Final Fantasy 7 is one of the greatest games ever made, and that is thanks, in large part, to the incredible narrative decisions made by its director, Yoshinori Kitase, and co-writer, Tetsuya Nomura. These not only shaped the narrative but also gave birth to some of the most unique and beloved gaming heroes ever created. Final Fantasy 7 has stood the test of time as a result of these decisions and has even led to an incredibly successful and critically acclaimed trilogy that more or less respects them.

Warning. This article contains spoilers for the original Final Fantasy 7, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.However, one part of Final Fantasy 7’s narrative almost went in a completely different direction, and I am absolutely baffled by it. Practically every part of FF7’s narrative is perfect, but this one change could have undone all of that hard work and led to not just a significantly worse game but also the removal of one of gaming’s most iconic moments. As glad as I am that this never happened, it is undeniably fascinating that both Nomura and Kitase almost went in a completely different direction when it came to Final Fantasy 7’s most heartbreaking death.

Final Fantasy 7 Could Have Killed Off Barret

It Was Between Him & Aerith

Everyone knows that Aerith dies in FF7, and it is one of the most shocking, saddening, and catastrophically heartbreaking deaths in all of video games. Frankly, both the original and Rebirth’s version of Aerith’s death made me uncontrollably weep, a deeply rooted sadness gripping my heart for days after, even despite the fact that I knew exactly what was coming. However, what many, including myself until recently, may not know is that during development, Nomura and Kitase almost killed another character instead of Aerith. That’s right, Cloud almost held Barret in his arms in the Forgotten Capital.

In a 2005 interview with Electronic Gaming Monthly, archived by FF7 Citadel, Nomura and Kitase discussed how they were torn between killing Aerith or Barret during the pivotal moment in Final Fantasy 7. Before Tifa was even in the picture, Nomura and Kitase had just three characters to work with: Cloud, Aerith, and Barret. They knew they wanted to kill off one of them, but Cloud was obviously not an option. So, it was up to either Barret or Aerith to be slain by Sephiroth, and for a while, Barret seemed like a good choice.

Tifa was added to the roster at a much later date, which Nomura makes sure to point out in that interview. He explains that while a lot of fans may think that they killed Aerith to replace her with Tifa, that was never the case.

Of course, of all the amazing party members in FF7, players would have hated to see Barret go. It seemed like, at least to some degree, Nomura came to the same conclusion. In what was described as a “very, very long” conversation between Nomura and Kitase, they eventually decided that killing off Barret was “too obvious“, and that, after much debate, they decided to “sacrifice Aerith.” Honestly, knowing the alternative was Barret, I’m extremely glad they decided to kill Aerith, as sad as her death is, because it is an infinitely more shocking choice.

Aerith’s Death In FF7 Is So Much More Shocking

It Is Way More Impactful

The main reason why I, and seemingly Nomura and Kitase, believe that Aerith dying over Barret is for the best is because you really don’t expect it. I mean, by this point, practically everyone knows it is coming, especially with FF7 being one of the best-selling Final Fantasy games of all time. However, at least at the time, and even now with those completely new to Rebirth, Sephiroth killing Aerith at such a pivotal moment, and after Cloud and her had grown so close, it was completely unexpected, a genuinely jaw-droppingly shocking moment unlike any other.

Nomura explained in that Electronic Gaming Monthly interview that previous Final Fantasy games had featured a typically heroic male character nobly sacrificing himself in order to help the party achieve their goals. It is a common trope in the JRPG genre, serving as both a learning moment for the protagonist and an easy way to tug at the heartstrings – I’ll never forget Vandham dying in the greatest RPG of all time, Xenoblade Chronicles 2. So, to avoid repeating the “brave, last-man standing, Barrett-type character” sacrificing themselves in Final Fantasy 7, Nomura and Kitase changed tactics.

To them, “Aerith’s death seemed more natural and realistic“, which I completely agree with. Barret would sacrifice himself without question, but that’s what makes Aerith’s death feel all the more real. She’s an optimistic, caring, gentle character, the kind you wouldn’t expect to die at all, let alone have a heroic death. So, she doesn’t. She’s cruelly taken by Sephiroth, which serves to cement his place as the most evil video game villain while still achieving the same tear-jerking reaction from the player. It is a death that makes Final Fantasy 7’s story feel completely unpredictable while still feeling earned.

FF7 Remake Plays With Barret’s Death

Sephiroth Kills Him

Unfortunately, Barret never managed to truly escape dying in Final Fantasy 7. There were a lot of key changes made to Barret in Final Fantasy 7 Remake, but one of the biggest was being killed by Sephiroth during the game’s climatic finale. He’s stabbed ruthlessly by the iconic Masamune, and genuinely dies. Of course, those who’ve played Rebirth – or didn’t give up the second he died – know that he comes back to life almost immediately, thanks to the Whispers reverting his fate to ensure that Cloud and Co. stick to Final Fantasy 7’s equivalent of the sacred timeline.

In a way, it feels like this was Nomura’s attempt at finally getting to kill Barret without fully committing to it. I feel like it surely must be a meta reference to that initial very long conversation between him and Kitase, which makes that scene immensely more enjoyable in hindsight. However, it also reinforces that killing Aerith was undeniably the right move. Whether or not Rebirth’s many story changes somewhat tarnished its version of her iconic death, it still feels just as impactful, in large part because of how sudden and utterly cruel it is.

Aerith doesn’t go out completely without reason, but her death doesn’t occur after she valiantly defends against Sephiroth, deflecting blows while defiantly fighting back. She just dies, a sword cutting through her like she’s just another enemy in Sephiroth’s way. Barret dying a noble death would have robbed Final Fantasy 7 of that cruelty, something that defines its latter half and helps to contextualize Cloud’s descent into delusion. As much as I don’t want Aerith to die in Final Fantasy 7, I’m sure glad it was her and not Barret.