I've always felt the Final Fantasy brand has slowly lowered in quality. But Final Fantasy as a franchise still understood what it was. Despite the shortcomings of each individual FF game. I was so excited for FF7 Remake. One of the reasons why was because i thought this was SE saying "we F***d up every title we made since FF13. Let's go back to one of our best games we ever made, remake it, and relearn what it takes to make a good game without controversy".
But i was wrong. And i was so wrong, that it made me give up on the entire future of Final Fantasy. Because for the first time in FF history, we are now introducing alternate histories of Final Fantasy games we have. I could not be any less interested in the next parts. Final Fantasy has now become SUperhero Comicbook logic.
It not only ties to the ending but also the events leading up to it:
Problem #1) The idea that this is meta commentary
Final Fantasy in my eyes has never been about sending a message to the fans by directly using the story. Final Fantasy was always trying to tell a story, but also make the world feel real. Anything that was meta has always been optional side-quest or a small Easter egg. However, By trying to use a plot device like the arbiters of fate to highlight personify the attempt to keep things within continuity. To change the story for the sake of sending that message, i think makes the story less immersive.' Meta commentary is basically a way a developer can signal to the player that they (the developers) are speaking directly to the player by puasing any logic or reason and making sure that you can see them (the developers) look back at the player. And thats something i never want in a Final Fantasy.
Problem #2) The fates are completely separate from the mythos of FF7
Because of the choice of using the fates as meta commentary, the fates have no attachment to the mythos of Final Fantasy VII, nor do they add a new mythos that coincides with the current mythos. They are completely unknown and i don't think they were designed to actually have any lore purposes for FF7.
Problem #3) The fates are inconsistent in their logic
I'm not sure if this was because the idea was that it was meta commentary, but the fates just choose when they affect events. And they seem to make the littlest of efforts to make sure destiny plays out the way it is intended. It takes a swarm of them just to attack Jessie and ensuring Tifa replace her, and they push Wedge out the window of Shinra building when they realize he's alive. Everything suggests that these "Arbiters of Fate" have no real agency or power.
Also once the fates are defeated, it is highly suggested that the fates have altered the course of time to even the past. So do the fates transcend time? And if they do, does that mean every event the fates had a direct hand in has been undone? Meaning if the fates were responsible for the fate of Zack in his final hour, by removing them does it make them also undo Wedge's second death attempt? Or will it allow Barret's wound to be brought up?
Problem #4) This affects the pacing of progression
Prior to the last two final chapters, Cloud was pretty consistent in his power level. But by the end of the game facing Sephiroth, he reaches abilities he never should have had. And once again, by introducing the idea that Fates can be defeated (in Part 1), it makes things unclear how powerful Cloud really is. if fates make sure events go according to destiny, then shouldn't they be the most powerful thing of all the Planet? For example: do the fates also control or affect the WEAPONS? one of the most powerful bosses to face?
Is Cloud ready to face WEAPONS as of now?
Problem #5) All of the Zack theories do not make this story better, they make it worst.
A lot of people are suggesting that Zack is still alive after the ending and that it directly affects the story. If this is true, it ultimately changes the nature of cloud/Aerith/Tifa relationship.
Another theory people have is that Zack actually does die in the classic OG FF7 fashion. But since the whole meta-commentary on keeping continuity is figuratively being destroyed, and them directly tied to the Zack survival scene, i don't think that is the case. This will also please no one in the long run. It will disappoint those who were anticipating his survival, and it will disappoint those who knew he was going to die by showing such an important scene so early.
There is another theory.
By showing Zack survive, the removal of the Arbiters of Fate are the primary reason for it, but also showing the bag of chips with Stamp the dog being a completely different breed than we remember, fans have speculated that what we saw is an alternate timeline completely separate from the Part 1's current events. It can explain why some events of the fates remained in tact, despite their removal. But for what purpose? Why would Square Enix show an alternate timeline that may not be completely relevant to the current events?
The answer is this: More Spin-offs. You might actually get the Crisis Core remake you've been dreaming of but get the same treatment FF7 remake is getting now.
And for me, this removes all agency. Any fanfiction out there can be called canon or just another alternate untouched timeline. Comics have a name for this, its called "Elseworld" stories.
Problem #6) It's already diluting one of the major themes of FF7
One of the most important thing very very early in FF7 was that it was littered with death. Biggs, Wedge, Jessie, Barrets Wife, Village, and best friend who was also Marlene's biological father,. This painted a world that everyone has lost someone. And it was grim. But soon after Final Fantasy VII uses all those deaths to mean something more. When the biggest and most important death in FF7 happens, there is now a new shift in the story. That everyone who died isn't truly lost. They live on in the lifestream and can still play a role in the story. This is also solidified in the novel "The Girl Who Travelled the Planet" (now non-canon).
So when Part 1 undoes most of the deaths and also suggests that the most important death in FF7 can possibly be prevented. that already dilutes the themes FF7 achieved. it almost seems like it wants to replace that theme with "Fate can be changed"
Problem #7) It suggest the original FF7 was all controlled by Fate
I never felt that FF7 was being controlled by faith, or all the events that happened were just destined to happen. Instead it felt like every character has earned every moment in the game. But with the arbiters of fate, it now seems to suggest the original FF7 we've been playing was always manipulated behind shadows.
Problem #8) Doesn't matter how good future parts are.
No matter how good Part 2, 3, 4 are; it's all tied and connected to a terribly written ending of part 1. You have to understand, that this isn't Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 1, this is Final Fantasy VII Remake: the prep-up to what is really going to happen. The ending of FF7 Remake wasn't an ending, it was the beginning. And i understand why they can't follow directly the original FF7, but once again, by focusing on how meta commentary they chose to do this, there only two ways this can go:
1. FF7 remake future parts elaborate further on the Arbiters of Fate to the point that they barely make sense (but ultimately means less time to focus on the original themes)
2 FF7 remake stick with the same theme it always had in the Original, causing this ending of FF7 to be a huge distraction of an ending that was never truly earned.
in both cases, SE already lost me as a customer for future parts. At least an immediate supporting customer. I may end up buying or borrowing the game from a friend. But i wont invest in this like i originally did. I'm just no longer immersed in FF7. And i can never forgive Square Enix on this. The world of FF7 was one of my favorite worlds. and now it no longer feels real anymore. I can't immerse myself not even in the original and pretend the new content never existed.
But i was wrong. And i was so wrong, that it made me give up on the entire future of Final Fantasy. Because for the first time in FF history, we are now introducing alternate histories of Final Fantasy games we have. I could not be any less interested in the next parts. Final Fantasy has now become SUperhero Comicbook logic.
It not only ties to the ending but also the events leading up to it:
Problem #1) The idea that this is meta commentary
Final Fantasy in my eyes has never been about sending a message to the fans by directly using the story. Final Fantasy was always trying to tell a story, but also make the world feel real. Anything that was meta has always been optional side-quest or a small Easter egg. However, By trying to use a plot device like the arbiters of fate to highlight personify the attempt to keep things within continuity. To change the story for the sake of sending that message, i think makes the story less immersive.' Meta commentary is basically a way a developer can signal to the player that they (the developers) are speaking directly to the player by puasing any logic or reason and making sure that you can see them (the developers) look back at the player. And thats something i never want in a Final Fantasy.
Problem #2) The fates are completely separate from the mythos of FF7
Because of the choice of using the fates as meta commentary, the fates have no attachment to the mythos of Final Fantasy VII, nor do they add a new mythos that coincides with the current mythos. They are completely unknown and i don't think they were designed to actually have any lore purposes for FF7.
Problem #3) The fates are inconsistent in their logic
I'm not sure if this was because the idea was that it was meta commentary, but the fates just choose when they affect events. And they seem to make the littlest of efforts to make sure destiny plays out the way it is intended. It takes a swarm of them just to attack Jessie and ensuring Tifa replace her, and they push Wedge out the window of Shinra building when they realize he's alive. Everything suggests that these "Arbiters of Fate" have no real agency or power.
Also once the fates are defeated, it is highly suggested that the fates have altered the course of time to even the past. So do the fates transcend time? And if they do, does that mean every event the fates had a direct hand in has been undone? Meaning if the fates were responsible for the fate of Zack in his final hour, by removing them does it make them also undo Wedge's second death attempt? Or will it allow Barret's wound to be brought up?
Problem #4) This affects the pacing of progression
Prior to the last two final chapters, Cloud was pretty consistent in his power level. But by the end of the game facing Sephiroth, he reaches abilities he never should have had. And once again, by introducing the idea that Fates can be defeated (in Part 1), it makes things unclear how powerful Cloud really is. if fates make sure events go according to destiny, then shouldn't they be the most powerful thing of all the Planet? For example: do the fates also control or affect the WEAPONS? one of the most powerful bosses to face?
Is Cloud ready to face WEAPONS as of now?
Problem #5) All of the Zack theories do not make this story better, they make it worst.
A lot of people are suggesting that Zack is still alive after the ending and that it directly affects the story. If this is true, it ultimately changes the nature of cloud/Aerith/Tifa relationship.
Another theory people have is that Zack actually does die in the classic OG FF7 fashion. But since the whole meta-commentary on keeping continuity is figuratively being destroyed, and them directly tied to the Zack survival scene, i don't think that is the case. This will also please no one in the long run. It will disappoint those who were anticipating his survival, and it will disappoint those who knew he was going to die by showing such an important scene so early.
There is another theory.
By showing Zack survive, the removal of the Arbiters of Fate are the primary reason for it, but also showing the bag of chips with Stamp the dog being a completely different breed than we remember, fans have speculated that what we saw is an alternate timeline completely separate from the Part 1's current events. It can explain why some events of the fates remained in tact, despite their removal. But for what purpose? Why would Square Enix show an alternate timeline that may not be completely relevant to the current events?
The answer is this: More Spin-offs. You might actually get the Crisis Core remake you've been dreaming of but get the same treatment FF7 remake is getting now.
And for me, this removes all agency. Any fanfiction out there can be called canon or just another alternate untouched timeline. Comics have a name for this, its called "Elseworld" stories.
Problem #6) It's already diluting one of the major themes of FF7
One of the most important thing very very early in FF7 was that it was littered with death. Biggs, Wedge, Jessie, Barrets Wife, Village, and best friend who was also Marlene's biological father,. This painted a world that everyone has lost someone. And it was grim. But soon after Final Fantasy VII uses all those deaths to mean something more. When the biggest and most important death in FF7 happens, there is now a new shift in the story. That everyone who died isn't truly lost. They live on in the lifestream and can still play a role in the story. This is also solidified in the novel "The Girl Who Travelled the Planet" (now non-canon).
So when Part 1 undoes most of the deaths and also suggests that the most important death in FF7 can possibly be prevented. that already dilutes the themes FF7 achieved. it almost seems like it wants to replace that theme with "Fate can be changed"
Problem #7) It suggest the original FF7 was all controlled by Fate
I never felt that FF7 was being controlled by faith, or all the events that happened were just destined to happen. Instead it felt like every character has earned every moment in the game. But with the arbiters of fate, it now seems to suggest the original FF7 we've been playing was always manipulated behind shadows.
Problem #8) Doesn't matter how good future parts are.
No matter how good Part 2, 3, 4 are; it's all tied and connected to a terribly written ending of part 1. You have to understand, that this isn't Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 1, this is Final Fantasy VII Remake: the prep-up to what is really going to happen. The ending of FF7 Remake wasn't an ending, it was the beginning. And i understand why they can't follow directly the original FF7, but once again, by focusing on how meta commentary they chose to do this, there only two ways this can go:
1. FF7 remake future parts elaborate further on the Arbiters of Fate to the point that they barely make sense (but ultimately means less time to focus on the original themes)
2 FF7 remake stick with the same theme it always had in the Original, causing this ending of FF7 to be a huge distraction of an ending that was never truly earned.
in both cases, SE already lost me as a customer for future parts. At least an immediate supporting customer. I may end up buying or borrowing the game from a friend. But i wont invest in this like i originally did. I'm just no longer immersed in FF7. And i can never forgive Square Enix on this. The world of FF7 was one of my favorite worlds. and now it no longer feels real anymore. I can't immerse myself not even in the original and pretend the new content never existed.