Remaking a Legend: Final Fantasy Tactics Remaster Makes Cloud a Viable Party Member

For decades, Final Fantasy Tactics has been hailed as a masterpiece of the tactical RPG genre, celebrated for its complex job system, gripping narrative, and memorable cast of characters. However, even the most devoted fans will admit that one of the game’s most iconic special characters, Cloud Strife, was notoriously difficult to use effectively. His late-game arrival and a cumbersome process to unlock his signature abilities made him more of a frustrating cameo than a valuable team member. Now, with the upcoming release of the Final Fantasy Tactics remake, Square Enix has revealed that they are directly addressing this issue, promising to make the Final Fantasy VII protagonist a much more viable asset from the moment he joins your party.

The Original Cloud Problem Explained

In the original 1997 PlayStation game, recruiting Cloud was a long and winding quest that took place late in the final chapter. Once you finally had him, you were faced with another challenge: his special “Limit” abilities—which were what made him a special character to begin with—could only be used if he had the Materia Blade equipped. This unique sword was hidden in a very specific, and easily missed, treasure spot on top of Mount Bervenia. To make matters worse, the Materia Blade was a relatively weak weapon for that point in the game. This meant that players had to choose between using a suboptimal weapon to access his cool abilities or using a better weapon and making him a generic, underpowered fighter. The entire process was a frustrating puzzle that often led to Cloud being benched by players who couldn’t be bothered with the hassle.

A New Hope for Cloud: The Remake’s Fix

In a recent interview, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles director Kazutoyo Maehiro admitted that Cloud was “a little hard to use” in the original. To remedy this, Square Enix has made a crucial change: when you recruit Cloud in the remake, he will already have the Materia Blade in his possession. This simple but impactful change completely removes the original frustration, allowing players to immediately use his Limit abilities and truly appreciate his unique role on the battlefield. It’s a significant quality-of-life improvement that demonstrates the developers are listening to long-time fans and aiming to make the game a more enjoyable experience for everyone.

A New Secret Awaits

While this change fixes a major pain point, it also leaves a new question for veteran players: what about the original treasure spot on Mount Bervenia? The developers have confirmed that they have not simply left the spot empty. Instead, a new secret has been placed there for players to discover. Maehiro himself stated, “I hope that everyone will play and discover what is where the original sword was.” This subtle hint is a fantastic nod to the game’s past while also providing a new reason for players to explore every corner of Ivalice. This could be anything from a powerful piece of equipment to a new cosmetic item or a new quest, but it adds an element of mystery and reward that will undoubtedly motivate players to revisit a familiar location.

A New Era for the Classic RPG

The changes to Cloud are just one of many improvements coming to the Final Fantasy Tactics remake. The game will feature a completely new user interface, updated HD visuals, and full voice acting in both English and Japanese. It will also offer new difficulty levels and quality-of-life enhancements like faster battle speed and an autosave function. These changes, along with the promise of a more user-friendly Cloud, demonstrate that Square Enix is committed to modernizing this classic without sacrificing the strategic depth and unique charm that made it a legend. The September 30, 2025, release of Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is shaping up to be a defining moment for the tactical RPG genre and a much-needed re-evaluation of a fan-favorite character.