Why do people like Cloud so much?

[NeoAquarius12]

Cloud is an infinitely dynamic character. It's the breadth of his mystery that adds to his appeal, and to his final resolve. I mean, it's frustrating seeing him in the wheelchair. And it is kind of a system shock when you find out he's made up his personality, but all these factors add to the character rather than take away. When you find out what ACTUALLY happened in Nibelheim... I mean, there is no more dramatic scene than watching Cloud take on Sephiroth while he is basically hanging off the end of his blade! And eventually, Cloud does prove to be the boss he claimed to be from the start. The final battle with him and Sephiroth, while simple, is really unique story telling device that most characters in any other game wouldn't be able to pull off.

In short, as he develops, through highs and lows, he becomes the idol that everyone loves.

[Secret Weapon]

Cloud is an infinitely dynamic character. It's the breadth of his mystery that adds to his appeal, and to his final resolve. I mean, it's frustrating seeing him in the wheelchair. And it is kind of a system shock when you find out he's made up his personality, but all these factors add to the character rather than take away. When you find out what ACTUALLY happened in Nibelheim... I mean, there is no more dramatic scene than watching Cloud take on Sephiroth while he is basically hanging off the end of his blade! And eventually, Cloud does prove to be the boss he claimed to be from the start. The final battle with him and Sephiroth, while simple, is really unique story telling device that most characters in any other game wouldn't be able to pull off.

In short, as he develops, through highs and lows, he becomes the idol that everyone loves.

I agree with this 100%. The ruse he puts up at the beginning & the vividness that was shrouding his mind all but built his character, far from useless. I don't blame Cloud for being emo.. all what he knew (before his true self was revealed) about his past, personality, and personal experience was being warped around what he sought himself out to be. Through all the adversity they dealt with in the story and pulling himself out of his own weakness, he was very charismatic & determined end game. I feel next to the Zidane of FFIX, went through a more personal struggle & resolve of all the FF titles. I idolize him because of that and seeing those traits in him helped me through rough patches through my teens when I had no one at my side.

His and Tifa's love I believed to be quite strong and it showed several times through the story (After the WEAPON incident him being washed ashore near Mideel, when he asked the crew to have their time alone to think about what they wanted to fight for before going after Sephiroth and they were outside near the Highwind & fell asleep near each other (so cute)). His whole childhood was set on getting Tifa to notice him & be as close to her as he could even through his teens when he joined SOLDIER... how much more love do you want him to show to be convinced he wasn't banging her after the world was saved?

Cloud Strife will always be my most famed character in FF.