Zack Fair
Encyclopedia
is a fictional character
from the Final Fantasy
series by Square Enix
. He first appeared as a non-player character
in the role-playing game Final Fantasy VII
. In the story, Zack is a late member from the paramilitary
organization SOLDIER developed by the megacorporation Shinra Electric Power Company. During the game, he is revealed to have been Aerith Gainsborough
's first boyfriend, as well as a friend of Cloud Strife
. Zack ultimately died protecting Cloud from Shinra's army after escaping from imprisonment and human experimentation. He is the second owner of the , and wielded it before Cloud. Zack also appears in the titles from Compilation of Final Fantasy VII
—which are prequels and sequels from the original game— most notably in the prequel Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
, where he acts as the protagonist.
Zack originally was not meant to appear in Final Fantasy VII, and was created by scenario writer Kazushige Nojima
when he wanted to bring mysteries to the title. He was designed by Tetsuya Nomura
and his name derived from "fair weather", to contrast with Cloud Strife's name. With Zack's conceptual backstory already written by Final Fantasy VII, the staff decided to use Compilation of Final Fantasy VII to expand his character. Zack is voiced by Kenichi Suzumura
in Japanese and Rick Gomez
in English. Suzumura was chosen specifically for his voice by Nomura, and was given the role without an audition. Western critics have praised Zack's character, commenting on his development since Final Fantasy VII, as well as his role within Crisis Core.
was adding mysteries of the story, most notably Cloud Strife's background which would be deemed as false across the game although the reason for that was initially unknown. Nojima also used Zack to link Cloud and Aerith Gainsborough, as Aerith had seen her past love in Cloud, and as such Zack was used as that past love, while in the original idea Sephiroth was meant to be Aerith's first love interest. The mysteries regarding Zack and Cloud were thought by Nojima as the game continued development, causing some of the scenes of the game to be revised. Director Yoshinori Kitase
was surprised by the revelation of Cloud's and Zack's connection as until latter stages of development, he did not know about Zack. Character designer Tetsuya Nomura
got the request to design Zack when Final Fantasy VII was reaching the end of development, making the request for concept art sudden for him. Before the late addition of Zack to Final Fantasy VII, Nojima asked the staff to add some parts to some scenes in order to give clues about him despite not revealing to the members the outcome of Zack's existence. Zack appears as a young man with spiky black hair standing 6 feet 3 inches (185 cm) tall. He wears the 1st class SOLDIER uniform, consisting of a black, sleeveless turtleneck, black boots, and armor. In Crisis Core, Zack has two looks: one being the same from the other Final Fantasy VII titles and another during the start of the game which he changes after fighting Angeal. Zack's full name was first revealed in an article from Dengeki PlayStation
. Nomura stated that Zack's name was derived from 'fair weather' and contrasted with Cloud Strife's name.
Zack had few appearances in Final Fantasy VII Advent Children, and as a result was not difficult to animate; the team had also acquired his design early on in the production stages, allowing modeling of his character to be taken care of then as well. Nomura had wanted Zack to have a "nice, upbeat voice," which influenced his decision in casting Kenichi Suzumura
. Beforehand, Nomura had had dinner with Suzumura, where he had decided that "at that point [Nomura] wanted him to be in one of [Nomura's] projects if the opportunity ever presented itself." Suzumura was selected without an audition for the role; Nomura described that, because Zack had been chosen to be the lead in Last Order: Final Fantasy VII
, he wanted "someone who could handle [the] role well." The staff used the OVA as an opportunity to portray Zack "properly" as a "handsome, light-hearted man [who] was in everyone's memory". Rick Gomez
did the English voice acting for Zack, debuting in Advent Children.
In an interview with IGN
, Yoshinori Kitase
explained that when the original game had been created, "Zack was a rather minor character," though Nomura had created an art design and Nojima, one of Final Fantasy VIIs scenario writers, had created a "basic concept of his [Zack's] story." Kitase followed by saying "So, you could say that the idea [for the storyline of Crisis Core] has been cooking for 10 years." Before Crisis Core started development, the staff wanted to create PlayStation Portable
port of Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII
but focused on Zack in contrast to the original version which featured the group the Turks as the protagonists. Zack was established as the protagonist of the game as his fate in the story was already predetermined. Throughout the game, the staff decided to use a blue sky in some cutscenes to represent Zack while other features in such scenes are meant to be his connections. Various of Zack's actions and events from the game are also meant to increase the number of similarities that Aerith finds in Final Fantasy VII between him and Cloud. Their connection was also meant to be expanded near the game's ending with both of them fleeing to Midgar. However, due to limitations from the console's hardware, such scenes could not be implemented, and instead, they decided to focus on Zack's role as a warrior.
, Zack takes a small role, and is first mentioned in Gongaga, his hometown, where his parents are oblivious to what became of their son and worried for his safety after not hearing from him for years. Aerith also explains that Zack was her first love and that he was a member from the organization SOLDIER. Cloud later realizes that certain memories, past experiences, and parts of his persona were that of Zack's and not his own. Flashback
s reveal that both Zack and Cloud battled the maddened SOLDIER Sephiroth after he burned the town of Nibelheim. After Cloud defeated Sephiroth, both of them were used as experiments for Shinra. One day, Zack woke up and escaped with a semi-conscious Cloud to the city Midgar, but he was gunned down by Shinra troops before reaching the city. While Zack's and Cloud's flashback escape is optional in the English releases of Final Fantasy VII and the International version, it was originally meant to be shown once Cloud discovered the results of Shinra's experiments upon him.
Compilation of Final Fantasy VII
, a series of prequels and sequels of Final Fantasy VII, expand Zack's character. In the prequel Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII
, Zack supports Shinra in their fight against the terrorist group AVALANCHE. In the battle, two of his SOLDIER acquaintances are captured and experimented on. Unable to save them, Zack is forced to kill his comrades. He also makes an appearance during the chapter covering the Nibelheim incident and later as a boss character when he and Cloud are fugitives from Shinra. Zack has a small role in the film sequel Final Fantasy VII Advent Children, and most of his appearances are flashbacks from Cloud's point of view as well as in the film's end where he and the now late Aerith appear to greet Cloud. In the director's cut
version, Advent Children Complete, his role is expanded, making an appearance supporting Cloud while he battles Sephiroth. The original video animation
Last Order: Final Fantasy VII
included in limited editions of the film, follows Zack and Cloud's journey to Midgar with flashbacks of the Nibelheim incident.
Zack also acts as the protagonist of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
, a prequel to Final Fantasy VII. As a SOLDIER, Zack is trained by his close friend, SOLDIER Angeal Hewley, in hopes of becoming a hero while working for Shinra. As Angeal and another SOLDIER, Genesis Rhapsodos, betray Shinra, Zack and Sephiroth are dispatched to kill them, but both decide to avoid doing that. He and Sephiroth learn that both Angeal and Genesis were the result of Shinra's Project G which had injected them with Jenova cells before being born, but both suffer from secondary effects which led them to antagonize Shinra in hopes of finding a cure with the rebelled Dr. Hollander. In the course of the game, Zack befriends Cloud and starts frequenting Aerith. During a mission to find the SOLDIERs, Angeal forces Zack to kill him, to avoid hurting people as a result of his mutations. Before dying, Angeal thanks Zack for stopping him and gives him his Buster Sword. Sometime later, while Zack and Sephiroth search for Genesis and Hollander, they go to Nibelheim where the events of the original game are repraised. After being experimented on for four years by Shinra, Zack learns that Genesis wants to take Cloud who was injected with Sephiroth's cells that can help him avoid suffering from physical degradation. Zack decides to stop him, and after defeating him, he returns with Cloud to Midgar to find Aerith. The events of his death are also revised, as in his dying breath, Zack gives the Buster Sword to Cloud, telling him to be his living legacy. As Cloud stumbles off towards Midgar, Zack is pulled into the sky by Angeal, and wonders if he had become a hero.
Zack is an unlockable character in the PlayStation version of the fighting game Ehrgeiz
, playable in arcade, versus, and minigame events. He makes his debut appearance in the Kingdom Hearts
series in the prequel Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
for the PlayStation Portable
. He has a more youthful appearance than in his Final Fantasy appearances. He is featured prominently in the world Olympus Coliseum, commonly participating in tournaments in order to achieve his dream of becoming a hero. As the game is a prequel of the other Kingdom Hearts titles, the staff chose him to be in the game as they wanted a character from a Final Fantasy prequel.
cans. Critical response to Zack's character has generally been positive. In IGN
's "Final Fantasy VII: Top 10 Characters" list, Zack made sixth place with writer Dave Smith noting that "his [Zack's] check-out scene in Crisis Core is just about as epic as it gets in videogames." GamesRadar
's Jim Sterling found Zack as one of video game's most sexually appealing
male characters, commenting on his personality and look. PALGN
described Zack as an unfamiliar character in the series since his only appearances were in backstories, and with the release of the Crisis Core, players were able to learn more about his persona such as his connections with Aerith and Cloud. Similarly, PSXextreme's Ben Dutka stated that only players with "halfway decent memories" and a "hardcore completionist mentality" will be able to know remember about Zack's character when playing the game. RPGFan echoed similar comments stating that with Crisis Core, players would be able to learn of Zack's history. IGN UK's Dave McCarthy noted how Zack's role in the story throughout Compilation of Final Fantasy VII evolved, to the point of him getting his own game. When Ayaka
finished the song "Why" for Crisis Core, she mentioned that she wanted to deliver it alongside Zack's fate "to the hearts of many people." During February 2010, Famitsu
readers voted Zack as the thirty-seventh most popular video game character in Japan.
Zack's role in Crisis Core has also received positive critics. IGN's Ryan Clements praised his growth, particularly commenting on his relationships with the other main characters. 1UP.com
's Jeremy Parish agreed with Clements as Zack's story contrast other RPGs' plots and calling his story "the heart of the game." Kevin VanOrd from GameSpot
labelled Zack as a "likable and complex hero" and that he "transcends the usual spiky-haired heroism and teenage angst with an uncommon maturity that develops as the game continues." Niall Rough from Acegamez agreed with VanOrd by saying that Zack is a more appealing character than Cloud, praising his personality and other traits. GameSpy
's Gerald Villoria described Zack as "King of the Nice Guys", noting that even though he can be a "pretty hate-worthy character if you're the jaded type who mocks the typical Final Fantasy storyline", players who dislike would come to appreciate him. GameDaily
's Chris Buffa said that the inclusion of Zack into Crisis Core was one of the things the players would enjoy the most, having found him as a "likable hero". Zack was also called an "endearing main character" by Game Revolution
who stated that despite the character goes through the game, he still retains his friendly attitude. Like other reviewers, RPGamer
viewed him to have "full, soulful carriage of a Final Fantasy hero" due to his personal conflicts despite his "artfully teased hair and devil-may-care grin."
IGN UK had mixed comments about the character due to his personality being sometimes annoying, it serves to contrast the serious attitudes of the other main characters. Although Eurogamer
's Simon Parkin found Zack's physical appearance to be highly similar to Cloud's, he added that "This fan service doesn't put a foot wrong until he reaches into his [Zack's] pocket, pulls out a mobile phone and speaks." He also praised Zack's English voice actor for doing a good job as Zack, noting "his character's maturing and developing over the 15-hour storyline". Similar comments were made by Videogamer.com's Wesley Yin-Poole who called him Cloud's "identical twin in all but hair colour" and complained about his personality which can be "annoying" during the first half of the game. Destructoid agreed, telling players not to expect to enjoy him if they do not like "cocky teenagers" and even labelling him as a "annoying cockhole", having found him quieter in his short cutscene from Final Fantasy VII. IGN AU agreed with Parkin calling Gomez's work as "pretty likeable". On the other hand, Gameplanet criticized Zack's voice finding it more immature than they expected despite considering him younger than in previous titles. GamesRadar's AJ Glasser commented that the way Zack obtains the Buster Sword and the way he gives it to Cloud is the "ultimate payoff" of Crisis Core, stating nevertheless, that the fact that knowing that he will die in ending is a reason to hate it.
Character (arts)
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy
is a media franchise created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, and is developed and owned by Square Enix . The franchise centers on a series of fantasy and science-fantasy role-playing video games , but includes motion pictures, anime, printed media, and other merchandise...
series by Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
. He first appeared as a non-player character
Non-player character
A non-player character , sometimes known as a non-person character or non-playable character, in a game is any fictional character not controlled by a player. In electronic games, this usually means a character controlled by the computer through artificial intelligence...
in the role-playing game Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VII
is a role-playing video game developed by Square and published by Sony Computer Entertainment as the seventh installment in the Final Fantasy series. It was originally released in 1997 for the Sony PlayStation and was re-released in 1998 for Microsoft Windows-based personal computers and in 2009...
. In the story, Zack is a late member from the paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
organization SOLDIER developed by the megacorporation Shinra Electric Power Company. During the game, he is revealed to have been Aerith Gainsborough
Aerith Gainsborough
— spelled Aeris Gainsborough in the English releases of Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy Tactics — is a player character in Square's console role-playing game Final Fantasy VII...
's first boyfriend, as well as a friend of Cloud Strife
Cloud Strife
is a fictional character and the main protagonist in Square's role-playing game Final Fantasy VII and several of its sequels and spin-offs. His original design was created by Final Fantasy VII character designer Tetsuya Nomura...
. Zack ultimately died protecting Cloud from Shinra's army after escaping from imprisonment and human experimentation. He is the second owner of the , and wielded it before Cloud. Zack also appears in the titles from Compilation of Final Fantasy VII
Compilation of Final Fantasy VII
Compilation of Final Fantasy VII is a series of games and animated features developed by Square Enix based in the world and continuity of Final Fantasy VII...
—which are prequels and sequels from the original game— most notably in the prequel Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
is an action role-playing game developed by Square Enix for the PlayStation Portable. First released in 2007, the game is a prequel to the video game Final Fantasy VII and is also the sixth installment in metaseries Compilation of Final Fantasy VII which includes products related to the game...
, where he acts as the protagonist.
Zack originally was not meant to appear in Final Fantasy VII, and was created by scenario writer Kazushige Nojima
Kazushige Nojima
is a Japanese game scenario writer and is the founder of Stellavista Ltd.. He is best known for writing parts of Square Enix's Final Fantasy video game series—namely Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy X-2—and the Kingdom Hearts series...
when he wanted to bring mysteries to the title. He was designed by Tetsuya Nomura
Tetsuya Nomura
is a Japanese video game director and character designer working for Square Enix , best known for his work on both the Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts series.-Time before Square:Nomura was born in Kōchi, Japan...
and his name derived from "fair weather", to contrast with Cloud Strife's name. With Zack's conceptual backstory already written by Final Fantasy VII, the staff decided to use Compilation of Final Fantasy VII to expand his character. Zack is voiced by Kenichi Suzumura
Kenichi Suzumura
is a Japanese voice actor who was born in Niigata Prefecture, but raised in Osaka Prefecture. He is currently affiliated with Arts Vision. He made his television animation debut on Macross 7 in 1994...
in Japanese and Rick Gomez
Rick Gomez
Richard Harper "Rick" Gomez is an American actor. He is known for portraying T-4. George Luz, in the HBO television miniseries Band of Brothers, and as "Endless Mike" Hellstrom in the cult hit Nickelodeon TV series The Adventures of Pete and Pete.-Movies:*Love Ranch - Tom Macy*Another Cinderella...
in English. Suzumura was chosen specifically for his voice by Nomura, and was given the role without an audition. Western critics have praised Zack's character, commenting on his development since Final Fantasy VII, as well as his role within Crisis Core.
Concept and creation
Zack had not existed during the original scenario of Final Fantasy VII, and was created when scenario writer Kazushige NojimaKazushige Nojima
is a Japanese game scenario writer and is the founder of Stellavista Ltd.. He is best known for writing parts of Square Enix's Final Fantasy video game series—namely Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy X-2—and the Kingdom Hearts series...
was adding mysteries of the story, most notably Cloud Strife's background which would be deemed as false across the game although the reason for that was initially unknown. Nojima also used Zack to link Cloud and Aerith Gainsborough, as Aerith had seen her past love in Cloud, and as such Zack was used as that past love, while in the original idea Sephiroth was meant to be Aerith's first love interest. The mysteries regarding Zack and Cloud were thought by Nojima as the game continued development, causing some of the scenes of the game to be revised. Director Yoshinori Kitase
Yoshinori Kitase
is a Japanese game producer and former game director that has been working for Square Enix since April 1, 1990. He is mostly known for his work on the role-playing video game series Final Fantasy and is currently the manager of 1st Production Department....
was surprised by the revelation of Cloud's and Zack's connection as until latter stages of development, he did not know about Zack. Character designer Tetsuya Nomura
Tetsuya Nomura
is a Japanese video game director and character designer working for Square Enix , best known for his work on both the Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts series.-Time before Square:Nomura was born in Kōchi, Japan...
got the request to design Zack when Final Fantasy VII was reaching the end of development, making the request for concept art sudden for him. Before the late addition of Zack to Final Fantasy VII, Nojima asked the staff to add some parts to some scenes in order to give clues about him despite not revealing to the members the outcome of Zack's existence. Zack appears as a young man with spiky black hair standing 6 feet 3 inches (185 cm) tall. He wears the 1st class SOLDIER uniform, consisting of a black, sleeveless turtleneck, black boots, and armor. In Crisis Core, Zack has two looks: one being the same from the other Final Fantasy VII titles and another during the start of the game which he changes after fighting Angeal. Zack's full name was first revealed in an article from Dengeki PlayStation
Dengeki PlayStation
is a Japanese gaming magazine published by ASCII Media Works . The magazine originally featured information pertaining to PlayStation video games, but since then has also incorporated information from PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Portable games...
. Nomura stated that Zack's name was derived from 'fair weather' and contrasted with Cloud Strife's name.
Zack had few appearances in Final Fantasy VII Advent Children, and as a result was not difficult to animate; the team had also acquired his design early on in the production stages, allowing modeling of his character to be taken care of then as well. Nomura had wanted Zack to have a "nice, upbeat voice," which influenced his decision in casting Kenichi Suzumura
Kenichi Suzumura
is a Japanese voice actor who was born in Niigata Prefecture, but raised in Osaka Prefecture. He is currently affiliated with Arts Vision. He made his television animation debut on Macross 7 in 1994...
. Beforehand, Nomura had had dinner with Suzumura, where he had decided that "at that point [Nomura] wanted him to be in one of [Nomura's] projects if the opportunity ever presented itself." Suzumura was selected without an audition for the role; Nomura described that, because Zack had been chosen to be the lead in Last Order: Final Fantasy VII
Last Order: Final Fantasy VII
, also abbreviated as Last Order or LO, is a 2005 Japanese anime original video animation produced by Madhouse and released by Square Enix. It was directed by Morio Asaka and produced by Masao Maruyama, Jungo Maruta, and Akio Ofuji. Tetsuya Nomura acted as the supervising director...
, he wanted "someone who could handle [the] role well." The staff used the OVA as an opportunity to portray Zack "properly" as a "handsome, light-hearted man [who] was in everyone's memory". Rick Gomez
Rick Gomez
Richard Harper "Rick" Gomez is an American actor. He is known for portraying T-4. George Luz, in the HBO television miniseries Band of Brothers, and as "Endless Mike" Hellstrom in the cult hit Nickelodeon TV series The Adventures of Pete and Pete.-Movies:*Love Ranch - Tom Macy*Another Cinderella...
did the English voice acting for Zack, debuting in Advent Children.
In an interview with IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
, Yoshinori Kitase
Yoshinori Kitase
is a Japanese game producer and former game director that has been working for Square Enix since April 1, 1990. He is mostly known for his work on the role-playing video game series Final Fantasy and is currently the manager of 1st Production Department....
explained that when the original game had been created, "Zack was a rather minor character," though Nomura had created an art design and Nojima, one of Final Fantasy VIIs scenario writers, had created a "basic concept of his [Zack's] story." Kitase followed by saying "So, you could say that the idea [for the storyline of Crisis Core] has been cooking for 10 years." Before Crisis Core started development, the staff wanted to create PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
port of Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII
Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII
is a Japanese action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix in 2004. It was the first original game to be produced by Square Enix exclusively for mobile phones, and was released on NTT DoCoMo's FOMA iMode line of phones on a monthly subscription basis...
but focused on Zack in contrast to the original version which featured the group the Turks as the protagonists. Zack was established as the protagonist of the game as his fate in the story was already predetermined. Throughout the game, the staff decided to use a blue sky in some cutscenes to represent Zack while other features in such scenes are meant to be his connections. Various of Zack's actions and events from the game are also meant to increase the number of similarities that Aerith finds in Final Fantasy VII between him and Cloud. Their connection was also meant to be expanded near the game's ending with both of them fleeing to Midgar. However, due to limitations from the console's hardware, such scenes could not be implemented, and instead, they decided to focus on Zack's role as a warrior.
Appearances
In Final Fantasy VIIFinal Fantasy VII
is a role-playing video game developed by Square and published by Sony Computer Entertainment as the seventh installment in the Final Fantasy series. It was originally released in 1997 for the Sony PlayStation and was re-released in 1998 for Microsoft Windows-based personal computers and in 2009...
, Zack takes a small role, and is first mentioned in Gongaga, his hometown, where his parents are oblivious to what became of their son and worried for his safety after not hearing from him for years. Aerith also explains that Zack was her first love and that he was a member from the organization SOLDIER. Cloud later realizes that certain memories, past experiences, and parts of his persona were that of Zack's and not his own. Flashback
Flashback (narrative)
Flashback is an interjected scene that takes the narrative back in time from the current point the story has reached. Flashbacks are often used to recount events that happened before the story’s primary sequence of events or to fill in crucial backstory...
s reveal that both Zack and Cloud battled the maddened SOLDIER Sephiroth after he burned the town of Nibelheim. After Cloud defeated Sephiroth, both of them were used as experiments for Shinra. One day, Zack woke up and escaped with a semi-conscious Cloud to the city Midgar, but he was gunned down by Shinra troops before reaching the city. While Zack's and Cloud's flashback escape is optional in the English releases of Final Fantasy VII and the International version, it was originally meant to be shown once Cloud discovered the results of Shinra's experiments upon him.
Compilation of Final Fantasy VII
Compilation of Final Fantasy VII
Compilation of Final Fantasy VII is a series of games and animated features developed by Square Enix based in the world and continuity of Final Fantasy VII...
, a series of prequels and sequels of Final Fantasy VII, expand Zack's character. In the prequel Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII
Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII
is a Japanese action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix in 2004. It was the first original game to be produced by Square Enix exclusively for mobile phones, and was released on NTT DoCoMo's FOMA iMode line of phones on a monthly subscription basis...
, Zack supports Shinra in their fight against the terrorist group AVALANCHE. In the battle, two of his SOLDIER acquaintances are captured and experimented on. Unable to save them, Zack is forced to kill his comrades. He also makes an appearance during the chapter covering the Nibelheim incident and later as a boss character when he and Cloud are fugitives from Shinra. Zack has a small role in the film sequel Final Fantasy VII Advent Children, and most of his appearances are flashbacks from Cloud's point of view as well as in the film's end where he and the now late Aerith appear to greet Cloud. In the director's cut
Director's cut
A director's cut is a specially edited version of a film, and less often TV series, music video, commercials, comic book or video games, that is supposed to represent the director's own approved edit...
version, Advent Children Complete, his role is expanded, making an appearance supporting Cloud while he battles Sephiroth. The original video animation
Original video animation
, abbreviated as media , are animated films and series made specially for release in home-video formats. The term originated in relation to Japanese animation...
Last Order: Final Fantasy VII
Last Order: Final Fantasy VII
, also abbreviated as Last Order or LO, is a 2005 Japanese anime original video animation produced by Madhouse and released by Square Enix. It was directed by Morio Asaka and produced by Masao Maruyama, Jungo Maruta, and Akio Ofuji. Tetsuya Nomura acted as the supervising director...
included in limited editions of the film, follows Zack and Cloud's journey to Midgar with flashbacks of the Nibelheim incident.
Zack also acts as the protagonist of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
is an action role-playing game developed by Square Enix for the PlayStation Portable. First released in 2007, the game is a prequel to the video game Final Fantasy VII and is also the sixth installment in metaseries Compilation of Final Fantasy VII which includes products related to the game...
, a prequel to Final Fantasy VII. As a SOLDIER, Zack is trained by his close friend, SOLDIER Angeal Hewley, in hopes of becoming a hero while working for Shinra. As Angeal and another SOLDIER, Genesis Rhapsodos, betray Shinra, Zack and Sephiroth are dispatched to kill them, but both decide to avoid doing that. He and Sephiroth learn that both Angeal and Genesis were the result of Shinra's Project G which had injected them with Jenova cells before being born, but both suffer from secondary effects which led them to antagonize Shinra in hopes of finding a cure with the rebelled Dr. Hollander. In the course of the game, Zack befriends Cloud and starts frequenting Aerith. During a mission to find the SOLDIERs, Angeal forces Zack to kill him, to avoid hurting people as a result of his mutations. Before dying, Angeal thanks Zack for stopping him and gives him his Buster Sword. Sometime later, while Zack and Sephiroth search for Genesis and Hollander, they go to Nibelheim where the events of the original game are repraised. After being experimented on for four years by Shinra, Zack learns that Genesis wants to take Cloud who was injected with Sephiroth's cells that can help him avoid suffering from physical degradation. Zack decides to stop him, and after defeating him, he returns with Cloud to Midgar to find Aerith. The events of his death are also revised, as in his dying breath, Zack gives the Buster Sword to Cloud, telling him to be his living legacy. As Cloud stumbles off towards Midgar, Zack is pulled into the sky by Angeal, and wonders if he had become a hero.
Zack is an unlockable character in the PlayStation version of the fighting game Ehrgeiz
Ehrgeiz
, fully titled Ehrgeiz: God Bless The Ring, is a 3D fighting game developed by DreamFactory and published by Namco in 1998 for the arcade platform. It was first ported to the PlayStation and published by Square Co...
, playable in arcade, versus, and minigame events. He makes his debut appearance in the Kingdom Hearts
Kingdom Hearts
is an action role-playing game developed and published by Square in 2002 for the PlayStation 2 video game console. The first game in the Kingdom Hearts series, it is the result of a collaboration between Square Enix and The Walt Disney Company. The game combines characters and settings from Disney...
series in the prequel Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
is an action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix and Disney for the PlayStation Portable, serving as the sixth installment in the Kingdom Hearts series. The game was released on UMD in Japan on January 9, 2010, in North America on September 7, 2010 and in Europe on September...
for the PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
. He has a more youthful appearance than in his Final Fantasy appearances. He is featured prominently in the world Olympus Coliseum, commonly participating in tournaments in order to achieve his dream of becoming a hero. As the game is a prequel of the other Kingdom Hearts titles, the staff chose him to be in the game as they wanted a character from a Final Fantasy prequel.
Promotion and reception
Zack has served as the basis for several forms of merchandise, including figurines, as well as being pictured on the Final Fantasy VII 10th Anniversary Potion soft drinkSoft drink
A soft drink is a non-alcoholic beverage that typically contains water , a sweetener, and a flavoring agent...
cans. Critical response to Zack's character has generally been positive. In IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
's "Final Fantasy VII: Top 10 Characters" list, Zack made sixth place with writer Dave Smith noting that "his [Zack's] check-out scene in Crisis Core is just about as epic as it gets in videogames." GamesRadar
GamesRadar
GamesRadar is a multi-format video game website featuring regular news, previews, reviews, videos, and guides. It is owned and operated simultaneously in the UK and US by worldwide publisher Future Publishing...
's Jim Sterling found Zack as one of video game's most sexually appealing
Sexual attraction
Sexual attractiveness or sex appeal refers to an individual's ability to attract the sexual or erotic interest of another person, and is a factor in sexual selection or mate choice. The attraction can be to the physical or other qualities or traits of a person, or to such qualities in the context...
male characters, commenting on his personality and look. PALGN
PALGN
The PAL Gaming Network is an Australian based video game news and reviews website that focuses on the videogame industry and culture in PAL territories, particularly Australia and the UK. It was launched in 2003 by a group of PAL forum members on the IGN message boards who were disenfranchised by...
described Zack as an unfamiliar character in the series since his only appearances were in backstories, and with the release of the Crisis Core, players were able to learn more about his persona such as his connections with Aerith and Cloud. Similarly, PSXextreme's Ben Dutka stated that only players with "halfway decent memories" and a "hardcore completionist mentality" will be able to know remember about Zack's character when playing the game. RPGFan echoed similar comments stating that with Crisis Core, players would be able to learn of Zack's history. IGN UK's Dave McCarthy noted how Zack's role in the story throughout Compilation of Final Fantasy VII evolved, to the point of him getting his own game. When Ayaka
Ayaka
is a Japanese female singer formerly signed to Warner Music Japan. Born in Osaka, she moved to Tokyo to pursue a singing career. She married actor Hiro Mizushima on February 22, 2009.-2006:...
finished the song "Why" for Crisis Core, she mentioned that she wanted to deliver it alongside Zack's fate "to the hearts of many people." During February 2010, Famitsu
Famitsu
is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Enterbrain, Inc. and Tokuma. Currently, there are five Famitsū magazines: Shūkan Famitsū, Famitsū PS3 + PSP, Famitsū Xbox 360, Famitsū Wii+DS, and Famitsū Wave DVD...
readers voted Zack as the thirty-seventh most popular video game character in Japan.
Zack's role in Crisis Core has also received positive critics. IGN's Ryan Clements praised his growth, particularly commenting on his relationships with the other main characters. 1UP.com
1UP.com
1UP.com is a video game website owned by IGN Entertainment, a division of News Corporation. Previously, the site was owned by Ziff Davis before being sold to UGO Entertainment in 2009....
's Jeremy Parish agreed with Clements as Zack's story contrast other RPGs' plots and calling his story "the heart of the game." Kevin VanOrd from GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
labelled Zack as a "likable and complex hero" and that he "transcends the usual spiky-haired heroism and teenage angst with an uncommon maturity that develops as the game continues." Niall Rough from Acegamez agreed with VanOrd by saying that Zack is a more appealing character than Cloud, praising his personality and other traits. GameSpy
GameSpy
GameSpy Industries, Inc., known simply as GameSpy, is a division of IGN Entertainment, which operates a network of game websites and provides online video game-related services and software. GameSpy dates back to the 1996 release of an internet Quake server search program named QSpy. The current...
's Gerald Villoria described Zack as "King of the Nice Guys", noting that even though he can be a "pretty hate-worthy character if you're the jaded type who mocks the typical Final Fantasy storyline", players who dislike would come to appreciate him. GameDaily
GameDaily
GameDaily was a video game journalism website based in the United States. Launched in 1995 by entrepreneur Mark Friedler under the name Gigex and focused on free game demo downloads, The site changed its business model from a flat fee per download CDN distributed service network to an...
's Chris Buffa said that the inclusion of Zack into Crisis Core was one of the things the players would enjoy the most, having found him as a "likable hero". Zack was also called an "endearing main character" by Game Revolution
Game Revolution
Game Revolution or GR is a gaming website created in 1996. Based in Berkeley, California, the site includes reviews, previews, a gaming download area, cheats, and a merchandise store, as well as webcomics, screenshots, and videos...
who stated that despite the character goes through the game, he still retains his friendly attitude. Like other reviewers, RPGamer
RPGamer
RPGamer is a media and news website dedicated to covering computer and video game RPGs. Its coverage includes North American game news, European game news, Asian game news, gaming industry news, game reviews, game previews, hands-on game impressions, gaming conventions, game merchandise, release...
viewed him to have "full, soulful carriage of a Final Fantasy hero" due to his personal conflicts despite his "artfully teased hair and devil-may-care grin."
IGN UK had mixed comments about the character due to his personality being sometimes annoying, it serves to contrast the serious attitudes of the other main characters. Although Eurogamer
Eurogamer
Eurogamer is a Brighton-based website focused on video games news, reviews, previews and interviews. It is operated by Eurogamer Network Ltd., which was formed in 1999 by brothers Rupert and Nick Loman. Eurogamer has grown to become one of the most important European-based websites focused on...
's Simon Parkin found Zack's physical appearance to be highly similar to Cloud's, he added that "This fan service doesn't put a foot wrong until he reaches into his [Zack's] pocket, pulls out a mobile phone and speaks." He also praised Zack's English voice actor for doing a good job as Zack, noting "his character's maturing and developing over the 15-hour storyline". Similar comments were made by Videogamer.com's Wesley Yin-Poole who called him Cloud's "identical twin in all but hair colour" and complained about his personality which can be "annoying" during the first half of the game. Destructoid agreed, telling players not to expect to enjoy him if they do not like "cocky teenagers" and even labelling him as a "annoying cockhole", having found him quieter in his short cutscene from Final Fantasy VII. IGN AU agreed with Parkin calling Gomez's work as "pretty likeable". On the other hand, Gameplanet criticized Zack's voice finding it more immature than they expected despite considering him younger than in previous titles. GamesRadar's AJ Glasser commented that the way Zack obtains the Buster Sword and the way he gives it to Cloud is the "ultimate payoff" of Crisis Core, stating nevertheless, that the fact that knowing that he will die in ending is a reason to hate it.