Final Fantasy: 25 Greatest Heroes

Cloud Strife transcends Final Fantasy. Seemingly always the series representative in any ‘best of’ character list or cross-promotional opportunity (such as the Super Smash Bros series). He (and Sephiroth) are recognisable even to those who have had zero exposure to the franchise, such is how iconic they have become.

Final Fantasy VII wasn’t the first game in the series to bear a truly epic story (VI or even IV claims that crown), but the capacity offered by the-then revolutionary Playstation technology enabled Square-Enix to craft a chronicle around their spiky-haired protagonist that was unprecedented in scope.

Cloud’s journey of discovery and realisation, which incorporates loss, a crisis of identity, self-loathing and eventual undoubted leadership, is a rollercoaster ride from start to finish. The way that his actual past is gradually pieced together, with the recollections that actually belong to Zack eventually shed, enables a true connection to be built to a character that ironically takes down both Shinra and Sephiroth after being rejected by SOLDIER and deemed a failed subject by Hojo.

Cloud and Sephiroth’s encounters, whether in the original VII, Advent Children or even Kingdom Hearts, are always legendary to behold. The stakes always feel high, given Sephiroth’s constant mental torture of Cloud and murder of Aeris, and the two seem destined to fight until the end of time.

Cloud’s journey is only just beginning once more in VII Remake, but it’s one that will have many willing passengers, particularly given the new variables involved.