Summary
Cloud Strifehas had quite a journey, both onscreen and behind the scenes. The main hero ofFinal Fantasy 7, he’s an enhanced warrior with a tragic past, which even he is unaware of. Likewise, fans were initially unaware of what he even sounded like. The original game had no voice acting, so the first time that Western audiences heard Cloud speak was in the English dub ofKingdom Hearts. He was voiced by Steve Burton, who reprised the role in several sequels, crossovers, andFF7tie-ins. For all intents and purpose, he was the mainstay voice of the tortured hero. Sadly, this casting was not to last.
Final Fantasy 7 Remakeopted for a clean slate, meaning an entirely new cast for its iconic characters. Voicing Cloud was Cody Christian. He then reprised the role for the other entries in the Remake trilogy. It’s safe to say he’ll remain in the SOLDIER merc’s shoes for the foreseeable future.
As is the case whenever a character changes hands, fans love to debate who is a better fit. Both actors have their merits. However, who is truly worthy of the Buster Sword and Cloud’s mantle?
Christian is noticeably younger. In fact, he sounds like he’s still going through puberty. As unflattering as that description seems, it suits Cloud’s youthful appearance. What’s more, is that he never devolves into whiny teenage melodrama likesome otherFinal Fantasyfigures. This ability helps when dealing with the character’s past.
It’s especially appropriate in theCrisis Coreremake. Here, Cloud is a kid who’s unsure of himself and lacking any confidence. Christian is definitely more convincing at capturing that naïveté. The mainlineFF7only takes place a few years later, so fans could argue that he shouldn’t sound any different.
6Burton: Gravitas
A deep voice carries intensity and pathos
By contrast, Burton has a much lower register. His Cloud sounds older while still suiting the design. In addition, he’s not as outwardly expressive when hitting the emotional notes. One might think this defeats the purpose of voice acting, especially given the heightened emotionality of most JRPGs.
On the contrary, Burton is extremely effective. In real life, combat veterans tend to keep things close to their chest. Thus, a deep voice is more authentic for a member of SOLDIER. That’s not to say he has no emotion, though.
Burton’s restraint actually carries more pathos. His subtle nuance hints at the turmoil within rather than showing it.This approach intrigues audiences while leaving them wanting more. As a result, Cloud is a compelling man of mystery.
The fundamental disadvantage of Burton is that he often works with hokey scripts. Not only do the writers attempt to turn Cloud into Squall fromFinal Fantasy 8, but they saddle him with sappy clichés and awkward exchanges straight out of a poorly translated anime. One minute, he may engage in monosyllabic brooding. The next, he goes off on diatribes about “light vs. darkness” and cherishing his friends.These goofy lines get both laughs and cries from fans. Luckily, the developers strive to fix that issue.
Final Fantasy 7Remakeseems to overhaul its dialogue. The script is more organic and less like a silly anime. Because of that, Christian’s delivery is fairly naturalistic. Granted, a lackluster script isn’t the fault of the actors. Nevertheless, better material usually leads to a more believable performance.
As schmaltzy as the scripts can get, Burton has plenty of practice. Again,he began voicing Cloud in the firstKingdom Heartstitle, which was released in 2002. He stuck around until theFF7 Remakein 2020. That’s nearly two decades. During that time, Square Enix placed the character in a plethora of plots and scenarios:Kingdom Hearts 2,Advent Children,Crisis Core, theDissidiaseries,World of Final Fantasy, and more. This long tenure has let him familiarize himself with the hero, becoming fully comfortable with his tone and inflections. Such confidence leads to conviction.
Burton’s delivery can leave a tremendous impact with just a few words. He tackles the clunky exchanges with such passion that one has to admire his devotion. Coming from him, these goofy lines almost sound good. Of course, that’s no surprise. Much of his screen work consists of soap operas likeDays of Our LivesandGeneral Hospital. He’s learned to make the most of melodramatic material.
3Christian: Vulnerability
Emotional trauma is easy to empathize with, even from a tough merc
At the center of Cloud’s character is a frightened child who’s in awe of SOLDIER yet insecure about himself. Scared of his own past,he suffers from dissociative flashbacks and lapses in memory. He’s not even sure of who he is.
That uncertainty is more prominent in Christian’s performance. Fans feel his fear and emotional immaturity, especially during the dramatic scenes. His stern persona gives way to a higher pitch, which sells the crushing heartbreak. He’s in over his head, both physically and psychologically. In turn, players pity the poor protagonist.
This is another area where Burton’s deeper voice helps him. His tone conveys a natural intensity. It’s strong and booming with a rough undertone. These qualities make him credible as a battle-hardened warrior. He sounds like someone who’s easy to get behind. More importantly, he’s a guy whom no one wants to fight.
Whenever Christian tries to turn up the toughness, he flounders. It’s not due to any missteps on his part; his voice just isn’t intimidating. Thankfully, that’s not a problem with Burton. Audiences can tell that his Cloud is a man of action just by listening to him.
1Winner: Burton
Vocal nuance and deep conviction create a more intriguing hero
Ultimately, Burton remains the quintessential voice for Cloud. His inherent edge is worthy of SOLDIER.It gives him a deeply empowering presence, even in his lowest moments. At the same time, he doesn’t forgo the character’s emotional side.
His understated charisma makes it more poignant. He delivers the drama in a less showy fashion while betraying just enough to carry palpable weight. He comes off as a man who’s buried his demons, but he can call on them if needs be. The emphasis on implicit over explicit works wonders, as it often does with tortured characters. In short, less is more.
