Cloud from 'Final Fantasy VII' joins 'Super Smash Bros.' roster

Cloud FF 7 — Cloud's appearance during CG cutscenes of "Final Fantasy VII." Final Fantasy VII PC website

Cloud Strife, the legendary protagonist from the critically acclaimed “Final Fantasy VII,” is joining the roster of “Super Smash Bros.” and he’s bringing his signature Buster Sword with him. While the fourth “Smash Bros.” game has had numerous guest characters, Cloud’s inclusion comes as a complete surprise, since there had been no prior hints to his arrival.

The revelation happened during the most recent Nintendo Direct, where they not only revealed the inclusion of Cloud Strife, but also announced another Nintendo Direct event for December. According to Comic Book, the December event will be focused on “Super Smash Bros.” so its possible that even more characters will be announced then.

It seems like Cloud isn’t completely alone either, as the video below shows that he can use summon materia to unleash the power of Ifrit and Ramuh on his opponents. Using the summon materia’s control over the elements, Cloud can literally make a hazardous environment for his enemies, setting the stage on fire or having lightning bolts rain from the sky.

The former member of SOLDIER can also reach his burst limit, just like in “Final Fantasy VII.” It seems like this gives him a power boost, as he decimates his opponents with ease in this form. The burst limit also lets Cloud use his “Omnislash” finisher, which looks devastating in “Super Smash Bros.”

Fans of “Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children” will also be happy to hear that his attire from that film will also be available for use in the game. It’s mostly just a cosmetic change, as he plays the same as his regular counterpart, but is a nice option for fans of the movie.

Currently, there’s no word on a release date for Cloud, or a price according to Kotaku. Previous downloadable content (DLC) characters like Mewtwo and Lucas cost US$3.99, while Ryu from “Street Fighter” costs US$5.99. The prices are the same for the 3DS and Wii U, so there doesn’t appear to be a consistent price range for downloadable characters.

“Super Smash Bros.” is available now for the Wii U and 3DS. The game is available in physical and digital form for both platforms.

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