Final Fantasy VII Lore | Psychology & Story of Cloud

Ойындар

A Comprehensive analysis of the Psychology and Life of Cloud Strife in the Original Final Fantasy VII
0:00 Opening
0:32 Intro
3:03 Summary of Cloud's Story
6:05 Early Life
8:28 Town of Nibelheim
12:54 Young Cloud
17:15 Nibelheim Incident
23:34 Main Game Events
26:21 Was Cloud Lying?
28:05 Inner Voice
30:45 Mental Illness?
33:53 Main Game Events 2
35:13 True Identity Cloud
37:43 What was Cloud's Weakness?
43:16 Conclusion
Credits:
Thumbnail Young Cloud Image: Twitter @click_burgundy
FF7 OST Music Track Remakes ‪@NailikRemakes‬
Secret of Mana OST Star of Darkness Remix by @curagarecords
• The #1 Secret of Mana ...
All Footage recorded on FFVII Steam with the following mods:
7th Heaven Mod Manager
Tsunamods 60fps FMV, Tsunamods 30/60 FPS Gameplay, Tsunamods Battle Textures, Tsunamods Field Textures, Tsunamods Spell Textures, TsunaMods Menu & Fonts, Tsunamods World Map Textures, Ninostyle Chibi Field Models, Ninostyle Battle Models, Cosmos Gaia

Пікірлер: 142

  • @solipsisme8472
    @solipsisme84724 ай бұрын

    Wow, I've watched many FF7 lore videos but this one is a gem ! The sheer attention to details (I mean, the stove being off in Cloud's home is mind-blowing), the fresh take on Cloud whose biggest weakness was his self-confidence, and so much more. Thank you for such a deep analysis !

  • @zok310
    @zok3103 ай бұрын

    Never Meet Your Hero's is a trophy in Rebirth after completing the Nibehime section of the game. You got this game figured out dude. Good job.

  • @FREEDOM_OR_DEATH_
    @FREEDOM_OR_DEATH_4 ай бұрын

    This is some high quality FF7 content. It's never to late to enter the game when talking about a masterpiece.

  • @Hojson

    @Hojson

    4 ай бұрын

    I know, thought I saw it all by now. Truly incredible. One thing tho. Many mental disorders, of which I sadly suffer from, are on a spectrum. It's hard to guess correctly either way and is just as impossible to ever know. Even psychologists have trouble, which is why the DSM was written as a standard to having to meet at least a certain amount of stated criteria. It's the only way to get general measurements of something that can't be fully quantified. Some are comorbid with one another and can be confused, like how most my life they all said depression..when only a few years ago they now found it's bipolar disorder. Hard to tell, or gauge ar times. So it is entirely possible to carry such burdens to varying degrees, making it hard to make a strong point either way of the argument. It's not a personal hell set in black and white, but varying shades of grey. No one knows what's in our own heads, sometimes not even ourselves.

  • @gogauze
    @gogauze4 ай бұрын

    I think this is the most expansive analysis of Cloud's psychological A-Z development that I've ever seen. It mirrors a lot of my own thoughts and inferences. Not coincidentally, I was a clinical psychologist before I became disabled. So, I've had a very long time, and the necessary tools, to think about this as well. I strongly agree that Cloud's self-perceived insecurities are what kept him away from being a SOLDIER candidate in the first place. The complete memories of the Nibelheim flashback confirm, to me, that Cloud already had exceptional strength and resilience in spades; only really being hindered from SOLDIER selection by the way his developmental circumstances prevented him from self-actualizing. As you pointed out, the dev team probably didn't have a mental health professional on staff. But, you don't necessarily need to be one to imagine the circumstances that could lead to his kind of insecurities. So, I don't think it's a coincidence that the explicit and environmental storytelling paint the picture you meticulously described. I'll be heading over to watch your other video next. But, I wanted to mention that I think that there is enough evidence, within the original game, to support that some part of Cloud's semi-stable gestalt is supernatural in nature. Specifically in relation to the experimentation-which included intense Mako exposure and injections with Jenova cells-performed by Hojo. My reasons are many and varied, and I'm happy to give them and my evidence if you're interested. While I admit that the exact mechanics are left a little fuzzy, I do think that known factors are more than sufficient to validate my claim. I hope that you'll be able to continue investigating the characters from the original game, and perhaps even more. This was an incredibly lovely and well constructed video essay, and I look forward to more.

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    Yeah i'd love to hear them. and yeah I do think there are some super-natural elements to it (specifically Jenova cells) and I touched on that it could be a contributing factor, but didn't want to head off into the realm of speculation on how it works etc.#

  • @yate0128
    @yate01282 ай бұрын

    I never thought about it much, but man, Cloud’s mother was truly a great person

  • @michaellindley2292
    @michaellindley22924 ай бұрын

    Man no wonder Clouds last name is Strife, bro this man is rough life incarnate. I'm happy he was able to pull himself up but Damn man his life was tough. To be able to go through all that and still lead a some what normal life after bro Cloud is the best.

  • @thatstheway2429
    @thatstheway24292 ай бұрын

    As an adult who has become very interested in psychology, how our mind works, and Buddhist ideas, playing through Rebirth I realized how great of a character Cloud is. The examination of his identity crisis and mental state was always super interesting to me as a kid, but seeing it play out in 2024 (with some phenomenal voice acting) has hit me so hard. I can’t wait to see how this story finishes. And I say this all before even watching your video. Have just started it and will comment back once I’m done! Very excited to see what you have to say.

  • @daaknait
    @daaknait4 ай бұрын

    My favorite game, my favorite character and my favorite video of the poster boy. Great stuff! Hats off.

  • @crystellegriffith7725
    @crystellegriffith77254 ай бұрын

    I cried a bit. That was such a treat, thank you for this wonderful video, you put a lot of work and research in it

  • @orangejjay
    @orangejjay4 ай бұрын

    Oh hell effing yes. The timing of this couldnt be better and the content is so awesome. Can't wait to see what's next! ❤❤

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    Thanks for watching and enjoying, don't forget to check out my prior video!

  • @AncientCityMusic
    @AncientCityMusic4 ай бұрын

    20:00 After playing the demo of Rebirth, you absolutely nailed this on the head

  • @ben_sisko2149
    @ben_sisko21494 ай бұрын

    Love this kind of applied psychology videos. It'd be great to see one on Tifa. I've always found her tremendously interesting

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    I plan to do one on Sephiroth, and one on Hojo. I'm not sure there is enough with Tifa to make a compelling video, and what there is is mostly straightforward so i worry there wouldn't be much to analyse, but i'll definitely consider it.

  • @medical5444
    @medical54445 ай бұрын

    Been waiting for this! Watching now.

  • @dividend100k5
    @dividend100k54 ай бұрын

    Gotta say, your video was a fresh take on Cloud's character ark, and I thought I knew everything about him. Great analysis and work you put into it.

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    thanks!

  • @rattlethecages
    @rattlethecages3 ай бұрын

    Best breakdown of Cloud's backstory and personality inconsistencies on the internet. Keep up the great work!

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    3 ай бұрын

    Thanks, appreciate it

  • @cloudstruck2785
    @cloudstruck27854 ай бұрын

    I really wish more people would watch this as Cloud is still the most misunderstood and mischaracterised character ever! It's usually people who just love to hate Cloud and who cannot understand the game that unfortunately have the loudest and most vile voices. There is a reason why Cloud has been popular for over 26 years and has been the face of the ff franchise, but as such he carries a huge target on his back and is constantly ridiculed. I just wish more Cloud fans would speak up and defend him. I'm also hoping the Remake project will make crystal clear just what a fantastic character arc Cloud goes through in becoming the true hero he really is! Sad that probably only Cloud fans will watch this! Great little video!!

  • @thatstheway2429

    @thatstheway2429

    2 ай бұрын

    Best main character of any game I’ve ever played.

  • @cloudstruck2785

    @cloudstruck2785

    21 күн бұрын

    @@thatstheway2429 100% agree, Are you finding an increased part of the fandom (mainly hardcore Zack dudebros) are constantly hating on Cloud's character with totally unjustified toxic comments? Cloud is just about the most well written character I have ever seen in a video game - period! It's just a shame that his character arc goes over the heads of most people who claim they have played the game!

  • @thatstheway2429

    @thatstheway2429

    21 күн бұрын

    @@cloudstruck2785 haha tbh I see far more people critiquing the ending of Rebirth than hating on Cloud. I actually think this game is making Cloud even better. I’m sure there are toxic people out there, but both in the US and Japan, Cloud is the consensus #1 favorite character. So I think he does get a lot of love 😉 (even if he’s misunderstood).

  • @cloudstruck2785

    @cloudstruck2785

    21 күн бұрын

    @@thatstheway2429 I'm in UK so it's really nice to hear that. I must just be unlucky with the comments I have seen on KZread bashing Cloud's character. Thank you!

  • @antdgar
    @antdgar4 ай бұрын

    Underrated video. Thanks for taking the time to make this. More, please

  • @tefutefu1007
    @tefutefu10074 ай бұрын

    Amazing video! Very interesting and well put together

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    Please check out my other video?

  • @tefutefu1007

    @tefutefu1007

    4 ай бұрын

    @@TheFirstLore I’m watching it right now as I type this ! 🤠

  • @Warchiefdestro
    @Warchiefdestro4 ай бұрын

    Just a tip, avoid red lines at the bottom of your thumbnail. Some people may instinctually think they've already seen the vid. Great vid, can't wait for rebirth!

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    that's a good point actually ahah, but i really like the layout

  • @BishopCDN

    @BishopCDN

    4 ай бұрын

    I skipped this video a few times. I love FF7 content so i've watched more videos than I can remember... Then tonight I noticed it was the thumbnail 😢 Almost missed this banger of a video

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    @@BishopCDN I'm still in denial about having to change the layout 😅

  • @zackhilton9490

    @zackhilton9490

    4 ай бұрын

    I also had the same thing happen, skipped it once or twice but happy I went back thinking it was my second viewing. Loved this and your previous video!

  • @amberhardin8597
    @amberhardin85974 ай бұрын

    While there were a lot of good tidbits in this, the area you discussed about Cloud and his mom was really good...things that hadn't really occurred to me, probably because of the order in which they happen. In particular, when you mentioned that when his mom asks if the uniform he's wearing is a SOLDIER uniform, and the game eludes to he tells her that he never made it...and she just continues to dote and love on him anyway. What a sweet things to realize. Another great video, thank you!

  • @adammarinucci4270
    @adammarinucci42704 ай бұрын

    Damn bro this is insane. You really put a lot of time in this. Great video

  • @coorslite619
    @coorslite6194 ай бұрын

    Great video! Keep em up!

  • @ColeFam
    @ColeFam4 ай бұрын

    This is some really good stuff. Personally, I like the idea of Zack-Cloud being caused by Jenova's ability to mimic people. The mimicry manipulate Cloud's brain as he was in a catatonic state. I think it's safe to say that I have stumbled onto a great channel, and I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next. Let's mosey.

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    It's definitely possible, and is probably a factor in Clouds illusory Identity. But why choose Zack specifically? There's no benefit to doing so, who is it trying to deceive? And also, then why not turn into Zack completely, instead of just having his personality

  • @ColeFam

    @ColeFam

    4 ай бұрын

    @TheFirstLore Maybe it's part of Cloud being a "failure" and the Jenova cells weren't fully active? Cloud's mind just mimicked the last person he really got to know while he was down and out. As stated in your videos, it really is a lot more fun when the answers aren't just given to us, and we get to have discussions like this.

  • @oowillio20
    @oowillio204 ай бұрын

    Great analysis, loved the video!

  • @jthecryptid
    @jthecryptid2 ай бұрын

    Cloud, in the OG game, is definitely heavily coded with traits that reflect things like PTSD and dissociative disorder. Thats not the same as being literallt diagnosed with mental illness, but there's a reason Cloud was the JRPG poster child for mental health issues, even before the Compilation and Remake Also, to say that characters in FF7 are just built different bcs their world is plagued by monsters devalues the very real traumas that NPCs talk about in every location. Tifa and Cloud are clearly traumatized by Nibelheim,Tifa by her mother's death, and Cloud by his isolated childhood. Granted, the Compilation and Remakes do a better job of exploring this in detail (Aerith's encounter with the Eligor and Hojo are stonach churning) bcs of better graphics and deeper focus on character backstories. I think its fair to say that Cloud is PTSD and survivor's guilt-coded, especially in Advent Children and the Remake. In the AC novels, we learn that while Cloud initially bounced back, he fell into a depressive stupor in the years following Meteorfall. He drinks to cope, sleeps in Aerith's church, and is plagued by traumatic memories of the original game and visions of Sephiroth. On top of this, he has a terminal illness and isolates himself from his friends to avoid having to confront them about both his illness and unhealthy coping mechanisms in response to Aerith's death.

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    2 ай бұрын

    Thanks for watching! I don't consider the expanded ff7 works in my analysis unfortunately.

  • @PlantdaddyTKB
    @PlantdaddyTKB4 ай бұрын

    this was so good. I look forward to your future videos

  • @Ironmaiden654
    @Ironmaiden6544 ай бұрын

    This was REALLY, REALLY good!

  • @lae7363
    @lae73634 ай бұрын

    Fantastic video, I love so much of what you talk about, thank you for making this.

  • @makebreakrepeat
    @makebreakrepeat4 ай бұрын

    Happy to be subscriber #200. Keep up the good work!

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    Thanks so much, means a lot

  • @solipsisme8472

    @solipsisme8472

    4 ай бұрын

    ​@@TheFirstLore Expect many more !

  • @genevievelaplace7301
    @genevievelaplace73012 ай бұрын

    It is implied in Trace of Two Pasts (Nojima novel) that the fact that Cloud was disliked by the adults in his hometown is because his mother was a single mother. It is also stated that Tifa was educated to become a good wife, which she rejected by training under Zangan. Nibelheim is a conservative town. No wonder why Cloud wanted to appear like a man, and why showing emotion was labeled as a weakness.

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    Ай бұрын

    in my analysis i don't take the further works to be canon but still very interesting!

  • @JLeo0311
    @JLeo03114 ай бұрын

    Great content

  • @Orion26DML
    @Orion26DML4 ай бұрын

    Easy sub. Great job.

  • @LotusMonk
    @LotusMonk4 ай бұрын

    I love the detail and care you put into this deep dive, and I especially appreciate you pointing out that real-life mental illnesses are substantially different from their popular culture representations. The funniest thing I came to realize watching you summarize Cloud's journey is that he's REALLY good at falling from heights.

  • @cliffsangelsphotography
    @cliffsangelsphotography4 ай бұрын

    This is an amazing deep-dive into Cloud's psychology. I hope you do more, like Squall maybe?

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    Plan to do Sephiroth & Hojo so far (seperately)

  • @chad63
    @chad634 ай бұрын

    i have a theory that remake sephiroth is our og cloud who has succumb to (the reunion) jenova cells and turned into sephiroth then travels in remake to change history so remake cloud doesnt turn and destroy the world which redxvIII saw at the end of og

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    All theories are welcome but i can't personally comment on anything related to the later works as i don't consider them Canon!

  • @rrutledge4895

    @rrutledge4895

    4 ай бұрын

    Thats such a fun theory 😁

  • @genevievelaplace7301

    @genevievelaplace7301

    2 ай бұрын

    That is really interesting. If you want to develop it with facts, I will be happy to hear. ❤

  • @SaintJames14
    @SaintJames144 ай бұрын

    Very good video. Only thing I don't fully agree with is the idea that Cloud didn't fail SOLDIER selection physically. He could've failed the physical tests via his psychological self-doubt, and as a former servicemember I'd argue this is the most likely case. Psych batteries exist as I'm sure you know, but irl they are quite basic ans easy to pass (when administered by the DOD). The only exception being unit specific selection for "tier 1" units (which, for example, is more like the Turks than SOLDIER, which I argue is more similar to the Green Berets or a standard SEAL team). I think he probably doubted his abilities and fumbled the obstacle course or something, and then was sent infantry (instead of being sent home) due to his physical and mental fitness. Not a big disagreement at all lol Great video bro, good luck with your psych rotation.

  • @CosmicGoku529
    @CosmicGoku5294 ай бұрын

    Few thoughts. It's been decades since I last played. So if I am wrong or misremembering things. Please correct me. As we know by the end of the game. Only Clouds memories were altered in some way. When the team gets to Nibelheim and Cloud tell everyone what happened 5 years prior. Why doesn't Tifa (whose memories are fine) not say something when Cloud puts himself in conversations and areas he wasn't in? She would have remembered Zach.

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    Good questions, firstly a minor correction, Cloud tells everyone of his past in Kalm, long before they go to Nibelheim itself. There's three reasons why Tifa didn't say anything: 1) She does briefly remember seeing Cloud there, he came to rescue her after she had been near fatally wounded 2) As above she was near fatally wounded and unconscious for a long time (the time it took Zangan to travel to Midgar with her). So her own memory of events will be blurry/confusing 3) If she confronted him overtly she was afraid she would lose him, and he was the only part of her past she had left. (also as she explains it's part of her personality to be indecisive/non-confrontational)

  • @boonevillian
    @boonevillian4 ай бұрын

    I am going to need to go back through the game now. I think my young brain back in the late 90s didn’t get the plot so well because I found myself wanting Cloud to still be the confident merc that was introduced in the beginning. I think I actually stayed in denial of Cloud’s actual path long after Cloud moved into acceptance. I am starting to finally see how the game is so much better with accepting the actual truth.

  • @damariuswingfield2144
    @damariuswingfield21444 ай бұрын

    I know youre busy so make content at your own pace, bro. I like it.

  • @Craigo86o
    @Craigo86o4 ай бұрын

    Ive just found your channel and just wanted to say your content is fantastic! You are very well spoken and have clearly done your research regarding everything you talk about. I have a request for a video idea if it interests you? Do you think there is enough background story around all the iconic weapons in this game? The Buster Sword was passed from Angeal to Zack to Cloud and is more than "Just a sword" Sephiroths Masamune must have a backstory? Even Barret losing his arm saving his friend then getting his gun attached (I know this is a bit different but you get what I mean) Anyway.... That would be a cool video. Great content 👍

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    Thanks I appreciate it. Hmmm that's a tough one, i think it would very quickly become speculative and pure theory crafting, which I try to avoid. For example in FF7 we only know that the buster sword was Zacks and then Cloud took it once he died. All we know about Sephiroth's masamune is that he is the only one that can wield it. I'm not really interested in exploring anything from the expanded FF7 stuff as i don't consider it canon.

  • @jonesygrets6029
    @jonesygrets60294 ай бұрын

    Never forgot the year this came out I was 18

  • @jaredwhite200
    @jaredwhite2004 ай бұрын

    I love this Video. Cloud Strife is my favorite protagonist Ever. U did an amazing job with this video

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    Appreciate it thank you

  • @chadd990
    @chadd9904 ай бұрын

    I really like your comparison of the cortical homunculus to the desolate nature of video game civilizations. Hardware limitations is easy enough for most people to understand, but this explanation fits well with the theme of the game. How did you think of this? What was your thought process? It seems a bit unique, at least to me.

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    So basically i've had thoughts on abstraction in video gaming for some time, especially around the debate between real time and turn based combat (this conversation rears its head with every new final fantasy entry and when FF7:Remake was being developed. I noticed in this debate that a lot of people fail to grasp and moreover, enjoy, the fact that turn based combat is an abstraction to represent 'real' combat. This seems especially prevalant in the younger generation of gamers, but it's not their fault, they've grown up in a video game culture where striving for realism is king. But they don't seem to grasp that even the biggest open world game or settlement or whatever in the game is still an abstraction of a larger or more dynamic or more complex thing. So in that framework disliking any video game abstraction seems asinine, but having said that of course it's okay to have preferences. So in terms of the actual analogy, I'm a medical doctor so this i guess i drew from my field of expertise to rationalise/explain the concept of abstraction in this sense.

  • @solipsisme8472

    @solipsisme8472

    4 ай бұрын

    I agree, never thought of it that way but it seems so logical

  • @erikofskullisland3987
    @erikofskullisland39874 ай бұрын

    I have gotten to think that the voice really was Zack from the lifestream, or what Cloud would think Zack would say: when the voice in lower Junon asks him to try asking Tifa, then Tifa says, "oh what's going on outside!" And ignores it. But I really like the line Tifa says to herself when unconscious after the crater explosion, and she sees when she found Cloud at the train station sitting in the gutter holding his sword out. "All the things you didn't know that you should, and other things you shouldn't know that you did." I feel that is something a lot of people could get into sympathizing with, when Cloud as a kid started getting into fights with everyone. That is such a good point about Nibelheim being poor and everyone else having a heating stove and not Cloud's mom's house. And Sephiroth setting Nibelheim on fire, I just imagine him doing his ALL-FIRE 3 on it... I've also many times thought of how towns in games are probably more than what you see, you just have to use imagination, or else it does seem way underpopulated than what other things would indicate. So glad you mentioned the old guy who was former SOLDIER in Junon selling accessories and later weapons. As a kid, I totally missed that Cloud was beating Aerith, lashing out at her, some reason. Guess a lot of people do get frustrated even over little things and lash out at people around them, maybe blaming them for making them lose focus, maybe spill a glass of milk. Then she sorta forgives him, and says in the dream, "Take care of yourself. So you don't have another breakdown, okay?" Her spiritual affinity maybe lets her know Sephiroth is controlling him. And in the Remake, they have Aerith see the smoke monsters. Then, at the crater, when they get the Black Materia from the Sephiroth/Jenova piece, too bad they couldn't all turn back. Yeah the self-image homunculus, that is something, people mostly grabbing and talking. "Weak people like me get lost in the whole thing... Cloud, the master of my own illusionary world." Then, it's always funny how the people who have all the money and control, and those in the enforcement or whatever, their mental health is never brought into question, they are never considered psychotic or mentally unwell and unfit, but everyone else can be, and get liquidated for more pittance.

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I think it is unclear who the 'voice' is, and i put that down to it's questionable presentation, it could have been handled better. But i think it is pretty clearly Cloud's inner self when you appraise everything it says to Cloud. Also in the Honeybee Inn, it is literally visually represented as Cloud in the corner of the room.

  • @materiahunter8443

    @materiahunter8443

    4 ай бұрын

    Remember just before Cloud fell through Aerith's Church a voice inside him said "Back then I only got scraped knees"? This is referring to when Cloud and Tifa fell when the were young. Tifa was in a coma for 7 days but Cloud only got scarred knees. So to me it's pretty clear it's the real Cloud talking to himself.

  • @erikofskullisland3987

    @erikofskullisland3987

    4 ай бұрын

    Definitely good points, and I guess I only thought in one playthrough maybe it could be Zack because the way it's written, "it was a great chance for the two of you to see each other again," and when Zack was talking to Cloud the Shinra grunt, but that's something Cloud could say to himself, sure. And Maybe I thought of Advent Children and Zack talking to Cloud in the fight with Sephiroth. But yes, definitely Cloud himself, that's the whole thing about his diverted personality.

  • @rattlethecages

    @rattlethecages

    3 ай бұрын

    @@erikofskullisland3987 I think any notions of it being Zack are usually informed by the compilation tbh. As you yourself said, you thought of a scene in AC. That sort of thing is fine for compilation enthusiasts I suppose, but it's important to remember that none of that was constructed in the context of the original game, which is why I appreciate First Lore's content so much. He is attempting to set the record straight and restore the original integrity of FF7 '97, something that gets harder and harder to do as time goes on.

  • @erikofskullisland3987

    @erikofskullisland3987

    3 ай бұрын

    @@rattlethecages yeah I do like the story as it is originally presented. I just play this game almost every year, and get a hankering for it, and I get stupid ideas. Like I said I imagine sometimes Sephiroth using his Fire-All but it was his Fire materia which was unlinked. Lol.

  • @Ironmaiden654
    @Ironmaiden6544 ай бұрын

    After watching your video, I thought a lot about Cloud last night. Do you think if Cloud never took part in the Nibelheim Incident that he would become similar to what Sephiroth had become? Cloud generally didn't have love for many people, and really, the only difference between Cloud and Sephiroth is that Cloud eventually made many new friends, and found such great support and love amongst those in the party, which makes him really lose his disdain for people, even WITH his amnesia and memories being blocked. Sephiroth never really had anyone and wandered through life alone.

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    Cloud had his Mother, who was obviously a great person. and Also he did obviously care about people internally, he just couldn't show it. So I don't think so personally. But as you say it's easy to say that as life took him down a different path.

  • @3EyedBro-tk2yt
    @3EyedBro-tk2yt4 ай бұрын

    Great videos! The timing is absolutely perfect as well. Question, what platform are you playing the game on? The detail in the graphics are stunning for a game two and half decades old.

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    Steam on PC. Check the video description for the mods i'm using. In the last few years, some amazing Mods have come out that update the detail of or AI upscale the old graphics without betraying the art style of the original. In the years before this there was this kind of grotesque striving for realism when it came to FF7 graphical mods that totally didn't work and made the game look worse. But these recent mods are fantastic.

  • @tokugawa33
    @tokugawa334 ай бұрын

    This is on a very high quality level

  • @user-zn4sr1ll1c
    @user-zn4sr1ll1cКүн бұрын

    The name you're looking for is parentification, where the opposite is infintialization. Parentification, forces certain unfortunate children to grow much older than necessary usually the eldest or only(in Cloud's case). Usually due to financial, domestic, or other enviornmental stressors too heavy to cary for the caretaker, they inadverdently, "step up", usually it becomes the norm, and the parent or guardian will actually be blind to it and boast about it seeing such adult qualities in their offspring prematurely and they do usually resent childlike mannerisms in others as a coping mechanism. More importantly however, these are their developmental periods, that usually are required and will show bare their fangs when its during their adolescent periods as there is no point of reference, there is almost no rational to "play" in young animals and people, but it has shown instrumental in thriving adulthood in maintaining relations and by extension maintaining quality of life. This is paramount in dogs, lions, wolves, and us too. A parentified child well not only lack the time, but may prematurely consider it as moot as a coping mechanism. Excellent video, and ditto on technicalities not describing ever facet on ones life. This is only research I've come across, and should no way be applied personally.

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    Күн бұрын

    Love this thanks for your input!

  • @themansfield2089
    @themansfield20894 ай бұрын

    Nice video.

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    Thanks, let me know what you think of my previous video!

  • @TheBleedingEdge
    @TheBleedingEdge3 ай бұрын

    My favorite gaming protagonist ever

  • @yuuts2619
    @yuuts26194 ай бұрын

    Good video.

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    Thanks! please check out my prior video and tell me what you think!

  • @TheOtherSideBooks
    @TheOtherSideBooks3 ай бұрын

    19:00 dude i never knew that... i got spine chills

  • @joshray3855
    @joshray3855Ай бұрын

    I have loved FFVII since I was a boy and it first came out, but dang, the way that Cloud kills Sephiroth during the Nibelheim Incident will never not be hilarious to me. Sephiroth, just let go of the damn sword! He should've gone le morte d'arthur on him, and just ran himself further through on the Masamune so that he could actually close the distance and get his hands on Sephiroth

  • @itiswhatitis9387
    @itiswhatitis93874 ай бұрын

    Sorry you were at 777 subs but I had to go ahead and bump that up !

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    No more lucky 7's :(

  • @Aleks-World
    @Aleks-World4 ай бұрын

    Tell us about hand guy

  • @ryankrenisky8252
    @ryankrenisky8252Ай бұрын

    I like to believe that Cloud is able to over power Sephiroth because Sephiroth is using his right hand for his sword in that scene. Iaido, which is how Spehi fights, is very dominant hand based, so using his right hand combined with the initial wound Cloud inflicted, contirbuted to Cloud being able to overpower Sephiroth when his dominant hand was holding Jenova's head. Any number of other factors could've also been involved, but use your less dominant hand against ANYONE using both of their hands and see what happens.

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    Ай бұрын

    very very cool, never noticed this

  • @robinblack9
    @robinblack93 ай бұрын

    Pre-emptive materia 🤯

  • @LaneTheBrane
    @LaneTheBrane4 ай бұрын

    He was broken and then he wasn't

  • @GenesRapture
    @GenesRapture4 ай бұрын

    Very interesting analysis man. Good job. Would you consider Cloud as an actual Messiah of this world? Going from OG to Advent Children that is.

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    No i definitely wouldn't go that far. He is just someone who found himself in the middle of something and rose to the occasion (eventually). Also I think the word messiah has lots of connotations that wouldn't really fit cloud or the themes of the game. However definitely parallels between Sephiroth and the idea of a Messiah.

  • @GenesRapture

    @GenesRapture

    4 ай бұрын

    @@TheFirstLore Well, when I say Messiah, I view it from Judaic perspective as someone who comes to change things profoundly. True, Sephiroth definitely has Messianic notions more than Cloud. And yes, Cloud doesn’t change things really, he tries for things not to fall apart too much. Though some times I see Angeal, Zach, & Cloud almost holy trinity. While Sephiroth, Angeal, and Genesis are literally Fallen Angels of God who happens to be Jenova. FF7 is really so deep and can be analyzed from many perspectives. Just something about it.

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    @@GenesRapture Ah i see, i think i don't know enough about Judaic beliefs to comment , Also can't comment on anything from the compilation of final fantasy 7 as i only consider the original piece of art canon.

  • @GenesRapture

    @GenesRapture

    4 ай бұрын

    @@TheFirstLore Fair enough. I’m beginning my journey thru FF7 more on a deeper level than just a game. Look forward to you other videos.

  • @BelleVEX
    @BelleVEX2 ай бұрын

    Just a question. Does the thumbnail have a red bar at the bottom to make people think they've watched it before... Cause it worked on me and I instantly took notice. If not, do it again.

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    2 ай бұрын

    it's not supposed to haha, someone else commented this. it's just that that is the cherry red colour of the squaresoft logo so i chose it for my thumbnaul

  • @BelleVEX

    @BelleVEX

    2 ай бұрын

    @@TheFirstLore It's perfect!

  • @mckittrickl
    @mckittrickl4 ай бұрын

    Cloud's weakness was never physical. It was only ever mental. His insecurities are what resulted in him failing the mental tests required for entry into SOLDIER. He even says himself that he is physically built like someone in SOLDIER. And of course, by the end of the game, he is an even more capable fighter than Sephiroth.

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    I'm not sure if you've finished the video, but that's pretty much the conclusion I also came to.

  • @mckittrickl

    @mckittrickl

    4 ай бұрын

    @TheFirstLore fantastic video, as was the previous one, too! My comment was only intended to underline the point about Cloud's weakness. Looking forward to your future content!

  • @walnutstudio502
    @walnutstudio5023 ай бұрын

    13:00 it clicked for me here

  • @rrutledge4895
    @rrutledge48954 ай бұрын

    This video was awesome! Can I ask, which version of FF7 is this? Is it a mod or remaster? Which platform is it on? It looks so cool, I would love to play this version

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    So it's the steam version of FF7 with the 7th Heaven mod launcher and some mods that improve the visuals without betraying the original artistic design. If you look in the description of my other video I have a list of all the mods active during my recording.

  • @rrutledge4895

    @rrutledge4895

    4 ай бұрын

    ​@@TheFirstLore Thank you!

  • @mokeish
    @mokeish4 ай бұрын

    23:10 it's called a Final Attack, Cloud's just happened to be special.

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    but cloud didn't have Final Attack Materia equipped!

  • @isaacvanover4761
    @isaacvanover476119 күн бұрын

    Agree with most and great video but where you’re wrong is he most definitely shows every single symptom of ptsd and has been through plenty of trauma that would have triggered it.

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    18 күн бұрын

    Thank for watching! What's your source/credentials on this out of interest?

  • @chad63
    @chad634 ай бұрын

    cloud has amnesia level: takes someone elses identity

  • @Aleks-World
    @Aleks-World5 ай бұрын

    i wish my name was cloud

  • @tomatojuice484

    @tomatojuice484

    4 ай бұрын

    You got no reez to complain

  • @Aleks-World

    @Aleks-World

    4 ай бұрын

    I gained a lot of body dysmorphia after seeing sephiroth

  • @tomatojuice484

    @tomatojuice484

    4 ай бұрын

    @@Aleks-World jokes on you buddy, I’ve always had body dysmorphia

  • @Aleks-World

    @Aleks-World

    4 ай бұрын

    You should, it bet ur tiny mate

  • @dantedecastrolichi2987
    @dantedecastrolichi29874 ай бұрын

    Zack Fair height: 6’2” Sephiroth height: 6’1” Cloud Strife height: 5’7” Cloud didn’t get into SOLIDER because he didn’t pass the physical. Mental resilience and physical aptitudes weren’t his shortcomings. He was just too short.

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    Cloud is average height for a Japanese man, also we have no idea what Zacks height is hehe

  • @dantedecastrolichi2987

    @dantedecastrolichi2987

    4 ай бұрын

    @@TheFirstLore I googled Zack’s height. I reckon it’s based on the j formation from crisis core. I dunno about you, but Cloud does seem pretty short. In the remake he seems shorter than most men NPCs.

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    @@dantedecastrolichi2987 My video only considers the original game canon so i can't really comment on any of that. But I believe the demo is set in Clouds past, when he was only 16 years old? Very few males reach their full height by that age

  • @dantedecastrolichi2987

    @dantedecastrolichi2987

    4 ай бұрын

    @@TheFirstLore cloud’s height is from the manual. It’s safe to assume that this measurement was based on when he was 21 during the events of FF7.

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    @@dantedecastrolichi2987 I know cloud is 5'7 at 21. I was referring to you saying he was shorter than other NPC's in the remake demo, which takes place when he was 16.

  • @maloskain
    @maloskain4 ай бұрын

    The final showdown is within Clouds own mind, not the lifestream. Lifestream is green, not white.

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    Definitely open to interpretation but I have to fundamentally disagree. I think it is clearly happening in the lifestream. Cloud's consciousness clearly *leaves* his body on the field map before the FMV. If it were inside Cloud's head instead we would get something akin to a zoom in on Cloud's mind. In the FMV sequence Cloud is clearly 'travelling'. The essence around Cloud has elements of green and white within it. As does the place where Cloud and Tifa reconstruct Cloud's identity, which we know for sure is in the lifestream. And remember this is lifestream as it is represented as a metaphysical plane. Not just the purely physical plane (where yes it is a paleish green). Also, after the battle with Sephiroth, Cloud is surrounded by a swirling substance, and Cloud literally says "Lifestream?". Furthermore it is established that ones consciousness can travel the lifestream, Sephiroth has done it, Cloud and Tifa have done it also and we experienced with them. At no other point in the game does anyone ever travel through or have a battle within their own mind, there is no precedent. So again, We can't know definitively, but on the balance of the evidence, Saying it takes place within Cloud's mind is incorrect.

  • @tristanryan4334
    @tristanryan4334Ай бұрын

    I am not a design 😂😂😂

  • @tragicbronson2889
    @tragicbronson28893 ай бұрын

    Good details but too academic! You don’t need to disclose whether you are professional at diagnosing psyche stuff!

  • @Atmatan_Kabbaher
    @Atmatan_Kabbaher4 ай бұрын

    If youre going to ignore two decades of lore, your work is incomplete. Come back to us when you deserve to earm your grade.

  • @TheFirstLore

    @TheFirstLore

    4 ай бұрын

    No need to be passive aggressive about my decision. Please watch my previous video Intro to understand my rationale. Then come back with a reasoned argument as to why you think this was a mistake.

  • @solipsisme8472

    @solipsisme8472

    4 ай бұрын

    Thank you for such an insightful comment, great FF7-ologist. Can't wait to read your 3-part encyclopedia on the matter.

  • @Atmatan_Kabbaher

    @Atmatan_Kabbaher

    4 ай бұрын

    @@solipsisme8472 12-part, actually

  • @eddieoweis101
    @eddieoweis1014 ай бұрын

    Why do the long robes make him gay?

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