Steve-Dave
Newbie
I like Cloud and Squall equally, to me they're my top two FF characters.
What do you think about Cloud/Squall? Who is your favorite?
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Me too 
Since FF8 was my first FF game, and since I love Squall's character development, he is one of my favorite characters. However, Cloud is such a totally amazing/awesome/great character so it is very difficult to choose between the two 
Since FF8 was my first FF game, and since I love Squall's character development, he is one of my favorite characters. However, Cloud is such a totally amazing/awesome/great character so it is very difficult to choose between the two kratoscar2008
Final Master
Both Great, Omnislash and Lionheart for the win.
I prefer the more cheerful and outgoing leads though I do like Cloud alot. Squall not so much, he's too mean. He gets better but there's nice main leads out there. I prefer Bartz, Zidane, and Tidus. Even Zack more than Squall.
Lightning, Cecil and Squall are just too negative. They are more likely to be down in the dumps and low. Be more happy and cheerful and show some more faith, light and hope ! Plus usually we play these games to escape from reality; to have break from reality's pressure and darkness and we don't need some more negative stuff bringing us all down futher. Plus it's better to have a role model to hope you cope in reality than bring you down futher in real life.
Zidane, Bartz, Zack and Tidus do that. They're my babies because they're also my role models because they help me cope in life and try and be happier within real life's darkness. They're more refreshing from Squall and Cloud too.
However I don't hate Cloud and he's one of my fav characters. Even though he a bit of a dower sometimes; he's a realstic chaarcter and he's well developed in the original game. Also he was so unique when I first played the game. Now Square copies his personally everywhere, Light for a example.
But I feel like Zidane, Bartz, Zack and Tidus are better characters and lead because they're stronger mentally, better role models and somebody better to look up too and respect than those downers old Squall, Light , Terra and Cecil. And Cloud.
Lightning, Cecil and Squall are just too negative. They are more likely to be down in the dumps and low. Be more happy and cheerful and show some more faith, light and hope ! Plus usually we play these games to escape from reality; to have break from reality's pressure and darkness and we don't need some more negative stuff bringing us all down futher. Plus it's better to have a role model to hope you cope in reality than bring you down futher in real life.
Zidane, Bartz, Zack and Tidus do that. They're my babies because they're also my role models because they help me cope in life and try and be happier within real life's darkness. They're more refreshing from Squall and Cloud too.
However I don't hate Cloud and he's one of my fav characters. Even though he a bit of a dower sometimes; he's a realstic chaarcter and he's well developed in the original game. Also he was so unique when I first played the game. Now Square copies his personally everywhere, Light for a example.
But I feel like Zidane, Bartz, Zack and Tidus are better characters and lead because they're stronger mentally, better role models and somebody better to look up too and respect than those downers old Squall, Light , Terra and Cecil. And Cloud.
I agree with Ballade 's post 100%. Although I would choose Cloud over Squall, I find the less depressing lead characters to be much more refreshing to see. Honestly, I feel like characters like Zidane and Tidus have a bit more personality, which is definitely shown through the dialogue. ^^;
I don't want to minimize Cloud's personality altogether, but it just wasn't as apparent as Zidane's or Tidus's (I guess 'cause they're somewhat loud and obnoxious? xD) And I'm not so sure about Squall. I never really played FFVIII for long (I was too young), but his antisocial personality was pretty intriguing to me. I have to play FFVIII soon!
I don't want to minimize Cloud's personality altogether, but it just wasn't as apparent as Zidane's or Tidus's (I guess 'cause they're somewhat loud and obnoxious? xD) And I'm not so sure about Squall. I never really played FFVIII for long (I was too young), but his antisocial personality was pretty intriguing to me. I have to play FFVIII soon!
I would choose Squall over Cloud, but only because I empathised with Squall more. 
The Cloud we see in Crisis Core is actually very charming. Had they brought this Cloud back in Advent Children, thereby implying that his character had found peace, I may have voted Cloud. 
Although Squall is quite broody in the beginning of VIII, he develops over the course of the story. He grows from a teenager into a young man, becoming more empathetic and respectful by the end of the game. He's still a little dry, but his heart is open and he tries to have a sense of humour - sort of.
Squall's personality is linked to events in his childhood, which I find more convincing than the reasons given for Cloud's distant persona. I suppose I feel Cloud's darkness isn't a part of his personality, but rather a phase he's been stuck in for far too long. Squall, on the other hand, adopted and grew into a dark personality; as a vulnerable child, he lost a loved one and this caused him to lose faith. As a teenager, he resents those who care because he believes they will leave him eventually. He truly needs help from an outsider in order to understand the importance and rewards of positive living, trust and love!
I haven't completed VII, so my judgments of Cloud could be a little flawed - feel free to enlighten me here, guys
But those are my reasons for loving Squall! 
The Cloud we see in Crisis Core is actually very charming. Had they brought this Cloud back in Advent Children, thereby implying that his character had found peace, I may have voted Cloud. Although Squall is quite broody in the beginning of VIII, he develops over the course of the story. He grows from a teenager into a young man, becoming more empathetic and respectful by the end of the game. He's still a little dry, but his heart is open and he tries to have a sense of humour - sort of.
Squall's personality is linked to events in his childhood, which I find more convincing than the reasons given for Cloud's distant persona. I suppose I feel Cloud's darkness isn't a part of his personality, but rather a phase he's been stuck in for far too long. Squall, on the other hand, adopted and grew into a dark personality; as a vulnerable child, he lost a loved one and this caused him to lose faith. As a teenager, he resents those who care because he believes they will leave him eventually. He truly needs help from an outsider in order to understand the importance and rewards of positive living, trust and love!
I haven't completed VII, so my judgments of Cloud could be a little flawed - feel free to enlighten me here, guys
But those are my reasons for loving Squall! 
I like them both (I like all the main characters) Squall is my second favourite lead though so he beats Cloud 
I just prefer him, I don't know why. I think it's because while Cloud had something really dramatic and traumatising happen to him which was what dented his personality, Squall's development came from a much simpler, more realistic route. He lost the only family he knew and that affected him badly and throughout the game we get to see him come back to himself. I know he seems very mean, but that's not really who he is, that's the way he deals with his loss, he tries to keep everyone at arms length, never bonding with people and staying alone because he's so afraid of losing people again. It's the kind of thing I've seen in reality which makes it more real and better for me to relate to. I can't empathise with Cloud the same, because his problems come from being experimented on and losing himself and having to go a real long way to bring himself back. It's inspirational and in many ways similar to Squall's, but I can't really understand it the way I can understand Squalls, because it's much less realistic, so I just don't 'get' Cloud like I get Squall. I still think he's awesome though 
they both are.
I just prefer him, I don't know why. I think it's because while Cloud had something really dramatic and traumatising happen to him which was what dented his personality, Squall's development came from a much simpler, more realistic route. He lost the only family he knew and that affected him badly and throughout the game we get to see him come back to himself. I know he seems very mean, but that's not really who he is, that's the way he deals with his loss, he tries to keep everyone at arms length, never bonding with people and staying alone because he's so afraid of losing people again. It's the kind of thing I've seen in reality which makes it more real and better for me to relate to. I can't empathise with Cloud the same, because his problems come from being experimented on and losing himself and having to go a real long way to bring himself back. It's inspirational and in many ways similar to Squall's, but I can't really understand it the way I can understand Squalls, because it's much less realistic, so I just don't 'get' Cloud like I get Squall. I still think he's awesome though they both are.
Cloud.
I like the underdog story better than what Squall's story was. Both characters had meaning to why they were the way that they were... but IDK, Cloud just REALLY went through a lot. He lost his mom, was hated by his home town, his hero betrayed him, his best friend died in front of him(SAVING him), was lied to by someone who was supposed to be his friend, was confused about what his past really was, and not to mention, he had to watch his girlfriend die right in front of him.
To me, Cloud's story just always had more volume than Squall's "I was an orphan" story. 
There's more depth to Cloud and his background and that's why I prefer him.
I like the underdog story better than what Squall's story was. Both characters had meaning to why they were the way that they were... but IDK, Cloud just REALLY went through a lot. He lost his mom, was hated by his home town, his hero betrayed him, his best friend died in front of him(SAVING him), was lied to by someone who was supposed to be his friend, was confused about what his past really was, and not to mention, he had to watch his girlfriend die right in front of him.
To me, Cloud's story just always had more volume than Squall's "I was an orphan" story. There's more depth to Cloud and his background and that's why I prefer him.
I like cloud over squalk. Both look equally hot but squall comes off more arrogant
I chose Cloud over Squall. Cloud has better character development (in my opinion). I also think he has a better story, more of an underdog, I prefer his relationships with Tifa and Aertith over Squall/Rinoa, and Cloud just seems like a better protagonist than Squall. I can't quite put my finger on why but when I think of 'FF protagonist', I think of Cloud.
Plus Squall got on my nerves a lot. I think The Spoony One represented my point pretty well when he was raging about Squall's complete lack of interest of Quistis when she was blatantly hitting on him. Come on man, she's a hot teach with a whip. How are you not all over that? I'm a hetero female and even I think that's hot!
And Squall's got the whole introverted thing. Not that that's bad or anything. I'm an introvert myself. But throughout the game it just got annoying to see him constantly talking in his own mind and not connecting with many of the characters. He just seemed like such a debbie downer for the majority of the game. I mean, you don't have to be as quirky as Tidus or Zidane but for god's sakes man, lighten up.
Plus Squall got on my nerves a lot. I think The Spoony One represented my point pretty well when he was raging about Squall's complete lack of interest of Quistis when she was blatantly hitting on him. Come on man, she's a hot teach with a whip. How are you not all over that? I'm a hetero female and even I think that's hot!
And Squall's got the whole introverted thing. Not that that's bad or anything. I'm an introvert myself. But throughout the game it just got annoying to see him constantly talking in his own mind and not connecting with many of the characters. He just seemed like such a debbie downer for the majority of the game. I mean, you don't have to be as quirky as Tidus or Zidane but for god's sakes man, lighten up.
You mihht sswell not like any ffs before 7. Regardless how was he more interesting?
I like all of the ones before 7 actually.
I think Squall had more personality from the start and better character development. Overall I found Cloud to be very flat and uninteresting, and though he did develop somewhat, I didn't feel as though his story as as engaging and his changing wasn't quite as deep. Squall to me was a more believable character considering all he faced, and though his development was gradual, it spoke more to me than Cloud's ever did.
They both had different proccesses because both had different personalities and situations. I dont think ff7 is a wreck because it stays true to alot of thing. Only way to hate is hating being in this transition look of the graphics and the materia system. But overall i feel cloud deserves more.
That i dont think thee was too much room for a character to develop to show strong changes. I find we had to use our imagination a lot with it because there wasnt a ot of emotional scenes. Cloud at the time wasnt a weak character to develop.
I just don't like Cloud, but I like Squall.
Cloud is a frigging copy-cat. All he did was get his head banged so hard he had a serious personality disorder. Squall was depressing but he had style. Gotta say I love his jacket and the gunblade is one helluva weapon. Squall was this kind of guy you would hate at first because he acts like an inconsiderate and insensitive douchebag but you'll end up befriending because you realize that he actually he does give a c**p about his friends and that he is willing to put his life on the line for any of them. Like seriously the dude just walked the frigging long ass walk through the Fisherman's Horizon with Rinoa on his shoulders.
Lastly, FFVII has been milked a lot by SquareEnix... unlike FFVII, FFVIII had like... only one game while FFVII had like several spin-offs plus a movie? Like it is kinda obvious well know a lot more about Cloud's past than Squalls. Squall is for me more like this kind of character that shows that no matter how deep at the bottom you start (no-home, no-parents, no-money...basically you are screwed kind of life...) you can always make it to the top if you work for it. Cloud's story is a little less realistic than Squall's to me...
It is like: "All my family died, got into the military and got experimented on. Lost my memory, acted like a dick, then suddenly remembered everying. Got my almost girlfriend killed now I am woe is me. Now I have super-duper mighty morphing powers, can carry a blade around my same size, can jump higher than a building and I can fly..." Mjum...I'll stick with the orphan kid.
Lastly, FFVII has been milked a lot by SquareEnix... unlike FFVII, FFVIII had like... only one game while FFVII had like several spin-offs plus a movie? Like it is kinda obvious well know a lot more about Cloud's past than Squalls. Squall is for me more like this kind of character that shows that no matter how deep at the bottom you start (no-home, no-parents, no-money...basically you are screwed kind of life...) you can always make it to the top if you work for it. Cloud's story is a little less realistic than Squall's to me...
It is like: "All my family died, got into the military and got experimented on. Lost my memory, acted like a dick, then suddenly remembered everying. Got my almost girlfriend killed now I am woe is me. Now I have super-duper mighty morphing powers, can carry a blade around my same size, can jump higher than a building and I can fly..." Mjum...I'll stick with the orphan kid.
Who whines less? Good question...they both lose. Seriously, they're both devoid of a proper personality in place of constant brooding. Cloud complains to Sephiroth about not being allowed his share of happiness, when he wouldn't be happy even if Sephiroth hadn't come along in the first place. He has two attractive girls fawning over him throughout the entire game and what does he do? He just gives us dots. And don't even get me started on Squall's pointless angst. You're in a school that teaches you to use MAGIC and you can wield a weapon that would ordinarily break someone's wrist...yet you act as though you were born deaf, blind, and without ligaments. Many people are quick to antagonize Zidane for being a womanizer, but at least he was freaking happy throughout the majority of the game. He actually had a personality.
So, who wins? Zidane. Zidane wins.
So, who wins? Zidane. Zidane wins.
Steve-Dave
Newbie
If thats the case I would have to say Tidus would win that. Tidus, in my opinion is the best happy go lucky ff character. Bartz would be second, and Zidane last.
Hmm, I see a lot of Cloud haters. I personally like Cloud but only from the context of FF7 being a stand alone story. I don't really like what they have done with his character in Advent Children and Crisis Core. Playing through the original game again, I can get a fresh take on the story and the character arcs. And so far, I like the story elements better than having to cram in a lot of the stuff that was written in from the future games. None of these characters are written particularly well (Cloud or Squall). But I do see development from start to finish. So I think people who call Cloud a flat, static character have either not played the original game in a very long time or they are purposely ignoring the development in place because they have already made up their mind on the subject.