Summary
One of the biggest surprises aboutFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthis just how much it expands on its predecessor. Not only did Square Enix retool and improve numerous aspects established inFF7 Remake, but the developers also threw in a ton of new elements for players to fiddle with. Among these is the wardrobe. Throughout the tale, Cloud and the others don various outfits to suit different situations. These additions open the door for further variety.
TheFF7figures have been in several gaming projects, and they often sport new clothes to complement these scenarios. Many of these looks have become fan favorites. Other titles have even included them as alternate skins or costumes. Rebirth should get in on that action. With these costume changes,FF7faithfuls can craft their ideal renditions of these iconic characters.
TheAdvent Childrenmovie isn’t the franchise’s finest hour.The convoluted, downbeat story is divisive amongFinal Fantasyfans. Thankfully, one element works: the redesigns. The film grants new costumes to the established characters, and most of them are as good as the originals.
The best example is Cloud. He trades his SOLDIER uniform for a black coat. The single sleeve retains an asymmetrical appeal while being incredibly sleek. That’s especially apparent in motion, where it flows like a cape. Such a design suits the acrobatic combat found in theRemaketrilogy.
Developers have already proven that with its other gaming appearances. Cloud dons this coat inKingdom Hearts 2, and it later functions as an unlockable costume in fighting titles likeDissidiaandSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate. It’s actually cooler than his baseline outfit. Why shouldn’t it be the same inRebirth?
5Advent Children Tifa
Black Clothes Make The Fiercest Martial Artist Look Graceful
Another great costume change inAdvent Childrenhappens with Tifa. Here, she sports a black vest, shorts, and duster. The outfit is a nice companion piece to Cloud’s, which is fitting. Not only are they together in the story, but the clothes work in action for the same visual reason. As she fights, it gracefully flows with her movement. True, it’s somewhat less athletic than her baseline garb, but it evokes a greater maturity. This aspect makes it perfect for the maternal role she sometimes plays. Such a good match means it’s an enduring part of Tifa’s wardrobe.
For that reason, it’s also an alternate costume in a few games.She wears it to search for Cloud inKingdom Hearts 2, and it’s available to equip in theDissidiaseries. Thus, it should be the same here.
4Advent Children Yuffie
The Self-Proclaimed Ninja Actually Looks The Part With This Visual Update
The finalAdvent Childrendesign that the developers should incorporate belongs to Yuffie. Like other outfits from that film, it adds a lot more black via her jacket, shirt, and stockings. This choice is appropriate for Yuffie; after all,she repeatedly boasts that she’s a ninja of Wutai. That said, she doesn’t abandon color altogether.
On top of her tan shorts, she sports white floral prints on her shirt. The element is likely a nod to her home. All in all, the garb creates a more mature rendition of the materia hunter while retaining the adventurous attitude of youth. It’s a shame, then, that it doesn’t have many appearances.
Since she’s a side character, Yuffie sits out many of the crossover titles that normally include this costume. She wears it inKingdom Hearts 2and3, but that’s about it. However, players could purchase it as a custom character skin inFinal Fantasy 7: The First Soldier. In addition, fans modded it into theIntergradeDLC ofFF7 Remake, so thereisa demand for the outfit.Rebirthwould be a prime chance to answer that call.
One of Cloud’s most well-known post-FF7appearances was inKingdom Hearts. Here,he serves Hades in the Olympus Coliseum(theHerculesworld), and that service comes with a spooky aesthetic worthy of the Underworld. The costume mainly consists of his regular gear: a SOLDIER suit with a modified pauldron on one shoulder. On top of that, though, is a tattered cloak and golden gauntlet reminiscent of Vincent Valentine. Finally, he sprouts a bony wing for aerial attacks. The combination has a uniquely Gothic edge, with the clashing colors especially striking. It’s a wonder why it’s not as popular as theAdvent Childrengarb.
The Olympian makeover doesn’t have the same reach outside its original game. Sure, theDissidiatitles include it, but it’s nowhere to be seen inSuper Smash Bros.Rebirthcan fix that, though. In fact, the costume would be right at home with these visuals. The adventure has plenty of haunting environments, such as the swamp and mithril mines. The timeline plot thread even has wraith-like “Whispers” flying around. A scary character would be the ideal complement to these aspects. Vincent is already in the game. He just needs to lend Cloud his cloak, and the costume is complete.
TheKingdom Heartsseriesrecontextualizes Sephiroth as a manifestation of Cloud’s inner darkness. Those metaphysical roots warrant a supernatural makeover. Here, his black coat seems to be made of organic material. The cloth has red highlights and webbed fins on the forearms. More unsettling are the blue wings on his back and under his coat. They make for a vaguely Lovecraftian version of the One-Winged Angel, but without losing the inherent sleekness. It’s a shame that this design isn’t more prolific.
“Heartless Angel” mirrors Cloud’s Olympus gear in its appearance. TheDissidiagames have it, butSuper Smash Bros.doesn’t. Rebirth is a prime chance to bring it back, particularly given Sephiroth’s role. The updated story portrays the villain as more of a phantom-like figure than he was originally.He pops up in the most imposing scenes to play mind games with the heroes. As such, a demonic look fits like a glove.
Here’s a growing trend among remakes, remasters, and revivals. The developers of the newer games include alternate skins or filters based on renders from the original titles.Crash BandicootandTomb Raiderare just two examples.Rebirtheven dabbles in the fun with its Fort Condor mini-game, which sucks the heroes in and transforms them into their blocky versions fromthe PS1 classic. Sadly, their miniature proportions mean the characters can’t sport them in normal gameplay, but that’s not the only option for evoking the past.
The heroes also have models for the FMV cinematics. They’re the right size while still capturing that classic feeling. These scenes were stunning at the time, and they remain appealing, albeit for a different reason. Their exaggerated features are akin to a 3D anime. Their inclusion could be a welcome departure from the remake’s photorealism. Furthermore, they’d arguably be a better match for the game’s flashy visual style. Sometimes, the oldies are the goodies.
