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Can Aeris be revived?[]

AerithDeath2

Aeris is laid to rest

That is the one question that has been debated for years, and it is still being debated to this day. There are many rumors about how and when Aerith could be revived. Nearly every rumor has been disproved. The following lists some of these arguments:

  • In Disk 1, many of the choices the player makes decide who Cloud favors more - Aeris, Tifa, Yuffie, or even Barret. This was included in the game as a means of deciding who Cloud's date at the Gold Saucer would be.
  • Aeris has a level 4 limit break. Most people thought this was evidence for Aeris' resurrection, but as a hidden feature, a man sleeping in a cave is the secret to obtaining this Limit Break on Disc 1. Read the 'Limit Break Mechanics Guide' on GameFAQS to find out how.
  • Her ultimate weapon, Princess Guard, is attainable after her death. This is once again included in order for all the characters to have ultimate weapons.
  • Aeris is "seen" a few times after her death, including after the snowboarding portion of the game. Therein, Aeris is clearly seen and says, "I'm sick of this." This may be the cause of something hidden within the game that was meant to indicate a way of resurrection, but was later scrapped.
  • Aerith's Ghost PC

    Aeris Ghost seen in PC verison

    If one returns to Midgar in Disk 2 and go to Aeris' church, you will see Aeris tending to the flowers, but if you move closer it will vanish. This apparition was widely believed to be Aeris' ghost, and there are many theories about this "ghost" which include her resurrection. However, if one returns to the church in Disk 1 shortly after Aeris is captured by Shin-Ra, one can see the ghost then as well; thus, this theory has widely been accepted as false.

Many theories have circulated about a way to revive Aeris, and some are quite incredulous, as they include some impossible or otherwise ludicrous tasks that simply waste one's time. For example, it has been said that to prevent Aeris from dying you need to have her level 4 Limit Break and have her ready to use it before she leaves your party for the Temple of the Ancients (this has been proven to be wrong). However, one of the most famous theories was widely spread and widely believed is that, if you level up the cure materia enough, you can learn the "restore" spell. Then you have to find the one-of-a-kind "underwater" materia - then and only then can one revive Aeris. This theory was readily believed because the person who spoke about it claimed he worked for Squaresoft. An underwater materia does exist, but it is used to fight emerald WEAPON without being timed. The person who spread the theory in the first place even tried to retract his statement.

Another popular rumor which still circulates involves the following criteria: You must be mean to Tifa throughout the game. You must never have her in your party after you can change it freely. You must go on the date at the Gold Saucer with Aerith. You must be nice to Aeris throughout the game. After Aeris leaves your party to go to the Forgotten Capital, you must have Tifa in your party. According to the rumor, in the cut-scene, Tifa will push Aeris out of the way and get herself killed by Sephiroth instead of Aeris. This is among the most popular rumor to date and has been proven false several times.

So in short there is absolutely no way of reviving Aeris - once she is dead, she stays dead. Players who really want her in their party can have her in there by using a Cheat disk. However, this cheat version of Aeris cannot be spoken to, because it causes the game to crash.

Unfortunately, from a plot standpoint it does not even make sense for Aeris to be able to be revived. She remains dead in the sequels Advent Children, and Dirge of Cerberus. Furthermore, her death was planned since the early stages of the game when only Cloud and Barret, along with Aeris herself, were playable, indicating that her death was been ingrained in the game's plot for the majority of its development. So canonically, it is impossible for her to come back in the game and yet still be dead in the sequels. This has, of course, not stopped non-canon revival rumors from spreading every once-in-a-while.