Summary
- There's an easy way to check character affinity in FF7 Rebirth.
- Character affinity affects who Cloud goes on a date with, and how these dates end.
- Players can increase affinity through dialogue choices, side quests, Synergy Abilities, and mini-games.
It can be hard to know how Cloud's FF7 Rebirth includes more playable characters than Remake, even taking the time to flesh out some of those party the original game overlooked.
It's only natural to want to get a little closer with a special someone, but how can a player know when they're making the right moves? And anyway, character affinity was never a part of FF7 Remake, so why does it suddenly pop up in Rebirth? Choices don't usually matter in Final Fantasy games - while they might provoke different reactions or change a quest reward, their stories are usually set in stone no matter what the player does. Thankfully, there's an easy way to find out how affinity works in FF7 Rebirth, and to check in on potential suitors.
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How To Check Character Affinity In FF7 Rebirth
Players can easily check their affinity with FF7 Rebirth party by pressing L1 while in the overworld, but only outside combat. This trick is usable anytime players have control, anywhere on FF7 Rebirth's map. Doing so reveals a smiley face above each character's head. These progress through a series of colors and increasingly large smiles to represent the character's attitude toward Cloud. The lowest affinity appears as a gray smiley with an indifferent expression, and the highest as a blue smiley with a wide grin.
After completing the main story's final chapter and seeing the ending of FF7 Rebirth, players will also be able to see each character's affinity as a percentage via the in-game Play Log. But why does affinity matter? Well, Cloud has the opportunity to romance one of his party in FF7 Rebirth, and affinity directly affects who that is. The player character with the highest affinity is automatically chosen for each of two date scenes - and if their affinity is high enough, these dates might come to a special, "intimate ending."
The first date takes place in Chapter Eight when the party arrives at the Gold Saucer, and one character is chosen to roam around with Cloud. The second comes later, in Chapter 12, when they return to the Gold Saucer, see a performance of Loveless, and take a romantic cable car ride. The first date doesn't affect who comes along for the second one, so there's plenty of time to move affinities around in between.
How Affinity Works In FF7 Rebirth
Date Options, Increasing Affinity, & Getting The Intimate Ending
There are five date options in FF7 Rebirth:
- Aerith
- Tifa
- Barret
- Yuffie
- Red XIII
- Vincent, Cid, and Cait Sith
Vincent, Cid, and Cait Sith don't have affinity ratings, so this date is likely only accessible when replaying the chapter after beating the game. This is also the only date without an intimate ending.
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Knowing who's available is half the battle, but how does a player go about increasing their preferred date's affinity? There are a wide variety of ways to do so. Just as in the original FF7, dialogue choices play a major part in increasing affinity. For example, Tifa and Cloud have history, so she likes it when he re people and events from their childhood in Nibelheim. Consider each character's personality, and weigh the options carefully when speaking to them.
Character affinity never goes down in FF7 Rebirth. Players may miss out on some easy brownie points by choosing the wrong dialogue option, but their companions' opinion of them will never decrease as a result.
Completing side quests related to each companion can also help. Certain characters will be automatically chosen as companions for certain quests. If they are, then finishing that quest will bump up their affinity score. In battle, performing Synergy Abilities also affects affinity. It's only a slight increase each time, but doing so repeatedly can add up. Choosing to play mini-games with a character can also help Cloud's case. Finally, matching bathing suits during the Costa del Sol sequence provides a pretty significant affinity increase.
As for intimate endings, if their affinity is high enough, Aerith, Tifa, and Yuffie's date scenes each end with a kiss and some fireworks. Barret's ends with him giving some advice to a lovelorn Cloud. The other boys' date ends with Cait Sith throwing a tantrum when one of his jokes bombs.
In summary, to get the right date in FF7 Rebirth, say the right things, spend plenty of time together, and check in frequently with L1. Don't fret if things don't work out the first time around; players can continue to increase affinity after Chapter 12, and replay the date scene later to explore other options. Like many features in the remake trilogy, Rebirth's affinity mechanic greatly expands on a simple, but crucial mechanic from the original FF7. The result is a robust, interesting system of interactivity that makes the world of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth come alive.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
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- Top Critic Avg: 92/100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- February 29, 2024
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
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.
- Franchise
- Final Fantasy
- Platform(s)
- PC
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