Many have written me, concerned:
Aerith dies. You can't bring her back.
You ask that I start a petition--after all, my first one worked! Square
rushed the game, you say, and released it before it was finished.
Originally, you could bring her back! Make Square give us the TRUE Final
Fantasy VII!
And I smile and politely go about my day's business. But, lately, I have
received too many of these letters to ignore them, and I must I make my
views known.
Square is a video game publisher: they make games. Why? To make money.
But, then, why are movies made? TV shows aired? Books published? Magazines
written? Newspapers produced? For the same reason: to make money. Only a
fool, however, would argue that no important movie or book had ever been
made. Rightful works of art have appeared in each medium. And Square has
done more than any other video game publisher to move video games out of
the realm of mere children's entertainment and into their rightful place
alongside other media.
Square delayed the release of Final Fantasy VII by a full month. They have
also delayed the release of Final Fantasy Tactics, SaGa Frontier, Bushido
Blade, and Tobal 2. Every Playstation game announced to date! Their
profits for the year took a serious hit. Their stock value wavered. Yet
the games were delayed because a substandard product would not be worthy
of the Square name.
But Square, sadly, can't delay games forever. Final Fantasy VI's ending
was originally to have an Amano sketch for each character, but cartridge
limitations demanded they be cut. Chrono Trigger's End of Time was to be
majestic and crystalline. Characters such as Janus and Schala were,
tragically, cut at the last moment. And who knows what other parts of
Square's games never made the final cut? Square cannot always put
everything they want into a game; eventually, they must say "the game is
finished" and release it.
Some still insist the game is unfinished. I should start a petition to
demand the game be "fixed," they say. These people misunderstand the
power of the petition.
The Final Fantasy VII Translation Petition asked for fair and equitable
treatment. It asked that the game not be censored or cut; that it remain
in its original form; that Americans receive, finally, a Final Fantasy
game the way it was written. The petition was succesful, and I am proud
to have supported it, because it asked for justice.
A petition to demand the insertion of Aerith's ressurection, however,
would ask for preferencial treatment. It would selfishly demand more than
others have already received. It would ask Square to retouch a finished
product at gamers' whims. It would ask for these things out of greed, and
I cannot support it.
Square offers you the Venus de Milo, and you would send it back because it
has no arms.
There are rumors that an alternative, superior ending exists, unaccessible
because of Aerith's permanent death. Those rumors are nothing but LIES.
The ending you see is the ending Square originally intended: the largest
movie file on the third disc. The ending, as well, is perfectly
satisfactory; there's nothing "lackluster" about it. A "better" ending
(with Aerith ressurected) is an impossibility. If she had been
ressurected, then she would commit suicide before the end. This is true!
Cloud would try to stop her and fail, for her death is inevitable. Aerith
knew her death was absolutely necessary. Do not presume to know more than
she.
And most importantly . . . Aerith should stay dead.
A dying man needs to die, as a sleepy man needs to sleep, and
there comes a time when it is wrong, as well as useless, to resist.
- Steward AlsopAerith's death is a tragedy. I truly do believe this. So was Tellah's. So
was General Leo's. So was the death of every person who ever sacrificed
themselves for a greater cause. But unlike deaths in previous Square
games, Aerith's death carries long-lasting repercussions that echo long
after her passing. For Aerith did not die senselessly. Aerith meant to
die.
Some people are so afraid to die that they never begin to live.
- Henry Van DykeAerith knew her actions would mean her end. But she faced death anyway,
aware that only in death could she avert the coming disaster and save her
world. She gave her life intentionally, purposefully, and with full
knowledge of the consequences. No one ever, EVER forgets that; the
tragedy of her loss is what keeps the small party together.
Do not go gentle into that good night
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
- Dylan ThomasEven in death her presence is felt. Her memory guides and leads the party
on its quest. Her spirit appears in silent reminder of her selfless act.
Aerith died. She died! And she died honorably.
Dear, beauteous death, the jewel of the just!
- Henry VaughanIf Prince Hamlet came back from the dead, would his indecision be
meaningful? If King Lear recovered, would we learn from his folly? And if
Aerith were disinterred mere hours after her death, would her sacrifice
have any importance? Square should be honored that the death of a
character brings about this outcry. It is touching testament to the
games' power: the characters are truly loved. And grief is a natural
reaction to the death of a loved one. As is denial. Now, Square fans
must proceed to the next stage: acceptance.
Do not stand at my grave and weep. I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sun on ripened grain. I am the soothing, gentle rain.
When you awake in morning hush, I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry. I am not there. I did not die.
- AnonymousAerith Gainsborough gave her life so that the world might live. May she
rest in peace.
. . . she smiled, in the end.
- Cloud Strife
