In which order should I experience the FF games with Cloud?

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Lightning Cloud

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Hellou!

Since I'm fairly new to the FF franchise, I decided to ask more professional gamers on their opinion in which order I should experience the "Cloud arc" or more specifically, the events that takes place in the world of Gaia. This is not limited to games, however. I've been thinking of experiencing the right chronological order in which Cloud and other characters are represented. Books, games, movies, etc. If people could help with showing in what order I should experience it, it would be greatly appreciated!

The only thing I know of is (obviously) FFVII, but then there is a prequel (Crisis Core) so obviously I should play that first right? Then I know of a movie called Advent Child, but that takes place after FFVII so that comes later. Are there anything else? I heard there is Dissida, but nothing else.
 
In my opinion, you should just go for the original FF7 game first, to get the best feel of the world and experience what made the FF7 series so great in the first place. Then any old order will do for the rest. Someone else may have more idea about the sequels/prequels than me though :)
 
There is always that, certainly! There's always the charm to experience it that way first, though I'm more enamored of going through it in a chronological order! :) But that's only if it makes sense, and that any prequels don't go in any "forbidden territory" since they might have released much later than the original game. I know some books and movies who I read in a chronological order, but since the prequel of said movie/book came much later, it focused on the underlying themes and plots of the "sequels" so it more or less spoiled the experience of the original.
 
I agree with Greeny. It'd be best to start off with the original FFVII. Afterwards, you might wanna play Crisis Core 'cause it's a pretty cool game. Although it's supposed to be a prequel, I think one can appreciate it a lot more after playing FFVII, but that's just my opinion, lol. Regarding Advent Children, you can watch it whenever. Maybe after beating FFVII would be best, that way the storyline is still fresh in your mind.

I would say that Dissidia is optional. I don't think it adds much content to the series as a whole. I just see it as a Final Fantasy fighting game. The story didn't really stick to me, but maybe that's because I didn't get too far in either of the two. >D
 
As someone who himself recently got intrigued to delve into the FFVII experience, I as well saw it as the logical conclusion to experience it in a chronological order; which would be by playing Crisis Core first. However, certain individuals here posted that playing through CC first will expose oneself to certain plot elements in FFVII, which in turn may change the gameplay experience quite heavily. And since you mentioned yourself that you hate when in certain types of literature 'prequels delves into the underlying themes of the original', I would take people's advice and play through the original game first before experiencing the other installments / spin-offs.

However, if you decide to experience FFVII in a chronological order like I myself intend to do (since I've already 'spoiled' myself with Crisis Core) the right order I believe would be as followed:

Crisis Core -- Game
Before Crisis -- Mobile Game
Final Fantasy VII -- Game
On The Way To A Smile -- Short Stories
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children -- Movie
Dirge of Cerberus -- Game

This would be the true chronological order to experience FFVII. Whether or not it is worth experiencing in that order is debatable. I will myself soon find out.

PS. There's also Last Order, which is an anime version on two flashbacks found in FFVII, but you get to experience them in Crisis Core so I didn't bother to put it in the list.
 
Personally I would play FFVII first, then Crisis Core after. There's spoilers in Crisis Core, in a way that the game was intended to be experienced after playing FFVII, due to that it provides more clarity to some of the events of FF7 and the characters' reasoning for their actions. It's a prequel, yes... but one that should be left for later in order to explore the plot and story more in-depth through the eyes of Zack Fair, the main protagonist of CC. Crisis Core will reveal a lot of the mysteries surrounding the characters and events (leading up to the plot) of FF7, so I think you should play the original game first and find out for yourself. :)

Once you finish FF7 and then play Crisis Core afterwards, you will find that there's also something charming about re-visiting the towns in CC and looking at the buildings in a different perspective. I played CC about 10 years after I played FF7, and I felt a pang of nostalgia as I recalled the events and environment of Gaia.

But if you really want chronological order, that's up to you. I just think it might possibly ruin the whole experience for you because Cloud takes on a different personality in CC than in the original game, among other things. Either way, I hope you enjoy the games! :)
 
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Thank you very much for your contribution for putting up that list, Chewin! This is exactly what I needed to know what to do!

Well it's a shame Crisis Core is so spoilery in that regard, but I'm sure I'll love it after I've played FF7 first. So I'm gonna play FF7, and then continue with the rest! Thank you all for contributing!
 
I will say this even though you basically made your choice.

FFVII gives you the most Depth to Cloud. What he is, what he has gone through etc etc.

Crisis Core basically gives you a tiny bit of a back story (more complete back story I guess) to what happen to him prior to FFVII

Advent Children... just a movie that looks pretty, little story added to how/why Cloud became what he is in the movie from the game.

As far as DOC is concern it really doesn't add much of anything to Cloud at all, (or much to anything in my opinion...but that would be getting off topic)

So if you want a Complete story of Cloud I'd just play the first one.
 
As you have guessed, the "Cloud arc" is simply the compilation of FFVII.

As suggested, play FFVII first. It's completely up to you if you find yourself interested in any of the other games. Dirge of Cerberus was not my cup of tea, and did not feature Cloud. If you watch Advent Children, watch Advent Children Complete.
 
Original Game > Movie > Crisis Core

I say you should play it in that order because that's the order that those installments came out in. If you want to get a good grip of who Cloud is play the original, because that's the best example. The movie comes next because that deals with Cloud after all the events in the original game. Crisis core last because it's a retcon piece of crap and by the time you're finished with VII and AC then you can understand the retconed story in CC. :grin:

I suggest watching AC original though, the CGI change in ACC is off-putting and looks less polished. :hmmm:
 
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