Square Enix's ongoing remake project for Final Fantasy 7 is aiming to expand and enhance the original game's elements, and one surprising success is the reimagining of Cait Sith. Once widely considered the weakest and most divisive character in the 1997 release, Cait Sith has been significantly redeemed in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
In the original Final Fantasy 7, Cait Sith's unpopularity stemmed from several factors. He was characterized as an annoying mascot with a penchant for unfunny quips. His unique Limit Break abilities were notoriously unreliable, sometimes even leading to the accidental defeat of the player's own party. Furthermore, his role as a spy for the Shinra Corporation, betraying Cloud and his allies, was a difficult trait to overcome. While the original game presented a redemption arc where Cait Sith, controlled by Shinra executive Reeve Tuesti, eventually aids the party and sacrifices his robotic body, this transition felt underdeveloped. Reeve's resistance to Shinra's harmful actions, such as raising Mako prices or destroying Sector 7, was often portrayed as mild, making his eventual turn feel less like genuine remorse and more like a way to spice up his corporate life.
The original game also featured a particularly jarring moment where Cait Sith performs a tap dance in front of Aerith's lifeless body during her death scene, a detail that always felt out of place and disrespectful. The remake trilogy seeks to rectify these shortcomings.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth addresses Cait Sith's flaws from the outset. He immediately discloses his affiliation with Shinra, fostering a greater sense of transparency with the party. The new version also notably omits the subplot where Cait Sith kidnaps Barret's daughter, Marlene, a storyline that lacked a satisfying resolution in the original. Instead, Rebirth portrays Cait Sith as genuinely forming friendships with Cloud and his companions, viewing them as more than mere pawns for Shinra's agenda.
His new persona is further enhanced by his charming lilting Celtic accent and a relatable interest in the developing romantic tension between Cloud and Tifa. Although Cait Sith's solo dungeon, which involves manipulating his size and tossing boxes, can feel protracted, the core concept is memorable and amusing. Crucially, this dungeon showcases Reeve's willingness to leverage his Shinra resources to aid the party, a stark contrast to his previous corporate allegiances.
While Cait Sith may not ascend to the ranks of Final Fantasy 7's most beloved characters, his transformation in Rebirth marks a significant departure from his original portrayal. He is no longer the character players actively avoided, but rather a welcome presence whose journey contributes positively to the narrative. The honor of being the game's worst character in Rebirth, according to some, falls to Palmer, or even Chadley, rather than the redeemed feline robot.