Summary
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’sBarret Wallace has been a beloved and controversial character for the past three decades. Despite the overwhelmingly positive response he’s received sinceRebirth’srelease in February 2024, a specific aspect of the game still does a disservice to the character. However, this has nothing to do with the worries surrounding his reveal inFinal Fantasy 7 Remake.
Prior toRemake’s release, fans and critics ofFinal Fantasy 7were concerned about the potential for Barret’s character to be a stereotyped version of black masculinity, a justified worry given the character’s dialogue and design in the originalFF7.However,bothRemakeandRebirthhave put forward a complex, profoundly satisfying character in Barret Wallace, and there are few errors to be found throughout the game. That is, however, until Chapter 6, “Fool’s Paradise.”
FF7 Rebirth: Should You Help Aerith & Barret or Tifa & Red XIII in Costa del Sol?
One Costa del Sol choice in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth can be overwhelming, but the stakes in the scenario might not be exactly what they seem.
The Alternate Costumes in FF7 RebirthDon’t Add Up
Barret Is the Only Human Character With Limited Skins
Rebirth’sChapter 6 introduces players to the game’s costume-changing mechanic – a simple, cosmetic change for all playable characters to swap out their typical wardrobe for something more fun and fitting to the beach. While the majority of the human cast is given multiple costume changes for various rewards, Barret is stuck with only one:his sailor suit.While this is a fan favorite,the lack of variety in Barret’s wardrobe suggests a lack of attentionand emphasis by Square Enix.
Although there are available costume changes for the entire cast ofRebirth,the discrepancy between characters is easily seen when visiting a changing booth in Costa Del Sol. Characters like Cloud, Aerith, Yuffie, and Tifa all haveseveral swimsuit options to choose from, while Barret, Red XIII, and Cait Sith are all tied with only one each. From only a numbers perspective, it’s clear Square Enix put more effort into the character models that mirror conventional body proportions.
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There’s No Reason For Barret’s Limited Costumes In FF7 Rebirth
There are possible arguments as to why this is the case. Some, for example, may cite that Barret’s over-the-top physique may warrant restraint regarding similar beachwear to the other characters. However, only a short time later, in Chapter 8, “All That Glitters,” players are introduced to Dio, who has similar proportions to Barret and noticeably less clothing. Modesty, therefore, can’t be the issue.
There is some credence toRebirthstaying true to the originalFF7,as Barret did keep his sailor suit on during the events in Costa Del Sol. However, neither Tifa, Aerith, Cloud, nor Yuffie wore bathing suits in these scenes. It’s hard not to see this as a case of Square Enix avoiding the inclusion of plus-size swimwear, especially considering thatBarret only dons his sailor suit because it’s the only uniform that will fit him in Junon Harbor.
Beyond issues of size and swimwear, though, one could argue that Barret’s model makes other costumes unrealistic for battle mechanics. This might be a more founded concern had Square Enix not included Barret in the production ofLovelessduring thereturn to Gold Saucerin Chapter 12, “A Golden Key.” Barret’s Varvados costume is grandiose and over-the-top, with massive pauldrons and chains abounding. The animations in this scene are breathtaking, and given the complex enemy models seen throughout the game, such as Jenova’s, it is doubtful that the Varvados costume is inaccessible simply due to graphic and mechanical concerns.
Barret Deserves More From Square Enix
Final Fantasy’s First Black Character Needs Equal Footing
Regardless of Square Enix’s reasoning, its failure to include multiple costumes for Barret places him on an unequal level of importance to the other human characters in the game. This is especially problematic given Barret’s controversial history as a character and that he’s one of only a handful of plus-sized characters in theCompilation of Final Fantasy 7. Amid the conversations of inclusion and body positivity that abound in current media conversation,Square Enix would do well to consider consistency across its human characters as a minimum.
It is unclear ifRemake Part 3will include a cosmetic feature likeRebirth’schanging booths, though, as no corresponding scenes from the originalFF7would suggest that will be the case. That being said, the overwhelming success of the feature suggests that Square Enix may attempt to carry it into the trilogy’s climax, especially if Costa Del Sol and other locations return as explorable locales.
What Costumes Could Look Like In FF7 Remake Part 3
Success Of The Feature Suggests It Will Return
These cosmetic novelties and the addition ofRebirth’sPhoto Mode have created vital marketing for the game via social media, such as the following fromladypipminvia X (formerly Twitter).
One must assume the developer will wish to continue this strategy. Square Enix mayalterFF7’s narrative furtherto include more alternative costumes, such as arctic gear while traversing the Northern Glacier, or maybe a hospital gown for Cloud while he recovers from Mako sickness. Whatever the final part of the trilogy brings, fans of Barret can only hope the character gets more attention than he has in the previous two games.
Unfortunately, there isn’t hope for such things forRebirthin the near future.There are no plans for an expanded costume selection via DLC (or any DLC for that matter), asRebirth’screative director, Tetsuya Nomura, said as much during an interview with Spanish-language outletVandalin September 2023.
In light of this, players will need to make do with the single costume selection for Barret inFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth.Despite the sailor suit’s unquestionable charm and legacy in the series, its novelty wears away before the end of a single playthrough. In contrast, Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, and Yuffie have multiple skins to keep things interesting for hours of gameplay.
Sources:ladypipmin/X,Vandal
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.
