I always assumed that the way FF VII played out that Tifa and Cloud were official but you had a choice whether to have them get along together or not if you hated the idea of them being a couple, giving the player more choice and freedom into the storyline.

But then Case and Tifa and Advent Children and I got so confused and then stopped caring and then just shipped Cloud with Zack because they have a good relationship and good chemistry.

It's like SquareEnix wanted us to become crazy insane shippers that fought for their choosen pairing so we would still remember FF VII so they most likely tease us all on and give out hints on purpose. Meh it's all marketing tactics imo.

@ Shorty

Yeah but the point is no matter what Aerith did how how much impact she put on the storyline and the characters the only thing players and fans remember her is being stabbed by Sephiroth. Aerith could of fought Sephiroth in battle and won and then be killed by a monster, people would still only remember her for her death and her dieing.