Cid Highwind joins theFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthparty as a guest character, ferrying Cloud Strife and the gang across Gaia in his Tiny Bronco. For fans of the originalFinal Fantasy 7, it was surprising to see the last obtainable party member performing as a glorified taxi service, but his inclusion in the game was welcomed nonetheless. AsFF7 Rebirthends, Cloud and the group prepare to depart in a fixed Tiny Bronco to their next destination. With Cid still helming the transport,he is almost certainly going to be a playable character inPart 3.
What role Cid will play inPart 3is still up in the air. Not much of his character’s history has been shown and, with a change to his introduction and characterization,it is impossible to predict how Square Enix will tell his story.Cid’s role in the original goes from washed-up pilot to secondary leader, but inRebirthhe is a transportation device with a curious connection to Aerith. If Square Enix adapted his backstory inPart 3into the freshFinal Fantasyfranchise, it would only need to change Cid’s perspective rather than the events from the original.
The New Cid Highwind Barely Resembles the Original
Constant Rage & Cursing Has Been Replaced By Jovial Charm
In the originalFinal Fantasy 7, Cid is considered a cynical and easily riled character. He constantly throws curses at his assistant, Shera, and has been downtrodden by Shinra through bureaucracy and budget cuts. He is rarely seen without a cigarette between his teeth and an insult on his tongue, though this personality was partly the result of his backstory. The original Cid had his dream of being the first person in space crushed, followed by his inventions being nabbed by Shinra -this is yet to be confirmed for the new Cid.
For the new direction of theFinal Fantasy 7franchise, Cid’s change is an understandable consequence. The overly aggressive washed-up pilot would have struggled to find a place within the current dynamic of the game’s party and his treatment of other characters may have alienated him in themore character-driven narrative ofRebirthandRemake. Even if a drastic change of personality to a more charming Han Solo-style persona, with a bit of a fiery vocabulary at times, is far off what players may have expected, it may not change his backstory as drastically.
How Cid’s Backstory Could be Adjusted
Changes May Be Smaller Than Expected
FF7 Rebirthhas revealed very little about Cid’s backstory; only his meeting with Ilfana, Aerith Gainsborough’s mother, has been noted. Cid wants to do whatever he can to help Aerith in Ilfana’s memory, but the sentiment implied more than was explained. For Cid to stick with the party simply from a past meeting with Ilfana many years ago seems like a shallow excuse, implying a deeper connection which requires some exploration. If Cid is still fromFF7’s iconic Rocket Town, this past may have some light shone on it, alongside the rest of Cid’s history, when the party ultimately reaches the new location.
FF7 Rebirth’s World Makes No Sense, But Gaia Never Did To Begin With
One element in particular doesn’t add up, but it doesn’t necessarily need to, especially when considering the original game’s approach.
What could be similar to that of the original is Cid’s dream. He is still a former employee of Shinra and may have unfulfilled ambitions of traveling into space. The change may come from his characterization rather than the events, adapting how Cid has come to terms with being unable to soar into the stars. As a self-proclaimed master of land, sea and air,there is one area still missing from his résumé - space. IfPart 3adapts Cid’s history instead of completely altering it, his maturer perception of the world stops him developing his recklessly rude behaviors.
Cid Will Still Be A Leader In Part 3
With His New Personality, He May Be Better Suited
Due to Cloud’s descent into the Lifestream and Tifa taking care of him in the latter part of the originalFinal Fantasy 7, the party is left leaderless. Out of the remaining characters,the only one who stood out as a potential leader was Cid.Barret Wallace refused, understanding his previous role as the Leader of AVALANCHE got people killed, including Jessie, Biggs, and Wedge. Cid reluctantly agrees during the hunt for the Huge Materia. By this point, Cid had fought alongside the party from the Temple of the Anicents and not waited outside likeRebirth’s version.
If a similar story arc occurs inPart 3, Cid is still the most likely candidate for party leader. He is less emotionally involved with the party and this gives him an outside perspective on how to rally the troops with theloss of two valued members in Tifaand Cloud. With his redesigned personality, he shows an ability to adapt under pressure and a willingness to get the job done with a smile, reassuring and guiding the party, such as when the Tiny Bronco failed mid-flight. Even as a guest character inFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Cid has already proven vital to the party’s success.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is the sequel to Final Fantasy 7 Remake and will see Cloud and his friends set off beyond the walls of Midgar to explore the world, stop Sephiroth’s machinations, and see the world outside their slum prison. Now that the whispers of fate no longer guide the characters along the pre-destined path set in the original PlayStation classic Final Fantasy 7, the heroes (and villains) will shape the future. The game will still visit prominent locales and revisit crucial story points, but it will be a more significant departure from the first game from the source material.
