One of gaming’s most enduring debates has been reignited by the director of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Naoki Hamaguchi’s recent statement about the pronunciation of Cait Sith’s name has sparked a flurry of discussion and disagreement among fans. While the official Square Enix social media accounts had previously settled the issue, Hamaguchi’s conflicting pronunciation has thrown everything into disarray once again.
According to The Game Informer Show, Hamaguchi pronounced Cait Sith’s name as “Cat Shee” when asked about the debate. This contradicts the previous official statement that confirmed the pronunciation as “Kate Sith.” The discrepancy between the director and the social media accounts has left fans bewildered and unsure of which pronunciation to believe.
The original Final Fantasy 7 game did not feature voice acting, leaving players to come up with their own interpretations of how to say Cait Sith’s name. Even later installments in the series that included voice-acting did not offer any clarification on the matter. As a result, the fanbase has remained divided for almost three decades, with no clear consensus on the correct pronunciation.
Interestingly, Cait Sith’s name is derived from Gaelic folklore and is based on a black cat trickster fairy. In the original Gaelic language, the fairy’s name sounds closer to Hamaguchi’s pronunciation of “Cat Shee” or “Ket Shee.” This suggests that the debate is not about a discrepancy between English and Japanese but rather the authenticity of the character’s mythological roots.
The Impact of Localization
An intriguing aspect to consider is how the pronunciation may change when switching between English and Japanese localization. Given the ongoing disagreement between Hamaguchi and the official social media accounts, it is possible that the pronunciation may vary depending on the language. This could further complicate the already contentious debate surrounding Cait Sith’s name.
Despite the debate, fans can look forward to Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth bringing the character of Cait Sith to life in a whole new way. The game, set to be released on February 29, 2024, aims to give more screen time to all party members. In fact, it has been announced that there will be team-up attacks for every character pairing, reminiscent of the beloved game Chrono Trigger.
As the debate rages on, fans continue to align themselves with either “Team Kate Sith” or “Team Ket Shee.” Both sides have valid arguments and their own interpretations of the character’s name. Ultimately, the decision of how to pronounce Cait Sith’s name may differ from person to person, further fueling the discourse within the gaming community.
The ongoing debate over the pronunciation of Cait Sith’s name in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth shows no sign of coming to an end. With the director himself contradicting the official statement, fans are left in uncertainty. Whether you side with “Kate Sith” or “Ket Shee,” the upcoming game promises to bring more depth and development to all party members, including the enigmatic Cait Sith.
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