Cloud Strife (Dissidia PSP)

Cloud Strife was one of the warriors fighting for the side of Chaos in Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, but in the next cycle he switched sides and fought alongside the warriors of Cosmos in Dissidia Final Fantasy.
Cloud is a swordsman who deals powerful attacks that send his foes flying. Though in the eyes of his comrades he is considered composed, Cloud often questions the reasons and methods for fighting, as well as the purposes it would serve, and struggles to understand them. During the war he is forced to battle his nemesis, Sephiroth, who manipulates him into fighting at every turn.
== Profile ==
=== Appearance ===
Cloud's costume is almost identical to his original Final Fantasy VII appearance. He wears an indigo outfit, a metal pauldron, a brown belt with the SOLDIER symbol, brown gloves and black boots. The primary differences between his original artwork and his Dissidia Final Fantasy appearance are the redesigned SOLDIER logo on his belt that appears in the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII, his right glove is fingerless, and his pauldron is dual-layered. His hair is spiky and blond and his eyes glow bright blue, the sign of a Mako-infused SOLDIER.
Cloud's first alternate costume, "Cloudy Wolf", is his attire from Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. He wears a sleeveless zipped-down turtleneck sweater with black cloth covering his left arm and leg, and his boots and pauldron are different with the Fenrir emblem on his pauldron. His hair has more spikes, albeit shorter ones, and he wields the main blade of his Fusion Swords, the First Tsurugi. In his EX Mode, Cloud wields the fully assembled Fusion Swords, though for purposes of gameplay he never separates them as he does in the film.
Cloud's second alternate outfit, "Steady Light", is based on Yoshitaka Amano's artwork of Cloud. He wears a different shirt and white boots, and a small white pack slung over his back. His belt bears the original SOLDIER symbol, his pauldron, gauntlets and belt have small blue and white details, and his belt has a string of beads. This outfit is Cloud's attire in Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy while serving as a warrior of Chaos.
Cloud's DLC costume, "Kingdom Hearts gear", is based on his appearance in the first Kingdom Hearts game, where his attire is based on Vincent Valentine's. Cloud wears a gauntlet with a golden claw, a torn red cape, and dark blue clothing underneath. A demonic black wing emerges from his left shoulder. The Buster Sword is wrapped in bandages. In Japan, the code to unlock this outfit is included with , while in the United States the code was acquired by pre-ordering Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy from GameStop. In Europe it can be purchased via PSN since June 8, 2011.
Cloud's manikin version, Imaginary Soldier, is light blue.
Dissidia Cloud Default Costume CG.png|Default outfit.
CloudAltOutfitDissidia.PNG|First alt outfit.
Cloud(Dissidia012).png|Second alt outfit.
Cloud KH Dissidia Outfit.png|Third alt outfit.
====Equipment====
Cloud's default weapon in all but his first alt outfit is the Buster Sword, a massive two-handed sword. The sword uses its original design from Final Fantasy VII rather than its redesign featured in the Compilation; thus it lacks the etchings, the golden guard, and the raised areas around the two holes in the blade. In his third alt outfit the Buster Sword is wrapped in bandages, as it is in the Kingdom Hearts series. In his EX Mode Cloud wields the Ultima Weapon, his ultimate weapon in Final Fantasy VII. It is redesigned to have a more white and pale blue blade around the inner dark blue core, and instead of the triangular shape its blade had in VII, its blade is straight and tapers out and then to a point at the tip. In his first alt outfit, Cloud wields the base blade of his Fusion Sword, and wields the completed assembly in his EX Mode.
Cloud's Crystal is based on the White Materia from Final Fantasy VII, but is larger than it was in that game.
Dissidia-BusterSword.png|Cloud's Buster Sword.
Dissidia-UltimaWeapon.png|Cloud's Ultima Weapon.
Dissidia-FirstTsurugi.png|Cloud's First Tsurugi.
Dissidia-FusionSwords.png|Cloud's Fusion Swords.
D012 DLC Buster Sword.png|Cloud's bandaged Buster Sword.
Dissidia - Cloud Crystal.gif|Cloud's Crystal.
=== Personality ===
In Dissidia 012, Cloud had experienced many cycles of battle, and therefore views more fighting as pointless. He remains outside the conflict, garnering suspicion from the other warriors of Chaos. Cloud's reluctance is further justified by the appearance of Tifa, whom he recognizes and avoids, though this does not prevent him from defending her from Sephiroth. Cloud chooses to not reveal himself to protect her, and attempts to end the conflict himself to prevent Tifa from losing the will to fight once she regains her memories.
Cloud's personality in Dissidia is a mix between his created "SOLDIER" personality and his true personality from Final Fantasy VII. On the surface, Cloud remains calm and reserved, speaking only when necessary and being focused on the task at hand, which has allowed him to earn respect from the other warriors of Cosmos, though they commonly mistake him for being gloomy and brooding.
Unlike the other warriors of Cosmos, Cloud lacks a reason for carrying out the conflict, making him hesitant, particularly when facing his nemesis Sephiroth. He asks his allies for why they fight, even going as far as to test how strong Firion's resolve is, though he finds himself unable to adopt the same motive. Toward the end of the cycle Cloud resolves to help the other warriors of Cosmos achieve their dreams, even though he lacks one.
Cloud is concerned for his friends' safety, and prioritizes it over his own goals, as seen when he calms Terra when she loses control of her powers and defends Firion when he is attacked by the Emperor. This trait is easily exploitable, as he goes after Sephiroth when the latter implies he attacked his friends to bait Cloud into a fight.
== Story ==
=== 12th cycle ===
Cloud was aligned with Chaos in the 12th cycle. Unlike the other warriors of Chaos, Cloud shows concern for the opposing side to the point of warning Lightning not to underestimate his allies as they had been holding back their full power at the time, but does nonetheless fight Lightning and the Warrior of Light alongside Golbez. Golbez suspected the reason Cloud had concern for the opposing side was because someone he knows was aligned with the warriors of Cosmos. He later has a heart-to-heart talk with Kuja, as both have no real intent to fight due to their memories of life before being summoned by the gods.
Kefka provokes Sephiroth to fight Cloud, hinting it would be a way to recover his lost memories. As Sephiroth challenges Cloud, Garland arrives and refuses to let the battle occur, as he will not tolerate allies killing one another since a purification will set their plans back. Cloud follows Garland as he departs and questions if they would be purified for killing each other, and fights him. Garland warns Cloud that his unwillingness to fight their enemies has not gone unnoticed. Frustrated, Cloud goes out and challenges Squall, but is defeated and departs.
Cloud was informed by Kefka that Sephiroth has gone to attack Tifa. He intervenes to protect Tifa and drives off Sephiroth, beginning their rivalry that would continue in the next cycle of conflict. Cloud doesn't reveal his relation to Tifa who has no memories of him, but does tell her he is a warrior of Chaos and warns her they will have to fight the next time they meet and he wouldn't go easy on her. Once she leaves to rejoin her group, Cloud thinks to himself he has to end the cycle of battle to save Tifa. Cloud confronts Chaos with intentions to kill the god and end the conflict before Tifa regains her memories of him, possibly losing her will to fight.
After it seems Cloud has won, Chaos mocks him and asks him if that's the extent of his power. Chaos overpowers Cloud, and he begins to fade away into oblivion. As he fades, Cloud pleas to Cosmos to protect Tifa. Cosmos receives Cloud's message and, deeming his feelings sincere, chooses him to become one of her warriors when he is revived in the next cycle of battle, taking Tifa's place after she is eliminated.
=== 13th cycle ===
After waking up, Cloud finds himself with Firion, Cecil and Tidus, who view him as a calm and collected figure. Cloud secretly questions his reasons for fighting and admits he feels anxious. Cloud later asks his allies why they fight; Cecil does not know, Tidus fights to settle things with Jecht, while Firion takes time to think his answer over so he can explain it to Cloud properly.
Cloud finds Firion alone and Firion produces a wild rose telling Cloud he dreams of a world where they can bloom freely. Cloud challenges him to a sparring match to see how strong that dream is, and though he prevails, Firion still has the will to fight him further. Cloud worries he may not have a dream at all and confides in Cecil. The group encourages Cloud to go find his own reason for fighting, and he promises to return to tell them when he finds it. Continuing alone, Cloud encounters Sephiroth. When Cloud refuses to fight him, Sephiroth reveals he holds Firion's rose, indicating he has attacked Cloud's comrades, and invites Cloud to pursue him.
Cloud tracks Sephiroth to the Planet's Core where Sephiroth calls him a puppet who has no motivations of his own, which is why he readily accepts the influence of others on his decisions. Though Cloud insists he tracked Sephiroth of his own will, Sephiroth counters that Cloud followed him because he gave him a reason. The two battle and Cloud emerges victorious, reclaiming Firion's rose and revealing his Crystal. Sephiroth warns Cloud the Crystal will lead him to more battles he cannot comprehend, a fate Cloud accepts stoically. Sephiroth declares he will continue to manipulate Cloud, and it was only through his guidance Cloud was able to come as far as he has.
Terra arrives at the Planet's Core and loses control of her esper powers. Even though she warns him to stay away, Cloud battles her not knowing what else to do. Cloud calms Terra down, and she realizes his intent was to provide her an outlet to vent some of her power, allowing Terra to regain control of herself.
Cloud admits he battled her because he did not want to see her suffer, although he was not expecting Terra's formidable transformed state. Terra thanks Cloud and explains how she and the Onion Knight were separated after being ambushed by Kefka, and Cloud joins her to look for him, realizing he can still help despite his indecisiveness, and thanks her for helping him recognize that.
Cloud reveals his hesitations about fighting, and shows Terra Firion's rose, explaining Firion's dream for a peaceful world. Though neither can figure out their reason for fighting, Terra suggests they share the same dream, along with the wild roses their own preferred flowers representing a bright future. The pair continues to Kefka's Tower and confronts Kefka, who tries to compel Terra to give in to her esper powers and cause senseless destruction, but she refuses. Kefka summons the Cloud of Darkness to attack them, and the Onion Knight reappears. He and Cloud fight the Cloud of Darkness together while Terra has her final showdown with Kefka. After Terra obtains her Crystal, the three rejoin Tidus and Cecil. As they discuss how they obtained their Crystals, Kuja arrives and warns them Firion is walking into a trap set by the Emperor, and Tidus and Cloud leave to help.
As the Emperor subdues Firion, Cloud and Tidus arrive and stand before him to defend him, declaring they all share a dream. The Emperor attempts to attack Firion but Cloud and Tidus deflect his blows, and the Emperor flees and invites Firion to his stronghold for a final battle. Firion decides to face the Emperor alone and Cloud returns the wild rose, expressing his desire to see more of Firion's dream. Afterward, Cloud travels with Tidus and Squall back to the Warrior of Light.
With the Crystals the warriors of Cosmos return to the Order's Sanctuary to restore the goddess's strength, only to have Chaos incinerate her. With the last of her strength Cosmos prevents the heroes from fading, giving them a final chance to strike back at Chaos and end the war. With Cosmos's strength dwindling, Cloud and the others confront Chaos's minions regarding how and why Cosmos disappeared, and along the way, he faces his nemesis Sephiroth. Though his enemy is strong, Cloud perseveres.
After the battle, Sephiroth asks what drives Cloud to fight, and he answers it is his will. He declares he no longer has ties with Sephiroth, who counters that his shadow will forever be in Cloud's heart, and will always return as long as Cloud exists. Cloud admits he would rather prefer to never see him again, and that he wants to meet someone.
After Chaos has been felled Cloud finds himself on an open field of flowers near Cornelia Castle, the flowers similar to those grown in the Sector 5 slums church in Final Fantasy VII. Cloud smiles at Squall as he is offered to fight together again, but claims not to be interested and walks off into the flower field, returning home with his Crystal in hand.
== Gameplay ==
Cloud's fighting style is called Buster Basher. He specializes in simple but powerful melee attacks that do heavy damage. Most of Cloud attacks can inflict Wall Rush across great distances, letting them slam opponents across the arena and into the ground to deal additional damage. He also has two powerful Bravery to HP links. However, Cloud moves and attacks slowly, making him very susceptible to being blocked and punished. He has some minor magical skills that can help set opponents up to land attacks easier, but must still be cautious. His EX Mode allows him to be much more aggressive since he cannot be blocked and thus is not as easily punished, but his attacks can still be dodged.
=== Boss ===
In Dissidia Final Fantasy, Cloud is fought in Destiny Odyssey VI, Distant Glory, and Inward Chaos.
In Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, he is fought in The Chosen Path chapter of Story Mode.
=== Attacks ===
==== Bravery Attacks ====
 Dissidia Bravery attacks
Move	Type 	CP (Mastered)	AP 	Priority 	Effect	Damage type	Obtained	Image		 		 	
 	Ground	30 (15) 	120	Melee Low	Chase 	Physical 	Initial 	 		 		 	
 	Two-hit combo. Short ranged, but fast execution. 
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Two-hit combo. Short ranged, but fast execution. 
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Two-hit combo. Short ranged, but fast execution. 
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Two-hit combo. Short ranged, but fast execution. 
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Two-hit combo. Short ranged, but fast execution. 
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Two-hit combo. Short ranged, but fast execution. 
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Two-hit combo. Short ranged, but fast execution. 
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	 		—		—	Chase
 Dissidia 012 Bravery attacks
Move 	Type 	CP (Mastered)	AP 	Priority 	Effect	Damage type	Obtained	Image		 		 	
(ground)	Ground	30 (15) 	100	Melee Low	Chase 	Physical 	Initial 	 		 		 	
(ground)	Two-hit combo. Short-ranged, but quick strike.
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Two-hit combo. Short-ranged, but quick strike.
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Two-hit combo. Short-ranged, but quick strike.
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Two-hit combo. Short-ranged, but quick strike.
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Two-hit combo. Short-ranged, but quick strike.
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Two-hit combo. Short-ranged, but quick strike.
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Two-hit combo. Short-ranged, but quick strike.
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	 		—		—	Chase
==== HP Attacks ====
 Dissidia HP attacks
Move	Type 	CP (Mastered)	AP 	Priority 	Effect 	Damage type	Obtained	Image		
 	Ground	40 (20) 	180	Melee High	Wall Rush	Physical 	Initial 	 		
 	Charge and slash the opponent three times, knocking them far away. Turns to track the opponent if the first hit misses. 
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Charge and slash the opponent three times, knocking them far away. Turns to track the opponent if the first hit misses. 
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Charge and slash the opponent three times, knocking them far away. Turns to track the opponent if the first hit misses. 
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Charge and slash the opponent three times, knocking them far away. Turns to track the opponent if the first hit misses. 
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Charge and slash the opponent three times, knocking them far away. Turns to track the opponent if the first hit misses. 
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Charge and slash the opponent three times, knocking them far away. Turns to track the opponent if the first hit misses. 
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Charge and slash the opponent three times, knocking them far away. Turns to track the opponent if the first hit misses. 
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	 		—Wall Rush (→)
 Dissidia 012 HP attacks
Move	Type 	CP (Mastered)	AP 	Priority 	Effect 	Damage type	Obtained	Image		
 	Ground	30 (15) 	130	Melee High	Wall Rush	Physical 	Initial 	 		
 	Charge forward and slash the opponent three times, knocking them back on the third hit. Cloud will track the opponent if the first hit misses.
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Charge forward and slash the opponent three times, knocking them back on the third hit. Cloud will track the opponent if the first hit misses.
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Charge forward and slash the opponent three times, knocking them back on the third hit. Cloud will track the opponent if the first hit misses.
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Charge forward and slash the opponent three times, knocking them back on the third hit. Cloud will track the opponent if the first hit misses.
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Charge forward and slash the opponent three times, knocking them back on the third hit. Cloud will track the opponent if the first hit misses.
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Charge forward and slash the opponent three times, knocking them back on the third hit. Cloud will track the opponent if the first hit misses.
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Charge forward and slash the opponent three times, knocking them back on the third hit. Cloud will track the opponent if the first hit misses.
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	 		—Wall Rush (→)
==== Bravery to HP Attacks ====
 Dissidia Bravery to HP attacks
Move	Type 	CP (Mastered)	AP 	Priority 	Effect 	Damage type	Obtained 	Image		 				
 	Ground	40 (20) 	300	N/A 	Wall Rush	Physical 	Sonic Break	 		 				
 	Leap into the air, slashing the opponent multiple times, then slam them down. 
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Leap into the air, slashing the opponent multiple times, then slam them down. 
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Leap into the air, slashing the opponent multiple times, then slam them down. 
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Leap into the air, slashing the opponent multiple times, then slam them down. 
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Leap into the air, slashing the opponent multiple times, then slam them down. 
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Leap into the air, slashing the opponent multiple times, then slam them down. 
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Leap into the air, slashing the opponent multiple times, then slam them down. 
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	 		—				Wall Rush (↑)
 	 	 	 	Wall Rush (→)	 	 	 	 		 				
 Dissidia 012 Bravery to HP attacks
Move 	Type 	CP (Mastered)	AP 	Priority 	Effect 	Damage type	Obtained 	Image		 				
Finishing Touch	Ground	30 (15) 	120	N/A 	Wall Rush	Physical 	Master Sonic Break	 		 				
Finishing Touch	Spin around the opponent, delivering multiple slashes while rising into the air, then knock them downward.
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Spin around the opponent, delivering multiple slashes while rising into the air, then knock them downward.
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Spin around the opponent, delivering multiple slashes while rising into the air, then knock them downward.
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Spin around the opponent, delivering multiple slashes while rising into the air, then knock them downward.
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Spin around the opponent, delivering multiple slashes while rising into the air, then knock them downward.
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Spin around the opponent, delivering multiple slashes while rising into the air, then knock them downward.
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	Spin around the opponent, delivering multiple slashes while rising into the air, then knock them downward.
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"	 		—				Wall Rush (↑)
 	 	 	 	Wall Rush (→)	 	 	 	 		 				
=== EX Mode ===
320px|right|Omnislash
Cloud's EX Mode is Equipped Ultima Weapon, which transforms the Buster Sword into the Ultima Weapon from Final Fantasy VII. Cloud gains the abilities "Ultima Weapon (ATK)" and "Ultima Weapon (CRUSH)". The first ability boosts Cloud's ATK according to the amount of HP he currently has in relation to his max HP, doubling his ATK at max HP and giving no bonus at 1 HP. The second ability gives all of Cloud's melee attacks Melee High priority, allowing them to crush normal guards and deflect lower-priority attacks. Other attacks with Melee High priority, and some high priority block abilities like Exdeath's Omni Block and Jecht's Jecht Block, will still block Cloud's blows.
Cloud's EX Burst is , his strongest Limit Break in Final Fantasy VII. The player must rapidly tap to fill Cloud's Limit Meter, and successfully filling it causes Cloud to slash his opponent fourteen times then finishes with a powerful over-the-head slash that hits six times before doing HP damage. Failing to fill the meter will have Cloud slash his opponent three times then finish with an upward slash.
In his first alternate outfit, Cloud's EX Mode is The power of mako and he equips the completed Fusion Sword from Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, but his EX Burst and his EX Mode bonuses remain the same.
Dissidia Cloud ex.png|Default outfit EX Mode.
Cloud Alt UT.png|First alt outfit EX Mode.
Cloud-ThirdEXMode.png|Second alt outfit EX Mode.
Cloud DLC EX Mode.png|Third alt outfit EX Mode.
=== Equipment ===
Cloud can equip Swords, Greatswords, Shields, Bangles, Hats, Helms, Clothing, and Light Armor.
In Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, Cloud can also equip Katanas, Spears, Large Shields, and Chestplates.
==== Exclusive weapons ====
 Dissidia exclusive weapons
Name 	Level	Stats 	Effects 	Obtained
Buster Sword 	1 	ATK +5 	None 	Treasure chest in Destiny Odyssey VII-1
Force Stealer 	50 	ATK +37	Wall Rush HP Damage +10%. 	Trade: 16280 gil, Buster Sword, Gigas Bone x3, Gale Shard x2
Butterfly Edge	92 	ATK +64	Wall Rush HP Damage +20%. 	Trade: 30390 gil, Force Stealer, Blood-Darkened Bone x5, Gale Crystal x3
Fenrir 	100 	ATK +69	Wall Rush HP Damage +30%.Minor Sneak Attack Effect.	Trade: 32750 gil, Butterfly Edge, True Past x5, Gale Orb x5
 Dissidia 012 exclusive weapons
Name 	Level	Stats 	Effects 	Obtained
Buster Sword 	1 	ATK +22 DEF -2	None 	Treasure Chest in Light to All - Chapter 1Trade: 9300 gil, Longsword, Figaro Gravel x1, Soldier's Desire x5
Force Stealer 	30 	ATK +42 DEF -2	Wall Rush HP Damage +10% 	Trade: 61000 gil, Buster Sword, Scarletite x1, Soldier's Desire x5
Butterfly Edge	90 	ATK +64 DEF -1	Wall Rush HP Damage +15% 	Trade: 158,000 gil, Force Stealer, Electrum x1, Soldier's Dream x5
Fenrir 	100 	ATK +69 DEF -1	Wall Rush HP Damage +20%Slight Sneak Attack effect	Trade: 182,800 gil, Butterfly Edge, True Past x1, Soldier's Hopes x5
== Gallery ==
Cloud Dissidia CG render.png|CG render.
Cloud_Dissidia_CG_render 2.jpg|CG render.
Cloud - 012 CG.png|CG render from Dissidia 012.
Dissidia012-CloudConcept.jpg|Concept art of third outfit.
Cloud_ultima_weapon_dissidia.jpg|Concept art of Cloud's Ultima Weapon.
Dissidia Cloud from Cosmos Artwork.jpg|Artwork by Yoshitaka Amano.
D012 EX - Omnislash.jpeg|Omnislash.
Dissidia - Cloud Board.png|Board icon.
DFFCloud Victory Pose.gif|Victory pose.
==Behind the scenes==
Cloud is the only character with an EX Mode that has a different name for one of his alternate outfits, although it functions identically. In Dissidia, Cloud's EX Burst has the highest base power in the game, assuming he has full HP when using it. His EX Burst is the second-highest in Dissidia 012, outranked by Gilgamesh.
In the in-game manuals in Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, Penelo erroneously states that Cloud can equip heavy armor.
In Dissidia Final Fantasy, Cloud finds his crystal second after the Onion Knight., but in Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, he finds his first.
Cloud's manikin has unfinished textures in its data for the Ultima Weapon. Unlike the normal weapons of the manikins seen in-game, which have a crystalline texture to them, this unfinished texture is the normal texture sheet for the Ultima Weapon with a blue filter applied to it.
=== Allusions ===
* Several references are made to Zack Fair who wielded the Buster Sword before Cloud.
** Cloud states Firion reminds him of a friend, and when Tidus questions the difficulty in using the Buster Sword due to its size, Cloud replies, "It's not heavy. It's...a memento."
** Cloud casts his Fire spells, stands, and runs reminiscent to how Zack does in Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-.
** Cloud's victory quote, "I won't sleep well tonight", refers to a Crisis Core cutscene, where Zack states his reason for sparing a Wutai soldier.
** The victory line "I'll live your life for you" refers to Zack's last wish before dying in the presence of a traumatized Cloud.
thumb|right|Compilation scenes recreated in Dissidia.
* In the cutscene of Cloud's battle with Sephiroth in Destiny Odyssey VII, several scenes allude to other titles in the Final Fantasy VII series.
** The scene where Cloud crosses the Buster Sword over the Masamune is identical to part of Sephiroth's battle with Cloud in the Nibelheim reactor in Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-.
** After being knocked back, Cloud descends after Sephiroth, who rights himself and knocks Cloud through the air, a reference to Sephiroth's first scene in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children.
** When Cloud lands, the camera pans along the Masamune up to Sephiroth's face, similar to the climax of their Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children battle.
** Finally, as the two face off at the end of the scene, the camera angles and poses are identical to their scripted battle at the end of Final Fantasy VII.
* Cloud's relationship with Terra in Dissidia hearkens to his relationship with Aerith in Final Fantasy VII. Like Aerith, Terra wears red or pink and is a prodigious magic user who traces her heritage to a legendary race. Cloud telling her that her thanks are not needed as it is enough for him to know that he can help others indicates he is thankful for the chance to help Terra in a way that he was unable to help Aerith.
* Cloud asking Tidus, Cecil and Firion to think for a reason of their own to fight other than to end the war mirrors the speech he gave his teammates at the end of Disc II of Final Fantasy VII, where he asks everyone to leave and to go and think why they must fight, instead of fighting for the Planet. Should they find their answer, they could come back.
* Before returning to Gaia, Cloud stands in a field of yellow flowers, similar to the ones located in Aerith's church in Sector 5.
* Cloud's strongest weapon, Fenrir, is named after his motorcycle and the symbol on his pauldron. His other exclusive weapons, the Force Eater (also known as the Force Stealer) and the Butterfly Edge, are weapons he uses in Final Fantasy VII, and are exclusive to the game itself.
* Many of Cloud's HP attacks and his EX Burst (Braver, Cross Slash, Blade Beam, Climhazzard, Meteorain, Finishing Touch and Omnislash) are all Limit Breaks he used in Final Fantasy VII, while Omnislash Version 5 is the move he used against Sephiroth in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children.
* Cloud's Aerial Fang could be a reference to the way he sliced Loz's bike in half during the motorcycle battle in the tunnel of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children.
* If the player completes Chapter IV of Shade Impulse with Cloud, they will unlock a set of "Pretty Princess" equipment set for Cloud, Kefka, and female characters. The equipment consists of the Sexy Cologne (weapon), Member's Card (glove), Blonde Wig (helmet), and Silk Dress (armor). This is a reference to Cloud's crossdressing scene in Final Fantasy VII, where he dresses like a girl to save Tifa from Don Corneo. The equipment set is made up of the best items the player can obtain for Cloud to wear during the quest. The combinations that results in equipping all four items, Allure of Honey, is a reference to the Honey Bee Inn.
* Cloud's museum character file states that his hobbies include motorcycling, chocobo racing, and snowboarding, all of which were minigames in Final Fantasy VII.
* Cloud's reply to Squall's line in the ending before disappearing is his usual "not interested" line, commonly said during the earlier stages of Final Fantasy VII while he was still in his cold mercenary persona, and also said towards Rufus Shinra in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. During a scene in Destiny Odyssey VII-V, Sephiroth also uses this line. Cloud's intro quote "do I feel sorry for you" is what he said to Rude upon meeting Rufus in Advent Children. A victory quote, "My reality is mine alone", is a quote Cloud said after Sephiroth revealed the true Nibelheim Incident story in Final Fantasy VII.
* The offer Squall makes to Cloud of fighting again in the future is a possible allusion to the part in Kingdom Hearts II in which they fight back to back against a horde of Heartless.
* When using an HP attack in his normal outfit, the Buster Sword glows orange, but in his alternate outfit, the Fusion Swords glow blue. This is a reference to Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children where the swords glow blue when Cloud uses his Limit Breaks, but he and other characters glow orange in Final Fantasy VII.
* While performing his EX Burst, Cloud declares he's "breaking [his] limits", a reference to the term "Limit Break". Tifa shares this convention as well.
* After the battle with Sephiroth on Shade Impulse, Cloud states "the one I really want to meet is...", referring to the ending of Final Fantasy VII where he says "I think I can meet her... there", presumably referring to Aerith. 
* When Cloud holds the Buster Sword to Sephiroth's neck while protecting Tifa, it mirrors Zack confronting Sephiroth in Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-, after Sephiroth discovers Jenova during the Nibelheim Incident. Also, when Cloud points the Buster Sword at Sephiroth in Shade Impulse from his waist, it mirrors what he did in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children using the Fusion Sword at Rude.
* During the FMV scene when Cloud begins to fight Sephiroth in Destiny Odyssey VII, Cloud tells him to, "Go back to sleep!", reminding him of the hibernation Sephiroth was in for five years in Final Fantasy VII.
* The name for Cloud's first alternate costume, "Cloudy Wolf", refers the wolf that was implied to be a personification of Cloud's immense guilt tailing Cloud in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children until he came to terms with his past.
* When Cloud saves Tifa, she comments that Cloud was "like a hero, charging in to save the girl," which is what Cloud promised he would do when he left to join SOLDIER in Final Fantasy VII. Ironically enough, as stated in his bio in the Museum, at the end of Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, it is Tifa who sacrifices herself to protect Cloud.
* In Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, one of the chests in Cloud's storyline contains 1997 gil. Final Fantasy VII for the PlayStation was released in 1997.
* At the end of Cloud's Destiny Odyssey in Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, the gateway Cloud tracks Sephiroth to is Mount Gulg, an allusion to the North Crater.
* Cloud's encounter line against himself in Dissidia Final Fantasy ("If I win, are my sins forgiven?") and against Kain in Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy ("Can sins be redeemed?") refer to a question he asks of Vincent Valentine in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, referring to his inability to defend his friends, Aerith and Zack, from death.
*Cloud's comment against himself in Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, "Not you again!", probably refers to a scene from the original game, when he met an illusory copy of himself asking what he was doing at the Honey Bee Inn.
* One of Cloud's victory quotes against a weaker enemy, "Can't smile about this one", is a reference to the track "Cloud Smiles," played in the final scene of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children when Cloud is first seen smiling.
* Fighting for the forces of Chaos in Dissidia 012 is likely a reference to his former career in the forces of the Shinra Army.
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Category:Characters in Dissidia Final Fantasy (2008)
Category:Characters in Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy