Zack Fair's Origins Explained ► Final Fantasy 7 + Crisis Core Lore 

Thank you all so much for your patience guys and apologies that we made you wait for Zack while we looked at other characters/games! We also appreciate it's been a while since the last Origins video, hopefully you won't have to wait so long for the next one :) ~Darryl/Lauren

Zack just wanted to go back to Aerith... Goddammit!! I love Zack so much, such a likeable and genuine character.

Zack. One of the best final fantasy characters of all time. He deserves his origin story. His final battle, will be forever the greatest in final fantasy history. Wow thank you soooo much for all the likes!!!!

Boy oh boy, the price of freedom is steep.

I remember when I was a kid, I played Crisis core first with my dad then final fantasy 7, and when Aerith died I was crying, but then my dad said "Don't worry Aerith and Zack can now be together in the lifestream." and I just started crying harder. Thanks Dad.

That game and story literally broke me, he was good for the sake of being good, it is rare that you find that these days, even in games...and yes although you know it's coming...it breaks the heart when he passes at the end.

The first time I finished Crisis Core I legitimetly cried for an hour. And each time I thought about it I cried. I didn't knew he was going to die, I knew he wasn't in FF7 but not why. To this day, each time I hear "Price of freedom" or "Why" songs or just see the "Hey, would you say I became a hero" sentence, I immediatly have tears in my eyes. That game shattered my heart xD. I hope they'll remake it one day because it's really worh it.

Zack wasn't able to go back to Aerith, but at least their Voice Actors are married in real life

The ending of Crisis Core still hits me in the FEELS!

I remember fighting the Shinra army for around 20 minutes hoping against hope that somehow there is a way out. When I realized this was "it" I started really crying as I got so attached to Zack. I wanted take him to new dreams, I wanted him to meet Aerith, I wanted a fairy tale ending for him. As his memories started to fade, I remember asking "Why?" then the music rolled in it was titled "Why"... The writers knew how attached people would get to Zack, they knew how powerful his story is and when everything had to play out they left a great song to embody the question everyone wanted to ask.

While I was playing this game I was 6months pregnant with my son and still didn’t have a name for him. The story line of this game touched my heart so much I named my son after Zack. (His middle name) and surprisingly years later, I think it’s something in the name, but I see the purity and drive to do the right thing in my own child.

Zack’s last stand! I swear that is the one and only time i have ever cried playing a game. It was Tifa for the gondola ride every time after that. I’m not making moves on Zack’s girl haha

Who’s here for a refresher after finishing FF7 Remake?

Sephiroth: permission to return granted. Go protect Aerith. Also Sephiroth: Lol nvm im killin this bish.

Crisis Core is the only FF game I completed start to finish, and it took me ages to kill the final form of Genesis, as well as literally over a 100 replays. The second time I ran through the game he went down easy though. Zack is probably the best character to ever exist in any media franchise. He's so likeable and unique, yet you can easily project yourself onto him like you can with more basic and less-emotive characters. His ending is a tragedy and I'll probably never cry as much as I did at the end of Crisis Core.

My heart, ripped from me once again

when a VIDEO GAME has to ability to bring it's players to their knees by the death of a character, break them down to unprecedented tears, even the most stoic of them, you know it's onto something real. very deep and real.

I kinda have to share the story of my first play through of Crisis Core now. When I started the game my first thought was "Cool now I get to check out more of Zack's story." Being the FF7 fan that I am and having seen both Advent Childern and Last Order, as well as having played Derge of Cerburs. I was hyped to see the relationship of Cloud, Zack and Sephiroth and the origins of Genesis. I was also a huge Gackt fan at the time. No where in my head was the thought "Oh Zack is going to die in the end." So I played this game absolutely enthralled by this story of a puppy who's dream is to be a hero, then Nebihiem happened and then the final fight with Genesis. Then as Zack is riding in the truck with Cloud it clicked. With a horrible twist of pain my heart broke into thousands of pieces. "Oh no he's going to die..." Here's this wonderful puppy of a person that I've come to love and aspire to be like, and I'm about to watch him die. The sorrow hung on me like the heaviest chains as I desperately fought with every single once of skill I had developed. My best spells my best items I held nothing back and I had to watch as Zack's life flashed before my eyes and the memories of his friends disappeared. Tears streamed from my eyes uncontrollably and then when Cloud let loose that scream of anguish my soul shattered. I cried the ugliest cry while listening to Why and I just cried and cried and cried. Eventually my mom found me on the couch from where I had cried myself to the point of exhaustion and passed out. Well there it is. The short version of my first play through of Crisis Core. It still a very emotional game and to this day when I just need to cry and I can't I listen to the "Price of Freedom". It gets me every time. I'm going to go cry now. Take care folks. I want add something else. To answer his final question. "Would you say I became a hero?" You're definitely mine Zack.

Zack was my inspiration, his attitude, how he deals with situations, his sense of right, honor, and Justice... I wanna be that someday

The word "Fair" has several synonyms and oh boy, doesn't he lives up to his name. If I were to describe him with one sentence, I would say that Zack is the embodiment of the word "Fair".

All this makes me crave for a Crisis Core for the ps4.

THE REAL HERO. THE GREATEST FIRST CLASS SOLDIER OF ALL TIME

I love Crisis Core! And I think you were spot on saying about how the villains were humanized in this game. Me and my friend were playing the game together and we were literally gushing over just how cool and LIKEABLE they made Sephiroth. I mean, playing this game you could actually understand exactly how Sepiroth became such a popular hero to the people. It wasn't just Shinra propaganda, it was also Sephiroth's actual personality that helped to propel him into people's hearts. Also, Zack's characterization is just too great. I still love the scene were he meets the younger Yuffie. She jumps out of the bushes with her "surpirse attack" and Zack is just standing there going "the hell?" before realizing that he has to play dead with her and he just literally falls over in the cheapest and most dramatic way. And its all the best. That's still one of my favorite scenes in the game.

Zack is the hero that cloud wanted to be, but ends up a failure. Cloud believes himself a failure, but is the hero everyone needed.

It's so fun to think that I met Zack Fair first before Cloud Strife.

Having the fact this guy is coming to NT in the back of my mind makes this all even better.

My son was named after Zack Fair, although I spelt it differently. Shows how much of an impact that the game and character had on me.

Crisis core's Zack Fair made me want to do body weight squats as a kid. I'm thankful for that because it developed my thighs and I don't tire easily when I take long walks

All Zack wanted to do was see Aerith. i'm tearing up

I hate how Zack dies. You know it happens when you played Crisis Core but you still hate it.

Zack will always be my favorite hero. I loved everything he stood for and his personality. Embrace your dreams. Thank you Zack.

Zack *DEFINITELY* means a hell of a lot to me. I have so much respect for the character.

Zack is THE legend. The character development is real. A decade on, Crisis Core story is still fresh in my mind. Thanks for this video

the tragedy of zack and aerith is what makes the ff7 anthology so amazing to me.... no fantasy world has ever told a story of love and brotherhood so heartbreaking in world so rich with its own lore, culture and magic.

Zack deserved better. But now that the Remake is out and the changes that have been made are made, we might get to finally see the better that he deserved.

My favorite video game character ever. I know you guys will make a great video!

The *real* Hero

Zack: Follow your dreams! Cloud: I'll follow YOUR dreams.

I really hope they expand the Zack Fair scenes in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake and I honestly hope we get to play as him they said they’d expand on some of the parts

Reminded me how great Crisis Core was. Too bad Square-Enix act like it never existed. Just think of the potential they have with their other characters. Yuna, Cloud, Lightning and the bunch all sell but that's not the only way to do fan service. Crisis Core is one example... Again, untapped markets. Oh yeah and a video on Gabranth/Basch should do well!

Compared to Cloud and pretty much any other FF character Zack was dinamic; he did have a HUGE character development during Crisis Core. He went from a naive kid to a good fighter to someone who was put in a tragic situation and did everything in his power to overcome it. That's why he will always be my #1 FF protagonist.

Zack is my favorite character of all time, in any peace of art. You did him real justice in this video of his life and you earned yourself a sub from me for that. Thank you for making such a wonderful video like this, I can't wait to see what else you guys do.

It has been 13 years since I played Crisis Core and every time I see Zack on the screen, I get choked up and teary-eyed as his last stand pops into my mind.

My boxes of tissues are ready.

I got into the series because of the hype of FFVIIR, then I was curious why everyone was freaking out over someone named “Zack”, so I watched the CC cutscenes and bawled my eyes out and moved him to the top of my ultimate favorite game character list. He’s so “happy go lucky” and determined, I just don’t understand why some people don’t like him! (Outside of shipping reasons)

Zack, teaching us all what’s a hero

“Feel the burn!” I still say that when I work out lol. And I’m 25 now, I was such a young kid then. I feel love with this character and it tore me a new one.

The ending makes me bawl my eyes out everytime even at level 99 as I desprately try to defeat the endless waves of grunts comeing at Zack hopeing to change his fate the outcome is still the same and I brakes me inside everytime as I feel like I'm loseing a close friend as he dies.

Zack is the best character. No doubts for me he's a true hero and an inspiration at the same time he died with a smile on his face. That's something meaningful for me.

Zack Fair gets added to Dissidia Omnia Opera and now a FF Origins Zack video gets added to RU-vid.

Oh Zack, we hardly knew you.

WARNING-Long comment. Read at your own risk. Crisis Core is a very special game to me. I loved it. The characters, gameplay, and of course, the ost. Did everything, even fought "that" Boss. I was very young when FFVII came out, never heard of Zack. So I got CC much later to get a wider understanding. I knew Cloud had the Buster Sword but I thought Zack simply passed it down (guess he did in a way...) or disappeared and Cloud took it or something! So in Zack's final stand, I was breathless. The Price of Freedom playing, the DMW breaking down symbolically (btw he wasn't "forgetting his friends", his life was literally flashing before his eyes, the DMW breaking down symbolized that and the figures turning white is his mind going blank i.e. heading towards the light but his memories of Aerith are what kept him hanging on) and Zack's hopeless situation. The ending's ost simply titled Why and Zack's finally line is the closest I've ever come to crying over a game. Fun fact-if you kill enough infantry/survive Zack's final stand long enough, Zack will strike a special, victory-esque pose. Long story short-I love Zack. Thanks for reading! P.S.-Zack and Aerith forever. ❤️❤ ️ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-bIiT0keG5iQ.html

Man, my life was quiet a Journey. See you all in the lifestream.

"Is this someone's grave?" "No... This is where a hero, began his journy."

my manly tears filling my eyes. i still remember the Crisis core ending with Zack Dying.. thanks for this video. huwaaaahhh

I played crisis core before 7 and didn’t know what I was getting into . I was so sad at that final fight . In the end I grew to know Zack first before I got to know Cloud.

Zack will forever be my favorite Final Fantasy character.

Zack Fair will forever be my hero

Zack's story gives me the feels like no other

It would be nice zacks story as a dlc or something for ff7 remaster

Great video man, it's the 3rd time I've watched this now in the past few years 🤟

Such an incredible character. Pure of ideal but ultimately pragmatic in his choices. Strong enough to beat most anyone, but empathetic enough to want to understand them before resorting to violence. A humble and loyal student, as well as a wise and caring teacher. I really have never felt so connected to a protagonist. I didn’t even know who he was really when I started the game (like most everyone) but by the end I was left thinking that he is the true protagonist of the FF7 universe. Cloud carries on his legacy, but the legacy began with Zach Fair.

The Buster Sword is a form a great legacy and heirloom, Angeal kept it as a gift from his step father as a symbol of honor. After Zack killed Angeal to stop his clones and Genesis from creating havoc around the world. Zack obtained the Buster Sword not as a reward, but as a heirloom. Zack respected Angeal's words of "Use brings about wear, tear, and rust and that's a real whaste", as the line of dialouge "Use usually brings wear, tear, and rust that's why I usually hit things with the blunt side". As Zack had to sacrafice himself he gave the Buster Sword to Cloud, Cloud although not knowing he used the sword without any worry about the words Angeal has said he did soon respect the Buster Sword as a heirloom. As seen in Advent Children, Cloud did keep the Buster Sword but in bad shape full of rust and badly worn. After the flashbacks with Aeirth/Aeris and Zack in the Complete Edition Cloud polished the sword, re built the sword, removed all rust on the sword.

His last fogjt was so heartbreaking with the slot machine that reminds us of all his friends, fighting with him. I hope that in the remake they will also adress the issue with Tseng and how his involment in all of this should be adressed.

Crisis Core was brilliant. My #1 PSP game. I need to replay after watching this. Thanks for reminding me how rad Zack is.

I'm not crying! You're crying!.... I think I need a hug. This opened up an old emotional wound, I played Crisis Core almost immediately after release due to being a really huge FF fan and I have no doubt in my heart that Zack Fair is and will forever be my favorite Final Fantasy Character..... So please let me use my 60 Phoenix downs......

Love love Zack! Love love Crisis Core! I hope they remake the whole compilation... 😭

The way he left Areith makes me so sad. His determination, and how we all struggle to play Crisis Core makes it that much better. Hes the best.

I will never forget Zack Fair. ❤

Wait, wait WAIT! Your telling me they basically made fanfiction of THEIR OWN CHARACTER and then got to make it canon? Awesome.

Coming in at a close 2nd after Vincent, Zack will always have that one special place in my heart. I've never played Crisis Core, but from what I've seen in the cutscenes and what he went through, of course I can't help but feel for him. RIP Zack Fair

That Buster Sword may be cursed: The owner before, Zack, dead The owner before before, Angeal, dead Luckily, Cloud quickly changed his weapon into Fusion Sword in Advent Children

I'd like this video 1000 times if I could. Been waiting for this video for ages :)

This makes complete sense to me why they brought him back now in FF7 remake

I was 13 when I got my PSP, never played FFVII in my life before, but I recognize cloud because he's so popular I think when the advent children came out. but I know nothing about his story. I have so many memories with this character, and we have to admit that this character is very well developed.

Crisis Core moved me in a way that no other game (or book, or movie) ever has. And I’m sure I’m not the only one. If square had any sense they would remaster it or at least flesh out some more of it in the FF7 remake. It would also be nice to see if Genesis has any personality beyond spouting that endless drivel from loveless. And to see exactly why Genesis believed that Sephiroth’s glory should have been his.

Even having played Crisis Core through multiple times, his death still makes me sad. He's by far my favorite Final Fantasy character. You just earned yourself a subscriber ✌ wonderful video, thank you

Zack going through 1000nd shinra fighters with same equipment and found cloud easily, wow that's awesome

Zack Fair, my favorite game character. RIP, you are loved

Favorite series, I love how in depth you go in each video!

Crisis core and FFX I still will cry to this day playing them

Red XIII please ! I know it all already but they develop him so much in the novel i feel a lot of people would learn some new things about him.

Crisis Core was my first Final Fantasy game. I knew the absolute barebones basics of 7’s story, little more than the names of the characters and that Aerith and Zack had died. I think I’d watched Advent Children, but obviously hadn’t followed the plot very well. This meant that I had a fresh, clean slate with both Zack and Sephiroth. Before I had even reached the Nibelheim incident in the game, Zack had firmly won his place in my heart as my favorite video game character of all time. We get to see him literally grow up in this game. He goes from being Angeal’s student to being Cloud’s mentor, and he even goes from flirting with women in general to finding his soul mate in Aerith. But seeing him mature does not mean his personality changed. He was constantly a force of relentless positivity, and even at his low moments (mourning Angeal and becoming confused by Sephiroth) he was able to bounce back and focus on the bright side of life. He even displayed this to the very end. “The price of freedom is steep” is a line that shows how he realizes his situation is hopeless, yet he remains determined and refuses to give up. And at his death, he asks, “would you say I became a hero?” Zack means so much to me as a character that I could go on for hours. And I, for one, am glad that the remake has created an alternate timeline where he survives. If any character deserved to live and be happy, it was him.

Whose ready to cry 😭

I.. I am crying again... Zack Fair is my absolute favorite FF Character. This game, this character, All of it makes me cry when I think back on it. I knew what was going to happen though even with the knowledge it didn't prepare me to become so attatched to him, his life, goals, ambitions, courage, love and just overall care for others. When I beat this game and Every time I replayed it I couldn't help myaelf but cry at the death of Zack Fair.

I got this game and a psp when I was 12. It was the only game I had. And I had no memory card. I would just keep playing it, never turning off my psp so I wouldn't lose my save. I spent so much time grinding and doing missions as Zack. He definitely became my favourite final fantasy character. When I finally ended up beating the game.. I was so devastated. The only time a game has made me cry... Do miss that part of life

The Suite Life of Zack and Cloud

The dude that took zack down and shot him in the head multiple times need something thougher than hell,DO YOU REALISE HOW MUCH ZACK MEAN TO US???? DAMN IT IM GONNA CRY AGAIN!!

I always get shivers when people refer to Nibleheim, I always feel a shade of ominous dread.

Great thanks for the reminder of my play through of Crisis Core. Kept Zack going for 3 hours in that last fight thinking that there would be a change. Loved the game but still brings a tear to my eye remembering that story.

I remember playing crisis core and knowing exactly how the ending was going to be for Zach. It was such an impactful moment, even though I knew what was going to happen I still cried 😔 he still will always be my favorite character ❤️

Either before or after the FFVII Remake, Square HAS to remake or remaster Crisis Core! I mean, THEY HAVE TO DO IT! Final Fantasy VII and Crisis Core are connected stories anyway! If your gonna remake FFVII, then you might as well do the same for Crisis Core damn it! When I was a kid, this was literally the second Final Fantasy game that made me cry, with Final Fantasy X being the first. Zack is a lovable character! and one of the greatest! Its great to see Zack in the new World of Final Fantasy update! I'm glad to see Square hasn't forgotten about him! It was also great to see him again in Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep too! Square better remake or remaster Crisis Core for the PS4! Cause this game is freaking Legendary! Zack Fair will ALWAYS be one of the greatest video game characters ever created! If you're hating on Zack Fair, you're hating yourself! Thank you guys so much for this! I waited so long for it! Instantly one of my favorite videos on RU-vid! THANK YOU! :)

its because zack became so significant to aerith and cloud. its like a side character getting a main role

No-one has done more to save the planet, and has had as little recognition as Zack...he was the spark that ignited the powder keg that led to Sephiroths rise and fall...Amazing.

I like Zack as a character, but the game also did a stellar job at humanizing ol' Seph.

"... You just hoped that somehow you could find a way to prevent it from happening" And then, here is the ff7 remake with that last scene and... tadah! So excited for the second part!!

I Played This Game 99 Times. And I Am Proud Of It. Also my brother then startet to play this game and save over my savefile. Tragic :D I just love this game so much. Everytime I hear something about it I instantly get Goosebumps. Funny how a PsP Game influenced my life :D

I'm watching this again right after beating the remake...I'm so excited to see more of this mans

Just finished crisis core for the first time playing since its release very well timed video! Very good character!!

Crisis Core was the first Final Fantasy game I ever played. I knew it was a prequel to FF7 but I had just gotten a PSP and this was the only game that caught my eye in the game store. Oh boy did it spoil me. Zack became my favorite video game character ever and that ending hit me hard. I replayed the ending so many times in hopes that there was a secret way to make Zack survive but alas, he was too pure for this world. I knew going back to playing FF7 or any other Final Fantasy game would not live up to what I experienced playing this game. Now that the Final Fantasy 7 Remake is out I've been playing it non-stop and I'm glad I never did go back to play the original because now I'm going through the story and it's all new to me. Maybe after all the parts to the Remake have come out (in 15 years) and I finish them i'll give the original a shot since I know some story moments are different.