Who was the better?

[PeTeRL90]

Colton's mom.

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

Cloud was only a failure in terms of getting into SOLDIER and serving as a satisfactory subject for Hojo's experimentation. The latter is something anyone would hope to fail (the alternative meaning being reduced to a muttering zombie wrapped in a black shroud), and the former was negated by the revelation near the end of the game that he was stronger than anyone else ever dreamed anyway.

[Dante WolfWood]

Cloud was only a failure in terms of getting into SOLDIER and serving as a satisfactory subject for Hojo's experimentation. The latter is something anyone would hope to fail (the alternative meaning being reduced to a muttering zombie wrapped in a black shroud), and the former was negated by the revelation near the end of the game that he was stronger than anyone else ever dreamed anyway.

I believe his lack of moving on from his guilt and not accepting his past makes him a failure, in the category of being hero. A hero is not someone who is just strong and powerful, but also can put hope in people and make them feel that it is worth pushing on even when it is impossible. Cloud still acting his same gloomy way after saving the world comes off almost as if it wasn't worth it. Atleast to me it does.

[krissy]

nah he's just introverted and a little too modest

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

I believe his lack of moving on from his guilt and not accepting his past makes him a failure, in the category of being hero. A hero is not someone who is just strong and powerful, but also can put hope in people and make them feel that it is worth pushing on even when it is impossible. Cloud still acting his same gloomy way after saving the world comes off almost as if it wasn't worth it. Atleast to me it does.

This is why Advent Children doesn't count. Cloud became a ray of sunshine once he figured himself out in FFVII.

He rallied the party before the final boss by saying, "Let's mosey."

[Dante WolfWood]

I believe his lack of moving on from his guilt and not accepting his past makes him a failure, in the category of being hero. A hero is not someone who is just strong and powerful, but also can put hope in people and make them feel that it is worth pushing on even when it is impossible. Cloud still acting his same gloomy way after saving the world comes off almost as if it wasn't worth it. Atleast to me it does.

This is why Advent Children doesn't count. Cloud became a ray of sunshine once he figured himself out in FFVII.

He rallied the party before the final boss by saying, "Let's mosey."

well, I guess it is just how you look at it I suppose. I haven't played ff7 in awhile, but I dont remember cloud still being completely over himself during the final chapter of the game. yes he did have a new resolve and he wasnt going to back down, but there still seem to be a studder in his step.

also, its if you consider AC or not. I take AC as canon because it is by the developers of SE. some people might not. I wont gig anyone for not accepting it, but it is still a factor nonetheless.

and even if it is just based off of ff7, it still a question of who is the better hero?

A underdog failure who comes on top?

or a courageous young knight called to arms by his destiny?

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

Someone who's been haunted by the shame of his own weakness to the point of his conscious mind unraveling, only to delve into his psyche and discover that he'd been completely wrong about himself: when it was most important, he had been strong. Self-doubt bested by internal redemption.

Or, someone who gets interrupted from sleeping in one day to go become a hero, which he does, immediately, because that's what fate says.

[Raistlin]

This is why Advent Children doesn't count. Cloud became a ray of sunshine once he figured himself out in FFVII.

At the end of disc 2 with like 10 minutes of story left.

He rallied the party before the final boss by saying, "Let's mosey."

Yeah, just another negative for him.

[KentaRawr!]

Link saves Hyrule, but Cloud saved the woooorld, man!

[Madame Adequate]

Cloud. I wouldn't care if all he said was word-for-word lifted from the Nuremberg Rallies, the fact that he says a word makes him superior.

Both are, however, equally beloved by me when Rule 63 comes into play.