When you think about Final Fantasy VII, whether it be the original 1997 classic or the upcoming remake, you think of Cloud Strife.
He is the main character of the game, perhaps one of the most iconic central characters in any Final Fantasy game to date. Cloud will be returning in grand fashion this week as Final Fantasy VII Remake releases worldwide. Square Enix showcased a brief video about Cloud, getting the gaming world ready for his grand return to prominence.
Former First Class SOLDIER. After defecting from Shinra, Cloud begins work as a mercenary for hire in Midgar. With his trusty broadsword in hand, he always gets the job done. #FF7R pic.twitter.com/ywqXkGfkdX
— FINAL FANTASY VII (@finalfantasyvii) April 2, 2020
“Former First Class Soldier,” Square said in the official tweet accompanying the video. “After defecting from Shinra, Cloud begins to work as a mercenary for hire in Midgar. With his trusty broadsword in hand, he always gets the job done.”
Cloud is the ultimate cool hero. He is detached in the beginning of the game and almost nonchalant about the planet and its fate. He comes off as arrogant and rude, but deep inside he cares for his childhood friend Tifa.
As a child Cloud was weak, but always desired strength. He left his small village of Nibelheim to join the Shinra elite military group Soldier, where he reportedly moved up the ranks to become First Class.
However, a horrifying series of events that unfolded in his hometown of Nibelheim with his one-time hero Sephiroth led to Cloud defecting from Shinra. He became a mercenary and headed for Midgar, where he encountered Tifa and took up a job for Avalanche.
Cloud’s popularity extends far beyond just the original Final Fantasy VII. He was also the main character in the sequel movie Final Fantasy VII Advent Children. He was also a featured character in the fighting game Ehrgeiz, which came out for the PlayStation 1.
After that, Cloud’s next game appearance came in the Disney Square Enix mash up franchise Kingdom Hearts. He is a boss fight in the first game and players can actually fight alongside him briefly in Kingdom Hearts 2.
He is also one of the playable characters in the Final Fantasy Dissidia series, which takes heroes and villains from each Final Fantasy game and pits them against one another.
Cloud’s most recent gaming adventure came through Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. series. He first came to the fighting series in Super Smash Bros. 4 as a DLC character. He then returned as a regular member of the roster in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on the Nintendo Switch.
Final Fantasy VII Remake releases this Friday on April 10, 2020.
