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So I actually read something interesting on Aerith... she wasn't always slated to die. Square was actual down to two people to kill... Aerith or Barrett.

Obviously, given that there wasn't that short romance between between Aerith and Cloud, Barrett's death wouldn't have hit Cloud as hard as Aerith's did. Sure he'd be shocked, but it would dissipate much quicker, and not be hit as hard.

The method Barrett died would clearly have been different too. One of the other party members, likely Cloud, would probably have been badly wounded, and Barrett would have blocked the attack using his own body, being killed because he 'couldn't let a comrade in arms die again' and his last wish was for his friends to 'take care of Marlene for me, will ya?'

Obviously, what would have played out would have been different too. We probably learn much more about the Cetra due to Aerith wanting to understand her heritage more, and those videos in Icicle Inn about Gast and Iflana, detailing Aerith's birth would likely lead to a side quest. Its also likely that Midgar would have survived, since Aerith would likely explain that she was had summoned Holy, and thus, they would have been able to focus on removing barriers to its release. Also, its obvious that Cloud's romance with Aerith would have become stronger, Tifa wouldn't get closer to him, and maybe the two would even have married at the end of the game [like Cecil and Rosa did at the end of 4].

The direct reaction of the party after Barrett's death is that they would have been more interested in saving the planet, and probably start contemplating 'the true meaning of sacrifice'

Of course, nothing says she wouldn't have sacrificed herself to the lifestream to save the planet. She might even have convinced Sephiroth that he wasn't an ancient (its unlikely since Sephiroth is a nut case, but its still possible).

So what do you think

Heres the link to the article
http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Aerith#Development

Well to be honest I think Aeirth got killed off in order to psuh Cloud and Tifa together in a realistic way, because if they didnt what you said would most likely occur, meaning Cloud and Aerith would end up with each other instead of Tifa. But while on that point Aerith would still sacrifice herself thus being able to be with Zack again. But theres also the theory that Square didnt want to look racist by killing off the only black person in the game lol

I admit... That would have been just as great a game as it is now, maybe even better. But... *sigh* I will never forget playing it for the first time, focusing on a party of Aerith and Vincent... Leveling her up, giving her powerful materia, god her limits even became a HUGE crutch during boss battles. And then they kill her eek crying ... If anybody else had died, excluding cloud, it wouldn't have as much of an effect as her death. Aerith was pretty much the only sympathetic character, yes Vincent and kinda Barret but really it was mostly her. It was drilled into my mind, "She couldn't have died... She's central to the plot!" expecting a resurrection side-quest or something, but they kept it "real". So ya, she kinda had to die or we wouldn't be talking about this more than 10 years later...

I hated Aeris... I'm glad she's dead. If Barret would've died it probably wouldn't have effected me as much, but I would've lost one of my best damage dealers in the game. Cuz seriously... Catastrophe is amazing and you can't deny it.