FF7 Rebirth's Final Boss & Ending Explained (In Detail)

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[Warning: This article contains spoilers for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.]

culminates in a cliffhanger ending, leaving plenty open for the next installment to explore. As the second installment in a three-part series, it's somewhat obligated to: there's a lot yet to come for the remake project. Still, 's final moments aren't unsatisfying. They resolve many of the central questions posed in the first game and its sequel, even if they raise just as many to be answered in the as-yet-untitled part three.

Wild speculation has raged about the ending of since before its title was officially revealed. Who would live, and who would die? Would it stick to the original story, or veer off in a totally new direction? What part of the story would it stop at, and what would be left for the final game in the trilogy? Those questions have finally been answered by the full release of .

Despite all theories to the contrary, Aerith still dies at the end of . Leading up to its final moments, the story of the original remains the same: the party learns that Sephiroth seeks the Black Materia, a powerful item capable of summoning Meteor and destroying the planet. Aerith comes to believe that by praying at the Forgotten Capital, she can summon Holy, a force capable of opposing Meteor. However, she doesn't share that theory with the rest of the party.

Whispers swirl around Cloud as Aerith kneels in prayer. They compel him to take up his sword against her, but he fights the urge. However, black feathers soon appear in the air around Aerith. Sephiroth descends from the ceiling toward her. Cloud sees him at the last moment, and attempts to block his attack. The resulting clash sends Sephiroth flying, but the damage is done. Aerith slumps forward as a glowing orb of pearlescent Materia — the White Materia used to summon Holy — rolls out from behind her hair ribbon and into the water below.

Openly sobbing and distracted by Sephiroth, Cloud fails to notice the White Materia. Sephiroth mocks his ""