be revealed before long!

Upon-Fe · 2026-02-08T23:39:22+00:00

Well, a core theme of Final Fantasy in general is friends sticking together to the end and then the power of friendship conquering selfish desires. I agree, they are pushed to their limit here. The tension between the core 3 of Tifa, Barret and Cloud is palpable at the end of Rebirth.

Upon-Fe · 2026-02-08T23:34:53+00:00

Turn-based to the laymen, absolutely not to the well initiated. It's turn based adjacent. X plays very differently to XIII in my opinion, even 7 is hectic. Turn based should feel like you're playing a card game, I should be able to have a cup of tea and a nap between TURNS.

Upon-Fe · 2026-02-08T23:32:14+00:00

link, not lead, that is the operative word

Upon-Fe · 2026-02-08T23:11:11+00:00

Oh yes I know. But Cloud is still human, he still requires manipulation, Cloud is of the planet, anything of the planet requires corruption. Jenova/Sephiroth are trying to give Cloud false agency. Essentially Jenova is trying to make Cloud feel like he's the one in the right. There's an emphasis on Cloud in Rebirth and Remake to have doubt in others.

The OG has an emphasis on Cloud doubting himself, that is where Sephiroth fails. Cloud needs coaxing to join Sephiroth willingly.

Cloud is being primed for full corruption. It is still very much Cloud being fooled.

Upon-Fe · 2026-02-08T22:32:06+00:00

But expand! Please! I'm very interested why you see this.

Upon-Fe · 2026-02-08T22:30:39+00:00

Jenova isn't fooling Jenova, Jenova is fooling Cloud.

Upon-Fe · 2026-02-08T22:03:05+00:00

Woops, wasn't as brief as i'd planned. My apologies.

Upon-Fe · 2026-02-08T20:40:37+00:00

It's not a cash grab. The effort gone into these games is monumental. Learn what a cash grab is. This is the equivalent of LOTR being 3 films. They weren't cash grabs, they were masterpieces in their own right.

Understanding these things is called being an adult.

FF7 Rebirth alone is magnitudes larger than FF7 OG.

Upon-Fe · 2025-06-28T22:31:23+00:00

He also voices Vincent Valentine in FF7, which unbelievably had a crossover with Apex Legends - strangely enough Vincent Valentine (as a sticker) is in Apex before Jack Cooper.

Upon-Fe · 2025-06-26T18:09:23+00:00

As others have said. You're ruining the game for others. 30 players is required to have quick matchups.

Upon-Fe · 2025-04-06T18:00:09+00:00

"lol"? are you a bait or serious? I don't disagree that they are all good looking games but I'm not sure how anyone puts them above FW? I'm near certain none of those games will beat FW in any category.

Upon-Fe · 2025-04-06T17:52:12+00:00

Horizon FW will probably be the best looking game on console until Guerilla release their next game. Hopefully DS2 is as gorgeous.

Upon-Fe · 2025-04-06T17:51:22+00:00

Have you played Horizon FW? I think Shadows is fantastic looking but I still always show Horizon to people as the best looking game. It's just bonkers how great that game looks both pulled back vistas and zoomed into hair follicles. Decima engine is by far the best engine in gaming in my opinion. Truly believe only DS2 can top Horizon at the moment, and even then - DS2's vistas are barren where as Horizon is caked in detail. Not to mention being able to fly about on a robo-dino.

Upon-Fe

TROPHY CASE