It could easily be said that Cloud Strife is one of the most iconic LGBT+ protagonists RPGs have to offer. While many fans might disagree with this statement, especially since the series has made it rather well-known that the infantryman-turned-mercenary has had feelings for Tifa Lockhart as a child, there's plenty of evidence that supports this claim. This evidence can be found as far back as the original Final Fantasy 7 game, made even more poignant in FF7 Remake. Crisis Core Final Fantasy 7 Reunion only adds another layer to this conversation.
This is due to the fact that Crisis Core Final Fantasy 7 Reunion focuses on the story of Zack Fair, Cloud's best friend. While Cloud is not the protagonist of this title, fans can meet him in the game's fifth chapter, and he becomes a rather strong supporting character. He's known for dealing the final blow against Sephiroth in Nibelheim, and is one of the reasons why Zack is on the run before eventually being gunned down. The connection between Zack and Cloud means a lot to the spiky-haired hero of FF7, and his ties with Zack may mean more than some might think.
Cloud's Deeper Feelings for Both Tifa and Zack
It's no secret that Cloud currently has or at least has had a crush on Tifa. While FF7R seems to be doing its best to leave Cloud's feelings up to player interpretation, the original game gave fans the option to call Tifa his girlfriend. Numerous Ultimania resource guides have also stated that Cloud at least had a crush on Tifa as a child, at the very least. The story of Crisis Core Reunion emphasizes just how much Tifa may mean to him as he caresses her face gently before facing Sephiroth in the Nibelheim reactor.
However, Cloud seems to have a rather big crush on Zack, if his scenes and actions in Crisis Core Final Fantasy 7 Reunion are anything to go by. In the game, fans can receive mail from Cloud going into detail about how much Zack has inspired him, and he even asks Zack to join him and his Mom for dinner while they're both in Nibelheim. These feelings don't seem to go anywhere either, even after Zack dies. In Advent Children, when Zack's spirit appears to Cloud, the merc immediately opens himself up to him compared to how he keeps himself guarded towards other characters. This includes Tifa, which makes it stand out considerably.
These actions give off the impression that Cloud not only had a crush on Tifa, but Zack as well, which may mean that Cloud could be bisexual. While some fans may find this unlikely, Cloud being bi makes quite a lot of sense considering the character's history. Crisis Core Final Fantasy 7 Reunion is only one of multiple games that dabble in LGBT+ themes, especially when Cloud is involved.
Cloud Being a Queer Character is Nothing New
Cloud Strife's story has featured LGBT themes even in the original Final Fantasy 7, where he is not only known for famously cross-dressing as a disguise, but he also treats being in a bath house with tons of other men like it's a normal every day inconvenience, not even bothered by the homosexual undertones of the whole thing at all. The cross-dressing scene was even updated in FF7 Remake to be more friendly to transgender and non-binary audiences as it features a message that beauty is "a thing without shame, to which the notions of gender don't apply."
Overall FF7 Remake handles Cloud cross-dressing in a much more LGBT+ friendly manner. When Tifa is surprised to see Cloud dressed to the nines in makeup and a detailed dress, he gets her to stop by saying "nailed it, I know, moving on." His words can be either taken by players that Cloud's comfortable enough in his masculinity to not enjoy wearing feminine clothing, or possibly that Cloud truly feels like he looks great in the outfit, implying more about his personal idea of gender. It's left to the players to decide what meaning his words have.
With everything from Crisis Core Final Fantasy 7 Reunion, FF7 Remake, and even the original FF7 game itself, there's plenty of evidence to support claims that Cloud could be bisexual or gender-nonconforming. The Advent Children movie may even hint that Cloud himself might be aromantic or even asexual as he and Tifa live and even raise Denzel together, but neither of them seem to be indulging in the expected behavior of a couple or even a family. With everything surrounding Cloud Strife, it's hard to argue that he isn't queer in some way.
Cloud has always been a character who has been left up to interpretation by the players. If fans don't want to see him as any of these things, they can if they wish. This is most likely why these aspects of Cloud's character will always be kept as subtext and never stated outright by the developers, but all of these LGBT+ themes surrounding one of the best JRPG characters of all time most definitely makes bi, asexual, and transgender players feel seen in a way previous entries may have overlooked.
Final Fantasy 7 Crisis Core Reunion is available now for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
