A screenshot of Final Fantasy VII heroine Tifa Lockhart from the upcoming prequel game Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion floated through social media, drawing comments on her appearance. Users noted differences between the lovely brawler’s current prequel iteration and previous appearances.
Twitter user Mako posted two screenshots of Tifa Lockhart. The picture on the left was taken from the original Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-, a PSP title from 2007 (Japanese release) and 2008 (Western release), and the picture on the right is from the upcoming version, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion, which is set to release on December 13th of this year.
YOOO SQUARE ENIX JUST SHOWED TIFA IN CRISIS CORE REUNION
LOOK AT THAT UPGRADE (PSP to 2022 re-release) pic.twitter.com/5Vxx0KLLM3
— Maku (@TropicalMaku) November 29, 2022
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion follows the adventures of Zack Fair, Cloud Strife’s friend and hero. It’s a prequel game that takes place years before Final Fantasy VII, providing more background and lore to an already rich and beloved world. Because it is a prequel, fan-favorite characters are some years younger and not as experienced as when they’re seen saving the world in their own story.
Commenters pointed out the differences they saw, highlighting the less detailed clothing on the modern remake version of Tifa, a less defined stomach and hips, a smaller bust size, and that her skirt is worn much higher.
Another user created a side-by-side comparison of different younger versions of Tifa from various Final Fantasy VII games developed over the years:
Though her Crisis Core Reunion attire matches her flashback clothes from Final Fantasy VII Remake, people noted that her upcoming appearance was still less defined than her previous outing from two years ago.
The negative reactions to these changes have brought up the changes made to the current time Tifa, as seen in the trailer for Final Fantasy VII Remake three years ago.
Tifa Lockhart’s figure and attire were noticeably altered for Final Fantasy VII Remake, with a smaller cup size and shorts. Developers at the time insisted that it was to make her more sporty, though they explained that the changes were made at the direction of an ethics department. Though fans and customers agreed that she still looked great, the admission that these changes were made at the direction of Square Enix’s Ethics Department, a division within the noted JRPG developer’s hierarchy that is able to compel developers to change character designs for purely subjective reasons based on their own personal preferences, which annoyed these customers at the time.
These new changes to the younger Tifa seen in Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion, once again potentially at the direction of Square Enix’s Ethics Department, may have reignited this old ire directed at Remake Tifa’s changes, and led to these negative comments directed towards flashback Tifa’s appearances. Though the negative reactions towards Final Fantasy VII Remake Tifa were persistent, the game itself sold well, and mods would later ease the customer’s issues with Tifa’s overall appearance.
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion will launch for the Xbox Series, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC on December 13th.
Do these changes to flashback Tifa strike you as odd, or undeveloped? Will you play Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion at launch, or wait for mods to change Tifa’s appearance? Please let us know in the comments below.
