Worst Final Fantasy protagonist

[forevercloud3000]

Darc Requiem said:

The Fury said:

Darc Requiem said:

Cloud doesn't have a personality. He's a fraud. He's pretending to be Zack. He assumes his identity. He's wearng his clothes, carrying his sword, goes after his girlfriend and his biggest "memory" is Zack's visit to is in Nibelheim with Sephiroth. It's part of the reason I dislike FFVII so much. He's a phony for a bulk to game. Tifa knows this. Yet she doesn't inform Barrett. It's not like they were close as kids. She barely knew he existed. It makes no damned sense. If wasn't for Emil Castagnier, he'd probably still be my least favorite protaginist in any JRPG I played.

Weird thing is that all what you jsut said is to me what makes him an interesting character. He's no action hero protagonist, he's f*ed up. The experiments done to him, infusing him with both Mako and Jenova cells messed him up, making him lose his true memories and replace them with what he saw Zack do during their time together. He truely believes that is what happens for the first major part of the game.

Different strokes for different folks I guess. Cloud just didn't sense as character for me and Tifa hiding his secret just ruined an already weak plot.

Side note: There is absolutely no reason for Cloud to assume Zack's identity. Zack failed to stop Sephiroth and despite being a "lowly" Shinra guard. Cloud did. He's the one "killed" Sephiroth. Despite my disdain for FFVII and Cloud. One of the coolest moments in Final Fantasy was "Lowly Shinra Guard" Cloud, tossing "The World's Greatest Soldier" Sephiroth into the Lifestream after being run though.

It was Zack who had the prestige and honor. No one was ever there to see any of Cloud's accomplishments. Not to mention Cloud still suffered from serious self esteem issues/Identity Crisis. People don't just snap out of that over night.

What I imagine Cloud was thinking is that sure...he killed Sephiroth, but at what cost? Failed to protect his hometown. Family, friends, all probably dead. Tifa and Zack were both swatted down, the two ppl he probably cherrished the most. He didn't see what had happened as a true victory.

This is also a recurring theme in FFVII, the bright side within horrible tragedy. The game doesn't even end happily. The world was barely saved but it was a new beginning for everyone.