Abilities: Paradigm vs. Materia

Both characters are armed with an interesting source of abilities. Lightning comes equipped with a job systemesque Paradigm system and Cloud has his item-based Materia system.

Paradigm System
FFXIII's Paradigm system allows her to swap between predetermined party sets. Lightning specializes in Commando ( a fighting role), Ravager (a spellcasting role), and Medic (a healing role). Her stats are unaffected by changing paradgims.
Pros: Can completely change roles on the fly with no detriment to skills, HP, and such. Her summon, Odin, is very powerful, capable of changing into a vehicle.
Cons: Has only one summon, limited offensive/defensive capabilities in certain paradigms.

Materia System
FFVII's Materia system is an item-based system in which various orbs known as Materia are junctioned into equipment to change stats, spells, summons, and abilities. Cloud can technically use any combination of them.
Pros: Gives an extreme degree of flexibility, can allow you multiple sources to draw from.
Cons: Weighting down too much Materia lowers the abilities of all of them as a whole, affect attributes, can't change them mid-battle.


Edge: Materia. A very close one. However, Materia is very powerful, and if Cloud can take advantage of his strengths and come prepared with a good selection of Materia, he can become quite powerful. Plus, he has limitless spells and summons available. As long as he plans well and packs modestly, he should be pretty tough.