Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth takes a side in the great Tifa and Aerith debate

The development team behind Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has seemingly chosen a side in the great debate between Tifa and Aerith.

It may seem strange, but the question of who Cloud should hug animated the movie FF7 fandom for decades. On the one hand we have Tifa Lockhart, Cloud’s childhood friend with a warm, generous look. On the other hand, there is the flower seller Aerith Gainsborough, who brings a sense of playfulness throughout and whose powers carry the fate of the world. Fans call each pair “Cloti” and “Clerith” respectively. While much of this debate is likely a matter of opinion, investing in one side can greatly change a player’s perception of the game. Even something small, like each character’s outfit, can be a point of contention as to which one is “better.”

The most reasonable way to settle this argument has always been: “Cloud shouldn’t date either of them.” The guy is clearly so infatuated with mako and Sephiroth-related mental trauma that he probably can’t sustain a romantic partner in a sustainable way. But hey, where’s the fun in that?

Now, with the release of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, it looks like the developers have picked an official girlfriend for Cloud. Given that this debate has raged for so long, it feels like a monumental decision – even if some people may disagree with my analysis below.

(Ed. remark: This post contains spoilers for the intimate Gold Saucer date in Chapter 12 and the end of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.)

Personally, I believe that the team behind it Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has finally chosen Tifa as Cloud’s official romantic interest. This isn’t to say that Cloud doesn’t have feelings for Aerith, or that there isn’t any chemistry, but that important creative decisions in Rebirth‘s telling of the story tends to steer the ship towards Cloti this time.

Here’s the biggest argument to illustrate this: Cloud and Tifa kiss, for crying out loud! Admittedly, not everyone will see this video. In Rebirth, the player’s decisions can change certain moments in the game, so some people might see Cloud going on a date with Aerith instead of Tifa, and those players wouldn’t see the kiss at all. However, it’s worth noting that no matter what players do leading up to the date for Aerith, Cloud doesn’t share a romantic kiss with her – or with any of the other characters. To me that is a clear sign that the FF7 Rebirth writers see Tifa and Cloud together in a different and special way.

Image: Square Enix via Polygon

Additionally, several other parts of the game emphasize the tender relationship between Tifa and Cloud. In Chapter 9, the two almost share a kiss after Tifa wakes up from a kind of mako-induced mini-coma, after which they have a deep conversation about a particularly traumatic childhood experience they had together. Later, in Chapter 13, the group returns to Nibelheim, where Tifa and Cloud cling to each other as they each face their own terrible memories of their home. There is a love and sense of connection between them that is reinforced again and again.

It’s not just that several scenes seem to be a romantic match between Cloud and Tifa, it’s also that Cloud and Aerith end up can not being together. Aerith dies in the original Final fantasy 7, and now she’s apparently dying Rebirth also. Prior to the release of RebirthSome fans hoped that this retelling of the story would spare Aerith’s life, and some even went so far as to theorize that Tifa would be the one to die this time. However, we now know that is not the case. Aerith still meets her physical demise – even though it seems like she’s somehow present in the lifestream, it’s still not really possible for her and Cloud to be together.

If you get the intimate version of Aerith’s date in the game, she and Cloud will almost share a kiss. It’s tragic that they don’t, but this decision by the writers does provide some closure. In a way, Aerith has always been destined to get the short end of the stick and fall just short of achieving her dreams. She sacrifices herself for the good of the planet, and that means giving up her dream life with Cloud. From my perspective, these two also clearly share a special relationship; she may have been the “right” match for Cloud, but she can’t escape her inevitable fate.