The storiedFinal Fantasyseries is full of references and conventions. Despite each mainline entry having a different world and characters, the franchise has a plethora of quirks and creatures that carry through all the games. It goes without saying thatFinal Fantasy VII Remake, the ambitious update of the series' most beloved title, would harken back to its predecessors in some way.
RELATED:The Most Ridiculous Joke Weapons In Final Fantasy Games
That goes double for this expansion, which reintroducesfan-favorite character Yuffieto the canon. Fans can expect Easter Eggs from all over theFinal Fantasy VIImythos. Yuffie has always been a mischievous little squirt, so such tongue-in-cheek references are well within her usual MO.
10The Warrior Of Wutai
The plucky ninja (fruity wardrobe aside) mentions being a warrior of Wutai several times. This feudal faction was once in a bloody war with Shinra, making it a convenient scapegoat for AVALANCHE’s recent terrorist actions.
Yuffie, however, remains a steadfast patriot. She brings the same pro-Wutai enthusiasm that she demonstrated in the originalFinal Fantasy VIIand theCrisis Corespinoff. Her extravagant intro even harkens back to her roots in its aesthetic and soundtrack. One has to appreciate that kind of devotion.
9The Moogle Disguise
This is immediately obvious. Yuffie’s hood and poncho are based ona moogle, those cutesy creatures standard in anyFinal Fantasytitle. Whether they’re shopkeepers, allies, or something else, these little plushies always show up in one form or another.
On top of that, Yuffie’s look here echoes a similar disguise she donned inDirge of Cerberus, anotherFinal Fantasy VIIspinoff. Granted, that one was rattier and hid her identity better, but the idea stays the same. It’s a low-maintenance getup meant to hide her face without impeding her ability to fight.
8Sonon Takes Notes From Cid
Though the airship pilot isn’t directly referenced yet, his gameplay precedes him through the new character Sonon. Yuffie’s sidekick wields a lance, launching enemies and even his boss into the air for dramatic effect. In short, he’s the Dragoon of the party.
RELATED:Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade: Combat Tips For Yuffie’s INTERmission DLC
This is the same character class that Cid fulfilled in the originalFinal Fantasy VII, but it hasn’t shown up in the remake until now. Players who prefer this class in their party now have a chance to try it out withthe new battle system. Sonon’s inclusion is as much a callback as it is a tech demo for future gameplay. If fans like how he controls, then they’ll have a great time with the foul-mouthed Cid in the sequels.
7Yuffie’s Daddy Issues
It’s sad that time hasn’t changed Yuffie’s stance toward her dad. Although he’s the leader of Wutai, she resents him for his supposed cowardice and failure to fight against Shinra.
As a result, she’s less than thrilled when Sonon brings him up. Immediately shifting the conversation, Yuffie makes it clear that she’d rather not discuss the past. It doesn’t take a genius to realize that’s going to come up againonce the party reaches Wutai in the sequels. Hence, eager fans have one of many callbacks that also hint at things to come.
6Let’s Play Fort Condor
One of the side activities that players can engage in is Fort Condor. This is an updated version of the strategic defense minigame from the originalFinal Fantasy VII. It was a painfully slow affairthat’s thankfully improved somewhat here.
However, this still begs the question of why a former fight for survival is now a casual board game. Does the real Fort Condor still exist in this world? Who knows? Perhaps this foreshadows a grander battle down the line.
5Da-Chao, The God Of Water… And Beans
Yuffie packs light for her journey, bringing few belongings from her homeland. The only non-essential item she carries from Wutai is a batch of beans. These aren’t the average jelly or baked beans, though. These are special Da-chao beans.
They’re so named for Wutai’s water god. Da chao was immortalized as a mountain sculpture akin to Mt. Rushmore, and players who tackled Yuffie’s side quest in the original game are pretty familiar with this statue (due to climbing all over it). The remake’s developers seem to know Da-chao best as a hunk of stone, as they make the beans as hard as a rock.
4Yuffie’s Fist Pumping
In the other games, when she’s feeling especially cocky, Yuffie does a mock punching motion toward her adversaries. It serves no purpose besides psyching herself up and weirding her opponents out, but it’s just one of those quirks that fans associate with the character.
In her newest adventure, she mostly abandons this in favor of more elaborate choreography. The fist-pumping makes a triumphant return in a few specific moments though. LikeCrash Bandicoot’spelvic thrust inIt’s About Time, these are blink-and-you-miss-‘em nods which are often mixed in with other movements. That said, longtime fans will know them when they see them.
3Weiss And Nero
It turns outthere’s no end to Shinra’s secrets. During their break-in, Yuffie and Sonon come in contact with Weiss and Nero. These brothers are two major foes inDirge of Cerberus, heading the Shinra subdivision Deepground.
RELATED:Important Characters Who Have Yet To Show Up In Final Fantasy 7 Remake
This Easter Egg is odd since the game in question isn’t remembered fondly. Nevertheless, Weiss and Nero’s inclusion could mean a potential return in future entries, possibly aiding Sephiroth in his time travel antics. This remake saga is looking sketchier by the day.
2Yuffie Hums A Familiar Tune
Yuffie takes a page out of Barret’s book and hums a familiar tune. This isFinal Fantasy VII’s chocobo theme, and she happens to hum it while riding such a bird.
Sure, this type of self-referential humor is one-the-nose. With a childish character like Yuffie, though, a cheesy nod like this feels appropriate. After all, she’s never shown any qualms about bringing her own lighthearted mindset to the rest of the world. Plus, she’ll soon have a duet on her hands. Not to be outdone, Barret sings the theme in the following scene.
1Zack Goes To Church
The final few seconds of the DLC see Zack Fair reach the church in the Sector 5 slums. He hesitates to enter, searching for what to say to Aerith after so long.
Fans already knew thatthe SOLDIER and the flower girl were close. The original game offered clues to this, butit wasCrisis Corethat fully fleshed it out. Those who loved this portable tragedy will be elated that Zack finally makes it back to Midgar. The problem is that Aerith is already off on a heroic quest. Let’s hope this Easter Egg doesn’t change that journey too much. If he saves her from Sephiroth, it’s bound to cause a paradox or two.
NEXT:Things You Never Knew About The Original Final Fantasy 7’s Development
