Cloud Strife is a mess. Honestly, that’s why we love him, but the Cloud Strife FFVII Remake version is a whole different beast compared to the blocky 1997 polygons we grew up with. If you played the original, you probably remember a cool, silent mercenary with a giant sword who didn’t care about anything but the gil. That's the surface. But Square Enix decided to peel back the layers in the Remake project, exposing a dorky, traumatized kid who is desperately trying to roleplay as a legend he never actually became.
It’s uncomfortable to watch sometimes.
He tries so hard to be the "SOLDIER First Class" archetype. He gives one-word answers. He adjusts his gloves. He stares intensely into the middle distance while dramatic music swells. But then, he falls through a roof into a bed of flowers and meets Aerith, and suddenly, the "cool guy" facade starts to crack. You see him get flustered. You see him struggle to give a high-five. This isn't just a graphical upgrade; it’s a total psychological deconstruction of gaming’s most famous amnesiac.
The SOLDIER Persona: A House of Cards
The core of the Cloud Strife FFVII Remake experience is the tension between who Cloud thinks he is and the reality of his past. In the original game, the big "twist" regarding Cloud’s identity was held back until much later in the story. In the Remake—and its sequel Rebirth—the developers are much more aggressive with the breadcrumbs. You see the static. You hear the high-pitched ringing in his ears. You see the flashes of Zack Fair, the real SOLDIER whose memories and legacy Cloud has inadvertently subsumed.
It’s basically a case of stolen identity born out of extreme PTSD and Mako poisoning.
Director Tetsuya Nomura and writer Kazushige Nojima have been vocal in interviews about wanting to show Cloud’s "dorkiness." They wanted to highlight that he’s actually a socially awkward twenty-one-year-old who missed out on his formative years because he was being experimented on in a basement in Nibelheim. When he tries to act tough in front of Tifa, his childhood friend, she sees right through it. You can see the concern in her eyes. She knows the Cloud from back home, the kid who was a bit of an outcast and never actually made the cut for the elite SOLDIER program.
Cloud is a failed experiment who succeeded by accident.
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He carries the Buster Sword, a massive hunk of iron that belonged to Zack, but he lacks the genuine confidence Zack possessed. In the Remake, Cloud’s combat style is aggressive and heavy. He uses "Punisher Mode" to counter-attack, which feels thematic. He’s defensive. He’s reactive. He’s literally fighting against his own mind while he's fighting Shinra sentries. The game uses these mechanics to reinforce that Cloud is a glass cannon—not just physically, but emotionally.
Moving Beyond the "Edge-Lord" Stereotype
For years, pop culture turned Cloud into a brooding, "emo" caricature. This was largely thanks to Advent Children and Kingdom Hearts, where he seemed to lose his personality in favor of leaning into the gloom. Cloud Strife FFVII Remake fixes this. It restores the dry humor. It restores the moments where he’s just a guy trying to figure out how to be a person.
The Wall Market sequence is the perfect example.
Watching Cloud navigate the absurdity of Don Corneo’s mansion—culminating in the now-legendary dance-off and honeybee makeover—is essential for his character. He doesn't want to do it. He’s miserable. Yet, he commits. It shows a level of character growth that was often buried under text boxes in 1997. In the Remake, we see the micro-expressions. We see the way his eyes dart around when he's uncomfortable. It makes the eventual breakdown of his psyche feel more earned and more tragic.
The Sephiroth Problem
Then there’s Sephiroth. In the original, Sephiroth was a looming shadow for the first several hours. In the Remake, he’s everywhere. He’s haunting Cloud from the jump. This change emphasizes that Cloud’s connection to the villain isn't just professional or heroic; it’s deeply personal and terrifyingly intimate. Sephiroth represents the truth that Cloud is trying to run away from. Every time Cloud starts to feel "normal," Sephiroth appears to remind him that he's just a puppet.
This creates a dynamic where the player feels Cloud’s instability. When the screen glitches and Cloud starts clutching his head, we aren't just seeing a plot point. We are experiencing the degradation of his mental state. It’s a bold choice for a "hero" of a multi-million dollar franchise. Most protagonists are power fantasies. Cloud is a vulnerability study.
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Why the Buster Sword Still Matters
Even with all the psychological depth, we can't ignore the iconography. The Buster Sword is as much a character as Cloud himself. In the Remake, the weapon feels heavy. It has weight. When it hits a concrete wall, it sparks and clangs. The game treats the sword as a burden, which is a perfect metaphor for Cloud’s journey. He is carrying a legacy that isn't his, and it’s heavy as hell.
- Operator Mode: Quick, agile, the "Cloud" he wants to be.
- Punisher Mode: Slow, brutal, the "Cloud" he actually is when pushed to the brink.
- Materia Integration: The way he slots gems into the sword feels tactile and real.
The game also introduces the idea of weapon proficiency. As you use different swords—like the Iron Blade or the Twin Stinger—you learn new abilities. But most players find themselves going back to the Buster Sword. It’s the visual anchor. Even as the story goes off the rails into "Whispers" and "Defying Fate," that sword keeps things grounded in the reality of the original conflict.
The Nuance of the English Dub
We have to talk about Cody Christian’s performance. Taking over for Steve Burton, who voiced Cloud for nearly two decades, was a massive risk. But Christian nails the specific "young man trying to sound older" vibe. His voice cracks slightly. He uses a flat tone that feels like a defense mechanism. It’s a nuanced performance that understands the subtext: Cloud is a kid wearing his big brother's clothes.
If you listen closely to the dialogue in Midgar, Cloud’s tone shifts depending on who he’s talking to. With Barret, he’s dismissive and professional. With Aerith, he’s confused and slowly softening. With Tifa, he’s hesitant, as if he’s afraid she’ll point out he’s lying. This level of detail is why the Cloud Strife FFVII Remake version of the character is arguably the definitive one. It takes the "cool" and makes it "complicated."
Real-World Impact and Fan Reception
When the Remake first launched, there was a lot of pushback. People were worried about the changes to the timeline. They were worried about the "Ghosts of Fate." But almost everyone agreed that the characterization of the main cast was spot on. Cloud isn't a hero because he's the strongest; he’s a hero because he’s broken and chooses to keep moving anyway.
According to data from various gaming forums and reviews, the "Honeybee Inn" sequence was one of the most talked-about moments of 2020. It wasn't because of the graphics or the gameplay—it was because of what it did for Cloud’s character. It broke him out of the "soldier" mold and made him human. It’s that humanity that keeps FFVII relevant nearly thirty years later.
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Actionable Insights for Players
If you’re diving back into Midgar or starting for the first time, don't just rush through the combat. The Remake is a slow-burn character study. Pay attention to the way Cloud reacts to the world around him.
Stop and listen to NPCs.
Cloud’s reactions to the citizens of Sector 7 and Sector 5 tell you a lot about his internal struggle. He pretends not to care about the plight of the slums, but his actions always tell a different story.
Watch his animations.
Notice the difference between how he stands at the beginning of the game versus the end. He becomes slightly more relaxed, slightly less rigid. It’s subtle, but it’s there.
Experiment with the "Parry" Materia.
Cloud is at his best when he’s countering. This mirrors his personality—he doesn't initiate; he reacts. Learning to master the counter-system in Punisher Mode makes the game feel much more "in-character."
Read the weapon descriptions.
The flavor text for Cloud’s gear often hints at his past and the nature of SOLDIER. It provides context that the cutscenes might gloss over.
Cloud Strife isn't a static icon. He’s a shifting, breathing representation of identity crisis and recovery. The Remake doesn't just retell his story; it validates his struggle. He’s not the legendary warrior he says he is. He’s something much more interesting: a person trying to find his way back to himself.
To truly understand Cloud, you have to look past the sword and the spiky hair. You have to look at the cracks in the armor. That’s where the real story is. That’s where the Remake shines. It’s not about saving the world; it’s about a guy finally admitting he’s not okay, and finding the strength to be okay with that.
Start by focusing on the side quests in Chapter 3 and Chapter 8. These "odd jobs" might seem like filler, but they are where Cloud’s personality truly begins to bleed through the SOLDIER persona. Seeing him awkwardly help find lost cats or clear out rats for the neighborhood kids does more for his character development than any boss fight ever could. Use these moments to build a connection with the character before the high-stakes drama of the later chapters takes over. This will make the emotional payoff at the end of the Remake—and the start of his journey into the wider world—feel significantly more impactful.