Cloud - I wasn't really into RPGs till 7. I watched my cousin play II/IV but it wasn't enough to get me jaded. I didn't think of Cloud as generic, I wasn't really used to a mercenary as a main character. I did become interest in his past when it started popping up. Cloud the cool "hero" most times, but there ended up being more to him than that. I never thought of "heroes" being more than 2-dimensional robots necessary for saving the world. Since I couldn't really remember my experiences playing as Cecil, I never really thought much about character development in games. It was only after 7 and Cloud that I actually started paying attention.

Aeris
Took me a while to like her at first (I guess I liked Aeris better, and refused to like Tifa because of that? Lame reasoning...)
I was the opposite, I instantly liked Tifa and couldn't stand the happy-happy Aeris especially when she assumed I (Cloud) would accept a date as payment. My initial thought was "who does this frilly chick think she is." I like her now; she's dead. No I'm kidding, but it does help to realize that she puts herself in harm's way in the hope of saving the planet.

Barret - Reminds me T. I like his attitude at times, not so much at others. Barret taking on Dyne alone for the sake of friendship. Priceless.

Tifa - A character I liked from the start, I think she's a likeable person and one of the best characters for use in battle alongside Cloud and Cid. I also want that date on the Gondola for my reality. Hell no would we be wastin' the ride staring at them dumb chocobos either.

Yuffie - Since I usually spent time traveling through forests every time I played, I never truly realized Yuffie was optional. Sure the first time I answered wrong and didn't get her, but I wasn't even looking for her when I started strolling through the forest again. I figured no matter how I answered, she'd join me eventually. She's too cute and an awesome fighter and although her materia obsession can be a bit annoying, tripping to Wutai for a couple of battles gives the bonus Leviathan materia. Having Vincent in your crew doesn't net you crap. It's also pretty cool that she and Cloud share a lack of affinity toward automated transportation. I like to think that Yuffie might eventually somethin'-somethin' with the Silent Hero.

Red XIII - Reserved for use in a Mini-Game spinoff alongside Cait Sith. I do feel left in the dark on what he was exactly and yes, how he actually got to Midgar. But I think Red was a bright character with more sophistocation and intelligence than the entire crew combined into a think-tank. I also liked his attacks and constantly wonder when the team will find 7's Supersoft like the one in 9. I want to see XIII and Seto reunited. I'm also curious about the ending. Where do the pups come from? The game never mentions Red's mother.

Cid - Ah, Cid, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways... 1! Cid's cool with a past failure not quite as tragic as the main characters (or even Vincent), but with yet enough character to construct an instant connection. He obviously doesn't care too much what others think of him. His primary concern is piloting and his last limit is the Highwind which is IMO the coolest attack in the game next to Omnislash.

Vincent - You first encounter this Red Mage-looking guy in a Coffin... A COFFIN! That's great. You jump through hoops fighting a Lost Number and getting a key out of safe and you get to meet the closest thing the game has to a vampire... with transformations to boot. I really liked Galian and Gigas, but I hated Masker to the point blood nearly spurted outta my eyes. Useless creepy-looking Jason Vorhese wannabe. I liked Chaos at least in form. Sometimes Chaos would end up using Stan Slam far too often which was not really useful and I would have preferred seeing the Chaos Saber. I especially like it's evolution in DC. I think they should remake VII with those same transformations and revamp Gigas and Masker while they're at it.

Cait Sith - Yeah, if I had met my girlfriend before playing this, she would've brought me around to liking him sooner than I initially did. This guy really annoyed me and I thought it was weird seeing a this white creature follow me around and force himself into my party. (Quina instantly reminded me of Cait Sith when I first met him.)
At first, I did even realize there a cat on that thing. I just thought it was a weird looking suit until saw the cat jumping around on the mog's head. Then I got confused. There was zipper on the mog's back. Was there someone in there? What was so special about the cat? And which was Cait Sith? Answers to these questions and more when we return... now. Cait Sith was the cat. Kinda cute. Not sure how I feel about the Scottish accent. It makes sense given the origin of the name.
Is Reeve Scottish? I don't think Tuesti sounds Scottish... I've lot my train of thought.

I also liked Sephiroth... dun dun dun!

Final Fantasy VIII


Squall - I was going through a phase wear I liked to wear black so instantly identified with Squall. He also shared my mindset which was to be removed from others at any opportunity. Seifer reminded me of my cousin whom I had harbored a rivalry against for a while. I love the Gunblade too.

Rinoa - Didn't really like her all that much. Much less liked her weapon. I liked her dog though. That's one awesome pup! It was cool to find out she was a junior sorceress too. That's pretty much it.

Quistis - It was so hard to get her decent skills and sometimes her attitude annoyed more than Rinoa's... again; that's it.

Zell - I am a big fan of brawling characters. They like, tie with swordsman in my book (although recently the gunner has climbed up pretty close by). I really liked his attitude even though it clashed with Squall's (aka Mine) and his need to eat and fight and read magazines. Even his tattoo was cool and normally, I wouldn't have been keen on that.

Selphie - I'm not sure how well I thought she used those nunchaku, but I did like her attitude better than Rinoa's. Somehow, I saw her as the little sister I never had.

Irvine - Wannabe womanizer. Fine by me.

Seifer - Want's to be the Knight. Cool by me.