Cloud Strife

Cloud Strife
'Final Fantasy series Compilation of Final Fantasy VII' character
Cloud Strife artwork by Tetsuya Nomura Cloud Strife artwork by Tetsuya Nomura
First game	Final Fantasy VII

Cloud Strife (クラウド・ストライフ, Kuraudo Sutoraifu) is the main protagonist in Squaresoft's (now known as Square Enix) role playing game Final Fantasy VII. His appearance is marked by spiky blonde hair, vivid blue eyes with a glow (a mark of SOLDIER and a sign of having been exposed to mako), dark purple or blue clothing, and his Buster Sword (a zweihänder-style sword with a distinctive, oversized blade). The Buster Sword more closely resembles a Full Blade sword. He at first displays a cold and uncaring demeanor, but gradually adapts in his role as a leader.

He has reappeared in many other Square-Enix games as well, including Final Fantasy Tactics, Ehrgeiz, Kingdom Hearts and its sequels Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts II, Itadaki Street Special, and as a secret racer in Chocobo Racing. He reappears in a CGI movie sequel, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, Last Order: Final Fantasy VII and other spin-offs in the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII. In addition, a 2D sprite of Cloud occasionally makes an appearance on the loading screen of the PlayStation version of Final Fantasy V. Cloud's Japanese voice actor is Nozomu Sasaki (Ehrgeiz), Takahiro Sakurai, and his English voice actor is Steve Burton.

Character design

Scenario Writer Kazushige Nojima has expressed that the dynamic of the relationship between the player and the main character in a Final Fantasy title is something that he always puts thought into, and that with Final Fantasy VII, Cloud's subdued nature led him to write scenes with the character in such a way that the players would be placed in the position of deciding for themselves what the character was thinking. This character-player dynamic is reflected by the many opportunities the player is given to choose Cloud's way of interacting with other characters in the game's story, particularly where potential romantic-interests are concerned.

The game's character designer, Tetsuya Nomura, has revealed that the original parameters of Cloud's character design called for slicked back, black hair with no spikes. This was to serve as a contrast with the long, flowing silver hair of the game's lead antagonist, Sephiroth. However, to make Cloud stand out more and emphasise his role in the game as the lead protagonist, Nomura altered Cloud's original design to give him spiky, bright blond hair. It would seem that the original black hair was adopted by Zack later on. But Nomura used the concept years later for Angeal in Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. It's mentioned during the game that Cloud's hair looks like a Chocobo head if looked from behind (or even from the front).

Biography

File:Cloud Strife field model.jpg

Cloud as he appears in Final Fantasy VII.

Final Fantasy VII

Beginning

During the first part of the game, Cloud states that he is a former member of the corporate regime Shin-Ra's private elite military known as "SOLDIER," and exhibits great strength and prowess in battle that supports his claim. Recruited by his childhood acquaintance Tifa Lockhart as a mercenary for the anti-Shin-Ra resistance movement known as "AVALANCHE," Cloud fights alongside Barret Wallace a large and brooding black man with one arm replaced with a gun prosthesis. AVALANCHE also initially includes Tifa and three non-player characters: a fiery female computer expert named "Jessie", a cool-headed man named "Biggs", and a rotund and friendly demolitions expert named "Wedge." Participating in their covert missions, Cloud is extremely aloof and unsociable to the others, putting forth a cold exterior. Shortly after the game's first mission, however, Cloud meets a young flower girl named Aerith Gainsborough, a woman who will have a profound impact on Cloud's life. Dodging the Shin-Ra's military, Cloud eventually finds himself protecting Aerith from Shin-Ra and their covert paramilitary team known as "the Turks," who wish to capture Aerith for reasons yet unknown. Joined by Tifa shortly thereafter, the trio have a short, humorous misadventure in the slums of Midgar involving Cloud having to cross dress as a woman—a first glimpse of Cloud's lighter side and the first major comic relief of the game.

As the story unfolds, the Shin-Ra corporation destroys part of its own capital, Midgar, in an attempt to crush AVALANCHE. The disaster is then cynically blamed on AVALANCHE itself to manipulate the public. Countless are left dead, including Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie, and Aerith is kidnapped by the Turks' leader, Tseng. It is revealed that the reason Shin-Ra has wanted Aerith apprehended is that she is the last remaining member of an ancient race known as "the Cetra," who are said to have mysterious powers related to the Planet.

With few other options, Cloud joins Tifa and Barret in infiltrating the Shin-Ra headquarters to rescue Aerith. Upon rescuing her and finding a bizarre non-human companion called "Red XIII," Cloud and the others are shocked to find the President of Shin-Ra dead with a long sword in his back. Cloud instantly recognizes the sword as belonging to the legendary leader of SOLDIER: Sephiroth - Cloud's former boyhood idol, who has been missing in action and presumed dead for five years. Shin-Ra is then taken over by the deceased president's ruthless young son, Rufus Shinra, and the group makes a daring escape from Midgar to start a journey that will span the entire world and draw Cloud and his companions into something far bigger than anyone had ever imagined.

The Nibelheim Incident

After leaving Midgar, the group stops in the small town of Kalm. There, Cloud recounts his early days in SOLDIER, and his experiences with Sephiroth. Cloud relates a tale of going back to his hometown of Nibelheim as an eager SOLDIER, 1st Class, with his hero, Sephiroth, on a mission to investigate the town's malfunctioning mako reactor. On that mission they were accompanied by two regular Shin-ra troopers, and were attacked by a Dragon, which Sephiroth slew single-handedly. Acquiring the assistance of the young Tifa as a guide, the group he ventured up the slopes of Mt. Nibel. When they entered the Mt. Nibel reactor, they discovered the perverse experiments that Professor Hojo had been conducting on humans; experiments that created monsters with mako infusions similar to those used in SOLDIER. They also found a door at the back of the reactor with the word "JENOVA" written above. Wanting to find out more about Jenova - a name he was told belonged to his mother - Sephiroth returned to the Shinra Mansion in Nibelheim and began studying the research notes in a secret laboratory hidden underneath the mansion. There he learned that his birth had been the result of a ghastly experiment called "the Jenova Project," an experiment whose purpose was to produce people with the powers of the Cetra. However, the experimenters - Professor Gast and his assistant, Hojo - had mistakenly assumed that the entity known as JENOVA, found in a 2000-year-old geological stratum, was a Cetra. They injected JENOVA cells into a fetus, which became Sephiroth. Upon learning this, Sephiroth lost his mind and came to hate humankind. He emerged from his study saying that he was going to see his mother. He then set fire to Nibelheim and slaughtered most of its residents, including Cloud's mother and Tifa's father. He then proceeded to the Mako Reactor, where Jenova itself was being held. After relating events up to confronting Sephiroth in the reactor before Jenova, Cloud's mind went blank. He was unable to recall the rest of the story.

Pursuing the Man in the Black Cape

After this story, Cloud and the others realize from previous events that there may be something even bigger than Shin-Ra to concern themselves with, and the party opts to pursue Sephiroth in order to find out. Cloud and his companions are joined later by the unusual Cait Sith, the foul-mouthed but good hearted pilot and mechanic Cid Highwind, the mischievous kunoichi Yuffie Kisaragi, and the enigmatic Vincent Valentine. Their journey takes them to exotic locations, ancient forts, a massive military-based city named "Junon," and across the ocean to other lands. During the course of this journey, each of Cloud's companions must come to terms with their past, and Cloud's cold exterior melts slowly as he exhibits strong leadership and admirable behavior that gain him the respect of his friends. For the first time, Cloud has close friends and comrades and begins to open up. However, all along this journey Cloud is haunted by strange dreams where he is told things he cannot understand, yet sound familiar. Cloud also gets to know Aerith better, as she helps guide his wayward and confused spirit, exhibiting romantic feelings for him. Tifa, however, also holds strong romantic feelings for Cloud, and a subtle love triangle forms.

Cloud and company eventually find their way to Nibelheim, which somehow still exists. Perplexingly, however, no one seems to remember Cloud, Tifa or any fire that consumed the village.

It is here that Sephiroth drops subtle hints to his intentions, leaving the party with no time to investigate the town's apparent resurrection. Heading north, the team finds a small town known as "Rocket Town," and after a small skirmish with Shin-Ra, Cloud and company take Cid's damaged airplane and salvage it as a boat in order to reach a place known as "the Temple of the Ancients," which they've learned of during their adventure. The temple is an ancient Cetra relic, and Aerith is the key to unlocking its secrets. It's learned however, that Sephiroth is present too, desiring the secrets of the temple. Here, the group finds information about a forbidden magic known as "Meteor," which can obliterate an entire world. Sephiroth desires this power, and declares his intentions to use it to wound the Planet, and allow him to merge with its spirit and control its lifecycle.

As the party unlocks the temple's secret, the Black Materia needed to call forth Meteor, Sephiroth takes control of Cloud's motor functions and forces him to hand over the Black Materia and attack Aerith. Unable to control himself, Cloud punches the flower girl several times before blacking out.

City of the Ancients

While asleep, Cloud has a vision of Aerith telling him that she knows what to do now. She is going to go to the Forgotten City, the city of the Ancients, where she will learn of Holy, the ultimate white magic, as well as the only force powerful enough to stop Meteor and Sephiroth. Although she reassures him that she will return once she has dealt with Sephiroth, he appears and reveals that he is aware of Aerith's activities and that he intends to put an end to them soon. Upon waking, Cloud is told by his friends that Aerith has, indeed, departed alone, and the party quickly heads to the north in pursuit of her. After passing an archaeological dig, the AVALANCHE crew finds the Forgotten City. Disturbed over his dream, and sensing Sephiroth's presence within the ancient city, Cloud rushes to find Aerith. Upon finding her praying alone, Cloud finds control being exerted over his body once again, Sephiroth attempting to force Cloud himself to strike Aerith down. This time however, Cloud fights off Sephiroth's control and comes to his senses just in time.

File:Final Fantasy VII - Cloud's Farewell To Aeris.jpg

The Death of Aerith.

However, as Aerith opens her eyes from completing her prayer and looks up at Cloud with a smile, Sephiroth falls from above and impales her with his sword, murdering her in cold blood in front of a horrified Cloud. Enraged at Sephiroth, Cloud and his recently arrived comrades destroy the Jenova-spawned monster Sephiroth leaves behind, prior to referring to Cloud's true identity as "his puppet", and Cloud vows that he'll have revenge on Sephiroth for all he's done and bring him to justice. Cloud carried Aerith's body to the nearby lake, and the group has a tearful goodbye as Cloud releases her body into the water.

As revealed in Advent Children, Aerith's death will continue to haunt Cloud for a long time to come.

Shattered Mirror

After this, the group continues north to find Sephiroth, and while passing through the town of Icicle Inn, discover it to be Aerith's birth place. They also learn that her father was a researcher named "Professor Gast," who had been Shin-Ra's top scientist until a guilty conscience prompted him to flee from the despotic organization with a Cetra named "Ifalna," Aerith's mother.

Gast recorded his conversations with Ifalna, from which the party learns that the being known as "Jenova" was not a Cetra at all, but, rather, an alien being that crashlanded on the Planet some 2,000 years before and spread a virus that nearly brought the Cetra to extinction.

Though the creature was defeated by a small band of survivors and sealed into the earth, Gast discovered the creature and used its cellular material in the Jenova Project after incorrectly concluding that it was a Cetra. Thus, Sephiroth has now gained its power, and is seeking to carry out his ultimate plan of becoming one with the Planet.

Pursuing Sephiroth to the northern-most point on the Planet, the original landing site of Jenova, the party fights another Jenova-spawned creature under Sephiroth's control and reclaims the Black Materia. It is then revealed that Sephiroth has been projecting his will from within the northern continent, utilizing pieces of Jenova's body that he altered to bear his form. His real body was crystallized in materia on the upper portion of the northern continent, deep within its Northern Crater. Despite these realizations and the recovery of the key to Sephiroth's plans, Cloud will become increasingly unstable moments later when the group is confronted by Sephiroth, who now presents to Cloud a startling revelation: that Cloud was never in Nibelheim, his memories an illusion created as a byproduct of the abilities of Jenova's cells, of which Sephiroth claims Cloud is entirely composed. Sephiroth tells Cloud he is simply another Jenova experiment, created by Professor Hojo with a form and false memories based on what his component Jenova cells copied from coming near Tifa.

Cloud cannot believe this, but it is apparently reaffirmed when Sephiroth reveals a picture taken five years before when Cloud supposedly traveled to Nibelheim with Sephiroth. In the picture, Cloud is nowhere to be seen, and only Tifa, Sephiroth and a mysterious black-haired SOLDIER are present.

Despite Cloud's initial rejections of this as nothing more than a lie, it is Tifa who reluctantly confirms Sephiroth's story: Cloud wasn't in Nibelheim when it was burned to the ground. After this revelation, Cloud's psyche shatters, as he can no longer deny Sephiroth's claims. Sephiroth takes advantage of Cloud's fragile mental state and emotionally manipulates him into handing him the Black Materia. Sephiroth had been leading Cloud to him all along, slowly chipping away at his self-confidence then torturing him by murdering Aerith to inflict intense psychological and emotional pain on Cloud for reasons that would not become clear until later. As Sephiroth calls forth Meteor, the Northern Crater is engulfed in a massive cave-in and Tifa and the others are forced to flee and leave Cloud behind. They escape along with a few Shin-Ra executives who had arrived previously and make it out just before the collapse.

Answers

Tifa and Barret are held captive by Shin-Ra afterwards, and due to Sephiroth's actions, Meteor hangs in the sky set on a course to destroy the planet. It's revealed that Tifa and Barret have been planted with the blame for Meteor by Shin-Ra, so as to leave the general populace with the feeling that at least someone is going to be punished for what is happening. However, with the help of the other members of AVALANCHE, Barret and Tifa make their escape, and the party departs in Cid's newly captured airship, the Highwind. The group sets out to find Cloud, fearing the worst. Unbeknownst to them, when the Northern Crater caved in, Cloud fell into the Lifestream, the spiritual essence of the world. Eventually, Cloud washed up on a small coastal town named "Mideel," a town resting above—and in near proximity to—the Lifesteam. AVALANCHE discovers him here, being nursed back to health in a clinic, but he is catatonic due to prolonged exposure to the Lifesteam. Shortly thereafter, Ultimate WEAPON attacks the town, and Tifa attempts to evacuate Cloud as the others fight off the WEAPON. An explosions destroys a sector of Shin-Ra's headquater's, apparently killing Rufus Shinra. However, the Lifestream, being unstable at this point due to the recent activities of the WEAPONs, bursts through the town and swallows up Cloud and Tifa.

Tifa reawakens, finding herself within Cloud's psyche, their minds linked due to their presence in the Lifestream and through the actions of Aerith from within the Planet's life essence. Here, she attempts to bridge together all of Cloud's lost memories, guiding him through his own life in order to find the answers. It is revealed that the real SOLDIER in Cloud's place during the Nibelheim incident was none other than Zack, his now deceased best friend.

Although Sephiroth was correct in pointing out that Cloud being in SOLDIER was an illusion, his story was filled with half-truths. Cloud isn't merely a creation from Jenova cells, but a person infused with Mako and injected with Jenova cells, the same procedure as given to members of SOLDIER.

Although physically strong, as a child -- one being raised by a single mother, no less -- Cloud was ostracized by Tifa's friends, as well as the town itself. Even after he unsuccessfully attempted to rescue Tifa from harm on one occasion, the adults blamed Cloud for the incident and verbally abused him.

A short time later, Cloud learned of Sephiroth and began to idolize him. He began to feel that if he could become as strong as Sephiroth, not only would everyone respect him, he could gain Tifa's attention.

Thus, at age 14, he told Tifa that he would be leaving for Midgar to join SOLDIER, promising her that he would achieve his goal and be there for her when she was in need. Sadly however, it is revealed that Cloud never made it into SOLDIER. Cloud had no shortage of skill and strength, but due to his psychological insecurity due to years of abuse and alienation, he lacked the mental fortitude required to pass the SOLDIER selection course.

Cloud began to wish even more so that he could be like others, specifically someone like Sephiroth or Zack.

As the real story is further revealed to Cloud and Tifa while they float through the Lifestream, he tells of how he became a lowly Shin-Ra grunt, and that Zack was the first class SOLDIER who wore the outfit Cloud currently wears. Cloud had been in Nibelheim five years earlier, assigned to that fateful mission as part of Sephiroth and Zack's escort. However, he was so ashamed of failing to enter SOLDIER that he kept his face covered with his helmet the entire time he was there, never revealing himself to anyone from his hometown apart from his mother. In actuality, nearly everything Cloud had earlier told his comrades of his activities in Nibelheim five years before had actually been done by Zack. The true outcome of the confrontation with Sephiroth in the Mt. Nibel reactor, however, is even more surprising than this revelation.

When Sephiroth was filled with madness and laid waste to the town, Zack and Tifa attempted to stop him. Tifa was severely wounded, and although Zack put up a valiant effort, he was no match for Sephiroth and was also defeated. As Sephiroth prepared to take Jenova's body from its chamber, however, Cloud entered and took up Zack's Buster Sword to stop Sephiroth himself. Before Sephiroth knew the young Shin-Ra grunt was there, Cloud had gutted him through his lower back. Thinking that Sephiroth was downed permanently by his brutal attack, Cloud turned back to tend to Tifa. Unfortunately, being the powerful Mako-infused Jenova/human hybrid that he was, Sephiroth got back up to confront Cloud. Before doing so, however, he cut Jenova's head off, intending to take it with him, as -- due to his injuries -- he was unable to take her entire body. This time, Sephiroth held the advantage, quickly sliding his sword into the charging Cloud's chest and hurling him back into Jenova's chamber where he proceeded to skewer Cloud a second time. Cloud counterattacked in a fury, causing Sephiroth to retreat into the Lifestream below, which carried him to the Northern Crater.

After Sephiroth's departure, Cloud passed out due to the severity of his wounds. Zack and Cloud were left alone and unconscious until rounded up by Shin-Ra officials as part of a cover-up. Hojo had the two young men and all other survivors of the massacre taken to the basement of the Shinra Mansion, where he tested his Jenova Reunion Theory with them, doing so by injecting them all with Jenova cells and infusing them with Mako (this being the second time Zack had received such treatment).

After four years of being used for experimental purposes, Zack broke free and took Cloud with him, despite Cloud being catatonic after having suffered intense Mako poisoning because of Hojo's inhumane experimentation. Zack dressed Cloud in the purple uniform of a 1st Class SOLDIER, which would later help to support Cloud's illusion. Making their way back to Midgar, they hitched a ride in the back of a civilian truck. Zack decided that as soon as they got back to Midgar, he would become a mercenary. Not wanting to leave Cloud alone, he says that Cloud can be his partner.

While Cloud was still in this semi-vegetative state, Zack narrated to him the events that occurred in Nibelheim from his perspective, and Cloud listened to all that he was told, his subconscious using the Jenova cells within him to copy what he heard from Zack, and then imprinting these "memories" onto Cloud's own psyche in an attempt to bring Cloud back to a functional state. Cloud had also been able to observe Zack's fighting prowess while in this state, as Shin-Ra forces had been tracking the two since their escape, small skirmishes occurring along the way. After a year-long journey halfway across the world, finally within sight of Midgar, Zack took a bullet that was intended for Cloud, leaving him in a weakened state. It was then that Zack would put up his last struggle while trying to save his friend, finally being gunned down. The Shin-Ra forces left Cloud for dead, not even bothering to finish him off with a bullet due to his deteriorated mental condition.

Recovering some of his motor functions a short while later, Cloud stumbled into Midgar in a delirious state, and was eventually found by Tifa, who took him in until he fully recovered. His subconscious mind reacted to encountering Tifa by using the Jenova cells once again, this time to copy from her memory what she remembered of the boy named "Cloud Strife," imprinting these memories onto Cloud's psyche as well. Due to his Mako poisoning and consequential amnesia, as well as the extent to which his subconscious had gone in an attempt to make him capable of functioning as an ordinary person, Cloud had taken Zack's status as a member of SOLDIER, his stories of what took place in Nibelheim, and Tifa's memories which had actually involved Cloud, and used them to fashion a new personality for Cloud so that he would be able to function in the world as an ordinary person. Tifa, now understanding most of what happened to Cloud, helps him fill in the gaps in his memory, reassuring him that he really is Cloud Strife and not an empty shell filled entirely with false memories.

Final Fantasy VII End

After Cloud comes to terms with himself and his true memories, he and Tifa float back out of the Lifestream and are recovered by the rest of the group. Cloud reveals to his friends everything, and with a somber tone, vows that he will start a clean slate and live as himself. Not idolizing Sephiroth, and not believing himself to be someone he wasn't, but living as Cloud Strife: a battered, abused, but kind-hearted person who would fight for others when they could not help themselves.

Soon, the party learns that Aerith had successfully invoked the power of Holy immediately before her death, but that Sephiroth is using his powerful will to prevent Holy from taking effect, meaning the only way to save the Planet from Meteor is to finally defeat him. After Shin-Ra's downfall a short while later, Cloud calls a final group meeting with his comrades onboard the Highwind, telling them that the final battle with Sephiroth is approaching. He tells them to take the remaining time they have to deal with any unfinished personal business they still had, and to remind themselves of what they were fighting for. He explains that he will not feel remorse or betrayal if none of them return, and says that his business is to confront Sephiroth, and to try his best to avert the coming apocalypse. That night, Cloud and Tifa sleep in a field next to the Highwind, under the stars. They reminisce on old times and do away with any hard feelings they have for one another. (Note that there are three versions of this scene between Cloud and Tifa, the one presented to the player determined by how Tifa is treated throughout the game.) Unbeknownst to them, other members of the crew watch their intimate moment from inside the Highwind as the two fall asleep.

In the morning, Cloud and Tifa awake to see that everyone has returned, leaving them -- especially Tifa -- embarrassed to find that they were spied on the night before. They return to the Northern Crater in order to confront Sephiroth and save the world. Cloud and the others find Sephiroth at the heart of the Planet, and at last best him, using every skill and ounce of energy they have. Before their escape, however, Cloud is attacked by Sephiroth one last time, challenging him to a final duel of the mind and spirit. Despite having the upper hand, Sephiroth's overconfidence leaves an opening that Cloud takes for all its worth, allowing him to overcome Sephiroth during this mental duel inside the Lifestream, proving himself the better man -- even if not the better SOLDIER -- in the end.

When Sephiroth's will is finally broken, Holy is released, but it is too late. Meteor is already approaching Midgar and impact is imminent. Holy engages Meteor dangerously close to the surface and -- being acted upon in opposite directions by the gravity of the Planet and of the massive Meteor -- begins to backfire on the Planet, causing more damage to Midgar than Meteor. Just when things are at their worst and destruction seems imminent, the Lifestream explodes out of the Planet, confirmed by "Maiden who Travels the Planet" to be a result of Aerith guiding it to the surface. Leading other souls from within the Lifestream -- including those of Jessie, Biggs, Wedge, Zack and Barret's old friend, Dyne -- the Planet's own life force is used as a battering ram that slams into Meteor and pushes it far enough back from the Planet for Holy to have room to destroy it.

Final Fantasy VII Aftermath

During the 2-year aftermath of Final Fantasy VII, Cloud lived with Tifa and Barrett at the city of Edge. He served as a delivery boy for the "Strife Delivery Service" that Tifa set up. During that time, Cloud obtained a new motorbike, the Fenrir, which features a sword rack built into the sides for storing the components of his new weapon, the First Tsurugi ("First Sword"). Cloud used the Buster Sword as a gravemarker for the very point Zack died on.

Over time, Cloud began suffering symptoms of the disease "Geostigma", keeping his left arm cloaked to hide the disfiguration caused by the disease. Cloud became more distant from the others out of the guilt for the deaths of Aerith and Zack. As a result, he moved out of the Seventh Heaven and took refuge in Aerith's church. Furthermore, Cloud became more distant and cold from his friends mainly due to Sephiroth's death. Whilst Sephiroth was alive, Cloud had a purpose; something to take his mind off of Aerith. However, once Sephiroth was gone, the death of Aerith hit Cloud causing his grief and guilt. This grief took away all the playfulness and humanity from Cloud, (for example in the game, Cloud would reluctantly dress up like a girl, become a chocobo jockey and many other antics with more sophomoric outcomes) and left him as a person with perhaps no self-esteem or confidence in himself until Sephiroth's revival and Aerith's forgiveness.

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children

Cloud Strife in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children.

Around the time Cloud received a call from Tifa that Reno has a job for him, he was attacked by mysterious trio of young men: Kadaj, Loz, and Yazoo. While learning about them from Rufus, they began kidnapping children that possess Geostigma, intenting to have them lead them to Jenova's head. During the second confrontation, Cloud had a hard time defeating all three until Vincent saved him.

These conflicts form the basic plot elements of the film, as Cloud struggles to find faith in himself and achieve personal closure to the more painful events of his past. Finally coming to terms with his self-imposed guilt at having failed to save Zack and Aerith, Cloud gives it his all in the end to show the villainous trio his true power, but not without some help from a now-departed friend and his surviving comrades.

Cloud's power and skill in battle are shown to have increased substantially since the events of Final Fantasy VII, as he fought Bahamut Sin and destroyed it with one slice. Even Kadaj can barely touch him in combat on his own. During the fight, Cloud was cured of the Geostigma by the water under Aerith's church. Nonetheless, Cloud's skills were still sorely put to the test when Sephiroth is reborn when Kadaj finally fuses with the last remains of Jenova. In the end, Cloud defeated Sephiroth with a variation of Omnislash, dubbed "Omnislash Version 5". Though he won, Cloud was mortally wounded by a dying Yazoo and seemingly killed in the explosion that took Yazoo and Loz. However, Cloud survives and wakes up to see his "family" of friends surrounding him, presumably cured by the water yet again.

Other appearances

Other appearances in the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII

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Cloud in Last Order: Final Fantasy VII.

Last Order: Final Fantasy VII

Cloud is one of the main characters in the Last Order: Final Fantasy VII. This OVA shows Cloud in two events that were shown in flashbacks in Final Fantasy VII; one at Nibelheim, and the other escaping from Shin-Ra with Zack.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII

There are currently few details of Cloud's purpose within this game. Though there is the possibility that the reason why Cloud obtains the Buster Sword is explained (as it's original owner Angeal is featured within the game).

Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII

Unlike the previous Final Fantasy VII series, Cloud appears in a small supporting role in Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. He is first seen riding his motorcycle (the Fenrir from Advent Children) alongside a World Restoration Organization truck driven by Barret, with Tifa in the passenger seat, as they and the rest of AVALANCHE (with the exception of Red XIII) ride into war against the Deep Ground SOLDIERs. The sleeve he wore on his left arm in in the beginning of Advent Children but which he took off later in the movie, is now present again in the game again for unknown reasons (seeing as how in Advent Children, the sleeve was apparently worn to hide the effects of his Geostigma from which he was later cured).

Kingdom Hearts series

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Cloud as he appears in Kingdom Hearts.

In Kingdom Hearts, Cloud appears in the Olympus Coliseum world. He wears a claw and a cape which Tetsuya Nomura stated are not Vincent Valentine's, but rather that the KH version of Cloud was designed in a similar "dark" style as Nomura put it, thus they will have similarities as a result. Note the exact differences here[1] He also bears a black demon wing on his left shoulder (meant to offset the black angel wing on Sephiroth's right shoulder). Cloud has been hired by Hades to kill Hercules, but fights Sora as a prerequisite. When he refuses to kill Sora during their battle, Hades sets Cerberus on Cloud and Sora, who are only saved by Hercules' timely intervention. Cloud meets with Sora afterwards and explains that he lost the light within his heart, and is searching for it, hence his willingness to work for Hades. Cloud appears later in the Coliseum's battle tournaments: in the Hercules Cup, on his own, and in the Hades Cup, where he teams up with Leon.

In Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix (the extended version of the game, only available in Japan) it is revealed that he is also searching for Sephiroth, whom he can be seen battling. Cloud's appearance in Kingdom Hearts is merely a cameo, and there is no mention of significant details from Final Fantasy VII, such as Jenova or SOLDIER. However, all the Final Fantasy characters in Kingdom Hearts are generally considered to be versions from an alternate reality and not the same characters that appear in their respectives games, hence the lack of references. However, the characteristics and personalities of the Final Fantasy characters are considered to be much the same.

Cloud continued his role in the series in the GBA sequel Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories as a boss and, later, as a summon card for Sora.

Cloud's part continues in Kingdom Hearts II where he is in his Advent Children attire, with more elaboration on his activities offered: to seek and overcome his darkness. He is searching for Sephiroth, and is himself being sought out by Kingdom Hearts' version of Tifa. Cloud fights along side Sora during the Heartless invasion of Hollow Bastion. Also, in Kingdom Hearts II, Jiminy's journal states that Cloud is a former SOLDIER. Cloud's exploits in this game are a part of a small side story within the game about his inner conflict between darkness and light, in which he fights Sephiroth once more, with help from Tifa, Sora, Donald Duck and Goofy. While it does not have an impact on the main storyline, it is, nonetheless, a more significant role than that of the other Final Fantasy characters featured in the game, with the exception of Leon (Squall), and he is quite possibly the strongest Final Fantasy character in the game, with the exception of Sephiroth.

Through each game in the Kingdom Hearts series, Cloud is portrayed as being especially stoic and melancholic compared to his usual personality in Final Fantasy VII and its surrounding stories.

Final Fantasy Tactics

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Cloud's facial portrait in Final Fantasy Tactics.

In Final Fantasy Tactics for the PlayStation, Cloud is one of the bonus playable characters. Cloud is accidentally pulled into the world of Ivalice by an ancient machine called "the Celestial Globe," which was activated by Ramza Beoulve in Goug Machine City. His comments after arriving in Ivalice seem to indicate that the Celestial Globe pulled him from the Lifestream, during the period in Final Fantasy VII when he was adrift in it.

Cloud is disoriented after arriving in Ramza's world, seemingly remembering only bits and pieces of his life before coming out of the portal. After a short exchange with Ramza and the others, he is racked by a seizure, like the ones he suffers from during the course of Final Fantasy 7. As it fades, he exclaims, "I must go...must go to that place...," before running out, Ramza and his friends close behind him.

He wanders into Zarghidas Trade City, where he encounters a parallel counterpart to the Aeris from his world, a flower girl bearing the same name. Cloud is still confused, presumably from his trip to Ramza's world, and is further confused by this encounter:

[Cloud walks through the streets of Zarghidas. A girl comes out.]

Flower Girl: Buy a flower? Only 1 gil.

Cloud: ......

Flower Girl: Something wrong? Do I resemble someone?

Cloud: No...it's nothing.

[Cloud walks away.]

Flower Girl: What's wrong with him?

As Cloud is leaving, she is accosted by an apparent loan shark looking to collect on a 30000 gil loan. Cloud returns to help Aeris escape but suffers another seizure as Ramza and his party catch up to him. After they save him, he joins Ramza's party, while Ramza agrees to help get him back to his own world:

Cloud: I lost...a very important thing...

Ramza: Cloud......?

Cloud: Ever since, I've been lost. Who am I? What should I do? What about this pain...

Ramza: Cloud...there's someone in your world waiting for you. We might be able to send you back where you came from by using the stone's power.

Cloud: Let's go, Ramza. I can't be here. Must go...to the Promised Land.

Presumably, since Cloud is saved from the Lifestream and plays further role in events taking place in Final Fantasy 7, Ramza succeeded in sending Cloud back to the Lifestream after events in Final Fantasy Tactics.

Itadaki Street series

In Itadaki Street Special (released exclusively in Japan), Cloud is one of the playable Final Fantasy VII characters, along with Aerith, Sephiroth, and Tifa. He and the rest of the FFVII crew (including newcomer to the series, Yuffie) also make an appearance in the upcoming Itadaki Street Portable for the PSP.

Chocobo Racing

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Cloud in Chocobo Racing

In Chocobo Racing, Cloud is the fifth of ten unlockable characters (Bahamut, Squall, Cid's Tank, Mumba, Cloud, Cactuar, Aya, Classic Chocobo, SS Invincible, and Jack respectively). In the game, he rides a motorcycle and appears much like he did during the bike chase scene in Final Fantasy VII. He is playable in all modes but the story mode.

Ehrgeiz

Cloud is a playable character in the PlayStation version, but like the other Final Fantasy VII characters present in the game, has no storyline, though he can be used in the arcade mode, versus mode, and minigame events. Cloud, Tifa, Sephiroth and Vincent Valentine are the only Final Fantasy VII characters with alternate costumes.

Omnislash

File:Omnislash3.jpg

The final blow of Omnislash.

Omnislash is Cloud's last and most powerful Limit Break in Final Fantasy VII. It takes great effort in the game to obtain this move, but it is one of the most damaging attacks of the game, and has the potential to exceed the Knights of Round summon in power. The attack has a total of 15 hits, and each hit may deal as much as 9,999 HP damage, the maximum possible, resulting in a potential total of 149,985.

In the game's final (scripted) battle, Cloud has access to Omnislash regardless of whether the player has obtained it in the game proper. Due to the fight's cinematic nature, it is impossible for Cloud to lose. The scene represents Cloud and Sephiroth's spirits battling one another for the final time, as Holy was still unable to take action so long as Sephiroth's will was in play.

In this final battle, Sephiroth's battle script is coded such that he will take only 31/32 of Cloud's HP, with Cloud automatically countering any attack. Even if the player takes no action whatsoever, Cloud will be victorious. Despite the predetermined nature of this "battle", the scene is an incredibly popular sequence among fans.

In Advent Children, Cloud uses the new form of Omnislash (Omnislash Version Five), in which his multi-pieced sword, the First Tsurugi, splits into its six components and levitates while Cloud quickly grabs them one at a time and slashes his opponent. It supposedly gained its name through the first four versions of the Limit Break being discarded by designers in favor of the current one, according to the Japanese DVD commentary on Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. The original Omnislash also makes an appearance in Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts II.

Trivia

• When Cloud is comatose in Mideel, he mutters the word "Zenogias". This is a badly translated Xenogears, a reference to the said game yet to have been made at the time. The PC version of Final Fantasy VII corrected this into Xenogears.
• One of Cloud's Limit Breaks, Blade Beam, was also a Limit Break of his fallen comrade Zack.
• One of Cloud's most infamous exploits in FFVII was an incident in which he was forced to disguise himself as a woman in order to infiltrate a brothel. This situation has become a common running gag among fandom, and is frequently featured in fan art and even hentai dōjinshi.
• Cloud is one of the most popular characters in the GameFAQs character battles, winning in 2003, defeating his own in-game nemesis Sephiroth in the final round of voting, and being second in 2004, losing to Link. After some more Character Battles, controversy was made over the fact that Link, Sephiroth, and Cloud are so highly popular that the likeliness of them being beaten in this competition is slim at best, making a rather boring and predictable situation (considering that in four CB, Link was in three finals, Cloud in two, and Sephiroth in two). The most recent tournament, in 2005, had the previous winners in a separate bracket (along with the running-contest winner), in order to give the other characters a chance. This time however, Cloud lost to Link who then defeated Sephiroth in the final.
• The only character shown to kiss Cloud in the date minigame in Final Fantasy VII was Yuffie. Afterwards, she explains that she did it because she felt like it.
• In the North American instruction booklet accompanying the game and even on the official North American website for Final Fantasy VII, Cloud's birthdate was inaccurately listed as August 19th. All official Japanese sources identify it as August 11th.
• During the game, Cloud states that he suffers from motion sickness. This is a minor plot point, as early in the game a flashback sequence shows "Cloud" helping a soldier suffering from motion sickness and claiming to never suffer it himself. This is a subtle clue to the falseness of Cloud's memories. Cloud later comisserates with Yuffie, who is also subject to motion sickness, and gives her advice on dealing with it. He appears to have no difficulty riding his motocycle, Fenrir, in Advent Children, although it has been noted that some people with motion sickness do not get sick if they control the movement.
• Despite Cloud's multiple swords in Advent Children commonly being referred to as "First Tsurugi", Takayuki Takeya, who was in charge of designing the swords, stated in the book Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Reunion Files: "...I don't know what the names and powers of each sword are supposed to be!". In the book, it states that all through production, Cloud's swords were only called the "fusion swords" and seemingly never given a proper name.
• Cloud is often regarded as the PlayStation's answer to Nintendo's Link, from The Legend of Zelda. They have somewhat similar bodily traits(such as blond hair and blue eyes, though earlier incarnations of Link portrayed him with brown hair), both share a tremendous fan following and are both credited as being silent swordsmen. Though Link is considered by some fans to be a mute (not counting his minor grunts and other voice clips post-Ocarina Of Time) whereas Cloud speaks (albeit not often due to his fairly secluded demeanor).
• Cloud is greatly based off of the vocalist for a lesser known defunct American rock band. When asked why he used this specific person for Cloud's concept, Nomura stated, "I don't really know. Josh [Newton] just looked cool."
• An unlockable Gummi Ship in the videogame Kingdom Hearts II is based on Cloud. It is called Fenrir, and looks like Cloud riding his motorcycle.
• When Zidane Tribal in Final Fantasy IX sees a large buster sword in a shop in Lindblum, he makes a remark about a "spiky-haired man" who used to wield such a sword, an apparent reference to Cloud.
• During the final moments of Final Fantasy IX Zidane Tribal remarks that "No cloud, no squall shall hinder us", apparently referring to Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VIII main characters Cloud and Squall.

External links

• Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Ω Translations FAQ - Translations from the Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Ω