Except that Crisis Core hadn't been invented then.... Plus the thread is about how AC and the compilation completely changed Cloud so it's extremely relevant.

In VII Zack told Clout to be a mercenary. Cloud did. Cloud then had an identity crisis and got a bit depressed when he thought he was a clone, but Tifa was able to help him and he then picked himself up, pulled himself together and defeated Sephiroth.


Then AC came around and made Cloud all sad again. If you are saying that's because Zack said some stuff to him about protecting midgar then that is a retcon just like Cloud's character change in AC. In VII his character wasn't at all emo come the closing credits and he had no reason to feel guilt about anything Zack told him.