There are aspects of Final Fantasy VII that haven't aged well, and one of the most divisive scenes involved the cross-dressing quest in Wall Market. The majority of the characters are accepting of Cloud's decision to dress like a woman and the inclusion of a storyline involving cross-dressing was almost unheard of in a video game in the '90s. On the other hand, there are several NPCs who appear during this quest that are homophobic stereotypes, and their presence sticks out like a sore thumb.
Tetsuya Nomura has expressed unease at elements of the cross-dressing sidequest in Final Fantasy VII, most notably the Honeybee Inn, so he has discussed the decision to modernize it for the Final Fantasy VII Remake. Now that Final Fantasy VII Remake is in the hands of fans, we now know the changes that were made in one of the most highly-anticipated quests in the game.
Final Fantasy VII
In Final Fantasy VII, an agent of Don Corneo is trying to uncover information about Avalanche. Cloud is still missing following the recent Reactor mission, so Tifa attempts to sneak into Corneo's mansion by auditioning to be one of his wives. Cloud meets Aerith for the first time and the two spot Tifa heading into Wall Market.
Wall Market is one of the seediest parts of the Midgar slums, and Corneo is its unofficial ruler. Cloud cannot enter Corneo's mansion and he can't risk breaking in, as Tifa is already inside. Aerith suggests that Cloud should try and dress as a woman so that they can both audition to be one of Corneo's wives.
Aerith and Cloud need to complete odd jobs around Wall Market in order to assemble a feminine outfit. This potentially involves a visit to the Honeybee Inn, which is a mixture between a brothel and a Japanese love hotel. It's here that some of the most bizarre scenes in Final Fantasy VII occur, most notably a few involving Freddie Mercury lookalikes. The two are successful, and Cloud is able to dress up like a lady. Cloud's outfit fools the guards and he can audition to be one of Corneo's wives. If the player acquires the highest-quality clothing, then Corneo will pick Cloud to be his next bride.
Final Fantasy VII Remake
Wall Market is now a very different place in Final Fantasy VII Remake. The new version of Wall Market has been reimagined as more of a party town or holiday resort, with bars and nightclubs that are enjoyed by both men and women. The Honeybee Inn has also been changed, as it's now a place where stage shows are held, all under the watchful eye of Andrea Rhodea, who acts as a talent scout, as he is considered an expert on the kind of women that please Corneo.
Cloud catches Andrea's eye when he succeeds in the Corneo Colosseum. The next time Cloud visits the Honeybee Inn, he is expected to take part in a dance contest with Andrea, culminating in a makeover. Cloud is given an outfit and a makeover by Andrea and he can then enter Corneo's mansion. As Cloud's clothes are being changed, Andrea has a whole speech about how beauty exists beyond concepts such as gender. There are different clothing options for Cloud during this subquest, and it all depends on the player's actions in the other Wall Market quests.
Final Fantasy VII Remake will be released for PlayStation 4 on April 10, 2020.