For as long as Cloud Strife has been around, Square Enix’s iconic RPG twink has been shipped with all manner of characters. From the sexy slender Sephiroth to the stunning Tifa Lockhart, Cloud has been written to love even the freakiest freaks of Gaia. (Yes, even Cait Sith.)
While Cloud’s ship status is a major part of the character’s fandom, his voice actor Cody Christian claims oversexualised “shippers” end up ruining the games’ “great story development”.
Speaking on Twitter, via EG, Christian told fans that he believes shippers’ tendency to “over sexualise every relationship” ends up ruining the story that Square Enix has written. After all, if Sephiroth and Cloud pine after each other with lustful eyes in your mind, is the story’s tension being accurately perceived?
“‘Shippers’ crumble under the idea that a character is allowed to have significant relationships with MULTIPLE characters,” the Cloud Strife voice actor said. “This provides overarching depth. The need to overtly sexualize every relationship can ruin great story development.”
Over the decades, fans have decided who they think Cloud Strife belongs with for themselves. While many believe the Buster Sword wielding is destined to date the famously stabbed Aerith, others ship him with Barret, Crisis Core’s Zack and even Bugenhagen. Some particularly weird fans even ship the protagonist with Red XIII — that’s a dog, for those unaware.
Final Fantasy VII Remake previously toyed with Cloud’s history of character ships. The character has romantic moments with almost every female character in the game, especially the massively expanded character of Jessie.
The upcoming sequel, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, will expand on this by adapting the infamous Golden Saucer scene. In this scenario, Cloud is able to go on dates with nearly every party member, including Barret. Maybe in this remake, the two can share a more tender moment. (Kiss him, you fool!)
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth releases exclusively on PlayStation 5 on February 29, 2024.
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