Incongruent Mobile Game Tie-Ins in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Assessing Glenn Lodbrok’s Role in Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth

The much-anticipated Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth presents a somewhat flawed effort to merge the narratives of FF7: The First Soldier and FF7: Ever Crisis. Instead of seamlessly integrating these storylines, the character of Glenn Lodbrok appears to be awkwardly inserted into the plot. This approach, though not entirely surprising, reflects a pattern seen in the FF7: Remake series, which has also drawn on less prominent elements of the larger Final Fantasy 7 Compilation, including references from titles like The Kids Are Alright: A Turk Side Story.

Comparison with FF7: Remake

Unlike its predecessor, FF7: Remake managed to integrate character cameos like Kyrie Canaan and Leslie Kyle into the Midgar setting effectively. These characters felt organic to the narrative. In contrast, FF7: Rebirth lacks the same level of subtlety, leading to the impression that Glenn is an insignificant addition rather than a critical character within the narrative framework. This might stem from Square Enix’s intent to reflect the different roles characters play across the multiverse.

Closure of FF7: The First Soldier in 2023

Notably, FF7: The First Soldier ceased operations in 2023, marking the end of its short lifespan. Initially introduced in the game’s opening cinematic, Glenn’s role was predominantly that of a non-playable character (NPC). Most players interacted with customizable characters, which may have contributed to the game’s limited engagement. Factors such as its mobile format, continual online requirements, or the fatigue from prevailing battle royale trends likely led to its quick decline.

Glenn’s Abbreviated Backstory

In FF7: Ever Crisis, Glenn’s narrative was further developed through dedicated chapters from The First Soldier. His character was portrayed as a prototype SOLDIER, well-trained but without exposure to Mako energy. Eventually, Glenn distanced himself from Shinra, participating in a revolt against Godo Kisaragi, the then-leader of Wutai. Tragically, Glenn met his end at the hands of Rufus Shinra, just as he seemed poised to gain power.

Inadequate Introduction of Glenn Lodbrok in FF7: Rebirth

A Frustrating Reappearance

Glenn makes a surprise comeback in Chapter 4 of FF7: Rebirth, titled Dawn of a New Era. He is established as a character who has suffered betrayal at the hands of Rufus, yet the lack of elaboration on their relationship leaves players confused. Clad in black robes reminiscent of Sephiroth’s followers, Glenn enters Rufus’s office and instigates further conflict between Shinra and Wutai.

As the plot unfolds, Glenn’s attempts to propagate chaos continue, including deploying agents to the Nibel Reactor and ridiculing Rufus. However, a significant twist reveals in one of the post-credits scenes that the Glenn present in the game was merely an illusion—an agent manipulated by Sephiroth rather than the original character.

This revelation may captivate players familiar with FF7: Ever Crisis, yet it risks bewildering newcomers. Many players might not wish to delve into a mobile gacha title to fully grasp the details of a high-priced RPG experience. Ideally, Glenn’s role in Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth should feel like a natural extension of the game’s narrative, rather than a fleeting nod to another title. The future of his involvement in the forthcoming third installment remains uncertain, raising questions about whether his character will gain significance moving forward.

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