A significant element of the charm of the Final Fantasy crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the manner countless cards tell iconic narratives. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which provides a snapshot of the protagonist at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned sports star whose secret weapon is a unique shot that pushes a defender aside. The gameplay rules represent this perfectly. Such storytelling is prevalent across the whole Final Fantasy offering, and they aren't all lighthearted tales. A number are somber reminders of emotional events fans continue to reflect on years after.
"Moving tales are a vital component of the Final Fantasy series," wrote a principal game designer for the collaboration. "The team established some overarching principles, but finally, it was primarily on a card-by-card level."
Though the Zack Fair may not be a top-tier card, it stands as one of the collection's most refined examples of narrative design via mechanics. It masterfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial cinematic moments in spectacular fashion, all while capitalizing on some of the expansion's central mechanics. And even if it steers clear of spoiling anything, those who know the saga will immediately grasp the emotional weight embedded in it.
For one white mana (the hue of heroes) in this collection, Zack Fair has a base power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 token. For the cost of one colorless mana, you can destroy the card to give another creature you control indestructible and put all of Zack’s counters, along with an Equipment, onto that other creature.
This design portrays a moment FF fans are extremely know well, a moment that has been reimagined multiple times — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new iterations in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it resonates powerfully here, expressed solely through rules text. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.
A bit of history, and take this as your *FF7* warning: Years before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a clash with Sephiroth. Following years of testing, the duo get away. Throughout this period, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack vows to take care of his friend. They finally make it the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by troops. Abandoned, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the role of a first-class SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.
Through gameplay, the abilities essentially let you relive this entire event. The Buster Sword is a a powerful piece of gear in the collection that requires three mana and grants the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can transform Zack into a respectable 4/6 while the Buster Sword equipped.
The Cloud Strife card also has deliberate synergy with the Buster Sword, letting you to look through your library for an artifact card. Together, these pieces unfold as follows: You cast Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.
Due to the design Zack’s sacrifice ability is worded, you can actually use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and activate it to negate the damage entirely. This allows you to do this at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a formidable 6/4 that, every time he deals combat damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and cast two cards at no cost. This is precisely the kind of experience referred to when discussing “emotional resonance” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the mechanics make you remember.
However, the flavor here is oh-so-delicious, and it goes beyond just this combo. The Jenova card is part of the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This kind of hints that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER conditioning he underwent, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a subtle connection, but one that subtly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the set.
Zack’s card avoids showing his demise, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the memorable cliff where it all ends. It does not need to. *Magic* lets you reenact the moment personally. You make the sacrifice. You transfer the weapon on. And for a short instant, while playing a strategy game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most influential game in the saga ever made.
A tech enthusiast and gaming aficionado with over a decade of experience in digital media and content creation.
