When you first played through you thought...

[The Twilight Mexican]

It doesn't, though it really should have. Cloud jokes in the game are mostly about his hair.

 

[Kermitu Kleric Katie]

Which is a shame, since there's plenty of other things about Cloud one can joke about: the aforementioned overcompensation jokes, stalking Tifa as a kid, being only 5' 7" despite being a grown man, bathing with a bunch of buff men in speedos, etc.
The fandom likes to joke about these things a lot, while the game just jokes about his hair and how he dressed up as a girl. Though the fandom likes to joke about those things, too. Cloud's a pretty easy target.

Back on topic, I thought it was cool the first time I played through how the game sets up Cloud as being this coldhearted badass but then it turns out he's actually an insecure dork. I also liked how even though you can only use three people at a time, your other characters still get experience. Though I wished you could switch out party members in mid-battle like you could in FFX. I did hate how you never got to fight Sephy in his regular form, except at the very end, where he was such as pushover he can't even count as a boss, given that you literally can't lose the battle.

 

[The Twilight Mexican]

... being only 5' 7" despite being a grown man ...

That's the average height for males in Japan.

Full-disclosure: I'm 5'6" due to the half-Mexican thing.

 

[Kermitu Kleric Katie]

That's the average height for males in Japan.

Full-disclosure: I'm 5'6" due to the half-Mexican thing.

Still short for a male FF character. He's the shortest male human in the party, though he is taller than all 3 girls. And out of all male FF protagonists with official heights, the only one he's taller than is Vaan.

Something interesting I've noticed regarding heights is that Zack's official height is 6'3", while Aerith's is 5'3", meaning he's exactly one foot taller than her. Another interesting thing about that is my dad is as tall as Zack while my mom is as tall as Aerith.

 

[Abortedj]

That's the average height for males in Japan.

Full-disclosure: I'm 5'6" due to the half-Mexican thing.

I never new Cloud was that short. So short + silly hair + slight build = least intimidating lead character ever (in Final Fantasy anyway). Admittedly FF10 and 12 lead characters come close.

 

[Unlucky]

^I dunno man, he might not be the toughest looking in the bunch but I don't think he's the 'least intimidating lead ever'. I think there's a certain 'manliness' to him that's a bit intimidating.. maybe it's the SOLDIER uniform, or his reserve *shrug*

Spoiler: These certainly don't look 'least intimidating' to me

Good point on Tidus and Vaan, though. I can never take Tidus seriously with those hideous clothes. And Vaan, well... I look tougher than Vaan

 

[ForceStealer]

You wouldn't be intimidated by a dude with glowing eyes swinging a helicopter rotor at you? Okay.

I don't think the fact that I had 4 inches on him would be what drew my attention.

 

[Abortedj]

Personally I would assume the glowing eyes to be some kind of novelty contact lenses.

 

[Poe-Lantern]

I'm sure it's stated in game that the eyes are a result of Mako showers. I could be wrong, it has been a while.

On topic, I thought that the event of the game took place over several months. At least six. I was shocked that it was only a month and a half, to say the least.

 

[Unlucky]

Personally I would assume the glowing eyes to be some kind of novelty contact lenses.

 

[Abortedj]

Quite serious. See a midget (well almost), with the exaggerated spiked anime hair, of a slight build, I would assume the glowing eyes were just some off fashion statement by means of contact lenses. It is hard for a guy under 6' to be very intimidating.

 

[Unlucky]

Well you can make that assumption especially if you don't know that glowing eyes are SOLDIER trademark for mako enhancement. But still, height and physique aren't everything. That's quite a superficial assessment if you ask me. Sure they do play a part, but there's character, expressions, gestures.. many other things to account. Not to mention if that someone wields a huge-ass sword.

Cloud may not be the most intimidating, but his overall demeanor says he's not some guy you'd want to piss off. I certainly got that from him in Dissidia 012 in comparison to the other leads.

 

[ForceStealer]

Quite serious. See a midget (well almost), with the exaggerated spiked anime hair, of a slight build, I would assume the glowing eyes were just some off fashion statement by means of contact lenses. It is hard for a guy under 6' to be very intimidating.

Methinks Cloud would wreck your day.

Also short, old, karate masters.

 

[Abortedj]

Methinks Cloud would wreck your day.

Also short, old, karate masters.

An old master is a bit different. One thing I have yet to mention are the lack of scars on Cloud. Add to that he has a straight nose, and tight looking eyes. These things all add up to a safe bet the person has not experienced much violence. A person that has seen violence, and/or is good at using it as a tool, will have many physical brands to prove it. Things like scars, a crooked noes, saggy eyes, and that is just on the face. Another good indicator are the hands, how the knuckles look, do the fingers curve in a bit too much, etc.

In short the old master will show plenty of signs of his skill. Cloud doesn't seem to show any of these things, but he is a cartoon, and not a man.

 

[Kermitu Kleric Katie]

Hey, Cloud's giant sword is pretty intimidating. And I have to agree that he's moar intimidating looking than Tidus or Vaan. The least intimidating would probably be Onion Knight(due to being a kid), Bartz(due to his goofy demeanor), Zidane(due to being extremely short), or the aforementioned Tidus and Vaan. Note that you wouldn't want to mess with any of these characters.

 

[Abortedj]

The play "Loveless". You never really get much information on it. It seems to be popular, but you never get much in the way of details. Would of been nice to get like a cliff notes version of what actually happens in the play.

 

[PhantomSephiroth]

Quite serious. See a midget (well almost), with the exaggerated spiked anime hair, of a slight build, I would assume the glowing eyes were just some off fashion statement by means of contact lenses. It is hard for a guy under 6' to be very intimidating.

Midget?

 

[Unlucky]

Grew up in Asia where 5'7 is considered average height for males. A bit above average, even. But even now that I'm used to seeing tall American dudes I don't think 5'7 looks 'midget'. Come on.

 

[Abortedj]

Midget?

Admittedly I am using a bit of poetic license there.

 

[Unlucky]

Cloud's height and built are just fine. It's moar than just aesthetics. They add to his overall character. Cloud is a strong guy as much as he is an insecure, adorable dork.

FFVII will never be the same if Cloud was some

Spoiler: big, intimidating bloke.

:manlycloud:

 

[Lex]

Does the height include his hair?

 

[Abortedj]

I do hate to keep this going, but there is the "pretty boy" factor. That is to say, no one has ever been intimidated by Tom Cruise for example. Get what I mean?

 

[null]

Outside of Lightning, I'm drawing a blank as to which lead character could be more intimidating than Cloud.

Dark Cecil?

 

[Lex]

Basch would win this if they had actually kept him as the lead instead of whacking Vaan in.

 

[PhantomSephiroth]

Grew up in Asia where 5'7 is considered average height for males. A bit above average, even. But even now that I'm used to seeing tall American dudes I don't think 5'7 looks 'midget'. Come on.

my father is 5'7