Aeris had the best limit breaks in the game, in my opinion. One of her limit breaks, she raises everyone else's limit gauge to full, making them deal tons of damage usually.

For her final limit break, she makes everyone invincible for a LONG time, and also healing them to full health so that they can take hits even after it wears off, but by then you'll have obliterated the enemies.

She has the best magic and spirit in the game by far, and a HUGE MP pool.

Aeris not useful? Hardly!

And you're telling me she had no personality? She had as much personality as anynoe else in the group, in fact up to the point where she dies, she is prety much considered one of the main characters.

Her death scene was beautifully executed, as ryukishi exclaims pretty well in his post. I know the graphics aren't fantastic, but for 1997 they were amazing.