Zack Fair - Final Fantasy
Zack Fair is a non-playable character who originally appeared in Final Fantasy VII , a Japanese role-playing game released for the PlayStation 1 in 1997 by Square . Zack Fair makes appearances in a number of other game titles, spin-offs , and remakes, including Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII, Last Order: Final Fantasy VII, and, most notably, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, a prequel game in which Zack is the main character. He also appears in Final Fantasy: Advent Children , a 3D computer-animated film set after the events of Final Fantasy VII .
The character of Zack Fair was designed by character designer, Tetsuya Nomura and written by Kazushige Nojima . Zack Fair is also a fan favorite, being a commonly chosen character for Final Fantasy cosplay enthusiasts and fan artists alike. Zack has also inspired a number of figures as well. On March 3, 2020, he is set to make another appearance in the highly anticipated Final Fantasy VII Remake .
Appearance and personality
In appearance, Zack Fair bears an incredible resemblance to Final Fantasy VII 's protagonist, Cloud Strife . Zack has a sturdy, muscular build and distinctive bright blue eyes like Cloud. However, Cloud is blond, while Zack's hair is black, but is otherwise just as spiky. His SOLDIER uniform is also nearly identical in style, albeit dark blue in color. Zack also wears dark gloves and sturdy boots. He is often seen wielding a standard SOLDIER sword. Once promoted, Zack Fair uses a Buster Sword and wears a black SOLDIER First Class suit. When it comes to women, he can sometimes be seen as a flirt, but he is always serious when it comes to protecting his friends. Zack is incredibly hardworking and is always ready to start working at a moment's notice. Despite having a rather short attention span, Zack is always brimming with energy. Zack's mentor, Angeal Hewley, notices Zack's energetic personality and eventually gives him the nickname "Puppy Zack." Zack is also incredibly serious about the SOLDIER program and dreams of one day becoming a hero.
Creation
Zack Fair was originally not meant to be part of Final Fantasy VII . However, the game's writer Kazushige Nojima ended up wanting to bring more mystery to the story and decided to include Zack Fair to add more depth to Cloud's backstory and the plot in general. His name is derived from the phrase "fair weather," in direct contrast to Cloud Strife's name. After Zack's story and position were solidified in Final Fantasy VII , the developers decided to use the compilation of Final Fantasy VII series to add more depth to his story. He is voiced by Kenichi Suzumura in Japanese and Rick Gomez in English. Suzumura was chosen without an audition by Nomura simply because of his voice. Western audiences and critics have praised Zack Fair's character and his development since the original release of Final Fantasy VII .
Background story
As a child, Zack had always dreamed of becoming a SOLDIER First Class and eventually ran away from home to join Shinra's military. During his SOLDIER years, Zack is taught by SOLDIER First Class Angeal Hewley and ends up being deeply inspired by him. Angeal is the original wielder of the Buster Sword and, using his dying breath, gives the sword to Zack while telling him to remember the ways of a true SOLDIER. In Final Fantasy VII , Zack Fair is a senior member of SOLDIER, a paramilitary organization and the military division of the megacorporation known as Shinra. During the game, the player learns that Zack Fair was actually Aerith Gainsborough's first boyfriend, and also a companion of Cloud Strife , the game's main character. Zack Fair actually dies before the game opens during an event while protecting Cloud from Shinra's army after being subjected to genetic experimentation and escaping. Zack Fair was the first user of the Buster Sword, and wielded it before Cloud and gave the sword to Cloud after his death.
Reception
Overall, the public and critical reception to Zack's character has been generally positive. Several polls and lists related to Final Fantasy and video games in general rank Zack quite high, such as a 2008 list of the top ten characters in Final Fantasy VII published by IGN, which ranked Zack in sixth place. Another example is a poll published in Famitsu magazine. Readers voted in this poll to create the most popular characters in video games in Japan, and Zack finished in 37th place. Jim Sterling of GamesRadar also believes that Zack is probably one of the most attractive male characters in any video game worldwide due to his personality and appearance. Several critics have also praised Zack's character in Crisis Core for being an incredibly dynamic character who also provides a welcome contrast to his brooding and moody counterpart.
