The Dark Depths of Cloud’s Conflict in Kingdom Hearts

Cloud Strife is a fan-favorite character from Square Enix’s Final Fantasy VII, and he also appears as a major character in the Kingdom Hearts series. In Kingdom Hearts, Cloud has a unique connection to the darkness—one that sets him apart from other characters. This darkness is not just metaphorical; it’s an actual part of Cloud that manifests in several ways.

In terms of physicality, this darkness can be seen in the demonic black wing that sprouts from his left shoulder, a manifestation of the dark powers he is using in the series. This wing also serves as a reminder of his connection to Sephiroth, another major antagonist in Final Fantasy VII.

The darkness also plays into Cloud’s emotional life and overall conflict within the series. In KH2 (Kingdom Hearts 2), Cloud is missing light entrely and wears an outfit similar to his Advent Children look. This darkness symbolizes his inner turmoil and serves as a reminder of his past experiences with Sephiroth and other antagonists from Final Fantasy VII.

Overall, Cloud Strife’s relationship with darkness is one of the most interesting aspects of the Kingdom Hearts series. His transformation from hero to anti-hero due to this darkness gives fans a unique look into how powerful emotions can shape someone’s life—even if said person isn’t real.

The Visual Differences of Cloud in Kingdom Hearts

Cloud looks different in Kingdom Hearts due to the absence of light, which is the result of a deep-seated conflict within him. This conflict is caused by Cloud being surrounded by darkness, which has replaced any light he may have had previously. As a result, his appearance chanes to reflect this lack of light, and he adopts the outfit he wears in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. The darkness that surrounds Cloud also affects his mental state and abilities, making him more aggressive and giving him access to dark magic. Ultimately, these changes in Cloud’s appearance are symbolic of the inner conflict that exists within him and illustrate the struggles he faces in order to overcome it.

cloud from kingdom hearts
Source: kingdomhearts.fandom.com

Has Cloud Ever Appeared in Kingdom Hearts?

Yes, Cloud was in the Kingdom Hearts series. He first appeared in the 2006 game Kingdom Hearts II as a playable character, joining Sora and his friends on their quest to protect the world from the darkness. As part of the Final Fantasy VII crossover, Cloud wields his iconic Buster Sword and uses abilities inspired by his original game. He is also a summon that players can call upon to help them in battle. In Kingdom Hearts III, Cloud appears alongside Aerith Gainsborough and oher characters from Final Fantasy VII as part of a new story set in a world based on their original game. He fights alongside Sora against a powerful new threat and helps him unlock the true power of friendship.

The Significance of Cloud’s Wing in Kingdom Hearts

Cloud Strife has a demonic black wing from his left shoulder in the Kingdom Hearts series to symbolize the dark powers he is using and his connection to Sephiroth. The wing was first introduced in Final Fantasy VII when Cloud was controlled by Sephiroth. In Kingdom Hearts, the wing is an aesthetic choice that emphasizes Cloud’s ties to both Sephiroth and darkness. It serves as a visual reminder of Cloud’s dark past, as well as his potential for tapping into powerful dark magic.

Exploring the Possibility of Cloud Strife Having Schizophrenia

No, Cloud Strife does not have schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by significant disturbances in thinking, behavior, and emotions. It is also characterized by the presence of positive symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations, as well as negative symptoms like disorganization and flat affect. Cloud Strife does not show any of these signs or symptoms which would indicate that he has schizophrenia. However, it is possible that Cloud Strife may be in a dissociative state, which could be attributed to past trauma or other environmental factors. Dissociative states are characterized by a disconnection from reality, altered perceptions of the environment and self, difficulty forming memories and identity confusion. If Cloud Strife is ideed in a dissociative state, it could be seen as his body’s way of protecting itself from further trauma or emotional distress.

Gender of Cloud

Cloud Strife is a male character. He is a Human with a gender of male and wields a Buster Sword as his weapon. His home is Nibelheim, which is a location featured in the popular Final Fantasy game series.

cloud from kingdom hearts
Source: nintendo.com

Are Sora, Cloud, and Aerith Related?

The answer to this question is complex as it involves the concept of multiverses. Sora is inded the son of Cloud and Aerith in the Final Fantasy VII Remake ending, but in the Kingdom Hearts universe, his parents are both young. This suggests that Kairi could be an alternate version of Aerith, as they share a similar personality and appearance. However, due to the multiverses existing inside Kingdom Hearts, it’s possible for multiple versions of Cloud and Aerith to exist at once with different outcomes for each one. Ultimately, we can say that Sora is indeed Cloud and Aerith’s son, but this is limited only to a single universe.

The Dark Knight and Cloud Computing

No, Cloud is not a dark knight. While he has some similarities to characters in other Final Fantasy games that do have the class, such as his giant buster sword and brooding attitude, Cloud himself does not have the dark knight class. The dark knight class is usually reserved for characters who specialize in wielding swords and using dark magic. Cloud is primarily a swordfighter but does not use dark magic.

The Motivation Behind Cloud’s Conflict with Sora

Cloud fights Sora because he needs to move up in the rankings of the preliminaries in order to face Hercules. As Cloud is one of the strongest warriors in the tournament, he must prove his strength against thoe around him by defeating Sora, his rival. By doing so, Cloud will be able to move up in the rankings and ultimately become strong enough to defeat Hercules, thus allowing him to advance further in the tournament. Cloud is also aware that Sora is a powerful warrior and fighting him will improve his own skills and strength. Therefore, Cloud decides to fight Sora as a way of testing his own abilities and ensuring that he can become powerful enough to take on Hercules.

Exploring the Love for Cloud

Cloud is in love with both Tifa and Aerith. He first meets Tifa when they are children, and their friendship grows into a deep bond over the years. Cloud’s love for her helps him remember his feelings for Aerith, and the two of them become a source of comfort and healing for each other. Both girls love Cloud as well, although there is never any competition between them; they support each other’s relationships with Cloud.

cloud from kingdom hearts
Source: square-enix-games.com

The Father of Cloud Strife

Cloud Strife’s father is not confirmed in the source material, but there is an ongoing popular theory that Cloud may be the illegitimate son of President Shinra from Final Fantasy VII. This theory stems from the fact that Cloud was born in Nibelheim, which is home to the Shinra Mansion – a place that is closely connected to the Shinra family. However, this has yet to be officially confirmed and remains speculation.

Who Will Be in a Relationship?

In the Final Fantasy VII Remake, Cloud does not end up with either Tifa or Aerith. However, players can get different endings depending on their choices throughout the game. In Chapter 14, players can get a special scene with either Tifa or Aerith that has a semi-romantic feeling. This scene is determined by the decisions made during previous chapters of the game. Ultimately, it is up to the player to decide who Cloud ends up with in their playthrough of the Final Fantasy VII Remake.

The Relationship Between Sephiroth and Cloud

To Cloud, Sephiroth is an intimidating and powerful figure. He is the embodiment of a past mistake that Cloud made, and someone who he failed to protect those around him from. He is also a reminder of the strength and courage of ordinary people, as despite being just an infantryman, Cloud was able to rise up against Sephiroth’s overwhelming power and attempt to protect his friends. Sephiroth is a formidable opponent who continues to test Cloud’s will and determination with each battle they fight.

The Location of Cloud After Defeating Sephiroth

After defeating Sephiroth, Cloud can be found back in the Marketplace. He is standing in the middle of the area near the entrance to the Dark Depths. If you talk to him, he will tell you that he’s been thinking about what happened and is trying to make sense of it all.

cloud from kingdom hearts
Source: gamerant.com

The Inspiration Behind Cloud Strife

Cloud Strife, the main protagonist of Final Fantasy VII, was loosely based on the legendary Japanese swordsman and ronin, Miyamoto Musashi. Musashi was a renowned samurai and one of the greatest martial artists in history. He was known for his no-nonsense fighting style, which emphasized single combat, endurance, and unyielding determination. His most famous duel was againt his rival Sasaki Kojiro in 1612.

Musashi’s life story has been a source of inspiration for countless works of fiction since then. This includes Cloud Strife’s character design which is heavily based on Musashi’s appearance and personality traits. Cloud wears a blue kimono with yellow trim, has bright spiky blonde hair, wields two swords at once and often displays an unwavering focus on his goals.

In addition to physical design similarities between Cloud and Musashi, the two also share certain values and personality traits. Both characters are headstrong warriors who will never back down from a challenge and are driven by their desire to protect something important to them. It’s this combination of physical features and shared values that makes Cloud Strife such an iconic character in Final Fantasy VII.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Cloud Strife from Kingdom Hearts is a complex character whose struggles with darkness are central to his story. His dark wings symbolise his connection to Sephiroth and the dark powers he uses in the series. Despite this, Cloud still maintains a sense of hope and courage, proving that even in the face of adversity, it’s possible to overcome one’s fears and take control of one’s destiny.

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William Armstrong

William Armstrong is a senior editor with H-O-M-E.org, where he writes on a wide variety of topics. He has also worked as a radio reporter and holds a degree from Moody College of Communication. William was born in Denton, TX and currently resides in Austin.