Why Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s Controversial Ending Is GENIUS

3. Sephiroth Knows What Happened In The Original Game

The absolute key thing to focus on - and what gives the game away - is Sephiroth mentioning to Cloud that he has "7 seconds until the end" in their final scene together, saying it's "time enough for you, perhaps", and asking "what will you do with it?"

While sounding mighty cryptic, seven seconds is the exact amount of time it takes Sephiroth to descend from the sky and kill Aerith in the original game.

Right here, Sephiroth is showing knowledge of what went before, and hinting pretty obviously that when the time comes for Cloud to make the save, it's going to be a do-over.

Will FF7R's future instalments give us a direct choice on saving Aerith? Perhaps. But what if Tifa, Barret or someone else has to be killed instead?

The party certainly defied fate and destiny by defeating the Whisper Harbinger and its three minions (more on them later), but what happens next?

After Harbinger goes down, Sephiroth still states "not now" when Cloud gains the upper hand during the "Edge of Creation" fight, further implying he knows how things have to go. Whilst I'll get to Aerith's role in this new version of the timeline next, it seems Sephiroth is yet to fully play his hand.

Whatever happens, Sephiroth is untethered from the events that lead to his death in the original game, and he is more than aware of them.

In many ways, this makes him an even more fearsome villain.