Cloud Strife's aspirations were that to meet and surpass that of his predecessor, Sephiroth. After the War, Cloud entered SOLDIER, and from that our story begins. Or does it? Cloud, our hero and somewhat of a memory basket case struggles to put the broken pieces of his past together on what starts out as a simple mission with the rebellious thorn in ShinRa's side, AVALANCHE. As the game continues on, Cloud becomes more then a vital part in this web that is his mysterious "5 years ago," as he struggles to find himself as well as save what is a rapidly dying planet. Are you ready to unearth the secrets buried in these hero's memories?

Barret Wallace is more then just a strong arm. Activist and Father, he's not always eloquent or poised, but his strength and his determination have more than fueled himself for the trails of wheeling and dealing in Midgar as well as being the leader of AVALANCHE. What begins as a simple reactor mission morphs into something more, this community leader is faced with some hard hitting decisions.

Tifa Lockheart was simply a bar mistress living in Midgar, managing her bar with the motley crew of AVALANCHE. Hailing from the town of Nibelheim, this beautiful martial artist seems to have a more then a vested interest in Cloud's well being at their first meeting at the train station. From the beginning she seems to let on much more then she knows, her caring attitude towards her childhood friend Cloud seems to stem from a deeper well then just being old buddies. With a strong punch and an even stronger will, she sticks by the groups side vehemently as they begin to take on ShinRa, and ultimately, the world.

Aeris Gainsborough is seemingly a soft spoken, mild mannered and ethereally beautiful flower peddler in the unforgiving streets of Midgar. As the game evovles, her piece in this massive puzzle becomes a key one. The heritage that runs through her veins is not the lifeblood of a normal, her blood is that of an Ancient. She, as well, is within the tangle of that of the dominating Makou abusing conglomerate ShinRa company, being as they want her to lead them to the elusive Makou treasure trove that is the Promised Land. Slowly, but surely she gets becomes entrapped in the complicated love triangle between herself, Cloud and Tifa.

Red XIII, (or Nanaki, as he is called by his people in Cosmo Canyon,) is the "test" subject of the ShinRa's main scientist Hojo. Even through going a demeaning experiment, nothing could tarnish this 48 year olds vast intelligence and knowledge of the world. Often quiet, speculative and withdrawn into his own thoughts, deep inside Red XIII is a possessiveness to protect his people and his Grandfather, Bugenhagen, who he loves and cherishes dearly.

Cait Sith rides around on the back of a large stuffed Mog that he somehow brought to life. Innocent and deceitfully friendly, he first encounters Cloud at Gold Saucer and insists on reading his fortune, forcing himself on the party and immediately making himself comfortable with his fellow traveling mates. But behind the unsuspecting toys eyes like a secret that is too large to be ignored.

Cid Highwind is the tough talking, spear weilding cigarette toting dreamer whose hopes are high enough to breach the ends of space. His story somewhat begins when ShinRa tarninshed his dream of getting his Rocket #26 off into the boundaries of sky. He blames that loss on Shera, the woman who dedicatedly lives with the candid pilot. But what lies behind this cerulean blue eyed is a spirit that was meant to fly. Nothing can stop his sights on setting off in space. Nothing.

A word that goes hand in hand with the young Wutainese ninja Yuffie Kisaragi is "materia." The young theif who hails from the town turned tourist attraction, her particular dream is to restore her town back to its original greatness. With a go-get-'em-attitude and an insatiable attitude for excitement and life, her sticky fingers often get the young girl in trouble. Behind her budding immaturity lies a agile fighting force that is meant to be reckoned with. Despite her hate for ShinRa who decimated Wutai during the War, she still is highly driven to restore her and her Father's pride and joy -- Wutai.

Vincent Valentine stays to himself in his own private hell, confined to a velvet coffin in the basement of the ShinRa mansion. He often seeks ways of absolution from his "atoning sins," thinking himself responsible for the atrocities commited to his own body by ShinRa's demented scientist, Hojo. A mystical man with an infalliable shot and soft spoken, anguish ridden words, is like a silent storm in the groups' ranks.

Sephiroth, with a unique, brutal fighting style and his weapon, -- Masamune -- a long sword that only he can use, was a legend in his own right, idolized by man young men during the time of war. His files are kept secret by ShinRa Inc, obscured and kept shrouded in mystery, except to those few who share some of the same elements of his tortured past.