Well I'll like to point out why I pick these characters or why I don't.

Barret is good, yes, but his missing score weapon sucks when you are loaded with master materia. This is because Master Materia has no AP and that's what the missing score deals damage with... AP.

Same with Vincent (another long range character). His Death Penalty deals damage due to how many enemies he's killed with it. I think it takes too long to raise it up plus his limit breaks suck imo. This is just my word, but I like to have control over the character.

Red XIII is a good character but I don't like his limit breaks too much. I'm not sure about what his weapon details are for unlimited moon, but I know that it's neither good or bad to me. Its not crapped out like Missing Score or Death Penalty. His limit breaks just isn't worth it compared to other hard hitters like Cloud, Barret, Cid, Tifa, or Yuffie (Doom of the Living). He does have a second level limit break that deals multiple damage but it isn't all that great.

Tifa is a good character but I have a problem with both her ultimate weapon and her limit breaks. In order for you to do max damage with her ultimate weapon you need to have a good size limit bar. Then when you use the limit break you will be doing petty damage until you get the bar up again. About her limit breaks, I hate missing and not getting the full 7 hits. Other characters are a sure thing but not hers. Its a little unfair.

Cait Sith only has two limit breaks and his weapon is based the same as Ultima Weapon, more HP = more damage. I dislike slots and dice is not all that great either. Plain and simple... I just don't like this character.

Cid is a Bad@$$ to me. Not only is his character in the game pretty good, Although he is the last character introduced if you get yuffie and vincent the moment you can. Anyways his ultimate weapon is based off the MP he has. If you have a high MP his weapon will do Max damage. His level 3 and 4 limit breaks can do crazy damage. Its a little random with a group of bad guys but on a one on one fights his limits can kill straight out. So I pick him as one of my main party members.

Okay now every one will have to pick cloud. So I'll skip him and just say that he is in my main party... duh.

Yuffie has a crap last limit break but her second level 3 limit break is one of my favorites in the game. I love her ultimate weapon cause it seems to me that there is no penalty that I've ever seen. If anything its got a boost. It can morph without dealing less damage then attacking. Atleast for me. The point is... Yuffie is in my main party of three.

So to answer its Cloud, Yuffie, Cid, Barret, Tifa, Red XIII, Vincent, Cait Sith in that order. Aeris would be up there if it was possible.