The Final Fantasy 7 Remake project is nearly complete, as Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth set Cloud and the party on a collision course with the true Sephiroth at the Northern Crater. With only one entry left in the trilogy, Final Fantasy Remake Part 3 has plenty of loose ends to tie up, and justice to deal out. For much of the story so far, Sephiroth has taken center stage as the project’s main antagonist. However, another villain has been creeping into the spotlight throughout the last two titles, with Rebirth diving deep into his backstory and heinous crimes. While the conclusive showdown with Sephiroth is currently looming, this villain needs to be given their due in Final Fantasy Remake Part 3.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has no shortage of antagonists. Throughout its 14 chapters, the title sees players face off against Sephiroth, the Shinra Company, the Turks, and a plethora of monstrous creatures. However, one villain quickly rises to the top of the ranks, as he manipulates and orchestrates many of the title’s biggest events and conflicts. This man, Hojo, may not be the face of Final Fantasy 7’s rogues gallery, but his actions in Remake and Rebirth make a case for his being considered among the series’ most despicable and dangerous.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s Professor Hojo Explained
Professor Hojo is a major antagonist in nearly every entry of the Final Fantasy 7 series, but his role has been significantly expanded in Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Hojo is the executive director of the Shinra Electric Power Company's Research and Development team, where he spends most of his time pursuing his own nefarious research. Most importantly, Hojo is the mastermind behind SOLDIER, the Jenova Project, the conception of Sephiroth, and the theory of Reunion. Because of this, Hojo is directly tied to nearly every single event and major character in Final Fantasy 7’s narrative.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth gave Hojo a more expanded role than ever before, as his independent research and long-gestating SOLDIER experiment took center stage. After accompanying Rufus and the Turks to the Temple of the Ancients, Hojo saw his plan come to fruition when Cloud gave Sephiroth the faux Black Materia. By the time the game’s credits rolled, Rufus’ master plan was in full force, with robed men the world over marching toward the Northern Crater. Heading into Final Fantasy Remake Part 3, Hojo and his reunion poses the greatest active threat to Gaia, and the title should surely give the villain his due in a major way.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 Needs to Up the Ante with Hojo's Demise
In the original Final Fantasy 7, Cloud's party confronts and defeats Hojo after he proclaims Cloud to be the most successful Sephiroth clone. The villain then injects himself with Jenova cells, transforming into the monstrous Helletic Hojo and Lifeform-Hojo N, before battling the party once more. Following this bout, he is finally killed. However, it is later discovered that his consciousness, or a copy of his neurological data, has been uploaded to the Worldwide Network.
The Final Fantasy 7 Remake series has masterfully expanded and intensified many of the original's major conflicts and set pieces, and the final conflict with Hojo provides the perfect opportunity to up the ante in Part 3. Rather than follow in the path of the original, the title could see Cloud and the party confront Hojo in an expanded set piece. While his monstrous forms could appear once more, a crossing of the timelines, or a manipulation by Sephiroth, could give rise to an alternate Hojo who managed to be resurrected as Omega, a major plot point of FF7: Dirge of Cerberus. It remains to be seen just how Hojo will get his due in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3. Fans should expect the unexpected, as the title is sure to subvert expectations as it draws Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's narrative to a close.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Released
- February 29, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
Discover a vibrant and vast world in this standalone entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake project. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the second entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake project, which retells the story of the genre-redefining RPG across three distinct games. Iconic heroes Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Aerith and Red XIII have escaped from the dystopian city Midgar and are now in pursuit of Sephiroth, the vengeful swordsman from Cloud’s past who was thought to be dead. This new adventure can be enjoyed by all players, even those who have yet to play Final Fantasy VII Remake or the PlayStation original. Expect a new standard of cinematic storytelling, fast-paced combat and rich exploration across a vast world.
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Franchise
- Final Fantasy
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 40 Hours
- Metascore
- 93
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
