Final Fantasy 7's BEST Cloud Design? 

Hi all! Hope you enjoyed the video, please give it a like and comment if you enjoyed! Currently running a poll over on twitter to decide the next episode. It's currently neck and neck between Goku, Eggman and Kirby! Head on over and have your say! twitter.com/artistmarkflynn/status/1154882869044682752?s=19

Yo, about Advent Children: I rewatched that movie recently on a whim and it‘s way better than I remembered it being. I was too immature when I first saw it to actually appreciate it for what it was, and what it was is a damn good Cloud Strife character study. The ongoing plot is garbage, but it’s mindlessly fun garbage that’s really intended to tell the story of how this sad dude has given up on his own life. Every time a scene centered around Cloud, I found myself fascinated by his reactions to every situation; there’s so much depth to his character and the writers weren’t scared to dive deep. When I first saw Advent Children, I thought PTSD was being scared of slamming doors and I’d never even heard of survivor’s guilt. I’m older now. The people I know trust me with their broken pieces, and now I can understand why Cloud (who I first thought was a whiny emo coward) is actually a pretty sympathetic dude. I used to be exasperated by his kids; now I’m grown, and suddenly Cloud restructuring his entire life to take care of a devastated orphan is a decision with repercussions and costs that I can see and understand. So many of Cloud’s choices are intimately and hauntingly familiar. Doing your best to keep moving forward, but drowning in bad old memories anyway? Building a new life, but still holding tight to old habits that hurt you now but used to keep you alive? Working to build yourself a future, but dropping it all to care for a loved one who’s definitely going to die? Seeing and hearing your friends reach out to you, but holding yourself apart anyway because loving them scares you? Wanting to be a part of your family, but _knowing_ that you don’t deserve them and that they’d be better off without you? Fuck. The circumstances are different, but I know so many people who’ve forgotten their way home. Advent Children used dumb fantasy bullshit to tell a story that resonates to this day. Kudos, ladies and gentlemen, to the crew who made it; hats off to you. PS: that animation was insanely good for 2003! I definitely prefer the re-released version with the graphics fixes, but that original quality still holds up today.

I wish his Kingdom Hearts outfit was in Smash. That’s my personal favorite Cloud design.

I need to be able to see the individual threads of fiber in his SOLDIER uniform as it clips through the scenery and boss apendages just like in FFXV.

I think Cloud looks leaner in the remake than he does in Advent Children, he just has more muscle definition. Maybe he’s dehydrated lol

The Advent Children design is still King in my mind.

the Remake has the best design possible. Seriously, they outdid themselves and he just couldn't look better

As long as someone can tell that it is Cloud then the design did its job right.

I hope in the remake cloud has the same personality he had in the original, I dont really like emo cloud

STOP CALLING HIM BLOCKY! That's All Muscles Br0!....

Lol wow "rip Zack, I'm gonna smash aerith!" 🤣

FF7 Cloud sticks with me due to his confident pose and just how serious he looks without being edgy or emo looking like future designs. Like Dissidia Cloud's art looks so depressed and mopey, he's not cool.

"he was thinner than we thought" he got twinked lmao

Absolutely agree that the FFVII Remake Cloud is the best he has ever looked (And, though we have only heard a small portion of his lines, I also think this is the best Cloud has ever SOUNDED too). The only thing I'm worried about with the Remake is the fact that it only takes place in Midgar, yet somehow requires 2 Blu-Ray discs. Midgar in the original was only really 5-6 hours long at most, and so I can only assume that 70% of the story in this remake is going to be added filler. Other than that, the gameplay looks solid, visuals are incredible, voice acting is amazing. Hoping it turns out great

I gotta go with the KH1 outfit due to it being nostalgic for me. That was the first time I ever saw him. The promotional art would be a close second.

I've always like the OG design for some reason.

I would just like to point out how cloud in the original FFVII looks almost identical to super Saiyan teen Gohan

3:25 oh boy. that old lego graphics figure of cloud looks like popeye who joined a kpop band that was into japanese medieval army themes. no offense.

What about Cloud's original game battle model, since as I recall FFVII used better models for the battle scenes as the overworld (Though not as good as the cutscenes)? I'd love to say the artwork in the original FFVII, but Smash Cloud's main costume is so spot on to that design (albeit with less spiky hair) but rendered well that I have to go with that - I just prefer the purple to the more black/navy of the remake for him (though aside that the remake has a great take on his original design)

Hair wise it’s a toss up. I love his asymmetrical hair style but I love how his hair looks on top in AC especially in Smash 5.

I personally really like the original design. There's a charm to it.

Great video Mark! I cant believe just how many Cloud's there are all together. It's interesting to see the ways in which he's changed and the ways he's stayed the same. I also had no idea half of these looks even existed! I think its interesting how little the Buster Sword changed. Definitely an iconic piece so I understand not messing with it. It's interesting that KH had the most altered design for it!

Original 1997 Cloud all the way! Nomura knew what he was doing!

I think the remake design and Advent Children Cloud are equally skinny, especially in the arms.

Let’s be honest though it’s a Gohan in piccolo clothing clone but damn he makes it look good

Please do a video about Sora's designs

I really do enjoy Original FF7 Cloud alot, plus I do love his FF Record Keeper look too. Side note on Record Keeper, it also has sprites for Advent Children and KH costumes for Cloud that he could use instead, which I adore.

The Advent Children outfit will always be my favorite

That ps3 demo still hurts

I think so. Remake Cloud looks believable not cartoon/anime like. It's a tie between Remake and Advent Children to me.

5:14 I'm in love with that Final Fantasy Tactics desingn!

Advent Children design was the absolute best. Loved it & still love it. Best look Cloud has ever had. Although, it doesn't take away from the original. Always pay homage to the OG outfit. Always. Love you Cloud!

I like the Ehrgeiz cgi version of Cloud holding the Buster Sword behind his back.

Great video. How about make one about the Buster Sword too or other iconic video game weapons.

“The price of freedom is steep” - The True Legend

I just realized something about cloud being skinny. Some people think that it's ridiculous because he has a big ass sword and it's impossible for him to wield. We forget that he was a SOLDIER meaning he has extraordinary strength because of that. Like what it's said in the game, he chose power over his normal life

Personally, I like all Cloud's designs. But there are some that I like more than others. Crisis Core Cloud is my favorite, I would say. He's a precious boy I need to protect. Look at this cute little scarf ! I'm dying ! DEVRJRHCAGEH. uwu I love his KH design so much. He's such a badass with this red scarf/cape and black demon wing. And let's not forget that bandaged Buster Sword ! FF7R Cloud looks awesome. I love that attention to the details like the damaged pauldron. And his woolen suit seems so realistic and soft ! I would like to touch it ! >w< Nice video ! It's interesting to see the evolution of Cloud through his multiple appearances. I'll show it to a friend, he might be interested. 👀

This is my favorite character design video out of all of them you had made.

In my opinion, the Cloud in AC had more natural body structure and muscle definition. The Remake Cloud looks thinner (nearly looks like sickly) but with more toned muscles

My personal favorite design is the Dissidia Nt design. Followed by the Remake

9:37 probably not the weirdest smile Sora has given tho Also great video!!

You didn't mention his outfit in the G-Bike mobile game! I liked the biker look they gave him in there, it doesn't get enough attention.

The Kingdom Hearts design is amazing to me because it’s actually different... Follow my streams at twitch.tv/mikedaddymcss

Coming out of E3 *27 Jul 2019*

I liked his hand drawn representation from back when the original came out. It was in the book that came in the game case as well as the original strategy guide. The promotional art one. As far as his more realistic versions go I think the FFVII Remake Cloud looks the best. Better than Advent Children Cloud. Is there anyone else here that can't wait to see Yuffi in the remake?

The Cloud Strife design I like the most, of course, is the one used in the Final Fantasy VII Remake. Realistic. And I mean that it did take the original FFVII version and the Advent Children version and put them together into a demandingly realistic look complete with lots of wear-and-tear effects. Amazing. I'm not a Final Fantasy fan but I'm very pleased to support you, in fact *anyone,* in any video looking back at the design history of any video game character we please.

How time flies huh Even this video is 3 years old!

10:52 Bandaged *fusion* sword* (But yea i get what you mean, they just added the past bandages, i guess to keep them on the Keyblade that was tide with it)

Maybe this is a bit niche but in a similar vein to Cloud's redesigns perhaps a look at the designs of Guts (Berserk) would be cool?

I personally really like the smash iteration due to him being my main since the launch of ultimate and I really love his classic design. It’s symbolic and reminds everyone that that also love Mario’s polygonal look

I really love the original artwork as well as the dissidia art. The ingame models don’t look as great though. As far as Ingame models go, I think the FF7 remake is my favorite

you only have 20k subs? bro the quality of this video is better than what most 100k+ channels would put out

Agreed! The new cloud looks amazing. I like the idea that you would be able to customize the characters in FF7 remake. You could give cloud his advent children outfit, or maybe his Kingdom Hearts one! Like wise with the other characters.

i personally really like the art style for Clouds Dissidia Final Fantasy depiction, possibly because it was one of the first games i picked up? really hyped for FF VII ✨

I’m really surprised you didn’t show clouds battle model from the PS1 game? That one looks better that the over world model.

Thought I’d mention that FF: Record Keeper has 2-D sprites of both the original purple outfit and the Advent Children outfit. And how did cross dressing not get mentioned in this video?!

the dissidia illustrations are just really nice

Cloud's lost a lot of his luster over the years, honestly. His OG design will always be my fav.

I believe Cloud was put into Smash( besides high demands from us fans) because FF7 was at one point gonna be on the SNES before being made into a PSX title. Also, since the FF series started on Nintendo generally, it makes sense they chose him to represent the series as a whole and since he's more well known. Just wanted to share my thoughts, but besides all that, my favorite Cloud design is definitely the remake with his Smash Bros look being second because it's a beautiful design of his original FF7 look!

Cloud looks funny with short hair since Advent Children to now

It's probably in the comments somewhere, but Final Fantasy Record Keeper also featured 16 bit sprite versions of KH Cloud and Advent Children Cloud! All three are very great representatives of each depiction of Cloud!

As goofy as it is, my fave outfit is probably his Kh1 look. I mean just look at it, its so so.. COOL man!

It's jarring how not many people knows Cloud shows up randomly on the FF5 load screen from the PS1 release in FF5 sprite style!! i can't even find a pic of it on the internet, it's a shame. Great vid!

i always thought that Cloud had the best PS1 looking model during the last fight against Sephiroth in the lifestream.His Ehrgeiz version always felt wrong to me somehow.

I think I will like ff7 remake game play, he plays like a cross between kh and there is a cool twist of the "bullet time" trope where there are turn based mechanics around that. If the game gets enough polish, I think it will be fantastic.

I love the look of a lot of characters in Record Keeper, including Cloud. His new look is great, though I guess I wish his color palate was a tad brighter. His shirt is very dark. Still, really nice.

For me I love hia kingdom hearts 1 design but thats because I friggin LOVED Nomura's artwork for that game. Ill go with his original look after that. Also pleasr note i loathe Tifa's look in advent children/KH2 but i love her original look and think she looks great on the remake.

Anybody know why he's got a bandaged sword in Kingdom Hearts?

Short answer : YES! All iterations of clouds OG design made his pants more fitted and streamlined and the remake went back to the baggy , triangular ‘90s styles pants he had from the original designs.

What's the music playing at 5:50? It sound's a lot like Crystalline Chill from FFXV

The remake looks good though I kinda wish they went an anime cel shaded route, to try and recreate the CG cutscenes from the original title, as they did lean closer to Tetsuya Nomura's more manga/anime art style, compared to the chibi in game character models. Though my dream is to see IX remade with a cel shaded look that would recreate Yoshitaka Amano's artwork. Everything on the character, like hair, clothing and the stripes and patterns on them would wave, swirl and sway, so even if the characters were standing ideal, there'd still be some movement. Think like that bit from the Innuendo music video where it featured illustrations of the members of Queen and what accessories they had were moving and all that. It'll never happen ofcourse, but thats my dream

Reno looked absolutely fantastic in Advent Children you can fight me about this

I agree with you. FF7 Remake Cloud has to be the best, but the most badass has to be his Kingdom Hearts Vincent hybrid, those are my two favorite Cloud designs. As for illustration design Ehrgiez's 2D artwork from Tetsuya Nonomura is my fav.

I really like the job they did in the Remake and Advent Children Complete! I'd say I prefer his weapon set up, his clothing and the fact he owns a badass motorcycle from AC! They did amazing job on mimics too, both FF7r and AC.

The clothe got from black to dark blue because the constant of washing using bleach lol.

I loved Advent Children! I could hardly believe how the characters were brought to the screen😃 looking forward to the remake for ps4.

Even though it's subjective... I've been playing FFVII like most of us since it first came out. However, just on a design perspective alone, I loved his appearance in Advent Children. I can't believe its been about 15 years since it was first released in Japan in 2005... but when I first saw his new rendering it was so awesome to see such a beloved character fully fleshed out like that and despite FF7 Remake coming out, AC Cloud still has my #1 pick.

Wait. He's Smash design most resemble his Dissidia design, does it not? I mean look at the ever so slightly slimmer pants and how his right glove is fingerless rather than a standard glove. Although, the color on the suit is definitely more inspired by his original appearance seeing as how his Dissidia counter-part has a darker tone to it.

Oooh this is an interesting one.

Reno is a supermodel who models for gangster clothes

I'm glad I main Cloud in SSBU

Next up: which is the best Mega-Man design?

My favorites are his smash designs (not his alt) and the FF7 main artwork

Though the remake design is the best, my favorite design of his is from Dissidia Duodecim when he was one of the Warriors of Chaos. The outfit was based on his Amano artwork.

Not mentioning the fight sequence cloud that was a mid point between world map cloud and cut scene cloud, but literally showing it in the background while talking about how he was only ever polygon itsy when you played as him.

He was in Dirge of Cerberus too.

Kingdom Hearts 2 Cloud would like to Disagree

You should check the Dissidia Final Fantasy NT design :o his face different and they've just recently added his Kingdom Hearts 1 clothes into the game :3

Oh holy shyt. My movie theater had that arcade cabinet. It was DOOOOPE

Really good idea for a video.

Song at 7:20 ?

What about the Amano ff7 art?

I dislike the revised design of the buster sword. One of my favorite qualities of the original game was that Shinra's advanced tech was an anomaly in an otherwise low-tech fantasy world. I always dug that the buster sword just looked like a hunk of iron beaten together. Hopefully the roughness of the original world isn't entirely smoothed over in the remake.

My personal favorites are: FF7 Remake Cloud Dissidia NT Cloud Smash Cloud Original FF7 Cloud KH2 Cloud Advent Children Cloud They're not in any specific order though, just all the ones I like the most. I've also seen some pretty good fan-made Cloud models in Jump-Force, GTA and Dead or Alive. (at least I think they're pretty good)

But, what about Cloud's in game model during battles...

I know it's way better this most of his modern designs, especially his Advent Children one.

My only gripe with cloud in the remake is the clothes being black. I always liked the purple.

I really like the design from advent children. Hope it makes it in remake

I think the remake Cloud looks great too, but I think his delts should be a bit bigger. Wouldnt mind his hair being just a tiny bit more exaggerated as well but overall... A+

Really hard to compare designs from different eras and engines. Even the old looks good in its own way if you understand the capabilities and artistic look they were going for at the time.