The Best Characters in Final Fantasy 7
We all know that the cast of Final Fantasy 7 is one of the most important and iconic in gaming. But not every character in the game is created equal. The Remade world of Midgar and beyond is home to some true heavyweights – characters who are the pinnacle of their type in terms of appearance, personality, and general cool factor.
Final Fantasy 7 may be an old game, but its enduring appeal rests on the incredible cast of characters it introduced to the world. So, it only makes sense for us to create a ranking for the best characters in Final Fantasy 7. We will also include some observations and insights on the characters based on our time with the Remake and its upcoming sequel, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. The following list is in no particular order.
Cloud Strife
Cloud Strife is one of the most recognisable and popular characters in gaming. He delivers an interesting backstory and plenty of personal demons to overcome. With an ever-present smile on his face and a gravelly tone, Cloud looks as cool as he is confident. In truth, he lives with a deep-rooted guilt over the death of his nemesis Sephiroth, as someone who believes he is a failed SOLDIER, an elite group of superhuman soldiers.
Sephiroth
While not every character in Final Fantasy 7 is created equal, Sephiroth is undoubtedly the pinnacle villain of the Final Fantasy franchise. His origin story is fascinating and elevates him to the highest echelon of villain-dom. Not only is he difficult to defeat in the game, but his psychopathic and twisted rise to power is detailed in a tone-setting anime cutscene at the beginning of the game – one of the most iconic in the history of JRPGs.
Aerith Gainsborough
Aerith Gainsborough is the tragic hero of Final Fantasy 7. She sees the very best in everyone, even believing Sephiroth can be saved. Her kindness and pureness of heart are embodied in the flower seeds she passes out to the party whenever they return to the escape ship Highwind. Aerith's presence always lifts the mood of Final Fantasy 7's otherwise dark plot.
Barret Wallace
Barret Wallace is a gruff, hard-hitting eco-terrorist with a heart of gold. Before turning to eco-terrorism, Barret was in the SOLDIER program, but as an ordinary human, he never quite made the cut. Instead, he went rogue and formed the anti-Shinra Greenpeace movement. Despite having little use in battle, bar his special Limit Break that provides Restore and other buffs, Barret's tragic backstory grants him the ultimate redemption arc.
Tifa Lockhart
Tifa Lockhart's usefulness in battle far outweighs her character development. She is the group's vastly physical powerhouse, able to take down opponents on her own. Tifa's history with Cloud may be the recipe for a cliché love story, but her ability to tussle with Shinra's finest in battles speaks volumes about her capabilities.
Vincent Valentine
Vincent Valentine stands out from the pack with his distinctive look and unique limit breaks. His coolness and shady persona make him memorable. Vincent's transformation and his rescue of Nebula, a girl immune to mako who reminds him of his lost love Lucrecia, provide an intriguing character arc. Gruff, sarcastic, and cool, Vincent's bandanna and red scarf match his persona perfectly.
Red XIII
Red XIII is an important character to the plot, but he is the least useful in battle compared to the other members of the party. Although he has the ability to transform into a powerful creature, he is underpowered and weak without additional Materia slots for the powerful Fire summon of the same name. Despite this, Red XIII's unique transformation ability adds an interesting dynamic to the game.
