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[Draugoth]

Speaking to Shack News, (via GamesRadar) the veteran developer is asked how the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth team approached Sephiroth's design regarding story and gameplay and how you present him as a hero of the time.

Nomura starts by saying that Sephiroth is a more prominent presence this time; "much more so than the original title." While Nomura also remarks that he's a character who "really moves the story along in a very immense and impactful way," he stops short there, saying you'll need to play Rebirth to see what that's all about.

With that cleared out of the way, Nomura ponders what makes the tall, long-haired bad boy so desirable to fans.

As far as Sephiroth being this extremely popular character, frankly, I'm very curious as to what makes him so attractive to users, because I hear this opinion very often," he says. "His appearance, firstly, I'm sure, but also perhaps there is something about his background that brings about a particular appeal to so many of the players that makes him this iconic character. And so, for Rebirth, I would think that besides Cloud, Sephiroth is also a protagonist that we can think of for this title.

Truly, a mystery.

 

[West Texas CEO]

Fans appreciate a good long sword.

 

[Kilau]

I wonder why.

 

[Thabass]

Fans appreciate a good long sword.

I do appreciate how long it is, but like I'm a big fan of Katana's and always have been. Samurai's have always been pretty interesting to me and Sephiroth is basically a hi-tech Samurai (in my opinion). I think for me, Sephiroth just looks badass. I have always loved the design of him. His background is really interesting too. Maybe not so much "attractive", but certainly interesting and intriguing.

I think the big thing for me is when I played the original Final Fantasy VII (and this was one of the first FF games for me when I started playing them in 2001/2002) is that he was DECIMATING enemies when "Cloud" was level 1 in the flashback. That's what really stood out for me. Sephiroth also couldn't be controlled and edited in anyway. He had this mystique to him and seeing him destroy other mobs with one shot normal attacks was just so cool to see.

 

[Danjin44]

Fans appreciate a good long sword.

Long live LS....

 

[Krappadizzle]

Sepiroth was the perfect character for the late 90's post-grunge/alt rock antagonists for a lot of 11-14 y/o's at the time and they perpetuated that "coolness" over time until it was forced to stick.

Plus, he's bad ass with that super dope-ass sword.

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

One of my favorite GameFAQs shitposts:

Sephiroth Would Be Stronger if He Didn't Use a Kitaner - Final Fantasy VII Remake

For Final Fantasy VII Remake on the PlayStation 4, a GameFAQs message board topic titled "Sephiroth Would Be Stronger if He Didn't Use a Kitaner".

gamefaqs.gamespot.com

Kitaners are the worst swords, historically. No, really. They weren't folded 1000 times to imbue them with magical properties, it's because the steel was so f***ing impure.

Samurai used them as status symbols and peasant execution tools; kitaners weren't really used for combat. Polearms etc were more commonly used in combat.

Kitaners get by on rule of cool. And that's why I can't take sephiroth seriously as a villain

 

[Comandr]

Long live LS....

Instantly recognizable SunhiLegend gif. His style is so evident.

On topic: I'm sick of Sephiroth. He was a better villain when he was in the shadows. Twisted and unknowable. Like, how did Sephiroth get the Midgar Zolom up that tree? Who knows. But the scene comes off otherworldly, unsettling. And that's effective storytelling. Sometimes you don't need to understand and sympathize with a villain for them to be a good villain.

 

[West Texas CEO]

"Kitaner" ?

lmao!

 

[TidusYuna]

All the characters in FF7 are very very good looking people.

 

[Elder Legend]

Fans appreciate a good long sword.

I have a good long sword in my pants. Does that count?

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

Instantly recognizable SunhiLegend gif. His style is so evident.

On topic: I'm sick of Sephiroth. He was a better villain when he was in the shadows. Twisted and unknowable. Like, how did Sephiroth get the Midgar Zolom up that tree? Who knows. But the scene comes off otherworldly, unsettling. And that's effective storytelling. Sometimes you don't need to understand and sympathize with a villain for them to be a good villain.

Yeah it was awesome when he was mysterious. When you escape from the prison in Shinra HQ and find president Shinra stabbed to death and the whole scope of the conflict changes. Then you get to Kalm and Cloud finally tells you about Sephiroth and it just deepens the mystery.

With Remake they were like “hey people really liked Sephiroth, let’s have Sephiroth show up in the first 30 minutes and start spouting off some Nomura bullshit, they’ll really like that!”

 

[A.Romero]

I'm a big fan and can think of three reasons:

1) His design is very very cool. Probably my favourite from the FF series
2) The way he displayed powere (even back in 1997) was just amazing. He really felt like a threat. Just like Homelander feels in The Boys.
3) I think his approach was right given the circunstances. People were fucking the planet up so it was important to let it heal by destroying the pest

 

[violence]

In the first game, he had a mystique. The flashback really made you go “whoa”. He was also crazy in a cool way. The guy was way too powerful to be that crazy. Oh shit Sephiroth music, shit is on. I think the designers knew he was cool, because everything about him (looks and music) was nailed and they gave him crazy shit to do. He wasn’t doing stupid stuff like the remake.

At the time I also really liked the metal gear solid cyborg ninja. He was also crazy and had a sword.

 

[Comandr]

Yeah it was awesome when he was mysterious. When you escape from the prison in Shinra HQ and find president Shinra stabbed to death and the whole scope of the conflict changes. Then you get to Kalm and Cloud finally tells you about Sephiroth and it just deepens the mystery.

With Remake they were like “hey people really liked Sephiroth, let’s have Sephiroth show up in the first 30 minutes and start spouting off some Nomura bullshit, they’ll really like that!”

That killed me in FF7R when he shows up in the beginning and seemingly freezes time to talk to only cloud and is like

I'm really afraid with Rebirth they are going to just lean in to all the nonsense. I really liked what I saw from the last trailer, but I'm afraid that's a very surface level view. Aside from the lighting. Fix the fucking lighting SE. God damn.

 

[Fbh]

Nomura when he hears people like a character that isn't wearing 48 belts.

 

[Spukc]

Big dick energy vibes in FF7

 

[Js562]

I wonder why.

Aw shit . Them fools are gay lol

 

[violence]

My theory is the creators of the original FF7 found Sephiroth cool. They legit liked the character.

The creators of FF7 remake find Sephiroth attractive. That’s why Cloud is surrounded by hot women, but dreams of Sephiroth.

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

I wonder why.

Would be more accurate if the dude was getting tag teamed by Sephiroth + Cloud

 

[Papa_Wisdom]

I call my wang Sephiroth and wave it around at any given opportunity, My gf looks at me in awe, eyes wide open jaw on the floor as I’m windmilling in front of her.

No shame

 

[Salmon Snake]

No wonder Nomura overused Sephiroth in the Remake.

Btw. I don't get Nomura.

 

[Kilau]

Would be more accurate if the dude was getting tag teamed by Sephiroth + Cloud

 

[Neff]

I'm sick of Sephiroth. He was a better villain when he was in the shadows. Twisted and unknowable. Like, how did Sephiroth get the Midgar Zolom up that tree? Who knows. But the scene comes off otherworldly, unsettling. And that's effective storytelling. Sometimes you don't need to understand and sympathize with a villain for them to be a good villain.

Modern Sephiroth sucks. These days he's little more than a smirking homoerotic tormentor for Cloud and Cloud alone.

In the original game though? Legitimately intimidating. Insane, unpredictable, powerful without match and indiscriminately cruel. I miss that guy.

 

[Jinzo Prime]

Sephiroth is a Satan analog.

Satan is all about lust, desire, sin, etc, and Sephiroth encapsulates that very well.

 

[The Last One]

I wonder why.

I would trade Seph’s long sword for Barret’s big gun.

 

[Northeastmonk]

Where does he get his comments from? I’ve never heard that before.

 

[Gameplay Gods Bless]

Modern Sephiroth sucks. These days he's little more than a smirking homoerotic tormentor for Cloud and Cloud alone.

In the original game though? Legitimately intimidating. Insane, unpredictable, powerful without match and indiscriminately cruel. I miss that guy.

Yea Im glad I decided to play the original before Remake. Remakes changes are awful, the writing took such a nose dive compared to the original.

 

[MikeM]

Would be more accurate if the dude was getting tag teamed by Sephiroth + Cloud

I would trade Seph’s long sword for Barret’s big gun.

Balancing out the gay with the hetero. I got you fam!