People would have been plenty satisfied if Final Fantasy 7 Remake was a faithful recreation of the original game with a visual facelift. Instead, Square went above and beyond by crafting a whole new experience taking place in the familiar world. A new battle system, new areas, and an incredible narrative twist have made fans the most excited for the series since the early 2000s.
One of the most incredible parts of this remake is the museum dedicated to President Shinra and the company inside Shrina HQ. This section, passed through during the game's last act, contains many secrets you probably missed unless you are already a big Final Fantasy 7 fan.
10 The Class Picture Is An Final Fantasy 10 Nod
Near the beginning of the exhibit is a picture of what seems to be President Shinra's graduating class. In the picture, there is a kid with a mask resembling Shinra from Final Fantasy 10-2. A lot of people already think the two games take place in the same continuity, and this picture is a nod to the fan theory. People should not look too deep into this, however.
9 They Used Black And White Photography
Technology and the way it progresses generally isn't something one thinks about in a fictional world. However, when looking at the pictures of young President Shinra, you will notice they are utilizing black and white photography. The earliest game in the timeline is Crisis Core, so we never get to see a glimpse of the world 30 to 40 years before the main game. The use of black and white photography tells us a lot about how fast technology advanced with the advent of Mako technology.
8 The Rocket Foreshadows Cid Highwind
In the first room of the museum is a picture of a piece of a rocket along with a set of blueprints. Anybody who played the prior games in the franchise knows how closely space travel is associated with Cid Highwind, the last mandatory party member.
Cid Highwind spends much of the game lamenting his dead dream. Will Cid's story play out any differently due to the potential changes to the story after Final Fantasy 7 Remake's ending?
7 It Is The First Time We See The Ancients' Civilization
The small movie that plays before Cloud, Tifa, and Barret is special for several reasons. Most notably, it is the first time we see a glimpse of the Ancients, also called the Cetra. They are such a large part of the story, yet we never see flashbacks to their civilization. Since this series promises to significantly expand upon the Final Fantasy 7 lore, fans should not be surprised if they see actual flashback scenes to this time, perhaps showing how Jenova destroyed them.
6 Mayor Domino
Also in the first room of the museum, which features the rocket blueprint and the older photos of Shinra, is a picture of the president with Mayor Domino. If you were not paying attention to the game beforehand, you might not recognize him, but Domino soon becomes an integral part of the Assault on Shinra HQ. He helps Avalanche out and sympathizes with their cause. Many allusions to pizza are included in Midgar, and the mayor's name is another one of these.
5 The Ancients Kind Of Resemble An Older Final Fantasy Aesthetic
Fans of the series will notice how the Cetra are reminiscent of an older Final Fantasy aesthetic like one would find in the debut entry or Final Fantasy 3. One has to wonder if this was intentional or more of a coincidence. It is an interesting thought to ponder. The original Final Fantasy 7 marked a massive departure from the high fantasy aesthetic the series was known for, so it'd be no wonder if this world is supposed to resemble the general future all high fantasy worlds head towards.
4 Reeve's Emblem Might Foreshadow His Allegiances
In a hallway between exhibits, a small video showcases all the heads of different Shinra departments — complete with logos for each of them. Reeve, who is the head of Urban Development, has a heart floating above him. This could foreshadow his part later on in the story. We already see how conflicted he is in Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and later on, he helps out Avalanche. It'd make sense if his part remains similar in the future games.
3 Our First Glimpse Of The World Map
In the Cosmos Theater, the same one that shows the ancients, we also get a quick glance at the rest of the world. An overhead shot showcases the greener parts of the planet. The geography reveals few details, but it at least fires off all cylinders in fans' imaginations. In the original game, the world map is only available after escaping Midgar. How will future games in the remakes handle this? Will it be an open-world game or do something similar to Final Fantasy 10?
2 Foreshadowing Barret's Chapter
While looking at the scale model of Midgar, Barret Wallace is angered at the lies sprouting from the pre-recorded tour.
Cloud contends that Midgar has indeed made people's lives better, but Barret's rebuttal includes him lamenting how he also used to buy into their lies while looking down at his gun arm. This foreshadows a closer look at his backstory we will likely see in a future game.
1 Meteor In Cosmos Theater
The end of the Cosmos Theater showcases a massive ball of fire falling upon Midgar, sweeping up parts of the city in its gravitational pull before it even touches earth. While this cataclysmic event means nothing for newcomers, longtime fans recognize this immediately as Meteor, the magic spell Sephiroth uses to try and destroy the world. The remake does some funky things with the timeline, which is why this event is already being talked about so early on.