toydejour - Toy Reviews Daily(ish): 01.2010

Like most people in my age group, Final Fantasy VII was the game that got me back into playing video games and more importantly, RPGs. So it's no question as to why the main character, Cloud Strife has remained so popular over the last 13 years. Though the release of numerous spin-offs & even a feature length animated film staring the cast of FF7, definitely doesn't hurt either. One of the more recent spin-off titles, Kingdom Hearts (a Disney based game that features both characters from the Magic Kingdom & the Squaresoft/Enix universes) has become hugely popular and is actually the game that this figure was released for. Though there's no mistake that many people who have never even played any of the Kingdom Hearts games will instantly pick up this amazing figure the moment they see it.

Within the last three years Square Enix has released a line of compatible figures based on the character designs from the animated movie (FF7: Advent Children) which are more true to the original game. This Cloud however has some "upgrades" if you will. The original did not have single wing design that you see here, the hip shield and most of the straps 'n' such. (Great name for a bondage website!) I usually would be offended by someone changing, or in their words; "updating" a character that I hold so close to my heart, but I've really come to appreciate the improvements on Cloud's newest figure.

The figure is one of the best I've seen in a long time. Amazing sculpting and though it's limited by some of the new additions to the figure's design, the articulation is way better than I had expected from this line. Each one of these Final Fantasy figures comes with a nifty figure stand, which is much appreciated for some of the figures that have smaller, thiner feet (I'm looking at you Vincent). The stand also allows for posing your figure in mid-air battle if you please.

Though I'm very fond of the packaging these figures come in, I might actually try to find some shelf space to keep Cloud out of the box. Though if that happens I'll probably want to bring out all of my FF7 figures like this... and that inevitably would lead to Liz reenacting the Aries death scene over and over while crying, "I hate that slut, Tifa!"

Maybe I'll keep him in box. And I totally played my game leaning towards starting a relationship with Tifa if anyone was wondering. Also, while I'm on the subject, I really don't like it when people play through these games and they change everyone's names. You know who you are. Some of my closest friends do this and it bugs the hell out of me. His name is Red XIII! Not "Bosco!" C'mon!! This renaming shit was only acceptable with Earthbound, people! Sorry, I get really worked up about important stuff like that.

It's Red XIII, dammit!

Find Cloud (or Sgt. McHippie Pants if you're naming him yourself) for sale here and here.

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Liz: I watched Sam play every second of FF7. I don't remember much about it 'cept Aries dies and Sam let me race chocobos. Oh and FF7 isn't a real game- It's a choose your own adventure movie. That game seriously lacks hand-to-hand combat, nobody dropkicks a bear or a dinosaur, and not one person slipped on a banana peel, it's just a buncha wizardry!! HOGWARTS! Gimme sewer lid throwin turtles any day!

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Plastic/Material – 5/5
Poseability – 4/5
Packaging – 5/5
Design – 5/5
Playability – 4/5
Price (value) – 3/5
Overall – 4/5