Rufus Shinra

The son of President Shinra who created the Shinra Company in a single generation. An elitist and prideful young man, he is truly skilled and able. He is also very ambitious, and when he was younger he seemed to have done everything he could to overthrow his father, the head of the company. He also shows a ruthless side; for instance, when his father was killed by Sephiroth, he seemed not to care at all and was glad to take up the mantle of president.

In the battle for the life of the planet, while they were both pursuing Sephiroth, he stands opposed to Cloud’s team. In the end he appears to have died in an attack by the Diamond WEAPON, but it seems the luck of the devil was on his side, and he managed to make it out alive.

After the Meteor crisis, even though he is infected with Geostigma, he gathers the surviving members of the Turks and from behind the scenes works towards the revival of the world. He is honest in this motive. However, he is also not a man who would stop there. In the unseen corners of his heart, perhaps he sees a clear vision of the world restored, and under the control of the Shinra Company…

The Turks

The Shinra Company’s general affairs and investigative department, commonly known as the Turks. There are 4 primary members: Tseng, the calm and collected chief; Reno, who makes use of his speed during battle; Rude, a quiet and powerful man with his trademark sunglasses and skinhead; and Elena, the newest recruit and sole female member. Each are an expert in combat, and carried out any mission given to them without fail. In particular, Reno and Rude have often worked as a team since their early days, and together they show a brilliant display of teamwork. Previously, they had stood in the way of Cloud’s team, on the command of Rufus Shinra.

In the Meteor crisis the Shinra Company, for all intents and purposes, is destroyed, but even after that they follow Rufus. However, when investigating the Northern Cave, Elena and Tseng are taken prisoner by Kadaj’s gang. Meanwhile Reno and Rude, working together once again, fight alongside Cloud and the others. During the battle in Edge they corner Yazoo and Loz, but they leave the final battle in the hands of Cloud’s team.

Compilation of FFVII for Rufus

Before Crisis -FFVII-
Appears as one of the VIPs of Shinra. He is unsatisfied with his position as vice-president, and aims to overthrow his father. As a result he brings dangers upon the Shirna Company, and under the pretext of being on a ‘long-term business trip’, he is put under a lenient confinement.

Final Fantasy VII
After the death of President Shinra, he is appointed the new president of Shinra. In the chase for Sephiroth, he opposes Cloud’s team.

FFVII Advent Children
In order to restore the world he conducts an investigation at the Northern Cave, where the head of Jenova is discovered. This was the trigger which started the battle with Kadaj’s gang.

Compilation of FFVII for the Turks

Before Crisis -FFVII-
As the main characters are new members of the Turks, the other members such as Tseng, Reno and Rude appear as their superiors. And in chapter 22, “A Threat Reaching Even to the Heavens,” Elena appears when she is still a student. Furthermore, the present head of the Turks is a character called Verdot, who is also Tseng’s mentor.

Crisis Core -FFVII-
Reno and Rude also appear in “CC,” battling monsters in Sector 8. They apparently also met the SOLDIER Zack. And Tseng, during the investigations into the events revolving around Genesis, was assigned on missions with Zack and the other characters.

3 men who suddenly appeared before Cloud and attacked him. They are the remnants of Jenova, who operate according to Sephiroth’s will which has diffused into the Lifestream. There are filled with many contradictions: purity and insanity, cunning and childishness. Perfectly aware that they are simply puppets, they close in on Cloud and his friends with an overwhelming power. In their eyes Cloud, who was once a puppet just like them but escaped Jenova’s control, is nothing more than a traitor.

Their goal is vengeance on the planet which wouldn’t accept Jenova. For this end they sought to take back their “Mother,” the head of Jenova, and bring about the Reunion. Although this plan ends in failure, Kadaj’s final Reunion awakes a legend…

A SOLDIER for Shinra, and Cloud’s comrade. He was a considerate man who valued his allies, and was best friends with Cloud and Sephiroth. He participated in many missions for SOLDIER and served the company well, but during the Nibelheim incident he suffered serious injuries, and was confined in the Shinra Manor as a test subject for Hojo. He narrowly manages to escape with Cloud, but with Midgar right before him, Zack was killed. In a state of heavy mako poisoning at the time, Cloud superimposes Zack, who had died to save him, over his own personality.

Even after defeating Sephiroth and regaining his true self, images and memories of Zack turned to a sense of guilt which continued to torment Cloud. Suffering from this, images of Zack appear in his consciousness time and again. Zack will later become one of the driving forces to help Cloud move forward on his own feet.

As Cloud put an end to Sephiroth and broke that curse, Zack was there by his side, seeing him through.

Compilation of FFVII for Zack

Before Crisis -FFVII-
Zack, during his days as a young SOLDIER, appears in chapter 8, “Light Unyielding to the Dark.” In this mission he fights alongside the main character, one of the Turks.

Crisis Core -FFVII-
In “CC,” Zack is the lead character. His past is completely revealed, including his missions during his time in SOLDIER, his friendship with Sephiroth, his first love with Aerith, and his meeting with Cloud. And of course you can see the whole story of the events leading to the start of FFVII, from the Nibelhiem Incident to his heroic end after escaping.

The strongest SOLDIER created by the Shinra Company. Distinguishing himself in the military from a young age, he was heralded a hero. There were once a few he could’ve called his friends, but on an investigative mission to Nibelheim he encountered a life form bearing the same name as his mother, within its mako reactor. And there he learned the secret of his birth. Learning that he had been created, he seeks to carry on the will of his mother Jenova, and is gripped by a desire for vengeance against the planet.

Sephiroth has been defeated by Cloud twice: once in Nibelheim, and again in the Great Northern Cave. However, he did not diffuse within the Lifestream and continued to live on, and scattered his own genes across the world. This seems to be the origin of Geostigma. And reappearing once again after Kadaj’s Reunion, he faces Cloud for a third showdown…

Compilation of FFVII for Sephiroth

Before Crisis -FFVII-
First appears as a legendary SOLDIER in chapter 3, “Swords Crossed in the Evening Light.” There is displays his formidable strength. And in chapter 12, “Awakening Tearing Peace Asunder,” we see his rampage in Nibelheim.

Crisis Core -FFVII-
“CC” shows Sephiroth while he was in SOLDIER, still unaware of the circumstances of his birth. It shows a more human side to him, such as using his title of hero for his own indulgence, and the conflicted seen when having to pursue Angeal and Genesis, former colleagues and friends.

Final Fantasy VII
Sephiroth is defeated once in Nibelheim, but with Jenova cells he manages to revive himself. He leads his copies, including Cloud, to the Northern Cave and plots to perform the Reunion. In the end he is defeated by Cloud, but his consciousness travels the Lifestream, waiting for a chance for another Reunion.

FFVII Advent Children
He uses his alter egos Kadaj, Loz and Yazoo, he plans another Reunion. And through Kadaj obtaining the head of Jenova, he awakens once more.

A young woman who lived in Midgar’s slums, selling flowers. She was a descendant of the Cetra, an ancient race who were said to be able to hear the voice of the planet, and for this reason she was continually monitored by Shinra from a very young age. According to legend, the Cetra would lead the way to the “Promised Land”, abound with supreme happiness, but by then no pure blood Cetra existed and Aerith, the sole survivor, was only a half-blood. However, the Shinra Company sought after the Promised Land and kept on relentlessly pursuing her.

Despite these harsh circumstances, Aerith never gave up hope and lived optimistically, and finally the day came when she left Midgar with Cloud, who she had met in the church. During her long journey she learned her destiny, and gave herself to stop Meteor.

She joined the Lifestream, but even then she carries on watching over the planet and Cloud. At all times, her first love Zack is always by her side.

Compilation of FFVII for Aerith

Before Crisis -FFVII-
Aerith appears in chapter 11, “A Dash for Freedom.” Here you can see how the Turks, having received the order from Shinra to capture the Ancient, don’t use violent means to apprehend her.

Crisis Core -FFVII-
“CC” shows her meeting and relationship with Zack, and the budding love between them. However, fate would tear the couple apart.

Final Fantasy VII
As an Ancient, Aerith risks her life to stop Sephiroth. Afterwards, she continues to watch over Cloud and the others from the Lifestream.

While fulfilling her duty as an Ancient, she also came to worry about Cloud. And those feelings are even now…

The man who 2 years ago defeated Sephiroth, and held back the threat of Meteor. In the end he became a hero who saved the life of the planet, but what he lost during that battle took a heavy toll, and Cloud’s heart continued to be tormented by a deep sense of regret and blame towards himself. It was during this that he met Denzel, a boy inflicted by “Geostigma,” a mysterious illness believed to be caused by Meteor. And so Cloud leaves and struggles to find a cure for this illness. However, he finds himself infected by Geostigma, and as if fleeing he removes himself from the presence of his friends. Cloud suffers at the thought of being unable to save anybody. His heart remains trapped as it was 2 years ago…

Not letting him escape, ghosts from the past silently creep up on him. The battle with Kadaj’s gang who have suddenly appeared. And glimpses of the shadow of Sephiroth behind them. Cloud is once again consumed by a fate he cannot free himself from. However, seeing the children– pained by Geostigma but still trying to survive– stirs Cloud into action. And those who once fought by his side, and those who once stood opposed to them… with the aid of many, Cloud gradually regains his will to fight.

Compilation of FFVII for Cloud

Before Crisis -FFVII-
“BC”, starting 6 years before FFVII and showing the story from the Turks’ point of view, features Cloud as a regular grunt in Shinra’s army. At this time he’s 15 years old and still retains some innocence, and one of those who idolized the hero Sephiroth. While there is a childish quality to his words and actions, there would seem to be no doubt about his skill. As you advance through the missions the incident in Nibelheim are also shown, and the fateful events between Sephiroth are also portrayed.

Crisis Core -FFVII-
“CC” tells the story of Zack, the SOLDIER who would later have a great influence on Cloud. Yet again Cloud appears as a grunt in Shinra’s army. Its time line overlaps with BC, but the painful, tragic fate between Zack and Cloud is shown.

Final Fantasy VII
During the Nibelheim incident, Cloud contracted severe mako poisoning and convinced himself that Zack’s history was his own, and in this state goes on a journey in pursuit of Sephiroth. At last he regains his true self, and confronts Sephiroth. He saves the world from the threat of Meteor. This should have been the end of his battle with Sephiroth, but his true fight was just beginning…

FFVII Advent Children
“AC” show the new battle awaiting Cloud 2 years after FFVII. At the end of his fight with Kadaj, Loz and Yazoo, he frees himself from their wretched fate, and finishes things with Sephiroth.

Dirge of Cerberus -FFVII-
Set 1 year after AC, “DC” tells the story of Vincent, one of Cloud’s allies. To aid Vincent in his final battle to save the world, Cloud and his friends rush to his side.

Cloud has shown up in some form in every title in the Compilation. In “BC” and “CC” in particular, the events in Nibelheim have been shown in detail through the eyes of the Turks and Zack.

A member of the anti-Shirna organization AVALANCHE, and Cloud’s childhood friend. She is the only person who knows his past, and the one person who understands him. In the previous battle, she supported Cloud not only in battle but also mentally, and at the final stages of their fight was a great help to him. When that long battle drew to a close, she reopened the bar she formally worked in, Seventh Heaven. She now runs the bar on her own, while taking care of the two children Marlene and Denzel. Unlike Cloud, who is dragging on the past and unable to move forward, Tifa has the strength to accept reality and try to move forward. Perhaps acting as the mother for the two children has giving her further strength.

With the sudden appearance of Kadaj’s gang, she too is once again dragged into battle. She gives encouragement to Cloud, who is unable to shake off his doubts, and creates the catalyst for him to regain the will to fight. Hopefully this also leads to her own salvation as well.

Compilation of FFVII for Tifa

Before Crisis -FFVII-
Tifa appears in chapter 12, “Awakening Tearing Peace Asunder,” which shows the Nibelheim Incident and the start of Sephiroth and Cloud’s connection. We see Tifa as she was at 15 years old. She appears as an innocent and lively young girl, sporting an iconic cowboy hat. She is hired as guide to the mako reactor, but when Sephiroth is driven mad she receives a severe injury.

Crisis Core -FFVII-
Chronologically overlaps with “BC”, this time progressing through Zack’s point of view. In “CC” as well, the development and details of the Nibelheim incident are shown.

Final Fantasy VII
As one of the core members of the anti-Shinra organization AVALANCHE, Tifa participated in various bombing missions. But after reuniting with her childhood friend Cloud, she sets out with him on a journey in pursuit of Sephiroth. She continued to support him at all times, such as when Cloud fell into the Lifestream, and she devotedly nursed over him.

FFVII Advent Children
After the previous battle, she reopens Seventh Heaven in the city of Edge. She starts living with Marlene, Barret’s adopted daughter who he left in her care, and Denzel, a boy Cloud took in. During the fight with Kadaj’s gang, she and her friends defeat Bahamut SIN. At the end of a long struggle, she gently welcomes back Cloud on his return home after settling things with himself.

Dirge of Cerberus -FFVII-
Along with Barret and the others, Tifa rushed to the aid of Vincent, who is fighting against the Deepground SOLDIERs in order to put an end to his past.

[FFVII]
Previously, Cloud had promised Tifa that he would “protect her if she were in a bind.” Perhaps this promised has been her long-standing support.

[CC]
In “CC” she undertakes the role of guide for the mako reactor investigation team. From her asking about Cloud to Zack and the others, you can tell she has been concerned about him for a long time.