Tifa Lockhart Day has come and gone through the Final Fantasy 7 fan community, and as a result has brought back the endless collection of fan artists who have reimagined Midgar's favorite bartender. One recent reimagining went viral as a result, with fans excited to see the Short Hair Tifa meme return, even if it's for just the few days that artists and fans continue to share this version of the character.
As fans continue to spread this version of the character, however, Square Enix could look into some of what the artists have created and let these homages influence the game in some meaningful way. Specifically, this fan reaction to the redesign of Tifa with short hair in Final Fantasy 7 Remake shows that there is a demand from the series for players being able to customize how different characters look in future episodes.
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Character Customization in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2
A level of character customization in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2 could go a long way to help separate this new version from the classic title and the limitations that came with the original PlayStation. Giving players the chance to make Cloud and company look however they want, with long or short hair, or even something as simple as new clothes, could enhance some of Final Fantasy 7's best moments. There is already a flair of personality that comes with seeing the new HD versions of classic characters wielding new weapons in different cutscenes, but at the moment there's little else that players can customize or change.
Exactly how far this goes would be up to Square Enix, but the options for different clothing and hairstyle settings are fairly extensive, even with the models already built into the game. Some of the dress options in Final Fantasy 7 Remake give Tifa and Aerith new hair and outfit options that are rendered in-engine, and that's not even to mention what these dresses do for Cloud. Looking beyond the player controlled segments, there is also a model of Tifa in her tour guide outfit from Nibelheim in the remake already, which could also make for an incredible alternate costume.
Previous Final Fantasy Titles with Customization
Looking at the series as a whole, there isn't exactly a long history of Final Fantasy titles that have given players very elaborate options for customization. However, more recent and upcoming titles, like Final Fantasy 14 and Final Fantasy 15, as well as Strangers of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, have explored how players might determine the customization of their characters. The most detailed version of this comes from the MMO Final Fantasy 14, although the full extent of Strangers of Paradise's customization isn't entirely known yet, as the game has still yet to release much information after the initial demo.
In the case of Final Fantasy 14's characters, however, the customization is extensive, with players able to swap out their favorite armor and even dye their clothes to a specific color. Some players will seek out and dress themselves in whatever gear they consider to look the best and dye it into their own favorite colors. Others have been known to take the customization a step farther, essentially paying homage to or cosplaying as characters from different fictional canons, from old Final Fantasy titles to the fantasy series Game of Thrones.
On the other end of the customization spectrum, giving players the option to change their outfits, but limits the exact ins and outs of what players can control, is Final Fantasy 15. For this title, Square Enix took the route of having the game offer variant outfits for the player to equip, some of which gave stat bonuses and deficits depending on which one the player chooses. This did also open the door for paid DLC in the form of these cosmetic upgrades, such as some fancy new clothes for Noctis, and extra paint and decals for Final Fantasy 15's Regalia.
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How Customizing Can Enhance FF7 Remake's Endgame
One of the strongest parts of Final Fantasy 7 Remake is the endgame, from the Final Fantasy 7 Remake's killer hard mode, to the new boss fights only available after completion. The hunt for FF7 Remake's platinum trophy might not be something that draws in every player, but for those that do enjoy that extra challenge, it can take up well over half of their total playtime due to the need to replay several chapters. In this case, where one of the key aspects of the game's longevity is the replayability, giving players the ability to customize how they look in these post-game hours can make the task much more enjoyable.
Whereas hunting down all nine dresses in Final Fantasy 7 Remake can sometimes feel like going through the motions for the sake of a simple trophy, making each attempt a new adventure can keep the task interesting every time. It would be a smaller adjustment overall, but it can make rewatching the same cutscene for the third or fourth time in a row fun in different ways, depending on the new outfit. From here, there are a few options that Square Enix could take in order to open up this ability to customize each subsequent playthrough of each episode, possibly even allowing carryover from one installment into the next.
Looking back at the older games that have introduced customization, the easiest option would be to simply allow for a model swap that gives players the choice of outfits that have already been shown in-game, such as Tifa's tour guide outfit. However, a more comprehensive level of customization (like hair length options, or different clothes) would certainly be appreciated by fans. Of course, if the idea was to really give players what they want, drawing from Final Fantasy 14's creation options or Final Fantasy 13: Lightning Returns' Garbs in order to provide full customization options could be the way to go.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake is available now for PS4 and PS5.
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