Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Kingdom Hearts 2’s versions of Tifa share a lot of similarities, such as their general personalities and the bonds they have with other characters from the FF7 cast. However, they also have quite a few differences that serious fans of the original subject matter will pick up on.
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Tifa Lockhart in Final Fantasy 7 Remake
Tifa is one of the most important characters in Final Fantasy 7 Remake, being a friend of protagonist Cloud since childhood and a party member throughout the majority of the game. She played a major role as the person who brought Cloud into AVALANCHE, an eco-terrorist group fighting against Shinra to protect the planet. Despite the group’s aggressive reputation, Tifa and the other members of AVALANCHE try to protect as many people as they can, and Tifa is often very sweet to those around her. She’s also an incredible fighter that will do whatever is necessary to fulfill her goals.
After Shinra attacked the people in Sector 7 in an attempt to finish off AVALANCHE, Tifa and her comrades fought key members of the group, as well as iconic Final Fantasy 7 antagonist Sephiroth, leading them to oppose the fate set by the original game. Being the start of a new journey, fans are excited to see how Tifa’s story will continue in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
Tifa Lockhart in Kingdom Hearts
Tifa is quite different in the Kingdom Hearts games. Unlike most of the Final Fantasy characters who appear in Kingdom Hearts, Tifa was only in Kingdom Hearts 2, where she doesn’t play nearly as significant a role as she did in Final Fantasy 7 Remake. However, from what fans did learn about her Kingdom Hearts version, she has a lot in common with her mainline character. She has a strong connection to Cloud, and is determined to do anything she needed to in order to keep him safe.
In Kingdom Hearts 2, she goes on a journey to find Cloud, protect him from Sephiroth, and help him see the light. She encounters both her friend and the One-Winged Angel in Radiant Garden, and she fights Sephiroth alongside Cloud in front of Sora, Donald, and Goofy. However, in the middle of the battle, Cloud and Sephiroth mysteriously vanished, leaving Tifa to search for her friend once again. Before continuing her journey, she gives Sora the Fenrir keychain, one of the most powerful keychains in Kingdom Hearts 2.
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Comparing the Two Versions of Tifa
While Tifa may not have appeared in Kingdom Hearts as much as Cloud, Sephiroth, and other Final Fantasy 7 characters, it is clear that the two versions of her character have quite a lot in common. Tifa is always determined to fulfill her goals, whether it be to defeat her enemies or help her friends. She shares a very special bond with Cloud, wanting what’s best for him and doing whatever is necessary to be by his side. Tifa also has a deep hatred for Sephiroth in both Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Kingdom Hearts, though for different reasons.
In Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Sephiroth killed her father. Meanwhile, in Kingdom Hearts 2 he was primarily just a threat to her closest friend. Her reasons for seeing him as an enemy may be a lot more personal and intense than in Final Fantasy 7 Remake, but ultimately she still carries the same distaste for the One-Winged Angel when fighting him in Kingdom Hearts 2.
Both versions of her character are also great fighters that try to help others whenever they can. There are many times throughout Final Fantasy 7 Remake in which Tifa took care of her neighbors in Sector 7, as well as other places around Midgar. In Kingdom Hearts 2, she showed the same compassion when helping the people of Radiant Garden fight against invading heartless and nobodies. Her actions in both games prove how brave Tifa is, continuing her mission no matter the danger she must face.
However, there are also some notable differences between the two versions of Tifa. In Kingdom Hearts 2, she is more of a loner. She encounters Sora a few times throughout the game, but quickly departs. In Final Fantasy 7 Remake, she surrounds herself with friends beyond just Cloud. In Final Fantasy 7 Remake, she cares about a lot of people and the fate of the entire world, meanwhile the only person that meant a lot to her in Kingdom Hearts 2 was Cloud. This worked for a cameo role, but takes away from the essense of her character to an extent.
While fans remain hopeful that Tifa will appear in a future Kingdom Hearts game, her story will certainly continue in the second game of the new Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, which is expected to come out in 2023. Whether she goes through the same journey as in the original Final Fantasy 7 remains to be seen.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake is available on PC, PS4, and PS5.
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