What is the Nibelheim Incident in Final Fantasy 7?
The Nibelheim Incident is arguably one of the most important moments in the original Final Fantasy 7 and learning about its overarching themes, so you may wish to learn a little more about it before the release of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
While I’ll be going into a fair bit of detail about the general events of the Nibelheim incident as it’s presented relatively early in the original game, I won’t be spoiling events that emerge later as a result of the incident.
SPOILER WARNING: This guide may contain story spoilers for the original Final Fantasy 7, so be sure to proceed at your own risk to ensure details in the game remain a surprise.
What is the Nibelheim Incident in FF7?
At its heart, the Nibelheim Incident in Final Fantasy 7 is the moment that Sephiroth becomes a villain by destroying the mountain village of Nibelheim and massacring the townsfolk.
However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Cloud, Sephiroth and two Shinra guards are dispatched to Nibelheim to investigate strange monsters that have emerged from Mt. Nibel, the home of the first Mako Reactor.
The group, guided by Tifa, discovered a laboratory filled with tanks that contained creatures that had been manufactured by Shrinra using Mako Energy. They also find a chamber with the word JENOVA adorning it, the name, we have been led to believe, of Sephiroth’s mother.
Click to enlargeQuestioning his place in the world and with a growing disdain for humanity, Sephiroth locks himself away in the Shinra Mansion in Nibelheim, researching Jenova and gradually descending a dark path as he discovers its origins.
When he finally leaves the mansion, Cloud finds that Sephiroth has burned the village and massacred its denizens (and leads to the iconic shots above) as he makes his way back to Mt. Nibel in search of Jenova, with Cloud in hot pursuit.
Why is the Nibelheim Incident important in FF7?
The Nibelheim Incident is critical in understanding the intrinsic story of Final Fantasy 7, as it shines a light on several prominent characters and themes running throughout.
Most notably, we begin to understand the moment Sephiroth changed, how Cloud and Zack Fair are connected, Cloud’s bond with Tifa and the threat Jenova poses. While it is established relatively early in the Final Fantasy 7 story, it’s an event that permeates the narrative and will be returned to frequently.
Of course, there is more to this than meets the eye.
That’s everything you need to know about the Nibelheim incident in Final Fantasy 7. While this is what happened in the original game, only time will tell how it’s shown in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. If you’re on the hunt for more, be sure to check out our Final Fantasy homepage, where you can find out the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth voice cast and if it will be open-world.
