Zack Fair

Zack Fair (ザックス・フェア, Zakkusu Fea) is a character in the Final Fantasy role-playing video game series by Square Enix (originally Square). He is first introduced as a non-player character in Final Fantasy VII (1997) and later appears in the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII works Before Crisis, Last Order, Advent Children and, most prominently, Crisis Core, a prequel to the original game which focuses on him and expands on his backstory.

Although Zack died before the events of Final Fantasy VII, is rarely mentioned, and only appears late into the story via flashbacks, he is a crucial part of the game's story, as Cloud Strife, the main character, unknowingly confused parts of his own past with Zack's following traumatic events involving the two and Sephiroth. While Cloud originally believes himself to be a member of the paramilitary organization SOLDIER, the military wing of the megacorporation Shinra, that story was in fact that of Zack, with Cloud being his friend and a regular soldier. Zack died in the weeks leading up to the opening of Final Fantasy VII, to protect Cloud from Shinra's army after they had escaped from imprisonment; a mentally shaken Cloud's memories of the events were heavily affected, and he forgot Zack entirely.

Zack was not originally part of Final Fantasy VII's story during development, but scenario writer Kazushige Nojima wanted to bring a sense of mystery to the title, and created the character to help complicate Cloud's backstory. He was designed by Tetsuya Nomura, and his last name is derived from "fair weather", to contrast with Cloud's last name, Strife. With Zack's conceptual backstory in place for Final Fantasy VII, the staff decided to use Compilation of Final Fantasy VII to expand upon his character. Zack is voiced by Kenichi Suzumura in Japanese and Rick Gomez in English works prior to Final Fantasy VII Remake, in which he is voiced by Caleb Pierce. Suzumura was chosen specifically by Nomura for his voice, and was given the role without an audition. Western critics have praised Zack's character, commenting on his development since Final Fantasy VII.