Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is going to follow in Remake's footsteps and change things up. After the ending of the first game, it's only fair for fans to walk into the next game of the Remake trilogy aware that things will be different from the original Final Fantasy 7. Many fans have been on edge as they've waited, wondering what iconic moments will change as the new story develops. One of the biggest things that's up in the air is the fate of Aerith Gainsborough.
It's a rather known fact that Aerith met a rather gruesome fate in Final Fantasy 7. She's killed by Sephiroth halfway through the game, and the player has to continue through the story knowing that they're one party member short. This moment in particular was one of the very first scenes fans discussed when it came to the idea that FF7 Remake was changing the story and timeline. Out of all the characters, Aerith might benefit the most from this change.
Final Fantasy 7's Aerith Makes the Best Out Of Limited Time
Despite the fact that Aerith leaves the party after fans have spent many hours of playtime with her, she isn't one to be underestimated. Due to her high magic stats and Healing Wind Limit Break, she makes an excellent healer during her time with Cloud and company. While there is some debate on if using her is worth it considering she could put some useful EXP down the drain later on, some players feel FF7 is harder if she isn't used.
At the same time, Final Fantasy 7 is well aware that there's only so much time for fans to enjoy what Aerith has to offer. Players can get her ultimate Limit Break, Great Gospel, rather early, and she does have full stats despite the fact that it's very unlikely fans would ever take the time to level her up to 99. What's even more shocking is that out of all the party members, she is the only one with a maxed out Magic stat at the highest levels possible.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's Aerith Could be a Literal Force of Nature
With all the talk about the Whispers and "changing destiny" in Remake, fans have speculated that Sephiroth and Aerith are the original characters from The Compilation of FF7 who have traveled back in time. Not only does Aerith seem much more confident than her old version, but she seems to have knowledge of what's coming next with how she reacts to Cloud possibly falling in love with her and leaving Midgar with an uncertain future ahead.
Another aspect of her that only adds to this theory is that one of her Limit Breaks in Remake, Planet's Protection, appears to be based on one of her stronger Limit Breaks from the original game, Planet's Protector. This, along with the fact that she readily stands up to Sephiroth with Cloud at the end of the game, implies she may be as strong as she would be if fully built up in FF7 proper while still earning experience to grow even more powerful.
While it's hard to make direct comparisons as FF7R updates and adapts the original game's stats to the newer, more modernized combat system, the similarity with the Limit Breaks makes one wonder just how strong Aerith could be if Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and beyond keep her alive. Great Gospel alone is almost guaranteed to be in the upcoming PS5 exclusive due to Planet's Protection being in the previous game. From there, Aerith will have nowhere to go but up for the finale of the Remake trilogy, which could lead to some incredible results in the end.
Of course, this is only if Aerith doesn't end up dying like the Whispers' "destiny" likely wished for her to. There's been no confirmation from Square Enix or the developers how Aerith's fate will play out, and it's understandable as to why. With how much of an impact that scene made in the PS1's heyday, leaving players guessing until the moment finally arrives is good to keep even the most loyal players excited. At the very least, if Aerith lives, it'll be a great irony to the joke of "Don't Level Aerith" among FF7 players if she turns out to be immensely powerful.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is set to release in winter 2023 for PS5.
