Whose goddamn idea was this to make this an OPTIONAL scene?

This is a hidden cutscene in the game. After you restore Cloud's Memory, go back to the basement of Nibelheim Manor and then you can view it. This is to people who are wondering why they didn't see this scene after they beat the game.

The most forgotten character=the truck driver

Zack in his original death: doesn’t have a chance to fight and gets killed by only few soldiers . Zack in crisis core: fights an army until he’s drained and dies Zack in remake: fights until he’s killed every last person. I feel like Zack is getting stronger by every time he dies lol

Those soldiers could've easily ended Final Fantasy 7 before it even begun. lol

To ppl who keeps calling Zack weak. No, he wasn’t weak he was just tired and primarily thinking about his friend Cloud’s well-being. No chance to rest and being on the run for a year was Zack’s downfall.

*When the Shinra Commander sees Cloud causing Terrorist attacks on the news when he hooks up with avalanche* I’m so fired

4:16 ACTIVATING COMBAT MODE!

I love how idealistic and positive Zack is during this scene. Even though the odds are devastatingly stacked against them, he’s keeping morale up by trying to get Cloud to talk, but also talking about hopes and dreams and stuff. After this although he seriously wants to be with Aerith, he sacrificed himself to protect Cloud

The thing that pains me the most about Zack’s death, is when the shines soldiers shot him, they dumped a whole clip in his body. When I watched that I was as angry as Aerith’s death.

When you realize Zack was probably changing out Cloud's underwear and pants at least once a day for a year.

"I got a place I can crash for a while"......."No wait, the mother lives there, too...." I only now get what that meant.... and she's still writing letters.

They left Cloud cuz they figured he was weak and was gonna die anyway. Constantly underestimated, they figured as an infantry man he wasn't gonna make it past the Mako poisoning.

I always loved how this scene was hidden. You play the main game through thinking “huh, I wonder what happened to that Zack guy, he seemed like a big deal.” Then think maybe going back to Nibelheim might have some answers, which it does adding this whole extra scene. It’s a pretty tragic part too since there’s a good chance you may never see it, despite it being one of the best. You get a good sense of who Zack was with how he jokes around and how he helps Cloud out and gives his live to protect him.

Damn, does anyone else find this incredibly disturbing?! The fact that we watch the troops shoot Zach after he's down... :(

I cried in Crisis Core. The sacrifice for someone's safety and never see his love again.

Is it me? or can anyone else hear Zack's voice in there head perfectly clear when reading the dialogue? - Edit: thanks for all the likes I Hope you’re all enjoying the remake (four years after this comment)

After many years, I can honestly say that Zack's death here is way more sad than Crisis Core. He just kind of gets killed with his back turned, no final words to his friend.

I think what gets me the most about this vs. crisis core is how unprepared Zack was. He ran off-screen to mop up some Shinra troops like he must've done hundreds of times throughout the past year, then came back as usual to keep moving with Cloud. He was just caught off-guard by those three that he didn't notice. So his death wasn't a heroic last stand that he saw coming, where he sacrifices himself to at least keep Cloud safe. It's kind of like how the team originally misinterprets Aerith's death as a sacrifice, even though she had actually anticipated returning once Holy was activated. Aerith thought she was going to go back to the team, but she didn't. Zack thought it would just be a quick speedbump before he could get moving again, but it wasn't. So I don't think it's necessarily the fact that this has no hollywood death speech while crisis core does (though that definitely part of it), it's the fact that the death comes so unexpectedly to the person who thought that coming back would just be a simple task. It wasn't meant to be a sacrifice.

this scene is so heartbreaking. they were experimented on for 4 years until cloud was catatonic, went on the run for another, and just when they were on the cusp of finally being free, zack died trying to protect cloud while cloud finally started to regain some of his senses. they really deserved better

I literally couldn't finish the game after I stumbled upon this scene, it just made me feel sick. I've seen it before, but watching that little guy get fucking ventilated like that, it hits so much harder when you don't see it coming. Losing Aeris isn't so bad, because she lives on, and besides, she dies in the company of friends. Zack died alone, protecting his buddy who's tripping out too much to even know what's going on. And on top of that, everyone just thinks he was a selfish asshole who just screwed off and bailed out of their lives. Even Aeris thinks he abandoned her. He's got like 5 minutes of screen time, he died before we ever got to meet him, yet his raw goodness, innocence and virtue as a man was enough to save his memory. Zack really is one of the greatest characters ever written. He deserves so much more than this.

No dialouge whatsoever. Yet the way Cloud's model trembles as he faces the sky, raindrops beginning to pour, as the camera pans out... Edit: Sigh, I'm REALLY gonna miss those cute, chibi-looking field models in the remake...

I like the small detail of him dying because he was checking to make sure cloud was okay. Had he just been concerned about himself, he probably could’ve survived.

I prefer this version. It's far more tragic for Cloud to stumble across an already dead body. Helps contribute to his mental breakdown.

I love how Crisis Core casually changed the number of soldiers from 3 to like 400

I think we can all agree. Zack Fair is the *best* bro anyone could ask for. Even though Cloud was a massive burden to take with him and one could even have wrote him off due to his broken mental state.....he never abandoned him.

I think hojo is more evil then sephiroth lol

The moment that hits me the most is the truck ride. I was spoiled with the game so i knew Zack gonna die, but his attitude and positivity when talking about on what to do next while taking care of Cloud really hits me. (Especially with the background music) such a nice guy who is about to start a new life got killed right outside of their destination

It was a huge shock for me when I see some people actually believes that Zack doesn't exist in the original game and was added in the spin-offs.

This game is a masterpiece

Zack Original death is more brutal in the OG. Another point for the OG 1997.

I feel like Zack is the kind of character that really doesn't need all this supplementary material made about him. The whole point of the character's existence is to service the plot twist with Cloud. I'm not knocking people who like him, I like him. But I feel the truck scene alone gets across who he is, an optimistic guy full of zest, remaining loyal to his friend in a helpless catatonic state. Which makes his death hit so much harder where he's brutally and suddenly taken away when he was so close to his destination.

I'm sooo sad that they didn't do the full truck scene in crisis core!!!!

4:12 "Almost there Cloud.Were almost there."

nobody cared until crisis core came out. Crisis Core was my first game and Zack has always and always will be my favorite final fantasy character

"Embrace your dreams... And, whatever happens, protect your honor... as SOLDIER! Come and get it!" "My honor, my dreams, they're yours now." "I'm your... living legacy...."

I definitely prefer this death story to that of Crisis Core. It's far more human. They swooped in and took Zack out when he was barely ready. It could have happened to anyone and it only highlights the gutless cowardice of who you're up against. It's cool to go down in a blaze of glory against like a thousand guys, a literal fucking army, but there's something raw about the original that can't be topped.

I lived 20 years without knowing of this scene.

Its bitter irony that Zack was killed by the same enemy of Cloud"s first battle!!!!!!!!!!

I've always wondererd why this scene -and the Gongaga scene with Zack's parents- are missable/optional. They add such character to Zack and make the revelation of Cloud's memories way more impactful. When I first played the game I was shocked at Cloud's restoration, but I wanted to know who was this Zack guy then. What was his connection with Cloud and what really happened to him.

“We’re friends aren’t we?” You can tell Zack loved Cloud like a little brother. Seeing him so protective and tender over Cloud adds up to the heartbreak when he gets shot by some grunts in the game. The creators of this game were emotional and psychological masochists.

Graphics are meaningless, people, and this is a proof of it. 23 (¡!) years later and this is still a narrative masterpiece because It has something quite simple but, at the same time, quite difficult to possess: HEART.

major plot point hiddent away. and the fact that he dies so unceremoniously. makes this scene hit so much a harder than crisis core

I love how crude and cold zach death was, shot at after he dies to make sure, to contrast the hopeful view of zach with the cruel reality, no music, no heroic last words just shot like a dog and with a lethargic cloud by his side Thats how you do a cold death, take notes TLOU2

Honestly, for the remake, I hope they do a mix of the original scene and Crisis Core’s scene. I wanna see Zack wear down after taking down a bunch of infantry-men, and then when he thinks it’s finally over, I want him to get gunned down by a sniper or something that’s heavy enough to knock him down. Zack getting knocked down when he least expects it and Cloud watching from afar as Zack mutters Cloud’s name would be devastating, and I personally do agree that Zack shouldn’t have a final speech as it takes away from how emotional and sudden death can really be. So to reiterate what would be ideal for myself... Zack demonstrates his power, but shows that he also has limits to a seemingly endless horde of infantry-men. Suddenly, when Zack lowers his guard to check on Cloud, he gets gunned down by a sniper and lays on the ground, trying to catch his breath. The final 3 infantry-men go check on him and are surprised to see the freak of nature who’s still alive, and they shoot him down as Cloud watches him utter his name one last time. They underestimate Cloud and leave him to die, then Cloud crawls over to Zack’s corpse to retrieve the sword.

Zack was a good bro

Its so sad how cloud can just barely see and understand that his friend is dying in front of him.

Actually, this doesn't contradict the one in Crisis Core that much. After Zack leaves Cloud and goes offscreen, you can hear sounds fighting. We don't actually know how many soldiers he fought there. The difference here is that Zack actually wins that battle, but gets ambushed by those 3 soldiers (instead of nearly winning, but losing to the 3 remaining ones). And also obviously all the stuff about talking to Cloud when finally wakes up. Personally I prefer the one in Crisis Core, but both are very dramatic.

I've had time to contemplate on my feelings on which scene I prefer. I've decided that I would like both the CC scene and the original combined. So you have the epic battle where Zack takes down all the infantry soldiers, but then I'd also like the ending where the 3 soldiers ambush and shoot him and he dies without getting a chance to talk to Cloud. It would explain why Cloud would be feeling so overwhelmed at the end, by screaming and crying. He never got a chance to say goodbye and he was sick and alone, no plans. It would also explain why Cloud in AC felt so unworthy of the buster sword. Because he took it off Zacks corpse without permission, whom was a first class soldier, where he was just a lowly infantryman

...Honestly, I think watching both this scene (for maybe the first time since I didn't trigger it) and Zack's death in Crisis Core have both have an emotional impact on me. I played Crisis Core before I even got close to playing VII itself. Crisis Core made me appreciate more things than I realized, and because of that game, Zack is one of my most favorite protagonists of all time. His death is one that will forever make me cry no matter how many times I see it. The death in Crisis Core emphasized Zack's heroic nature, and he was able to properly pass his legacy on to Cloud. Seeing this death now, it feels a bit more realistic, seeing Zack just die instantly from the shots compared to being able to speak with Cloud one more time... and then seeing Cloud just take the Buster Sword away. It actually made me a bit angry seeing such a thing. So, yeah... No matter which death is "better," they still hold a plethora of impact over those who grow with Zack.

There is something so real about this scene. No great last stand. Zack's death is chilling.

Why is it that we get more character development from a character we never see in a hidden 5 minute scene than a modern day game

I hope they mix the two scenes together. Like show more of Zack and how Cloud looked up to him but also keep it short. Put more emphasis on how unfair Zack's death was but without blowing it out of proportion.

I'm glad Zack got his own game. Only because what did we know about him in the original 1. He is a first class Soldier 2. He is Cloud's friend 3. He was the Soldier that got his shit kicked in at Nibelheim instead of Cloud. 4. Cloud copied his memories. 5. He has the buster sword. 6. He dies After Crisis Core 1. He died after killing tons of soldier grunts. 2. He was betrayed by Angeal, Genesis, Shinra, and Sephiroth. 3. He has a personality. 4. His Buster Sword was originally Angeal's. 5. He had a set relationship with Aerith 6. The Turks (in the mid-end) wanted him dead. 7. He has a (in game) fan club. 8. He is Cloud's friend 8 1/2. He is my favourite character. 9. He dies.

This broke my heart more than aeris’s death

Who is here after finishing FF7 Remake?

to trigger this scene you need to finish Cloud's Subconscious in Mideel after they fall in the Lifestream, then go to nibelheim mansion's underground lab the room next to where you found vincent.

thats really sad he was such a good friend to cloud and saved his life, he almost made it to Midgar as well, i like how hes such a big part of the game even though we see him only a few times

This is so much more tragic than in CC! (Though the CC got me all choked up each time I saw it too). The fact that Zack dies, the rain comes, and then Cloud comes to only to find his friend who has been dragging him around for about a year(?) has just been killed. Just when he can move on his own and speak a little (presumably) it's already too late. I think the main themes of FF7 were dealing with loss and finding a sense of identity. And I think a point was made about it being sudden and feeling helpless about the situation, but having that guilt. Zack's death here is very similar to Aerith's if you compare Cloud's position and I think that's the point. It was sudden and Cloud couldn't do anything about it, even though he was there. Imagine it with the visuals of CC. Put's Cloud down, goes and fights an army, then comes back all worn out and nearly done for and checks on Cloud(that would be a touching moment, maybe Zack even thought it was all over). Then gets hit by a super powerful bullet that throws him back and then gets riddled with bullets. Cloud might even be able to see it all happening. Later when he goes to see Zack, he's already dead. It's too late. Cloud takes the sword and as the viewer you know what that means. Cloud becomes his living legacy. It doesn't need to be spelt out. I would miss the part where Zack grabs Clouds head and gives him a bloody hug, and the way Cloud speaks zombie-like pretty much repeating what Zack says, but overall I think it would be more impacting if things were left closer to the original. Out of everything FF7 related, this is the last thing I've actually watched and it kinda changes everything! I really did think that Cloud thought he was Zack because in his dazed state he misinterpreted Zacks words. But that's not the case. But, I understand they would have wanted to give more closure for Zack's ending after making a full game about him. (But I thought they made this scene first, then made the story?) And they've added it into Advent Children, so I can't imagine the remake of FF7 to be any closer to the original. But I would like them to try. I'm not a fan of the Jpop music coming in so suddenly after Cloud's scream. Funny thing I noticed about this is that Zack didn't catch Cloud when he opened the tube. He just let him fall on the floor. And in the wastelands he just put him on the ground face down, not nicely sitting up against a rock. Oh yea, and I did always wonder if they got fed.

The crisis core whole army version is amusing in a over the top sort of way. But this is much more effective Zacks not a Shonen hero who saved world and took on armies. He's just a good dude who died protecting his friend

Sakaguchi's mom had just died when he made FF7, he wanted human deaths. no anime heroes or super saiyan final showdowns. Zack was a man who was helping a friend he barely knew, and because he had the nerve to be a good person and protect him, a few good for nothing grunts gunned him down as he looked out for Cloud because he's flesh and bone, then they just walked on like nothing happened. way more meaningful imo than a "HIS POWURLEVEL IZ 2 HAIGH! NAO HE FLIES!" anime fight against 1mil men.

I’m glad they expanded in this scene in crisis core. Makes no sense that they didn’t kill or at least unload a full clip on Cloud.

i love this scene in CC but the original leave more impact..to me..because cloud doesn't even have the opportunity to talk to zack for one last time in this game (unlike CC).. he just died.. and that makes more sense why cloud become crazy sob.. zack just talk to him like a minute ago and now he is dead..just lying dead like that.. no talking, nothing.. with many bullet wound..and cloud was left alone.sick...helpless.. don't know what to do..shit,even tho it just a polygon without voice.. u can feel the craziness, the tragic of the situation..

It even though this was retconned with the new ending we got for him in Crisis Core, you can still see how tough he was. He took a shot to the back/side when checking cloud, then was filled with a dozen or more bullets. After the first burst, he was still wincing in pain, but the second burst made him bite the dust. I assumed he was getting pumped in the chest. All those bullets would've made a hole.

Zack: "Once we get to Midgar I got a place where I can crash for a while... Oh, wait, the mother's there too. Forget it". He's talking about Aeris' home and Elmyra. Zack was Aeris' first boyfriend like she says in Gongaga.

I love that there is no music for the death scene.

I'm sad that this is not the direction they seem to be going in for FF7R.

Shinra Soldier: What do you gonna do on him? Commander: Just fxxking kill him Final Fantasy 7 end

This flashback is perfect, way better than Crisis core. There's no "Hey, remember when I chased Hollander for 4 chapters and fight 564845 copies of a low cost Sephiroth ?"

Zack's death feels like losing Maes Hughes in Fullmetal and Spike from Cowboy Bebop all over again.

Imagine this little flashback on disc 3 became the prequel of FF7 and made Zack a household name being the guy that rescued and sacrificed his life for Cloud got shot in the face and multiple times. He fought more than 100 Shinra grunts and he's dead tired while caring for Cloud. Truly a bro.

not even a line, he's just fuckin' *dead.*

It's been 10 years ago since the last time i finished the game and suddenly this come to my recommendation.. AND I JUST REALIZE I NEVER SAW THIS SCENE BEFORE!

I have never seen this before. This is a skippable scene? What the hell

So sad to see Zack so full of zest and life and vigor and passion and cheer and all that's waiting for him is a hungry grave at the end. At least he made such an impression on Cloud as to keep him going in his legacy.

Whenever I play the game, after getting everything, going to every place and beating the optional bosses, saving this scene for last to go to just before heading to the final dungeon. This is undoubtedly the last thing Cloud would ever do; remembering Zack and his sacrifice, but after all he had gone through and hated being weak, enduring so much pain to the point of remaking himself as Zack and later recovering his true self, to truly understand himself he must relive the day he was at his weakest; being protected by the person who he himself had strongly desired to be like and later witness him die in his very eyes, as if he was given the chance to start over.

I liked this depiction better. It's not over the top and it still leaves a huge impact.

Wow, how the hell did I get nearly 30k after I left this account? I'll keep this video for those who like to see this. Thanks for the support.

You know what made me cry during this scene? The peaceful pastoral music in the truck. And then the timing it ends on.

FF VII's motto : when you're in doubt. Squat till you're out.

XD Right when Zack said "Yo old guy. We at Midgar yet?" it looked like CLoud was laughing.

The moment Zack is shot when lying on the ground is just sick. After finish Crisis Core, I look for this scene, kinda pity he dies only from 3 soldiers where Cloud kills them easily throughout the story.

bro dies for you then you steal SSN, his wife, and his whole identity. that's not cool, Cloud.

Hello my name is Zack Strife. Thank you so much for putting this video up. Took me 4ever to find it but I needed it bad. Thanks again.

The part that made me sad was in CC when Cloud reaches for Zack as he walks to his death.

So people coming here after the Remake, Spoiler: 4:14 this is what happened exactly after the last scene in the game.

I remember finding this by accident and finding it very interesting as it fills in a whole lot of questions.

Has anyone noticed that Zach's having a conversation with himself as clouds suffering from a coma induced by Mako poisoning

Not looking forward to seeing this in HD.

4:14 is the flashback ending in remake,, then everyone's assuming that zack sis alive

These snippets told me all I needed to know to determine Zack was my favorite character all the way back in '97.

5:25 "Why" just started playing in my head......

This scene in the end is so damn effective. I have zero nostalgia for FFVII, but this scene is so much more effective than the Crisis Core ending.

BRO I HAD NO FUCKING CLUE ABOUT THIS AUUUGHHHH THERE WASNT ANYTHING LEFT FOR ME THERE I WISH I JUST FUCKED AROUND AND EXPLORED IT MAN THIS IS SO COOOOL

Love this scene, glad I manger to stumble on this scene while playing it all those years ago.

They gunned him tf down, like holy shit that many

This is just so damn sad

I feel bad for both Zack & Cloud. Zack died before he could get to Midgar, to see Aerith. And Cloud was just thrown into the mix after his howntown was destroyed, exposed to Mako poisoning, and watched his best friend die... 😔

Just saw this, 22 years later and more than a dozen run throughs

rewatching this before playing the remake. It still baffles me how they put such an important canon scene part of the entire final fantasy IMPORTANT story as "secret" scene to find.