How Final Fantasy 7 Part 3 Could Tackle The New Cid & His History In Rocket Town

What role Cid will play in Part 3 is still up in the air. Not much of his character's history has been shown and, with a change to his introduction and characterization, it is impossible to predict how Square Enix will tell his story. Cid's role in the original goes from washed-up pilot to secondary leader, but in Rebirth he is a transportation device with a curious connection to Aerith. If Square Enix adapted his backstory in Part 3 into the fresh Final Fantasy franchise, it would only need to change Cid's perspective rather than the events from the original.

The New Cid Highwind Barely Resembles the Original

Constant Rage & Cursing Has Been Replaced By Jovial Charm

In the original Final Fantasy 7, Cid is considered a cynical and easily riled character. He constantly throws curses at his assistant, Shera, and has been downtrodden by Shinra through bureaucracy and budget cuts. He is rarely seen without a cigarette between his teeth and an insult on his tongue, though this personality was partly the result of his backstory. The original Cid had his dream of being the first person in space crushed, followed by his inventions being nabbed by Shinra - this is yet to be confirmed for the new Cid.

For the new direction of the Final Fantasy 7 franchise, Cid's change is an understandable consequence. The overly aggressive washed-up pilot would have struggled to find a place within the current dynamic of the game's party and his treatment of other characters may have alienated him in the more character-driven narrative of Rebirth and Remake. Even if a drastic change of personality to a more charming Han Solo-style persona, with a bit of a fiery vocabulary at times, is far off what players may have expected, it may not change his backstory as drastically.

How Cid's Backstory Could be Adjusted

Changes May Be Smaller Than Expected

FF7 Rebirth has revealed very little about Cid's backstory; only his meeting with Ilfana, Aerith Gainsborough's mother, has been noted. Cid wants to do whatever he can to help Aerith in Ilfana's memory, but the sentiment implied more than was explained. For Cid to stick with the party simply from a past meeting with Ilfana many years ago seems like a shallow excuse, implying a deeper connection which requires some exploration. If Cid is still from FF7's iconic Rocket Town, this past may have some light shone on it, alongside the rest of Cid's history, when the party ultimately reaches the new location.

What could be similar to that of the original is Cid's dream. He is still a former employee of Shinra and may have unfulfilled ambitions of traveling into space. The change may come from his characterization rather than the events, adapting how Cid has come to terms with being unable to soar into the stars. As a self-proclaimed master of land, sea and air, there is one area still missing from his résumé - space. If Part 3 adapts Cid's history instead of completely altering it, his maturer perception of the world stops him developing his recklessly rude behaviors.

Cid Will Still Be A Leader In Part 3

With His New Personality, He May Be Better Suited

Due to Cloud's descent into the Lifestream and Tifa taking care of him in the latter part of the original Final Fantasy 7, the party is left leaderless. Out of the remaining characters, the only one who stood out as a potential leader was Cid. Barret Wallace refused, understanding his previous role as the Leader of AVALANCHE got people killed, including Jessie, Biggs, and Wedge. Cid reluctantly agrees during the hunt for the Huge Materia. By this point, Cid had fought alongside the party from the Temple of the Anicents and not waited outside like Rebirth's version.

If a similar story arc occurs in Part 3, Cid is still the most likely candidate for party leader. He is less emotionally involved with the party and this gives him an outside perspective on how to rally the troops with the loss of two valued members in Tifa and Cloud. With his redesigned personality, he shows an ability to adapt under pressure and a willingness to get the job done with a smile, reassuring and guiding the party, such as when the Tiny Bronco failed mid-flight. Even as a guest character in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Cid has already proven vital to the party's success.