Summary
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthwill likely contain references to the largerFinal Fantasy 7expanded universe, but fans probably shouldn’t expect to see the nefarious Genesis make an appearance. Although theFinal Fantasy 7 Remaketrilogy is essentially a reboot of the classic 1997 JRPG, there have already been multiple nods and cameos from other titles in theCompilation of Final Fantasy 7, such asDirge of Cerberusvillains Nero the Sable and Weiss the Immaculate appearing in theEpisode INTERmission. At the very least,Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthdirector Tetsuya Nomura says that the games willeventually connect to theAdvent Childrenanimated film.
This has naturally sparked speculation about what otherCompilationelements could be introduced inFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth, especially after an updated version of the PSP prequelCrisis Core: Final Fantasy 7was released last December. Set seven years before the events ofFinal Fantasy 7,Crisis Corecenters around SOLIDER member Zack Fairand his role in the backstories of Cloud and Sephiroth. Another major player in this dark story is Genesis Rhapsodos, a former friend and comrade of Sephiroth who was born of the same sinister experiments that gave the iconicFinal Fantasy 7villain his world-ending powers.
Genesis (who is modeled after real-life Japanese Rock/Pop singer Gackt) carries some strong connections to Sephiroth’s origins and the threat he poses to the planet inFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth, but the poetry-obsessed archvillain likely won’t appear in the flesh. Tetsuya Nomura recently spoke with FrenchFinal FantasyfansiteFinal Fantasy Dream(viaThe Gamer), where he was asked ifRebirthwould feature any references to Genesis. Nomura shrugged off this question by saying that he can’t reveal anything about him, before pivoting toward already confirmedFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthcharacters like Zack and Vincent Valentine.
While Nomura’s non-answer doesn’t necessarily rule out a Genesis cameo inFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth, it does cast significant doubt that the renegade SOLIDER will appear in the upcoming sequel. This could be a blessing and a curse for fans, as Genesis is one of the mostcontroversial characters in theFinal Fantasy 7universe. Some players love Genesis for his interesting backstory and connections to popular characters like Sephiroth and Angeal, while others decry him for his constant monologues and how he was retconned into Sephiroth’s descent into evil inCrisis Core.
Nonetheless, Genesis’s eventual return to the forefront of theFinal Fantasy 7continuity was teased duringDirge of Cerberus’s post-credits scene, which remains an unresolved cliffhanger to this day. Said cliffhanger might not be picked up inFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth,though, as Tetsuya Nomura’s latest interview hints that Gackt’s digital counterpart is remaining on the sidelines for a while longer. Fans will have to wait and see what connection Genesis has with the upcomingFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth, assuming he is seen or mentioned at all.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
WHERE TO PLAY
Discover a vibrant and vast world in this standalone entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake project. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the second entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake project, which retells the story of the genre-redefining RPG across three distinct games. Iconic heroes Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Aerith and Red XIII have escaped from the dystopian city Midgar and are now in pursuit of Sephiroth, the vengeful swordsman from Cloud’s past who was thought to be dead. This new adventure can be enjoyed by all players, even those who have yet to play Final Fantasy VII Remake or the PlayStation original. Expect a new standard of cinematic storytelling, fast-paced combat and rich exploration across a vast world.
