Zack Fair

Zack Fair
Final Fantasy character

Zack Fair in Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, holding the Buster Sword.
First game Final Fantasy VII (1997)
Created by Kazushige Nojima
Designed by Tetsuya Nomura
Voiced by (English) Rick Gomez
Voiced by (Japanese) Kenichi Suzumura (Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts series)
Nozomu Sasaki (Ehrgeiz)
Fictional profile
Class/Job SOLDIER 1st Class
Weapon Broadsword
Race Human

Zack Fair (ザックス・フェア Zakkusu Fea) is a fictional character first introduced as a non-player character in the 1997 role-playing video game Final Fantasy VII by Square (now Square Enix), and subsequently expanded upon in the metaseries Compilation of Final Fantasy VII.

In the original game, Zack is a late member of the paramilitary organization SOLDIER, the military wing of the megacorporation Shinra. During the game, Zack is revealed to have been Aerith Gainsborough's first boyfriend, as well as a friend of Cloud Strife, the game's protagonist. Zack ultimately died in the weeks leading up to the opening of the game protecting Cloud from Shinra's army after they had escaped from imprisonment and being the subjects of genetic experimentation. He is the second owner of the Buster Sword (バスターソード Basutā Sōdo), and wielded it before Cloud, giving it to him as he died. Zack also appears in the Compilation titles Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII, Last Order: Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children and, most significantly, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, a prequel in which he is the protagonist.

Zack Fair was originally not a part of Final Fantasy VII. However, scenario writer Kazushige Nojima wanted to bring a sense of mystery to the title, and created the character to help complicate Cloud's backstory. He was designed by Tetsuya Nomura, and his name derived from "fair weather," to contrast with Cloud Strife's name. With Zack's conceptual backstory in place for Final Fantasy VII, the staff decided to use Compilation of Final Fantasy VII to expand upon his character. Zack is voiced by Kenichi Suzumura in Japanese and Rick Gomez in English. Suzumura was chosen specifically by Nomura for his voice, and was given the role without an audition. Western critics have praised Zack's character, commenting on his development since Final Fantasy VII.

Concept and creation

Zack did not exist in the original scenario of Final Fantasy VII, but was created only when scenario writer Kazushige Nojima decided to add some mystery to the plot, most notably in relation to Cloud Strife's background.[1] Nojima had always planned for Cloud Strife's memories of his life to be proven false as the game went on, but he had not decided on how to implement this until he hit on the character of Zack. Nojima also used Zack to link Cloud and Aerith Gainsborough, as Aerith had seen something of Zack in Cloud. Zack was Aerith's first boyfriend, thus creating an emotional connection between herself and Cloud, because he reminds her of him. Originally, the role of her first boyfriend was to have been fulfilled by the game's antagonist Sephiroth. As the game continued in its development, Nojima worked out the mysteries regarding Zack and Cloud, which led to some of the scenes in the game needing revision. Director Yoshinori Kitase was surprised by the revelation of Cloud's and Zack's connection, as until the later stages of development, even he did not know about Zack. Character designer Tetsuya Nomura got the request to design Zack when Final Fantasy VII was reaching the end of development. Prior to the late addition of Zack, Nojima had asked the staff to add details to some scenes so as to give clues about him, despite the fact that he did not reveal to the staff Zack's existence until later.[1]

Zack appears as a young man with spiky black hair, standing 6 feet 3 inches (191 cm) tall.[2] He wears the SOLDIER 1st class uniform, consisting of a black, sleeveless turtleneck, black boots, and armor. In Crisis Core, Zack has two attires; his Final Fantasy VII outfit and a different outfit worn during the start of the game, which he changes after fighting Angeal Hewley.[3] Zack's full name was first revealed in an article in Dengeki PlayStation. Nomura stated that Zack's name was derived from 'fair weather' and specifically chosen because it contrasted with Cloud Strife's name.[4]

For Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, Zack made only a couple of brief appearances, and as such, was not difficult to animate; the team had also acquired his design early in production, allowing modeling of his character to be taken care of.[5] Nomura had wanted Zack to have a "nice, upbeat voice," which influenced his decision to cast Kenichi Suzumura.[5] Beforehand, Nomura had had dinner with Suzumura, where he had decided that "at that point [Nomura] wanted him to be in one of his projects if the opportunity ever presented itself." Suzumura was offered the role without an audition. Nomura explained that, because Zack had been chosen to be the lead in Last Order: Final Fantasy VII, he needed "someone who could handle [the] role well."[5] The staff used Last Order as an opportunity to portray Zack "properly" as a "handsome, light-hearted man [who] was in everyone's memory."[6] In English, Zack is voiced by Rick Gomez.[7]

In an interview with IGN whilst promoting Crisis Core, Yoshinori Kitase explained that when the original game was created, "Zack was a rather minor character," although Nomura had created art design, and Nojima had created a "basic concept of [Zack's] story."[8] Kitase further explained that "you could say that the idea [for the storyline of Crisis Core] has been cooking for 10 years."[8] Before Crisis Core began development, the staff had planned to create a PlayStation Portable port of Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII, but soon changed their minds to create a game that focused on Zack, whose fate was already predetermined; fans knew how the game was going to end.[1][9] Throughout the game, the staff decided to use a blue sky in cutscenes to represent Zack, while other features in such scenes are meant to symbolize his connections. A number of Zack's actions from the game were also designed so as to augment the similarities that Aerith finds between him and Cloud in Final Fantasy VII.[3] Zack and Cloud's connection was also meant to be expanded upon near the game's ending, with both of them planning to flee to Midgar. However, due to limitations in the console's hardware, these scenes could not be implemented, and instead, they decided to focus on Zack's role as a warrior.[10]

Appearances

Zack had only a small role in the original Final Fantasy VII. He is first mentioned by name in Gongaga, his hometown, where his parents are oblivious as to what became of him after he left to join SOLDIER, and are worried for his safety after not hearing from him for years. It is at this point that Aerith explains Zack was her first love.[11] Cloud later realizes that some of his memories and even aspects of his personality were actually Zack's, and not his own.[12] Flashbacks reveal that both Zack and Cloud battled Sephiroth after he burned the town of Nibelheim upon discovering he was the result of a scientific experiment. After Cloud defeated Sephiroth, both Zack and Cloud were taken to be used in experiments by Shinra. Eventually, Zack woke up and was able to escape with a semi-conscious Cloud to the city Midgar, but on the edge of the city, he was gunned down by Shinra troops.[2] While Zack's and Cloud's flashback escape is optional in the North American and European releases of Final Fantasy VII and the Japanese International version,[13] it was originally planned to be shown once Cloud discovered the results of Shinra's experiments.[14]

Zack's character and backstory is expanded upon throughout the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII. In the prequel game Before Crisis, Zack supports Shinra in their fight against the eco-terrorist group AVALANCHE. During the game, two of his SOLDIER acquaintances are captured and experimented upon, and though Zack is able to bring them back to their senses, he is unable to save them. Zack also makes an appearance during the chapter covering the Nibelheim incident, and later as a boss character when he and Cloud are fugitives from Shinra and are being pursued by the Turks.[2] The OVA Last Order: Final Fantasy VII follows Zack and Cloud's journey to Midgar with flashbacks of the Nibelheim incident.[15] Zack also has a small role in the film sequel Advent Children, where most of his appearances are flashbacks from Cloud's point of view. He also appears at the end of the film, where he and the now deceased Aerith speak to Cloud.[2] In the director's cut version, Advent Children Complete, his role is expanded, and he makes an appearance during Cloud's battle with Sephiroth. His death is also shown in the film, where he gives Cloud the Buster Sword and tells him to become his "living legacy".[16]

Zack is the protagonist of Crisis Core, a prequel to Final Fantasy VII, which deals primarily with Zack's backstory. In the game, Zack is trained as a SOLDIER by his close friend, Angeal Hewley, and hopes to become a hero while working for Shinra.[17] When Angeal, and another SOLDIER, Genesis Rhapsodos, betray Shinra, Zack and Sephiroth are dispatched to kill them, but they decide to avoid doing that if possible.[18][19] He and Sephiroth learn that both Angeal and Genesis were the result of a Shinra experiment called "Project G", where they were injected with Jenova cells prior to being born in an effort to create perfect SOLDIERs. However, both Angeal and Genesis are suffering from secondary effects which led them to antagonize Shinra in the hopes of finding a cure.[20][21] In the course of the game, Zack befriends Cloud and begins dating Aerith.[2][22] During a mission to find Angeal and Genesis, Angeal forces Zack to kill him, as he wants to stop hurting people because of his mutations. Before dying, Angeal thanks Zack for stopping him and gives him his Buster Sword.[23] Later, while Zack and Sephiroth search for Genesis and the former Shinra scientist Dr. Hollander, they go to Nibelheim where Sephiroth learns that he too was the result of genetic experimentation involving Jenova. The game then depicts the Nibelheim incident, leading to Zack and Cloud being taken captive and subjected to experiments themselves.[24] Four years pass, Zack and Cloud are able to escape, and Zack learns that Genesis has come to believe the only way he can be cured is by being injected with Sephiroth's cells. As Sephiroth is thought dead, the only source of these cells is now Cloud, and Zack realises that Genesis plans to kill Cloud.[25][26] Zack decides to stop Genesis, and after defeating him, he and Cloud head to Midgar, where he hopes to be reunited with Aerith.[27] However, Zack and Cloud are intercepted by Shinra infantry, and Zack is killed. In his dying breath, Zack gives the Buster Sword to Cloud, telling him to be his living legacy.[28] As Cloud stumbles off towards Midgar, Zack is pulled into the sky by Angeal, and wonders if he has become a hero.[29]

Zack has served as the basis for several forms of merchandise, such as being pictured on the Final Fantasy VII 10th Anniversary Potion soft drink cans.[30][31] Outside the Final Fantasy VII series, Zack is an unlockable character in the PlayStation version of the fighting game Ehrgeiz, where is playable in arcade, versus, and minigame events.[32] He made his debut appearance in the Kingdom Hearts series in the prequel Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep for the PlayStation Portable, where he has a more youthful appearance than in his Final Fantasy incarnation. He is featured prominently in the Olympus Coliseum, commonly participating in tournaments in order to achieve his dream of becoming a hero.[33] As the game is a prequel to the other Kingdom Hearts titles, the staff chose him as they wanted a character from a Final Fantasy prequel.[34]

Reception

Critical response to Zack's character has generally been positive. In IGN's 2008 list of Final Fantasy VII top ten characters list, Zack made sixth place, with IGN's Dave Smith noting that "his check-out scene in Crisis Core is just about as epic as it gets in videogames."[35] In 2010, Famitsu readers voted Zack as the 37th most popular video game character in Japan.[36] GamesRadar's Jim Sterling found Zack to be one of video game's most sexually appealing male characters due to his personality and look.[37] In 2013, Complex ranked Zack as the 18th greatest Final Fantasy character of all time, as well as the sixth greatest soldier in video games.[38][39]

Zack's role in Crisis Core has received a mainly positive reaction. IGN's Ryan Clements particularly praised Zack's relationships with the other main characters.[40] 1UP.com's Jeremy Parish agreed with Clements, arguing that Zack's story contrasted with other RPG plots, calling it "the heart of the game."[41] Kevin VanOrd from GameSpot labelled Zack a "likable and complex hero," arguing that he "transcends the usual spiky-haired heroism and teenage angst with an uncommon maturity that develops as the game continues."[42] GameSpy's Gerald Villoria described Zack as "King of the Nice Guys," noting that even though he can be a "pretty hate-worthy character if you're the jaded type who mocks the typical Final Fantasy storyline," players who dislike him could come to appreciate him.[43] Zack was also called an "endearing main character" by Game Revolution who stated that despite what the character goes through during the game, he still retains his friendly attitude.[44] Like other reviewers, RPGamer viewed him to have the "full, soulful carriage of a Final Fantasy hero" due to his personal conflicts, despite his "artfully teased hair and devil-may-care grin."[45] Although Eurogamer's Simon Parkin found Zack's physical appearance to be highly similar to Cloud's, he added that "this fan service doesn't put a foot wrong until he reaches into his [Zack's] pocket, pulls out a mobile phone and speaks."[46] He also praised Zack's English voice actor for doing a good job, noting "his character's maturing and developing over the 15-hour storyline."[47] IGN AU's Patrick Kolan agreed, calling Rick Gomez's work as "pretty likeable."[48] GamesRadar's AJ Glasser commented that the way Zack obtains the Buster Sword and the way he gives it to Cloud is the "ultimate payoff" of Crisis Core, stating that the fact gamers know how the game will end is a serious detraction.[49] When Ayaka finished the song "Why" for Crisis Core, she mentioned that she wanted to deliver it alongside Zack's fate "to the hearts of many people."[50] IGN UK's Dave McCarthy noted how Zack's role in the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII evolved as the series developed, to the point of him getting his own game.[51]

On the other hand, PSXextreme's Ben Dutka, felt that Zack was not worthy of his own game, believing that only players with "halfway decent memories" and a "hardcore completionist mentality" will be able to remember Zack's appearances in the original Final Fantasy VII.[52] IGN UK expressed a mixed opinion about the character, feeling his personality was sometimes annoying, although it served to contrast with the serious attitudes of the other main characters.[51] Similarly, VideoGamer.com's Wesley Yin-Poole called Zack Cloud's "identical twin in all but hair colour," and complained about his personality being "annoying" during the first half of the game.[53] Destructoid agreed, telling players not to expect to enjoy Zack if they do not like "cocky teenagers," and even labelling him an "annoying cockhole."[54] Gameplanet criticized Rick Gomez' acting, finding it more immature than they expected.[55] PALGN called Zack an unfamiliar character in the series since his only appearances were in backstories.[56]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Final Fantasy VII 10th Anniversary Ultimania (Revised Edition) (in Japanese). Square-Enix. 2009. pp. 8–13. ISBN 978-4-7575-2560-3.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Final Fantasy VII 10th Anniversary Ultimania (Revised Edition) (in Japanese). Square-Enix. 2009. pp. 82–85. ISBN 978-4-7575-2560-3.
  3. 1 2 Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII 10th Ultimania (in Japanese). Square-Enix. 2007. ISBN 978-4-7575-2126-1.
  4. ↑ Dengeki Staff (March 2007). "Tetsuya Nomura Interview". Dengeki PlayStation (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works: 146.
  5. 1 2 3 SoftBank, ed. (2006). Final Fantasy VII Advent Children: Reunion Files (in Japanese and English). Square-Enix. p. 59. ISBN 4-7973-3498-3.
  6. ↑ SoftBank, ed. (2006). Final Fantasy VII Advent Children: Reunion Files (in Japanese and English). Square-Enix. pp. 94–95. ISBN 4-7973-3498-3.
  7. ↑ Mielke, James (March 13, 2008). "FFVII Advent Children". 1UP.com. IGN Entertainment Inc. Retrieved August 25, 2010.
  8. 1 2 McCarthy, Dave. "Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII UK Interview". IGN. IGN Entertainment Inc. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
  9. ↑ Mielke, James (March 19, 2008). "Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core (PSP) Preview". 1UP.com. IGN Entertainment Inc. Retrieved July 22, 2010.
  10. ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (October 14, 2010). "The 3rd Birthday Has Skippable Event Scenes". Amdriasang. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  11. ↑ Square (September 7, 1997). Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation. SCE America. Aeris: What a shock..... I didn't know Zack was from this town. / Cloud: You know him? / Aeris: Didn't I tell you? He was my first love.
  12. ↑ Square (September 7, 1997). Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation. SCE America. Cloud: I never was in SOLDIER. I made up the stories about what happened to me five years ago, about being in SOLDIER. I left my village looking for glory, but never made it in to SOLDIER...... I was so ashamed of being so weak; then I heard this story from my friend Zack... And I created an illusion of myself made up of what I had seen in my life..... And I continued to play the charade as if it were true.
  13. ↑ Dodson, Joe (March 28, 2008). "Franchise Player: Final Fantasy VII Video Feature". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  14. ↑ Studio BentStuff, ed. (2005). Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Ω (in Japanese). Square-Enix. p. 529. ISBN 4-7575-1520-0.
  15. ↑ Last Order: Final Fantasy VII (DVD). Square Enix. April 10, 2009.
  16. ↑ Tetsuya Nomura (Director) (June 2, 2009). Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete (Blu-ray Disc). Square Enix. Cloud: That's right. I am your living legacy.
  17. ↑ Square Enix (August 24, 2008). Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Lazard: By the way, what is your dream? "To become 1st"... is it? / Zack: No... To become a hero!
  18. ↑ Square Enix (August 24, 2008). Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Lazard: The company has decided eliminate Genesis and his cohorts. This includes Angeal as well. /.../ Sephiroth: They believe your emotions will hamper your judgment. / Zack: Well, of course! / Sephiroth: That's why I'm going too.
  19. ↑ Square Enix (August 24, 2008). Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Sephiroth: Angeal has been sighted./Zack: So it's search and destroy?/Sephiroth: The army is mobilizing, but there's still time. You and I will find them before they do, and... / Zack: And WHAT?/ Sephiroth: fail to eliminate them.
  20. ↑ Square Enix (August 24, 2008). Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Sephiroth: Project G gave birth to the man we know as Genesis.
  21. ↑ Square Enix (August 24, 2008). Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Zack: Working for Hollander now? / ... / Angeal: I've become a monster. /.../ Angeal: Angels dream of one thing. / Zack: Please tell me. / Angeal: To be human. /.../ Angeal: Defend yourself!
  22. ↑ Square Enix (August 24, 2008). Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Zack: Good news, Tseng! Me and... / Cloud: Cloud / Zack: Me and Cloud here are both backwater experts. Oh yeah!
  23. ↑ Square Enix (August 24, 2008). Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Angeal: Zack. You have my thanks. This... is for you. Protect your honor, always...
  24. ↑ Square Enix (August 24, 2008). Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Zack: By the way, where are we going? / Sephiroth: To Nibelheim.
  25. ↑ Square Enix (August 24, 2008). Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Genesis: The gift of the goddess... A pure S cell sample will stop the degradation process.
  26. ↑ Square Enix (August 24, 2008). Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Hollander: That infantryman carries within his body the last pure S-cells in the world.
  27. ↑ Square Enix (August 24, 2008). Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Aerith's letter: I wish I knew where were you. It's already been four years now. /.../ Zack: Aerith, wait for me.
  28. ↑ Square Enix (August 24, 2008). Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Zack: Continue living. You are proof that I existed. My dreams and pride, I give it all to you. / Cloud: I am proof that you existed.
  29. ↑ Square Enix (August 24, 2008). Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. PlayStation Portable. Zack: Those wings... I want them too. It feels good. If you see Aerith, say hi for me. Hey, would you say I became a hero?
  30. ↑ "Final Fantasy VII 10th Anniversary Potion (canned softdrink)". Play-Asia. Retrieved March 7, 2009.
  31. ↑ "Final Fantasy VII 10th Anniversary Potion with Trading Arts Mini Figure". Play-Asia. Retrieved March 7, 2009.
  32. ↑ "Ehrgeiz Hints & Cheats". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved August 15, 2009.
  33. ↑ Square Enix (September 7, 2010). Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. PlayStation Portable. Zack: C'mon. Phil, please. I really wanna be a hero.
  34. ↑ "Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep Q&A". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. July 19, 2010. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  35. ↑ Smith, Dave. "Final Fantasy VII: Top 10 Characters". IGN. IGN Entertainment Inc. Retrieved January 7, 2009.
  36. ↑ Glifford, Kevin (February 10, 2010). "Snake Beats Mario, Is Coolest Video Game Character Ever". 1UP.com. IGN Entertainment Inc. Retrieved March 10, 2010.
  37. ↑ Sterling, Jim. "Videogame characters we'd go gay for". GamesRadar. Future plc. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  38. ↑ "Zack Fair — The 20 Greatest Final Fantasy Characters of All Time". Complex. 2013-10-08. Retrieved 2013-11-22.
  39. ↑ Chad Hunter, Michael Rougeau, The 50 Greatest Soldiers In Video Games, Complex.com, May 25, 2013.
  40. ↑ Clements, Ryan. "IGN: Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Review". IGN. IGN Entertainment Inc. Retrieved February 13, 2009.
  41. ↑ Parish, Jeremy (March 19, 2008). "Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core Review". 1UP.com. IGN Entertainment Inc. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  42. ↑ VanOrd, Kevin. "Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Review". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 7, 2009.
  43. ↑ Villoria, Gerald (March 19, 2009). "Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Review". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved August 17, 2009.
  44. ↑ Tan, Nick (August 8, 2008). "Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII - PSP". Game Revolution. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  45. ↑ Welhouse, Zach. "Starring Sephiroth and Some Other Chumps". RPGamer. Retrieved August 25, 2010.
  46. ↑ Simon, Parkin (June 23, 2008). "Crisis Core - Final Fantasy VII Review (PSP)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved August 17, 2009.
  47. ↑ Simon, Parkin (June 23, 2008). "Crisis Core - Final Fantasy VII Review (PSP), page 2". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved August 17, 2009.
  48. ↑ Kolan, Patrick. "Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII AU Review". IGN AU. IGN Entertainment Inc. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
  49. ↑ Glasser, AJ (July 8, 2008). "Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII review". GamesRadar. Future plc. Retrieved July 25, 2010.
  50. ↑ "Crisis Core Gets a Star". IGN. IGN Entertainment Inc. May 18, 2007. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
  51. 1 2 McCarthy, Dave (June 13, 2008). "Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII UK Review". IGN UK. IGN Entertainment Inc. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
  52. ↑ Dutka, Ben (December 19, 2006). "Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Preview". PSXextreme. Present Poise Media. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
  53. ↑ Yin Poole, Wesley (June 23, 2008). "Crisis Core - FFVII Review". VideoGamer.com. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
  54. ↑ Bennett, Colette (March 27, 2008). "Destructoid Review: Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core". Destructoid. Crave Online. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
  55. ↑ Gunn, Micky (March 19, 2008). "Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII review". Gameplanet. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
  56. ↑ Ellis, Kimberley (June 24, 2008). "PALGN: Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII". PALGN. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
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