When it comes to The Turks, the Final Fantasy VII sometimes antagonist and occasional ally group hasn’t always received the most exposition. In Japan, the group made up of Reno, Rude, Tseng, and Elena received far more attention. Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII went so far as to explain why its numbers are so drastically reduced by the beginning of Final Fantasy VII, why they’re loyal to Rufus Shinra, and even part of why they might be so eager to step in line. But, absent that explanation, it might be difficult to see how they go from foes in the original game to something more cordial in media like Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. The Final Fantasy VII Remake Reno and Rude depictions, in particular, help provide a more solid foundation.
Editor’s Note: There will be Final Fantasy VII Remake spoilers up to the pillar in Chapter 12.
It’s important to note just how little background we had about Reno, Rude, and Tseng in the initial Final Fantasy VII adventures in Midgar. The one character who received the most attention was Reno, and that was purely because we first encountered him when Cloud met Aerith in the church, again at the pillar, and even later in the Shinra building. Even then, we knew he did his job when he was on the clock, seemed to have an edge to him, and would say to do things like say not to step on the flowers after he did. Rude was… well, there? It was more we had ideas of who they were, which was built upon with subsequent mandatory and optional encounters.
Here, things are vastly different. For example, the Final Fantasy VII Remake Reno depiction begins similarly. He comes in with some general Shinra infantry, explains he’s something of a bodyguard—though mentions his involvement there was supposed to be a secret—and initially watches while his men attempt to rough Cloud up a bit. Then, we actually fight him. Perhaps it was just me, but in my playthrough he was the first actually challenging boss and his interactions with Cloud before the fight offered a little foreshadowing while calling back to him being “weird.” It lent a little more weight to the idea of Turks being intimidating and elite.
But, more importantly, the fight closes with a hint of a conscience. When Cloud is about to attack Reno again, maybe doing more serious damage, he starts to explain himself. He is going to offer some sort of background as to why he’s there, why the Turks are watching after Aerith. We don’t get an answer for convenient reasons, but it’s the first hint that maybe, even with them being with Shinra, there could be more to the group.
Even more telling is the depiction of Rude. As I mentioned before, we don’t get to know much about him in Final Fantasy VII in general. It is established that he has something of a crush on Tifa and that his AI will keep him from attacking her in fights. Here, there are far more interactions. Both Aerith and Elmyra speak about him favorably, with Aerith even attempting to dissuade any fight between Cloud and him. (I mean, it doesn’t work, but still.) When Cloud first meets him in person, he’s feeding some birds. Their first fight together is spurred more by his desire to avenge his partner and friend, Reno, rather than anything else. Not to mention, his AI again has him doing only major damage to Cloud and nothing to Aerith (or later Tifa).
By the time we’re heading to the Sector 7 pillar, it feels like the Final Fantasy VII Remake Reno and Rude depictions have helped us actually know and understand them. Even as the party is heading there, interspersed cutscenes show events from their sides. We see them flying in and neither seem particularly thrilled about the role they have to play in the evening’s events. It’s a job, one they have to do, but they don’t agree with it. Once they arrive, Reno’s more fired up to fight Cloud out of pettiness and pride, more than actual malice, and we see Rude again show consideration to Tifa in a cutscene.
As for the fight itself on the pillar, it’s something else and I believe one of the best reimagined moments in Final Fantasy VII Remake. We see hesitance on Reno’s part. There was time for him to carry out his order when talking with Cloud, Tifa, and Barret. He could have pressed the button then, but didn’t. Having a multiphase fight, where we see how Reno’s rashness “rubbed off on Rude” and resulted in him firing on the party added a harrowing moment. Seeing Rude’s helicopter shot down and a moment where Reno thought he was dude offered a glimpse of emotion that we’d never before had. We see the two of them work in tandem and do Shinra’s dirty work.
While later scenes flesh things out even more, it feels like all of the Final Fantasy VII Remake Reno and Rude scenes are designed to help better explain each of the characters and their motivations. Especially if people are returning after seeing the original game, the follow-up movie, and the spin-off games. The actions and pacing in the original do provide some basis for their eventual redemption, but here it’s much more obvious to see them as human beings and how they later come to the decisions that they do.
Final Fantasy VII Remake is available for the PlayStation 4.
