FF7 Remake Part 2 Shouldn't Make Yuffie Optional | Screen Rant
FF7 Remake Part 2 should bring the Intergrade DLC's Yuffie into the story as a main playable character, rather than an optional party member.
Yuffie will finally have a starring role in the upcoming Yuffie Episode DLC for Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, which will hopefully lead to her becoming a required party member in the sequel, rather than an optional one. In the original FF7, Yuffie was one of two optional characters, as she could only join the party if she was encountered in a forest.
The fact that Yuffie and Vincent Valentine were optional characters in FF7 meant they had no influence on the main story. Yuffie had a side quest involving Wutai, while Vincent had a story beat explaining part of Sephiroth's backstory. This was partially fixed in Dirge of Cerberus, as Vincent was the main character, and Yuffie had a major role in the story. Dirge of Cerberus even explained what Yuffie and Vincent were doing at the end of FF7, as they are shown evacuating Midgar as Meteor hurtles towards the city.
The PlayStation 5 version of FF7 Remake will feature two DLC chapters starring Yuffie. The DLC's reveal trailer shows Yuffie's unique combat skills and her ability to run across walls. Yuffie's parkour skills make her far more agile than the other party members in FF7 (with the possible exception of Red XIII), which raises the question of whether she will be an optional party member again in the upcoming FF7 Remake sequel.
FF7 Remake established that Wutai will be a much bigger part of the story in this new timeline, as the Shinra Corporation is using Avalanche's actions as a scapegoat to start another war. The Wutai side quest in FF7 resolved a few loose ends, such as what happened to Don Corneo after Cloud left Midgar, but it wasn't important to the overall story of Sephiroth trying to blow up the planet. The war between Wutai and the Shinra Corporation was more important in the FF7 spin-offs, which is likely why it's part of FF7 Remake. If FF7 Remake is building up Wutai for big things, then Yuffie needs to be a mandatory character, as she is the party's main link to the country and its past conflicts with the Shinra Corporation.
It's unlikely Square Enix will keep any optional characters in FF7 Remake. For one thing, the game is being released in episodes. It's unclear how much content will be passed from game to game in the FF7 Remake series, but it's unlikely the developers are going to do all of the work associated with a character, only to have to accommodate for the players who didn't find them. It would be extra work for little reward, especially when the alternative means bringing one of the most beloved FF7 characters into the Final Fantasy 7 Remake series.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade is coming to PlayStation 5 on June 10, 2021.