Since I listed my top 10 favourite FF7 tracks, I figured I'd might as well give my opinion on who I think the best party members are. Also, one month since I began this crazy journey.
1: Cloud
I genuinely think Cloud is my favourite video game protagonist of all time, and I will defend that opinion to the death.
My favourite limit breaks, my favourite weapons, and my favourite backstory in FF7. Going from a super douche only in it for the money, to someone trying to save the planet, to someone coming to terms with their own reality, to someone who defeats their childhood idol turned arch-nemesis, which in turn saves the planet from the ultimate destructive magic. Cloud plays a major role in why FF7 had such a profound effect on me.
2: Cid
Cid and Tifa are neck-in-neck for the number two spot, but Cid ever so slightly edges it because I simply had a bit more fun playing as him. He's a man with a dream, and an insistence on giving his guests some goddamn tea!
3: Tifa
Tifa is just a delight in FF7. I could probably go on all day about the wonderful lifestream sequence, how much I fell in love with her as a character, and her ever growing limit break which can enable her to comically lift those on the verge of godhood.
I'm looking forward to finally getting her scene at the Gold Saucer.
4: Barret
Barret is a character who, despite leading an eco-terrorist organisation, provided some almost comic relief during FF7. His over the top nature was fun to witness, and is highly enjoyable to play as.
Barrets backstory with Dyne was rather touching, with him admitting that his hands may be too bloodied to hold his own daughter, and trying to talk his once closest friend out of a genocidal / suicidal rampage.
Attack while its tail is up.
5: Red XIII / Nanaki
Nanaki, son of Seto, already sold me given how I simply really enjoyed playing as him, but he also has one of the most impactful side stories in the game. That and everything else that happens between him and Bugenhagen is great to witness.
6: Yuffie
I hate putting Yuffie above Aerith, but mind, this decision is entirely based around the fact that... *sigh*... I actually quite enjoy playing as her. I'm nowhere near as invested in her as a character as I am with Aerith, but she edges her in the gameplay department.
I feel filthy.
7: Aerith
It's a cruel fact that FF7 takes Aerith away at the end of disk one. It's also a cruel fact that you're unable to use her level 4 limit break much at all, cause that shit crazy good.
Coming from someone who doesn't have half the knowledge on FF7 than practically everyone else here, Aerith, to me, is the embodiment of innocence. Purity. She's the last of an ancient race who have this spiritual connection with the planet. She's a huge juxtaposition to all of the crazy shit going on around you as you play FF7, but she holds the key to saving the planet from utter destruction.
She tends to flowers in a slum church and sells them to locals, she comes up with the idea to dress Cloud up as a woman, she wants to see "the real you" (referring to Cloud), she sacrifices her life for the planet, and god dammit all, I shed a tear when the game decided to continue playing her theme throughout the Jenova battle. That shit hurt. I still got goosebumps when her materia hit the ground the last time I played the game, and Cloud's following dialogue, along with Sephiroth's sheer callousness, makes for a phenomenal scene.
It's just a shame that when it comes to playing as her, I'm neither here nor there.
8: Vincent.
Despite ranking low, I really like Vincent. He wields shotguns and has a pretty cool backstory, but his limit breaks are ass.
9: Cait Sith
Kinda a no brainer, I think. Cait Sith isn't much to fun to play as.
