Final Fantasy VII Remake brought our favorite characters back with a new take on the epic story. But that wasn’t the only nuances here. The voice actors were switched as well with Code Christian taking on the role of Cloud. What does he think of his twist on the iconic soldier 1st class can be seen here thanks to Comicbook.com
“In preparing for the audition, the first piece of reference material I used was the depiction of Cloud in Advent Children. Watching this and hearing Steve Burton’s interpretation of the character rooted a lot of my reimagining of the character tonally. Since Cloud has never officially been voiced in the original Final Fantasy VII before, I wanted to ensure my performance captured what fans were already accustomed to, while breathing a new essence into the character to both pay homage and pave a new way for fans moving forward. I never actually played the original game, but I have watched through the gameplay on YouTube. Cloud, as a character, is very rich and complex. There’s an abundance of emotional layers to explore and portray. We forget that this is still a kid, a human, with very human thoughts and experiences in this fantasy world. As an actor, it’s a joy to depict such a character
It was very much a symbolic passing of the torch. I have nothing but wonderful things to say about Mr. Burton and how much of a class act he is. This man let go of a character he essentially birthed and welcomed me with open arms. He vouched for me and encouraged the fanbase to trust me to carry on the legacy of Cloud Strife. I really hope I get the chance to meet him and personally thank him. He has no idea how much this meant to me or how much confidence he inadvertently gave me when I so desperately needed it.
His portrayal of the character nailed so many things, therefore, a lot of what he did I used as inspiration. He captured a guarded hero plagued by his past trauma, scared to love and connect as he once did before, desperately, like most of us, seeking his own sense of self and identity. One major component I felt necessary to explore was vulnerability. I wanted to humanize Cloud a bit in this game and bring life to the very real feelings and emotions this young man experiences.
That’s true! We didn’t get to interact much directly, but if we were lucky, sometimes we got another character’s recorded lines to actually play off of. This cast did such a phenomenal job individually, that cut together, the chemistry between characters is inevitable. Some of my favorite interactions for Cloud are with Barret and Tifa.
I saw a very early version of this spectacular HoneyBee Inn dance before the release! When we were recording they had an animation render for about 20 seconds of the dance. “Seeing the more than 6-minute sequence come to life in the game was spectacular! They didn’t give me the opportunity to contribute any moves, but I’ll be fighting for that chance if there’s a next time.
Playing a character of complexity is any actor’s dream. I wanted to humanize Cloud as much as possible and create an empathetic dialogue/connection between him and the player.
I wanted to emphasize that amidst saving the planet and being a badass ‘soldier’, Cloud is still a young man seeking his own identity. Burdened by trauma in the past, his ‘stand-offish-ness’ can be seen more as a defense mechanism. Often those that are closed off from the world have a reason to be, exploring this life in Cloud really shaped the character. Although a bit more challenging to depict, Cloud’s emotional journey throughout the game was one of the most fulfilling aspects. He has quite a story to tell and I’m humbled I was able to partake in telling it.
Personally, I believe Tifa had the biggest impact on Cloud’s journey. Again, with the detail! It’s truly incredible to see the difference between the original and the Remake. With the updated graphics and voice acting you’re able to be a part of the story in way like never before. Additionally, I feel there’s a much stronger emotional connection to the game due to these immersive qualities. In this scene, Aerith shares with Cloud who her first love was. This triggers a painful flashback of insight Cloud has been experiencing throughout the game. I feel this scene echoes a feeling of safety, understanding, and encouragement of vulnerability seen countless times between Aerith and Cloud.
I’ve seen an overwhelming response. Most positive, some negative. I imagine the creators and everyone involved in this Remake knew it would be impossible to please everyone. It is so difficult to remake a fan favorite and it’s a very thin line between doing too much and not doing enough. With that being said, it seems most have welcomed the game with open arms, it’s special to see such an iconic game take a new life
Hahaha! Crazy how I’ve already thought of this. y Limit Break would be called ‘Now You See Me’ and would involve Cloud dealing quick devastating blows in rapid succession, so fast it appears like he’s teleporting until he suddenly disappears. After a brief moment, he comes flying out of the sky for a final downward attack.”
Article:https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/final-fantasy-vii-remake-cloud-cody-christian-interview-spin-icon/
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