Happy birthday to Tifa Lockhart, the queen of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, who tears through punching ballads and heart-throbbing ballads. People on social media are pouring out love for the iconic character from the game, sharing nostalgic moments with her. Let’s be honest: Who doesn’t have at least one memory of Tifa residing rent-free in their minds?
What, then, is all this hype about? Tifa has been gifted with some extra screen time, character development, and, of course, those ridiculously awesome fight scenes we all drool over in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. But if you want to see her at her best, then look out for her emotional reunion with Cloud, during which she dazzles people through bone-crunchingly brutal combos and just being Avalanche’s emotional rock in ways nobody could anticipate.
Fan tweet: “That scene where Tifa comforts Cloud after *that* memory sequence? TEARS. Actual tears.” And really? Same. The way Square Enix chose to expand Tifa’s role in Rebirth versus that of the original? *Chef’s kiss*. She’s not just the muscle; she’s the heart of the story.
What comes next is combat. Ohhhh, combat. Somehow, Tifa’s combat in Rebirth feels so silky smooth to a point of almost unfairness against the other comrades. Quickly stagger your foe and start with an Unbridled Strength combo? Straight victory. With that, Tifa mains turned boss fights into their personal playground and no one is complaining.
Not that there are not also quieter moments. Everything—from her banter with Barret, her role as a sort of guardian to Marlene, and the most awkward attempts at flirting with Cloud—cemented her reality. Square Enix did not just remake Tifa; they added depth to her.
Not that it requires reiterating as the Internet is the Internet but there’s *that* other debate: the one that not many care about yet everybody knows. Some fans are still going at it over her outfit (seriously, it’s been decades), most just want to see her in glorious HD kicking butt and taking names.
So raise a glass to Tifa, the ass-kicking friend, the total legend. Whether you love her for her strength, her kindness, or her ability to punch a skyscraper-sized monster into next week, there’s no denying her among the most memorable characters in gaming.
Now I need to go replay her best scenes. For research purposes, of course.
