i wonder what would suit me ff7

I Wonder What Would Suit Me: A Journey of Self-Discovery in Final Fantasy VII

Final Fantasy VII is a monumental narrative of planetary crisis, corporate tyranny, and personal rebellion. Yet, woven into its epic tapestry is a quieter, more intimate thread: the universal human quest for identity. This question, “I wonder what would suit me,” echoes through the game’s mechanics, character arcs, and thematic core. It is not merely a query about equipment or roles in battle, but a profound exploration of purpose, authenticity, and the masks we wear in a fractured world.

Table of Contents

The Materia System: A Metaphor for Potential

Cloud Strife: The Fragmented Self

Aerith and Tifa: Contrasting Paths of Authenticity

Barret and Red XIII: Duty Versus Nature

Yuffie and Vincent: The Optional Selves

The Legacy of Nibelheim: Confronting the Past

Conclusion: Suiting Oneself in a World of Imposition

The Materia System: A Metaphor for Potential

The game’s iconic Materia system is the primary interactive expression of its central question. These glowing orbs represent knowledge, memory, and power, but they are inert until socketed into a character’s equipment. The player constantly asks, “What would suit this character?” Should Cloud be a relentless physical attacker, or should he wield destructive magic? Is Aerith best suited as a pure healer, or does she harbor untapped offensive potential? This customization forces engagement with each character’s latent capabilities. There is no single “correct” build; the optimal setup depends on the player’s strategy and, more subtly, their interpretation of the character. The system beautifully illustrates that identity is not a fixed state but a collection of adaptable potentials, waiting to be arranged and realized through action and choice.

Cloud Strife: The Fragmented Self

Cloud’s entire narrative arc is the most direct and tragic exploration of the theme. He begins the game projecting an identity he believes will “suit” him: a cold, elite ex-SOLDIER, a mercenary uninterested in camaraderie. This persona is a patchwork of borrowed memories and trauma-induced delusions, a suit of psychological armor he dons to survive. His journey is a painful unraveling of this constructed self. The pivotal Lifestream sequence in Mideel is not just a revelation of truth; it is the moment Cloud must actively sort through the fragments of his past and ask, in earnest, who he truly is. Rebuilding his psyche, he integrates his weaknesses, his failures, and his genuine kindness into a new, authentic whole. The suit he finally wears is not one of cool detachment, but of hard-won, vulnerable leadership.

Aerith and Tifa: Contrasting Paths of Authenticity

Aerith and Tifa present two contrasting, yet equally valid, answers to the question of self. Aerith, despite the weight of her Cetra heritage and the constant threat of Shinra, possesses a serene self-assurance. She knows what suits her: a simple flower girl’s dress, a playful attitude, and a steadfast commitment to the Planet. Her strength lies in her unwavering authenticity in the face of a world that wants to commodify or destroy her essence. Tifa, conversely, is on a parallel journey of discovery to Cloud. She wears the suit of a resilient caretaker and fighter, yet internally grapples with guilt, hidden memories, and unspoken love. Her path involves learning to voice her truths and reconcile her nurturing nature with her formidable combat skills, ultimately finding a suit that fits her complex heart.

Barret and Red XIII: Duty Versus Nature

For Barret and Red XIII, the question is framed as a conflict between imposed duty and intrinsic nature. Barret wears the suit of a vengeful revolutionary, a bombastic leader driven by guilt over Corel’s destruction. This identity, however, often clashes with his deeply compassionate role as a father to Marlene. His growth involves integrating these two selves, realizing that true strength for the planet must also protect its future—his daughter. Red XIII believes the suit that suits him is one of cowardice, a betrayal of his warrior lineage. His real journey is one of historical and self-discovery, learning the true, noble story of his father Seto. This allows him to shed the ill-fitting mantle of shame and proudly embrace his true name, Nanaki, and his destined role as a guardian.

Yuffie and Vincent: The Optional Selves

Even the optional characters deepen this thematic exploration. Yuffie Kisaragi actively wrestles with her identity as a ninja of Wutai in a world where her nation’s culture has been defeated and marginalized. Her obsession with Materia is a comedic yet poignant attempt to reclaim glory and define herself against her father’s legacy and Shinra’s shadow. Vincent Valentine is a man trapped in a suit not of his making—a literal coffin and a monstrous, genetically altered body. His quest is one of atonement and understanding, to come to terms with the past experiments that shaped him and to find a purpose beyond penitent solitude.

The Legacy of Nibelheim: Confronting the Past

The town of Nibelheim serves as the game’s crucible of identity. It is the source of trauma for Cloud, Tifa, and Sephiroth. Returning there forces each character to confront the ghosts of who they were. For Cloud, it is the site of his greatest humiliation and the genesis of his false persona. To move forward, he must literally walk through the burned shell of his past and integrate those painful memories. The past, the game argues, cannot be ignored or overwritten; a true and suitable identity can only be forged by acknowledging and understanding one’s history, no matter how painful.

Conclusion: Suiting Oneself in a World of Imposition

Final Fantasy VII presents a world where identities are imposed by corporations like Shinra, by traumatic events, by societal expectations, and by genetic destiny. Against this, the game posits the heroic act of self-definition. “I wonder what would suit me” is the starting point for every major character. The answer is never found in passive acceptance. It is forged in battle, in friendship, in the confrontation of painful truths, and in the courageous act of choosing one’s own path. From Cloud’s pieced-together psyche to the customizable Materia grid, the game insists that identity is a dynamic, active process. In the end, to save the Planet, the characters must first discover and embrace what truly suits them, not as soldiers or tools, but as complete, authentic individuals. This intimate journey of the self gives the epic struggle for Gaia its profound and enduring human resonance.

U.S. gov't enters shutdown for first time in nearly 7 years
Trump claims Canada would need to pay 61 bln USD to join "Golden Dome" system
Feature: Survivors of Myanmar earthquake find refuge in China-donated tents
Analysts criticize U.S. tariff hikes for undermining global trade order
Trump administration escalates legal battles with Los Angeles