10 Final Fantasy 7 Characters Who Changed the Most from the Original

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Final Fantasy 7 Remake came out in 2020 and introduced many players to the world of Final Fantasy 7 for the first time. Since then, the story has continued with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Ever Crisis. As a result, the characters who first appeared in the original 1997 game are now quite different from their initial depictions.

When the first Final Fantasy 7 came out, it was incredibly innovative for its storytelling. However, the game was limited by the technology of the time. Characters looked a bit blocky because of the hardware, and there wasn’t enough space to include voice acting, so all conversations were displayed as text.

Because Final Fantasy 7 Remake was built for more powerful consoles, the game’s world and characters are far more detailed than in the original. This makes revisiting the classic version feel different, as some characters have been re-imagined significantly in the remake.

10. Sephiroth

The Greatest SOLDIER Is Trying To Change Time


Image Via Square Enix

Sephiroth is a legendary video game villain, so it’s no surprise he was added to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, even though the game already featured a character from Final Fantasy 7. He’s often the first villain people think of when it comes to Final Fantasy, just as recognizable as the hero, Cloud.

Despite being one of the most famous villains in gaming, Sephiroth had a surprisingly subtle introduction in Final Fantasy 7. He doesn’t actually appear until the flashback in Kalm, and before that, characters only spoke about him in secret. For most of the game, he operates behind the scenes, pulling the strings and using Jenova cells – and the people they control – to carry out his plans.

The game’s popularity created a problem for Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Originally, Sephiroth wouldn’t have shown up until the next game, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, as the Remake only covered the Midgar portion of the original story. To address this, the developers decided to include Sephiroth early on – first through brief appearances in visions after the first major mission, and then giving him a significant role at the end of the game.

In Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Sephiroth’s part was significantly altered just to ensure he remained in the game, which unfortunately diminished the fear and anticipation surrounding his reveal.

9. Wedge

The Badger Who Saved The World


Image Via Square Enix

Wedge wasn’t a major character in Final Fantasy 7. Similar to other members of Avalanche, he primarily supported Barret and tragically died during the destruction of Sector 7.

The most compelling part of Wedge’s story actually appears in a supplemental novel, not in the main game. This story follows Aerith’s journey in the afterlife, where she guides the members of Avalanche back to the planet, helping them find peace and move on despite the burdens of their past actions.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake gave Wedge a much larger role and allowed him to live past the events of the original game. He actively participates in the assault on Shinra Headquarters, aided by members of the original Avalanche team.

Many fans believed a character’s apparent death in Final Fantasy 7 Remake wasn’t permanent, hoping he’d somehow lived. However, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth definitively showed he died. The expanded scope of the game, moving beyond Midgar, did offer him the opportunity to become an even more significant hero in this new version of the story.

8. Mayor Domino

AVALANCHE Had A Spy All Along


Image Via Square Enix

A common complaint about Final Fantasy 7 is the lack of information about the world’s history before the Shinra Corporation rose to power. This is largely because Shinra actively tried to hide its past actions, such as the incidents at Nibelheim and Banora.

Mayor Domino represents a time before Shinra’s control. He was originally elected independently, but Shinra turned him into a figurehead. In Final Fantasy 7, Cloud meets Mayor Domino at Shinra Headquarters, and because Domino is unhappy with how Shinra treats him, he gives Cloud a keycard.

In Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Mayor Domino has a more significant part to play. It’s discovered he was secretly helping Avalanche and assisted the group when they infiltrated Shinra Headquarters.

Okay, so thinking about it, Mayor Domino’s bigger part in Final Fantasy 7 Remake actually makes total sense to me. He’s the ideal person to be secretly helping Avalanche, feeding them the intel they needed to pull off those Reactor missions. It just fits!

7. Shiva

The Summon Who Stopped Jenova


Image Via Square Enix

Summoning monsters was a beloved part of Final Fantasy 7, letting the game developers create visually impressive attacks and characters. However, despite being so popular with players, these summons weren’t actually necessary to complete the story – they were entirely optional.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake introduced the powerful summons earlier in the game than originally planned. This allowed players to unlock Shiva in Midgar instead of having to wait until they reached Junon, as would have happened in the Rebirth installment.

Recent details revealed in Final Fantasy 7 Remake loading screens show that Shiva played a crucial role in saving the planet. She apparently sealed the damage caused when Jenova first arrived by freezing the resulting wound.

Fans are hoping the final game in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake series will delve deeper into the origins of the summons. These characters are fan favorites from the original game and deserve a more detailed backstory that connects them to the fight against Jenova.

6. Biggs

The Man Who Lived


Image Via Square Enix

Biggs quickly became a key figure in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake series when it was discovered he lived past the Sector 7 Plate collapse, even though he was originally shown dying alongside the rest of Avalanche.

People were excited to see how Biggs might affect the story. He’d previously seemed like a minor character, but now he could potentially help Cloud and his friends. Some wondered if he could unite the different Avalanche groups and use the chaos of the Meteor attack to take down Shinra?

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth took a disappointing turn. It was revealed that Biggs didn’t actually die in the main storyline; he lived on in a different timeline, where he even encountered Zack before ultimately being killed by Shinra.

Honestly, thinking about it now, Square Enix probably made a mistake with Biggs. He was way more impactful in the first game just as a soldier who bravely sacrificed himself. Building him up just to kill him off felt… unnecessary, you know?

5. Reno & Rude

​​​​​​​The Turks With Consistent Characters


Image Via Square Enix

Reno and Rude, two characters from the original Final Fantasy 7, underwent significant changes in personality. Originally, they were portrayed as stern and dedicated secret agents who carried out covert and often ruthless tasks for the Shinra Corporation, such as espionage, bullying, and even murder.

After the original game, the animated film Advent Children was released. Surprisingly, the characters Reno and Rude, who were involved in some pretty terrible things in Final Fantasy 7, were turned into the comedic sidekicks.

The Final Fantasy 7 Remake included a powerful scene just before the Sector 7 Plate collapsed. It revealed that the characters were explicitly ordered to allow the plate to fall, knowing it would kill everyone below. The scene highlighted their internal struggle with this order, ultimately showing they felt it was too late to change course and save those lives.

The added scene helps flesh out Reno and Rude’s characters, though this development feels lost in Advent Children, where they act more silly and unserious despite the incredibly high stakes.

4. Cait Sith

​​​​​​​The Robots Were Finally Likeable


Image Via Square Enix

Cait Sith is arguably the most annoying party member in Final Fantasy 7. While other characters in the series are worse overall—Genesis from Crisis Core, for example—Cait Sith became increasingly irritating, especially after the spin-off games gave him a completely unnecessary and grating Scottish accent.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth isn’t perfect, but the developers really succeeded in making Cait Sith a charming character. Even though he’s competing for a spot in the party alongside popular characters like Tifa and Aerith, he’s much more enjoyable than he was in the original game.

Cait Sith in Final Fantasy 7 was a unique and memorable character – a large robot disguised as a cat. Despite this unusual appearance, he joined a rebel group fighting against a powerful corporation. He shockingly betrays his allies by endangering Barret’s daughter, but eventually earns their forgiveness and rejoins the team.

Cait Sith is a surprisingly likeable and useful character in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, offering valuable technical skills to the team. Unlike the original game, his betrayal wasn’t as severe – he didn’t endanger anyone’s child – making it easier to imagine the party forgiving him. It’s a shame the original Cait Sith wasn’t this well-developed.

3. Gi Nattak

​​​​​​​A Random Boss Became Vitally Important


Image Via Square Enix

Gi Nattak received the most significant backstory expansion in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. In the original Final Fantasy 7, he was simply a frightening boss known for his unsettling transformation ability, and surprisingly, could be defeated easily with a single Life or Phoenix Down item.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth significantly expanded the role of the Gi Tribe. In the original Final Fantasy 7, they were simply enemies found in Cosmo Canyon and were defeated by Red XIII’s father.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth reveals that the Ancients, known as the Gi, are actually aliens. Because they come from space, they can’t be permanently killed – the planet itself rejects their destruction. This same principle applies to Jenova, who is also an extraterrestrial being.

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The story also explains that the Cetra created the Black Materia. They intended to use the Meteor to wipe out the planet, hoping to escape their endless, undead existence. This finally clarifies a long-standing mystery in Final Fantasy 7: why such a devastating weapon was created in the first place.

2. Jessie

​​​​​​​The Shy Girl Became A Badass


Image Via Square Enix

Biggs and Wedge received more development in Final Fantasy 7 Remake, as their original roles were fairly limited. However, Jessie’s character was almost completely reimagined.

In Final Fantasy 7, Jessie was a quiet and somewhat timid character, particularly around Cloud, and it was suggested she had feelings for him. She died tragically when Sector 7 collapsed, expressing regret for the lives lost. Aerith later helped her soul find peace, just as she did for Wedge.

The remake drastically transformed Jessie’s character. She became a bold, confident, and playful action hero, often seen riding with Cloud and fearlessly fighting Shinra soldiers.

We learned more about Jessie’s past, including her work as an actress at the Gold Saucer and a tragic accident involving her father, which made her a more complex and relatable character. This deepened the impact of her death, particularly when compared to Biggs, who survived in at least one version of events, while Jessie wasn’t so lucky.

1. Aerith

​​​​​​​What Would You Do If You Could Do It All Over?


Image Via Square Enix

A well-known fan theory about Final Fantasy 7 suggests the game’s story repeats itself. It proposes that the last scene, showing Aerith in green light, is actually the beginning of the game. According to the theory, Aerith, using her Cetra abilities, is seeing these events unfold from the start, but doesn’t understand what they mean at first.

The story reveals the reason for Aerith’s change in behavior following their visit to the Temple of the Ancients. She’s aware of her impending death, having foreseen it in a vision, and understands that her spirit must join the Lifestream to help power the Holy spell and stop Meteor.

Both Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth explore the idea of Aerith knowing what happened in the original game and actively trying to prevent Sephiroth’s return. This gives her character a compelling new dimension – she understands her destiny, and now has the chance to change it, but it remains to be seen if she will succeed.

The Final Fantasy 7 Remake could have simply retold the original story, but the creators bravely chose a new path, and it’s worked well, particularly with the character of Aerith. No one is as closely associated with dying as Aerith, and the Remake trilogy lets us see what her life could be like if she had a second chance.

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2026-03-22 23:46