Cloud Strife isn't the person you think he is. Honestly, if you only know him through Final Fantasy VII Remake, you're likely seeing a facade that’s about to crack wide open. People call him "the guy with the big sword" or just a moody emo kid, but that's a massive oversimplification of one of the most fractured psyches in gaming history. He isn't just a mercenary. He's a trauma victim holding onto a stolen identity for dear life.
The Final Fantasy VII Remake Cloud we meet at the start of the game is arrogant. He's dismissive. He's "ex-SOLDIER First Class," or at least that’s the lie he tells everyone—including himself. He flips his sword with a practiced cool that feels a bit too performative. Because it is. When he tells Tifa he’s only in Midgar for the money, you can see the flicker in his eyes. He’s trying so hard to be the cold-blooded professional he imagines a SOLDIER should be, but the cracks are everywhere. You see it when he gets those sudden, jarring migraines. You see it when he remembers things that never happened.
The Identity Crisis Behind Final Fantasy VII Remake Cloud
Let's get into the weeds of his mental state. Square Enix didn’t just remake a game; they rebuilt a character study. In the original 1997 release, Cloud's stoicism was partly due to technical limitations—polygons don’t emote well. But in the Remake, every micro-expression matters. When he meets Aerith in Sector 5, his awkwardness isn't just "cool guy" behavior. It’s a complete lack of social skills. He’s a guy who spent years in a mako-induced coma, and before that, he was a failure who couldn’t even make the cut for the elite unit he claims to have led.
Think about the way he interacts with the Avalanche crew. Barret sees right through the act. He calls Cloud a "spiky-haired jackass," which is honestly pretty accurate for the first few chapters. But Cloud needs that mask. Without the "SOLDIER" persona, he's just a kid from Nibelheim who didn't live up to his own expectations. The Remake leans into this by showing us his hallucinations—specifically the flashes of Sephiroth. These aren't just hauntings; they are his brain trying to process the fact that his memories are a jigsaw puzzle with half the pieces missing.
One of the most telling moments is the "Wall Market" sequence. Seeing Cloud in a dress isn't just a funny callback to a 20-year-old mini-game. It’s a moment where he has to drop the hyper-masculine warrior act to achieve a goal. He’s uncomfortable, sure, but he does it. This is the first time we see the real Cloud—the one who actually cares about people—start to peek through the mako-infused bravado. He isn't a hero yet. He's just a guy trying to survive his own head.
The Combat Mechanics of a Broken Soldier
Playing as Cloud in the Remake feels heavy. It should. His Buster Sword carries the weight of his predecessor, Zack Fair, even if Cloud doesn't consciously remember that yet. Switching between Operator and Punisher modes isn't just a gameplay mechanic. It’s a metaphor for his instability. Operator Mode is defensive and balanced—how he wants to be seen. Punisher Mode is raw, aggressive, and slow—the reality of his inner turmoil and mako-enhanced strength.
If you’re looking to master Final Fantasy VII Remake Cloud in combat, you have to lean into the parry system. Punisher Mode's auto-counter is his best friend. But more than that, his "Triple Slash" ability is what breaks the game's balance. It’s fast, it hits multiple targets, and it builds stagger quickly. Yet, notice how he moves. He’s flashy, but there’s a desperation to his swings. He isn't refined like Sephiroth. He’s a brawler pretending to be a knight.
Why the Ending Changes Everything for Him
The whispers—the "Arbiters of Fate"—change the trajectory of Cloud's journey in a way we never saw coming. In the original game, Cloud was a puppet of Jenova and Sephiroth. In the Remake, he's fighting fate itself. This complicates his character even further. Now, he isn't just a guy with a fake past; he’s a guy with a future that he’s actively rewriting.
When he faces Sephiroth at the Edge of Creation, the dialogue is cryptic. Sephiroth says, "Seven seconds till the end. Enough time for you. Perhaps. But what will you do with it?" This isn't just villainous monologue. It's a direct challenge to Cloud’s autonomy. For the first time, Cloud is making choices that aren't dictated by the "original" script. He’s becoming his own person, even if that person is still built on a foundation of lies. It’s messy. It’s complicated. It’s incredibly human.
A lot of fans argue about the "new" Cloud. Is he too soft? Too different? Honestly, he’s just more fleshed out. We see him struggle with his internal voices. We see him genuinely bond with Jessie, Biggs, and Wedge, which makes the tragedy of Sector 7 hit ten times harder. When he watches the plate fall, that isn't the face of a mercenary. That’s the face of a man who realized that his "business only" attitude couldn't protect the people he accidentally started to love.
Real Talk on Mako Poisoning and Mental Health
Let's be real: Cloud is a mess. Mako poisoning isn't just a sci-fi trope here; it's a stand-in for severe PTSD and dissociative identity disorder. The green glow in his eyes is a constant reminder that he’s been chemically altered. His cells are infused with alien DNA. Most people in the game world see the eyes and respect/fear the SOLDIER. We, the players, see the eyes and realize he’s a ticking time bomb.
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Kazushige Nojima, the writer, has been very vocal about wanting to explore the "inner" Cloud. In interviews, the development team mentioned how they wanted to emphasize his dorkiness. He’s a guy who thinks he’s cool but has no idea how to talk to a girl. He gets flustered by Aerith’s teasing. He’s intimidated by Tifa’s history with him. This vulnerability is what makes the Remake version of the character superior to the Advent Children version, which often felt like he was just a moping statue.
The complexity of his relationship with Tifa is the heart of the story. She knows he’s lying. She remembers Nibelheim differently. But she doesn't call him out because she’s afraid he’ll break. That dynamic adds a layer of tension to every conversation they have in the Seventh Heaven bar. You aren't just playing an RPG; you're watching a slow-motion car crash of a man's psyche, and you're the one holding the controller.
How to Actually Play Cloud Effectively
If you want to maximize your efficiency with Cloud, stop treated him like a tank. He's a glass cannon. Even with the highest HP in your party, his defense is mediocre unless you're actively guarding in Punisher Mode.
- Focus on the Buster Sword: It’s tempting to switch to the Mythril Saber for magic or the Hardedge for raw power, but the Buster Sword is the most balanced weapon for a reason. Its stats grow evenly, making Cloud a threat in any situation.
- Materia Synergy: Put the "Steady Beam" or "Magnify" with healing on him. Because he’s always in the thick of the fight, he needs to be able to self-sustain.
- Countershift: This is the secret sauce. Learn the timing of enemy attacks. If you switch to Punisher Mode the exact moment an enemy hits you, you deal massive stagger damage. It’s the difference between a 10-minute boss fight and a 3-minute stomp.
Cloud’s "Disorder" ability is often overlooked. It allows him to switch modes while attacking, refunding some ATB. If you chain Disorder into a Punisher combo, you're constantly generating resources while staying offensive. It’s this fluidity that defines the Remake’s combat. It’s fast, it’s violent, and it’s perfectly suited to a character who is constantly "at war" with himself.
Misconceptions About the Sephiroth Connection
People think Sephiroth is "obsessed" with Cloud. That’s not quite right. In the Remake, Sephiroth seems to be using Cloud as an anchor. Because Cloud’s memories of him are so strong (and traumatic), Sephiroth can manifest himself through those memories. Cloud isn't just a rival; he's a vessel. This makes their encounters in the Remake feel much more personal and invasive than in the original. Sephiroth isn't just at the end of the world; he's inside Cloud's head, whispering to him every time he closes his eyes.
This is why Cloud’s journey in the upcoming sequels is so pivotal. He has to reclaim his mind before he can save the planet. If he stays in this fractured state, he’s nothing more than a tool for the very villain he’s trying to kill. The "Remake" subtitle doesn't just refer to the game itself—it refers to Cloud remaking his own identity from the scraps of his past.
Actionable Steps for FF7 Remake Players
To truly master the experience and understand the depth of Cloud's character, you should approach the game with a focus on his mechanical and narrative evolution.
- Replay the game on Hard Mode. This isn't just for the trophy. Hard Mode forces you to use Cloud’s entire toolkit. You can't rely on items, so you have to learn the nuances of his counter-attacks and Materia builds. It changes how you perceive his strength.
- Watch the "intermissions" closely. Pay attention to Cloud's body language when he's not the center of attention. The way he adjusts his glove or looks away when Tifa mentions their childhood tells you more about his character than any dialogue.
- Experiment with the "Parry" Materia. It completely changes his movement. It makes him agile, allowing him to dodge and weave in ways the standard roll doesn't allow. It bridges the gap between his "Operator" and "Punisher" personas.
- Explore the side quests in Sector 5 and 7. These aren't just filler. They are the moments where Cloud learns to be a neighbor rather than a weapon. Seeing him help a bunch of kids find their lost cats might seem trivial, but for Cloud, it's a massive step toward becoming a whole person.
Cloud Strife isn't a static icon. He’s a shifting, breaking, and healing mess of a human being. The more you look past the sword and the hair, the more you realize that the real story of the Remake isn't about saving the world—it's about a boy finally growing up and facing the truth of who he is, no matter how much it hurts. Use these combat strategies and narrative insights to engage with the game on a deeper level. Focus on the timing of his counters and the specific Materia builds that highlight his hybrid nature. The road to Rebirth and beyond starts with mastering the Cloud of the present.
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