Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII)

Square's spiky-haired mercenary became the face of JRPGs worldwide when Final Fantasy VII launched on PS1 in 1997. Cloud's Buster Sword remains the most iconic weapon in gaming, and his identity crisis storyline sold over 14 million copies of the original game, redefining RPG narratives. Compared to #7 Pikachu's endless sunny appeal, Cloud's troubled past and emotional complexity give him a darker, more adult legacy. His Smash Bros. inclusion in 2019 drove 2 million additional game downloads in the first month, a generation-defining moment that proves his enduring relevance in modern gaming.