At age 21, Cloud Strife leads the life of a mercenary for hire. As an ex-member of Shinra's elite squad known as SOLDIER, his fighting skills are in high demand. Cloud joins the rebel group AVALANCHE for their first strike against one of the Shinra's huge Mako Reactors that surround the city of Midgar.

The story line of Final Fantasy VII revolves around Cloud. In fact, most of the time you're required to have him in your party because he plays a key role in most of the events in the game. Over time Cloud proves to be a great asset, because his powerful sword technique is nearly unmatched. You'll want to keep Cloud in your line most of the time to take full advantage of his sword technique. His magic skills are solid, but don't over load him with materia.

For starters, half of what both these say aren't true in reality, but it's stated to keep the mystery. Wouldn't be any fun if they said, "He thinks he a SOLDIER, but he's really not."

The poor boy was raised in Nibelheim with his mother alone, having no friends to play with (yeah, even Tifa didn't care for him that much back then). He joined the military when he was 14, though the big reason why I forgot. I don't think it had everything to do with the 'Great Sephiroth.'

There, he met Zack, the second of two 1st class SOLDIERs. They became friends soon. Two years later... the return to Nibelheim. Well, for those who are reading this and haven't played, I'm not going any farther than that.

Cloud is this stubborn blonde who doesn't seem to have much of a reputation with the ladies, hence his oblivious manner when Aeris or Tifa make a pass at him. And his mother always encouraged him to find a older girlfriend, but he was never interested in that either. Sooooo... all the more reason to believe he's gay.