I personally find very little in the likable qualities area, but Cloud also foregos anti-heroism based on his completely androgynous personality.

Now I know anime culture is big into these qualities, but come on.  Cloud's story is as two dimensional as a Mega Man 2 sprite and the story he plays a major role in has plot holes you could drive Death Stars through.  So why, ten years later, are people clamoring for the guy with the obnoxiously long sword and the lie of a personality?

To each his own I guess.  I liked Cloud, but he is not my favorite FF character.  But what I do like about him is how he transforms from an asshole mercenary who does not care about anything, into someone who is about to sacrifice himself for the planet.  I also like how you found out who Cloud was at the same time Cloud himself was.  And I like him because we have the same birthday.

dillonator said:

"but Cloud also foregos anti-heroism based on his completely androgynous personality."

[confusion] ReTarDedFisHy doesn't really know why he even likes Cloud. But he does, and it's all that matters to him. FisHy knows there aren't many likeable characteristics of Cloud, but there are some things that make you... like him. Lots of fishes, including ReTarDedFisHy, think that his sword is just badass. He also likes it how Cloud totally changed his personality, from being a cold, selfish merc, to a fighter with a shared vision. You can also feel for him while playing the game, knowing that Cloud was a puppet with another one's mind. I know that you know that ReTarDedFisHy doesn't really know what he's talking about right now. [/confusion]

Yeah I always thought he was a bit simplistic too.

Sephiroth ( Or however you spell it ) seems pretty interesting though

"[confusion] ReTarDedFisHy doesn't really know why he even likes Cloud. But he does, and it's all that matters to him. FisHy knows there aren't many likeable characteristics of Cloud, but there are some things that make you... like him. Lots of fishes, including ReTarDedFisHy, think that his sword is just badass. He also likes it how Cloud totally changed his personality, from being a cold, selfish merc, to a fighter with a shared vision. You can also feel for him while playing the game, knowing that Cloud was a puppet with another one's mind. I know that you know that ReTarDedFisHy doesn't really know what he's talking about right now. [/confusion]"

"I personally find very little in the likable qualities area, but Cloud also foregos anti-heroism based on his completely androgynous personality.

Now I know anime culture is big into these qualities, but come on.  Cloud's story is as two dimensional as a Mega Man 2 sprite and the story he plays a major role in has plot holes you could drive Death Stars through.  So why, ten years later, are people clamoring for the guy with the obnoxiously long sword and the lie of a personality?
"
Well hes the archetypal shakespearan hero with the fatal flaw. His flaw is that he has a fabricated past and is trying to run away from the fact that hes not good enough to join SOLDIER or whatever. I dont think his character is two dimensional as it is that theyve just told very little to avoid contradicting themselves or something.

I disagree that hes androgynous, he does seem to be the typical gruff male with a disfigured past and something to hide. Also Im not sure that people are clamouring for Cloud, more for the whole FFVII experience.

I'm just getting into FFVII and He's just strikes me as badass. I Love badass characters.

could just be cuz FFVII was the first RPG for alot of people.

Why do people love Donkey Kong or Mario.  Nostalgia about his 'cool factor' i would guess.

It was one of the first characters I kind of came attached to plus he just is awesome in general.

He made RPG's acceptable and cool to the general public with Final Fantasy VII.
I also think that he is just an interesting character that most gamers enjoy following in terms of his story and such.

Why is he so revered? Well, probably because he carries around a big fuckin' sword.

"Why is he so revered? Well, probably because he carries around a big fuckin' sword."

I like him because he was cold and patate in FFVII, not to mention his sword. Although he is a quite a douche in FFVIICC

People like cloud best because he's emo and reflects he qualities of his fans.

"[confusion] ReTarDedFisHy doesn't really know why he even likes Cloud. But he does, and it's all that matters to him. FisHy knows there aren't many likeable characteristics of Cloud, but there are some things that make you... like him. Lots of fishes, including ReTarDedFisHy, think that his sword is just badass. He also likes it how Cloud totally changed his personality, from being a cold, selfish merc, to a fighter with a shared vision. You can also feel for him while playing the game, knowing that Cloud was a puppet with another one's mind. I know that you know that ReTarDedFisHy doesn't really know what he's talking about right now. [/confusion]"

I found that FF7 and FF9 were too much alike.... that being said the only reason I lik cloud is his big sword which looks cool but much like star wars FF7 and Cloud have become cows who are as we speak being milked for all they are worth

"I found that FF7 and FF9 were too much alike.... that being said the only reason I lik cloud is his big sword which looks cool but much like star wars FF7 and Cloud have become cows who are as we speak being milked for all they are worth"