Final Fantasy VII Remake: Traces of Two Pasts

For all FINAL FANTASY fans (FF VII in particular) “Traces of Two Pasts” is a jewel to hold dearly, a Materia worthy of questing for, and this book should be on your shelf. Tifa and Aerith reminisce about their pasts, following the events in the game which lead to the departure of Midgar. An intrinsic bond between the two of them is naturally formed, and they start to telltale memories long passed. On Episode 1, “Traces of Tifa”, we get to know how, after the tragic Inferno on Nibelheim, she ended up in Midgar, and all the strife and sacrifice she had to endure to survive onthe Slums. A bittersweet tale unfolds, as Tifa rises her way from the gutter, working hard to keep a roof over her head, a slice of bread on the table, and to pay out a deceitful debt. Faced with pain and crookery, Tifa struggles to achieve a dream evanescent. On her way to climb each step to Seventh Heaven, Tifa come upon many characters known to the fans, and others, well, not so friendly. Meet Barret, and her lovely daughter Marlene; Jessie and the Avalanche resistance; revisit Master Zangan and the quintessential techniques that Tifa had to learn and conquer. Carved with heart, it’s a story one might find comfort in the end, after the dark, austere ordeals our main protagonist drives through. Episode 2, “Traces of Aerith”, is far from being a fairy tale, for the narrative plights on suffering and loss. Being the last remaining descendants of the Ancients, or Cetra, child Aerith and her Mother Ifalna spend their days imprisoned in the Shinra Building, the R & D laboratory, more precisely. Ifalna is taken day after day, undergoing several and painful occult experiments, because the antagonists, President Shinra and Doctor Hojo, believe that in her lies the secrets that can lead to the Promised Land. Such trials leave young Aerith alone most of the time. Socially desolated tears bloom up in her eyes, still, resilient and strong, her smile lingers on. As Hojo’s methods grow crueler, an embellished escape is designed, and so Mother and child find themselves lost in the Midgar disturbance. Unfaithful events lead Aerith to endure a new and harsh reality in the City of Mako, in the penumbra of the Slums, where she tries to find a light in which to hold on to, in order to thrive and smile again. A coming of age, a tempest, yet rays of light break through, shining upon the most ephemeral flower. On Episode 2, Coda: "Picturing the Past", the writer unveils secrets about Aerith’s plagued childhood, which can be a pleasant surprise to many fans. The narratives are a slow burn, crescendo into foreboding mysteries, flashbacks and upheavals. Beautifully written, at its own tempo, the detailed portrait of every setting is astonishing, a stream of emotion plunges, flesh deep, and the characters’ development is unpretentious and pure. A final appreciation to the luminous aura with which Kazushige Nojima coats each phrase, each word, leaving the reader enthralled and eagerly flipping each new page. “Traces of Two Pasts” embrace the rebirth of FINAL FANTASY VII, fulfilling what fans have long desired.