Cloud Strife's Story & Legacy: Impostor To HERO! (Final Fantasy 7 Character Analysis / Review)

While the Final Fantasy series has given us many great characters over the years, one in particular has come to epitomise the series in many ways – the one and only Cloud Strife.

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This video is a critical commentary on the character of Cloud Strife and is therefore presented to viewers for the purpose of criticism and commentary.

You only have to look at his cameos and appearances over the last 20 or so years, in everything from Kingdom Hearts to Super Smash Bros, for evidence of that.

Fans will always have their personal favourites, but I think even those who don't like Cloud or think he's anywhere near being the best Final Fantasy character would have to acknowledge that he's essentially become something of a symbol for the series as a whole.

In light of the renewed excitement and hype for the Final Fantasy 7 Remake, in this video I'll take a few minutes to explore the story and legacy of Cloud Strife and look at some of the reasons why I think he's such an enduring and popular character, so make sure you keep watching as I'd love to hear your thoughts too.

A lot of it really comes down to the fact that Cloud Strife is not a perfect or flawless hero.

Of course, when we first meet him in the game we're told that he's an ex-SOLDIER 1st Class, but that later turns out not to be true. I think it's precisely because of his human fallibility that he becomes a much more interesting character.

While at the start of Final Fantasy 7 he's presented as something of a stone-cold mercenary, fighting for himself and uninterested in those around him, as FF7 progresses his story gradually becomes far deeper and more engaging.

We find out that actually he never reached the level of SOLDIER 1st Class, and instead that he's been living a lie – partly out of shame at having failed to become the legendary soldier he wanted to be and emulating the great Sephiroth, but also partly because of the traumatic events he's subconsciously chosen to ignore.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on what you think makes Cloud such a brilliant character. Why do you think his legacy has become quite so enduring?

Comment below with your thoughts. If you enjoyed this video then please take a second to hit the like button and subscribe as well.

#CloudStrife #FinalFantasy7Remake

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[FF-Gamr]

So, Final Fantasy Gamers, why do you think Cloud Strife's legacy has become quite so enduring? Comment below with your thoughts!

Also, if you enjoyed the video, please hit the like button and subscribe and hit the notification bell too! Thanks!

[softrivius]

More than 20 Years Later after many and many new final fantasy games, spin offs, new consoles, better graphics and CLOUD STILL REMAINS THE MOST POPULAR CHARACTER AND FINAL FANTASY VII REMAINS THE ABSOLUTE FAN FAVORITE OF THE SERIES WORLD WIDE: Thats when you know a story had impact and its characters touched millions. Nothing less than Epic.

[jacid]

I think Cloud's story is a beautiful story about discovering yourself and finding your inner strenght. For me it's the best personal growth journey ever put on video game.

[AuronRoxas]

I hate when a character has a tragic backstory where the people they loved and cared about could literally die horrific deaths and because they’re not smiling and making jokes about it they’re labeled as “emo”. It’s the the most frustratingly idiotic thing ever and really shows the immaturity of people.

[robitussinbrohan]

The people calling him emo are the ones who haven’t played ff7 or they really didn’t follow the text. The only times you hear cloud speak are in kh, ac, cc, and dissidia and 3 of the 4 feature a emo cloud.

[andreseh]

Cloud is one of the greatest video game protagonists ever. He has an incredible redemption arc.

[jackflynn]

Cloud is the most relatable protagonist I've played as in a video game since Raiden (from Metal Gear). But I'd go as far as to say Cloud is even MORE relatable. He's not some stoic ex-SOLDIER turned mercenary, he was a kid with dreams that wanted to be a somebody and failed at those dreams. He's not a boring generic badass hero, he was a loser who wanted to be a hero. That's why we love him. And it was so ballsy to have a protagonist with a mental illness (his PTSD). Great character

[ThisCannotContinuu]

Let's not forget that he has the best sword of any FF character...

[KingNazaru]

Cloud is the hero Final Fantasy needs and deserves .

[shannon]

Cloud is that perfect mix of cool, aspirational, dorky, funny and relatable. You are in awe of what he can do but you want to protect him too. The level of vulnerability he shows when he questions his own existence and mental breakdown before clawing out of it to be a more authentic version of himself is subtle and realistic.

[SCRaetz]

"While he failed to become the person he aspired to be, [Cloud] succeeded in becoming the person he had to be."

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[TheYired]

Excellent video. I agree, his fallacies makes him far more human than I ever expected. Seeing Cloud find himself and finally being who he really is its my favorite thing in FFVII.

[aprilmaryland]

Cloud goes from shy unpopular kid, to weak ass grunt, to cool & edgy, to mentally unstable, to hero then last emo as hell. *Cloud in a nutshell*

[jaredwhite]

Cloud Strife is not just my favorite FF character but he is my favorite video Game character of all time

[nspe]

Close call between Zidane and Cloud for my favorite main character, but I think Cloud wins based on extra nostalgia points

[thomasward]

I'd always hated FF7 growing up because my brother played it so much and I was bored of the combat.

Fast forward 15 years and I had a debilitating alcohol addiction that I was saved from, I don't know why, whether for nostalgia or God but for some reason something inside me told me to play this game straight afterwards. I then found out why people love this game.

A main driving point of this story is about a man who not just the system, but he himself saw as a failure. With failed dreams, a broken heart and an identity crisis. But in giving his life away for a cause greater than himself he became a man people relied on. No longer defined by his mistakes and no longer running away & trying to be someone else, but someone who cares for people and a world bigger than just himself. I am proud to say through the revelation of good information which included this game I am slowly becoming the man I always wanted to be just like Cloud.

Thank you Square Enix for FF7 for your depth in character development and genuine heart in your writing.

[carolynnield]

Cloud's journey through mental anguish, torn identity, and make poisoning shows just how resilient he truly is. He made his own self discoveries of what he is capable of. In a lot of ways we see him transform before our very eyes. Then you add the fact that he is in love with two women. One dies and leaves his heart tragically scarred. He ends up never taking g his feelings for Tifa for granted.

[NIXNE]

I always loved Clouds evolution from start to end of Final Fantasy 7. Great video 👍🏼😁

[simonbelmont]

& Cloud Strife is no failure!! He’s an awesome swordsman 🗡

[Akkumako]

Best FF character hands down. Can't wait to see his evolution through the VIIR games.