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Zerith - Blog Posts
Talk about a coincidence!
A possible connection between Aerith and Stamp (as a reference of Zack)
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BEFORE READING: This post is based on theories more than actual facts, since the true nature of Stamp hasn’t been revealed yet. I’ll provide some elements that could hint its connection with Zack but all this has to be considered as a personal opinion. If this will turn out to be all wrong, I apologize in advance.
(Link for the previous post here)
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Stamp is a new character introduced in FFVIIR. It is:
“A sweet little canine character beloved by the citizens of Midgar. A regular fixture in cartoons and movies, his face is on every corner of the city either in toy or poster form. Originally used as propaganda material during wartime.”
Most of the fans assume that this dog is a metaphor to represent Zack. The main proof for this theory is the fact that, in Crisis Core, Angeal used to compare Zack to a puppy:
“Are you Zack, the puppy? My son wrote to me once about you, zero attention span, restless as a little puppy.” - [Angeal’s mother to Zack].
This description links up very well with Stamp’s song lyrics (here).
The biggest mistery around this character is its double design: it is shown to be a beagle during the whole game, but in the end we can see it as a terrier.
My personal opinion is that this is a metaphor about Cloud’s fake persona. We, players, mostly play as Cloud, so we see the elements of the game through his eyes (and we never see Stamp when we are not Cloud).Cloud thinks to be a former SOLDIER because he’s overlapped his image on Zack’s.
“Real-Stamp” (Zack) is the terrier, but we see it as a beagle (Cloud) because we see the world through his alter ego.
At the end of the game, when Zack defeats his destiny, we can see terrier-Stamp because Cloud has no altered personality (or, at least, not yet).
So, my take is that Stamp represents Zack in both forms.
Of course, I could be totally wrong.
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I’ll provide some comparisons to support this theory. Around Midgar we can find some posters with Stamp, and most of them can be related to actions that Zack did:
Zack encourages Cloud to work hard to become a SOLDIER.
Zack saves Mako poisoned Cloud, carrying him from Nibelheim -represented by the flames- to Midgar.
Zack took part to a mission in Icicle Inn with the Turks against Avalanche. During the mission they had to go through a cave with falling icicles. There he lost two SOLDIER friends (mabe this will have something to do with the Intergrade?).
There’s a Stamp magazine on Tseng’s desk. The only other times we’ve ever seen his desk was to show Aerith’s letters (Crisis Core) and the dossier about Nibelheim incident, (Last Order) when the Turks were trying to save Zack from the army.
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That said, assuming I got this subject at least partly right, let’s talk about the elements that link Aerith to Stamp-Zack.
In Aerith’s childhood room, in Shinra HQ, there’s a book with Stamp and a letter in the background. I tried to translate what’s written on the cover but the picture is very blurred, so there could be mistakes, especially because I don’t speak Japanese (in bold the parts I’m rather sure to be right):
スタンプからの招待状
さえスタンプファンクラブ 「スタンププリーダー」
Invitation from Stamp
Only Stamp fan club “Stamp breeder”
Definitely a strange translation.
Anyway, the odd fact is that this book appears in Aerith’s room, of all the places of the game, and nowhere else, so I’m wondering if it is maybe meant to metaphorically hint the 89 letters Aerith wrote to Zack.
(Picture taken from Reddit)
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There’s another detail that could link Stamp-Zack with Aerith: the stars.
In both designs Stamp wears a hat/helmet decorated with stars. Stars have been often used as a military symbol around the world, and so seems to do Shinra.
All characters’ outfits have been redesigned for the Remake. On the shoulders of Aerith’s jacket we can see some decorative stars. And not common stars but military stars, normally used in army uniforms or medals. Quite an uncommon choice for the clothes of a girl strictly related with life, peace and nature (a link to an older design of her jacket without stars, meaning they were introduced purposely for the Remake).
As a side note, her gray bracelet has the same design of the guard of the Buster sword.
Talking about stars, also in her canon outfit to see Don Corneo she wears some accessories with star pendants (earrings, necklace, bracelets and sandals). At first it seemed to me a strange choice, as stars in FFVII are commonly related to the promise (and there were no stars in her OG red dress), but in the light of a possible connection with Stamp-Zack it really makes more sense.
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In short, I’m convinced the devs are hinting once more Aerith’s bond with Zack, even in these subtile details. I was unsure if I had to created this post, given the uncertainaties around the subject. Anyway..
..even if I’m wrong, I have to admit it is a good number of coincidences!
EDIT:
All this recalls me something...
"Aerith’s star and Cloud’s star! They show a great future!” [Cait Sith, Temple of Ancients]
...and now it turns out the stars could be related to Zack? And consequently related to Cloud because of his alter ego? What a coincidence...
Talk about a coincidence!
(Previous post here)
Aerith and Tifa parallel
Eyes are the window to the soul
Cloud has the so-called Mako-Eyes, due to Mako infusion treatment. This is normally a distinctive mark of SOLDIERS and during the game many characters notice them: President Shinra, Reno, Rude, Elmyra...
Aerith
Aerith commenting about Cloud’s eyes was an important plot point of the OG as it was the first hint about her connection with Zack.
This dialogue takes place when they escape from the church across the rooftops of Sector 5 slums.
The devs decided to change this scene for the Remake and replace it with one that recreates step by step a romantic moment between Aerith and Zack from Crisis Core (for those who don’t know what I’m talking about, 0:13).
When Cloud and Aerith arrive in Evergreen Park, a place that's special for her, she starts talking about Zack and her cheerfulness fades away for the first time.
Zack’s name causes Cloud one of his migraine attacks. When he opens his eyes again she comments about their beauty and when he points out that’s because of the Mako she just sais “...I know”.
Tifa
In Chapter 3 Johnny is arrested by Shinra Public Security and Cloud and Tifa have to intervene to make sure he doesn’t talk about Avalanche. Cloud seems to have no hesitation to kill Johnny but Tifa stops him.
This is the first time during the game where she openly states how much he’s changed and, coincidentally, she does it commenting about his eyes. Of course she’s not talking about their color. Here too he answers in a similar way, saying it's because of the Mako, to which she replies “I remember...”.
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To sum up
Aerith:
likes SOLDIER eyes
because they remind her of Zack, the guy she loved.
She gets sad because she misses Zack.
In Crisis Core Mako eyes were described as “color of the sky - but not scary at all”.
Tifa:
doesn’t like SOLDIER eyes
because they are different from those of the guy she had a crush on.
She gets sad because she misses the Cloud of 7 years ago.
The camera focuses on his eyes while she says that he’s scaring her.
...
WAIT!
The devs can’t be saying that SOLDIER-Cloud is NOT real-Cloud, that Aerith likes his Zack-side and that real-Cloud doesn’t use to cut civilians in half with a massive sword...
... Right?!
What an unexpected & unexplainable coincidence!
Talk about a coincidence!
Crisis Core and Advent Children References
Second post about CloTi and ZeriTh hints in FFVII Remake!
Find the previous post here.
THE PERFECT OUTFIT
Be sure to pick an outfit that goes with mine, okay?
Leave it to me, Tifa! 😂
In order to sneak in Don Corneo’s palace, Aerith and Tifa wear nice elegant dresses, and Cloud has to disguise himself as a lady. It’s interesting how Cloud and Tifa’s outfits can match in colors, fabrics and details:
These are the OG canon outfits. To get this combination the player has to choose the Mature dress for Tifa in Chapter 3, and complete Chocobo Sam odd jobs in Chapter 9. The odd jobs depend on the answers given at Wall Market: if the player prefers Tifa probably Cloud will get this dress. The CANON dress.
To get the satin outfits the player has to choose the Sporty dress for Tifa in Chapter 3, and complete Madam M odd jobs in Chapter 9. Same logic: if the player prefers Aerith, probably this will be Cloud’s dress.
For this last combination the player has to choose the Exotic dress for Tifa in Chapter 3, and skip the sidequests in Chapter 9.
It reminded me how Cloud and Tifa’s outfits perfectly match also in Adven Children.
The choice of Aerith’s dress depends on how many Odd Jobs in Chapter 8 were completed:
6 sidequests: red dress
3-5 sidequests: long pink dress
0-2 sidequests: short pink dress
They don’t match with Cloud or Tifa’s, but her two new dresses are pink and also the train of the OG red dress has a lighter shade...
Do you remember the promise she shared with Zack in Crisis Core?
(Yes, I edited the picture. No I didn’t alter the meaning. Link for the whole scene).
These details are AMAZING 💗
What a coincidence!
Talk about a coincidence!
Crisis Core - Final Fantasy VII Remake Parallels
A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION
Crisis Core:
During their first encounter, Zack and Aerith spend some time together at the market, but a kid steals Zack’s wallet. Local people and shopkeepers are reluctant to help him find the kid, but in the end the Accessory seller apologizes with Zack for having misjudged him...
Clerk: Hey, Aren't you...You are! The guy who was chasing that kid around! I heard about you from the neighborhood folks. I thought you were just some dumb outsider, but it turns out you're a pretty good guy. I'm sorry we misjudged you, this is just a small token of our appreciation.
...and he gives him some items (best reward consist in: 1 Soma, 1 Hi-Potion and 1 Remedy). Then Zack buys the pink ribbon for Aerith.
Remake:
In Chapter 3 Tifa and Cloud go around the slums of Sector 7 to change water filters and collect money (Water filters - Water tower...am I overthinking? Anyway). At the end of the side quests they head back to Stargazer Heights (that water tower again!) and have a conversation with Marle. At first Marle is rather prejudiced against Cloud, but she seems to change her mind when she sees Tifa happy after spending some time with him:
Marle: Take care you two! ...Oh? You're looking pretty chipper!
Tifa: Uh...I don't feel that different.
Marle: Must be my imagination then. Anyway! Keep your wits about you, merc! A token of my appreciation. Be good to her.
At the end of the conversation she gives him a Crescent Moon Charm. This accessory is used to reduce damage when equipped by non-active characters (so from the perspective of Cloud, he can use it to protect the others).
The description of this charm is VERY interesting...
A charm imbued with the fervent desire to be by one’s side for eternity.
And...it is identical to the earring Tifa wears with her default dress at Wall Market! 🌙
Or better: the moon earring already existed in the OG as it was part of Tifa’s outfit to see Don Corneo. The devs created this new accessory and shaped it exactly like her earring, giving it a new significance since it represents a connection between Cloud and Tifa.
The same exact thing that happened in Crisis Core with Aerith’s ribbon! 🎀
