Is Humanity Wiped Out at the End of Final Fantasy VII?
The unequivocal answer is yes: based on the scenes shown in FF7‘s original credits and post-credits ending, humanity does appear to be extinct on Gaia by 500 years into the future. No human life is shown to remain as nature retakes the Planet. But context is crucial – this extinction sets the stage for Gaia‘s rebirth and is not framed as an inherent tragedy within FF7. Rather, it suggests that for the Planet to truly heal, humanity‘s damaging presence must end.
As a long-time FF7 fan, I have analyzed the game’s closing scenes in depth across forums and made some surprising discoveries about humanity’s fate. While nihilistic, the disappearance of humankind allowsGaia’s own will to prosper – the Lifestream and nature itself endure asthe “children” of the Planet.
Examining Humanity‘s Absence at the End of Play
Final Fantasy VII culminates with Cloud Strife’s group defeating the megalomaniacal Sephiroth as he attempts meteor-fueled destruction of the Planet. The subsequent scenes clearly show humans vanishing, especially in the critical post-credits sequence:
- Ancient ruins overrun the Shinra metropolis Midgar – no civilization is shown.
- Nanaki (Red XIII) races alone with two cubs (his offspring or new companions).
- The scenes imply 500 years passing as the Planet is finally healing, but with no human presence.
Table 1: Timeline of Events and Scenes in FF7‘s Ending
| Year | Key Events | Evidence of Humanity? |
|---|---|---|
| 0007 | Meteorfall averted | Yes – Cloud and allies present |
| 0007 | Midgar ruins shown | No signs of civilization or humans |
| 5007 | Red XIII shown with cubs | No humans; nature reclaimed Midgar |
Per Table 1‘s summary, no definitive human activity or population remains in the ending scenes–only Nanaki’s kind is witnessed 500 years later. While this disappearance should devastate the Planet’s “children,” including Nanaki, all signs instead point to the planet healing with time now that humanity has passed.
This nihilistic fate suggests an ecocentric view where humankind’s presence, especially the domination of technology and Mako energy harvesting, obstructs the Planet‘s health – a popular topic analyzed on gaming forums. With this lens, removing humans allows Gaia’s own interests, manifested as the Lifestream and entities like Nanaki, to recover.
What Does Extended Universe Media Reveal?
Digging further into Advent Children and other FF7 compilation titles from the 2000s onward, humanity is very much present again despite FF7‘s original extinction event. While some fans argue these scenes were visions of the future rather than literal events, evidence clearly shows humans persisting:
- Advent Children (2005) – Much of humanity returns as Midgar is resettled, though greatly weakened. Conflict with Sephiroth’s remnants proceed.
- Dirge of Cerberus (2006) – Human civilization continues 3 years after FF7‘s end; the Planet remains imperiled.
- Crisis Core (2007) – Serves as a FF7 prequel where Zack Fair mentors a young Cloud as Shinra SOLDIER members.
Throughout these intertwined titles, the state of humanity fluctuates but people survive; the central conflict shifts from Sephiroth threatening planetary destruction to Shinra seeking control despite weakening life on Gaia. Disease periodically culls human numbers, yet civilization endures. As a passionate gamer, I‘ve come to several conclusions:
- The expanded universe "retcons" FF7‘s complete human extinction in favor of new drama and character backgrounds for fans.
- With compilation titles focused on new threats that risk the Planet‘s welfare, humanity shifting from outright destructive to precariously surviving makes logical sense narratively.
- The Planet itself takes a back seat as extended universe media emphasizes personal stories versus Gaia‘s broader fate.
So in the end, while FF7‘s credits clearly depict humanity fading to allow ecological rebirth, later titles re-introduce people in diminished numbers. This likely reflects nostalgic fan preferences despite the ecocentrism of the planet healing itself by removing humankind in FF7‘s finale.
Thematic Implications: A Purposeful Apocalypse
As a games writer, the complex implications of FF7‘s ending fascinate me. Why would the game‘s creators show humankind disappearing completely if they never planned for this extinction to endure?
Analyzing scenes through an eco-critical lens as well as considering fan reactions, I believe the loss of humanity serves a vital narrative purpose outside enabling Gaia‘s revival:
- It creates an apocalypticsetting where the Planet itself holds dominance.
- This reminds that the Planet has interests beyond human utility, especially as its sentience manifests as the marshaling Lifestream.
- Having humanity "reset" elevates Planet-oriented entities like Nanaki as stewards.
- When civilizations return later on, the precariousness of human survival without planetary alignment persists.
Similar mechanics feature in other franchises like Horizon Zero Dawn where robotic life prevails after an extinction event, creating philosophical questions about sustainability and legacy. Despite humanity’s eventual return even after FF7, its fleeting place in the Planet’s destiny cannot be denied.
So to conclusively answer the driving question: yes, humanity disappears by Final Fantasy VII‘s ending according to the scenes revealed during the credits and post-credits. Not until later compilation titles do any human characters re-emerge on a Planet that has overgrown cities and civilization.
Yet rather than a nihilistic void, the loss of humans allows Gaia‘s spirit to heal, even if temporarily. This motif elevates the voices of Planet-bound entities like Red XIII who become stewards in humanity‘s wake. Ultimately, FF7‘s ending compels players to reflect on civilization’s fragility against greater ecological forces – as well as how the Planet perseveres even if humankind proves as ephemeral as whispers in the Lifestream.
