9 MORE Video Games That Broke Their Own Rules
3. Aerith's Pointless Death - Final Fantasy VII
The Rule:
One of the most beloved characters in gaming history, Aerith goes on an epic journey from the slums of Midgar to, well, the skies themselves, being she gets stabbed by Sephiroth at the game's midpoint, transferring over to a being of pure spiritual energy that helps defend the world in the game's closing few cutscenes.
Needless to say this is initially one of gaming's biggest and saddest moments, provoking a ton of speculation around the idea that Aerith wasn't actually supposed to perish, and that she could've been brought back.
Things like the original game's instruction manual showing Aerith next to the Highwind, an empty pedestal on the path to the final fight or even the assumption that a Phoenix Down could bring her back are all touted as reason to believe Aerith didn't have to die. Still, all of these are explainable as deleted scenes/never planned in the first place, or that a Phoenix Down only revives someone who's unconscious.
Wait A Minute...
What about Revive materia??
As mentioned, the majority of items that might do the job actually read as "Reviving a KO'd character", but Revive materia? That literally states it "Restores life to target", targeting "an ally".
It can even be upgraded to give them a chunk of health too, so Aerith could've been back to casting Healing Wind in no time.
Fix that in your FF7 Remake, Square Enix.