Game Information | Poll Results (Sept. 1999 - Jan. 2000)

From late 1999 to early 2000, a small poll was conducted on the FFVII Citadel. Visitors were asked to fill out a form, providing info on what they liked (and disliked) about Final Fantasy VII. Almost two hundred people participated in the poll, showing it to be a moderate success. The poll was closed on the 16th of January, 2000. The final results are shown below.

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Favorite Final Fantasy VII Hero

Character Cloud Strife Barret Wallace Tifa Lockheart Aeris Gains. Red XIII Cid Highwind Cait Sith Yuffie Kisaragi Vincent Val. Zack Jessie Ans. disallowed Votes 57 4 20 27 13 17 3 6 26 1 2 5 Character Cloud Strife Barret Wallace Tifa Lockheart Aeris Gains. Red XIII Cid Highwind Cait Sith Yuffie Kisaragi Vincent Val. Zack Jessie Ans. disallowed Percentage 31% 2% 11% 15% 7% 9% 2% 3% 14% 1% 1% 3%

Comment
It wasn't much of a surprise the main character of FFVII, Cloud Strife, would be voted the most popular hero of the game. With the recognisable spikey hair and impossibly massive Buster Sword, Cloud became the famous icon of Final Fantasy VII and attracted many gamers to the RPG.

Amongst the female heroines of the game, Aeris was declared most popular, although by only seven votes. Tifa wasn't far behind, while Yuffie barely registered with only six votes.

Favorite Final Fantasy VII Villain

Character Sephiroth Pres. Rufus Prof. Hojo Tseng Reno Rude Elena Heidegger Scarlet Palmer The Weapons Pres. Shinra Sap. Weapon Em. Weapon Ans. disallowed Votes 113 17 6 7 20 1 2 2 2 5 1 1 1 1 2 Character Sephiroth Pres. Rufus Prof. Hojo Tseng Reno Rude Elena Heidegger Scarlet Palmer The Weapons Pres. Shinra Sap. Weapon Em. Weapon Ans. disallowed Percentage 62% 9% 3% 4% 11% 1% 1% 1% 1% 3% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1%

Comment
Sephiroth was voted as the most popular villain by an outright majority - 62%. Killer looks combined with a cool personality have obviously impressed many people to vote for the son of Jenova.

Runner-up was Reno of the Turks. Reno's professional conduct as a Turk through out the game must have won the admiration of a few visitors as well.

Most Attractive Final Fantasy VII Male

Character Cloud Strife Barret Wallace Cid Highwind Vincent Val. Sephiroth Pres. Rufus Tseng Reno Red XIII Palmer Ans. disallowed n/a Votes 71 4 7 18 36 11 2 5 1 1 5 20 Character Cloud Strife Barret Wallace Cid Highwind Vincent Val. Sephiroth Pres. Rufus Tseng Reno Red XIII Palmer Ans. disallowed n/a Percentage 39% 2% 4% 10% 20% 6% 1% 3% 1% 1% 3% 11%

Comment
With at least two women lusting after him, it was inevitable Cloud Strife would be voted the most attractive male of FFVII. The spikey-hair must have clearly won the hearts of many female players out there. :)

Sephiroth was somewhat behind, but made a sufficient impression to suggest evil men are also attractive in their own way.

Most Attractive Final Fantasy VII Female

Character Aeris Gains. Tifa Lockheart Yuffie Kisaragi Scarlet Jessie Aeris + Tifa Votes 68 97 9 2 4 1 Character Aeris Gains. Tifa Lockheart Yuffie Kisaragi Scarlet Jessie Aeris + Tifa Percentage 38% 54% 5% 1% 2% 1%

Comment
This contest began close, with votes for Tifa and Aeris both level. As the poll continued, Tifa began to build an eventual lead until winning an outright majority of 54%.

The popularity of Aeris was respectable at only 38%, while Yuffie registered a small 5%.

Scarlet of the Shinra was never popular, with only 1%. Many people were obviously frightened by her surgically-modified face and annoying laughter.

Most Annoying Final Fantasy VII Character

Character Yuffie Kisaragi Cait Sith Aeris Gains. Sephiroth Bugenhagen Don Corneo Barret Heidegger Palmer the Turks Tifa Lockheart Elena Cid Highwind Joe Shera Rude Reno Scarlet Vincent Yuffie + Tifa n/a Votes 88 45 15 3 1 2 3 1 8 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 Character Yuffie Kisaragi Cait Sith Aeris Gains. Sephiroth Bugenhagen Don Corneo Barret Heidegger Palmer the Turks Tifa Lockheart Elena Cid Highwind Joe Shera Rude Reno Scarlet Vincent Yuffie + Tifa n/a Percentage 49% 25% 8% 2% 1% 1% 2% 1% 4% 1% 1% 1% 2% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1%

Comment
Many characters in FFVII got on people's nerves. As you can see, the list above is quite long. However, it was inevitable Yuffie would be voted the most annoying character. Yuffie's theft of the party's materia at Wutai obviously persuaded many people to vote for her.

Cait Sith also made an impression. Many people still remember his betrayal at the Gold Saucer. In both cases, it shows betrayal only attracts spite.

Aeris suprisingly registered at 8%. A few gamers must have found her cuteness revolting.

Most Compatible Character with Cloud

Character Aeris Gains. Tifa Lockheart Yuffie Kisaragi Sephiroth Barret Votes 97 73 7 2 2 Character Aeris Gains. Tifa Lockheart Yuffie Kisaragi Sephiroth Barret Percentage 54% 40% 4% 1% 1%

Comment
This represents an interesting contradiction. While Tifa was voted the most attractive female of FFVII, the majority of players found Aeris to be more compatible with Cloud. A decisive majority of 54% supported Aeris, while Tifa wasn't too far behind at 40%.

A minority supported Yuffie, but what was most surprising were the votes for Sephiroth and Barret!

Most Impressive Element of Final Fantasy VII

Element Plot Lifespan Music + Sound Graphics + FMV Battle + magic Difficulty All of above Tifa Lockheart Sephiroth Plot + battle All ex. difficulty n/a Votes 49 7 3 8 7 - 101 2 1 1 1 1 Element Plot Lifespan Music + Sound Graphics + FMV Battle + magic Difficulty All of above Tifa Lockheart Sephiroth Plot + battle All ex. difficulty n/a Percentage 27% 4% 2% 4% 4% - 56% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1%

Comment
Quite surprisingly, the majority of players enjoyed all elements of Final Fantasy VII by an outright majority of 56%. Considering the number of defects found in the game, some areas should have been found lacking. Alas, many gamers clearly loved the game so much they were willing to overlook such defects.

The second-most popular element of the game was the moving plot. Aeris' death and the ending affected at least a quarter of voters.

Most Disappointing Element of Final Fantasy VII

Element Aeris' death Music + Sound Graphics + FMV The ending The plot holes Easiness All of above Unfinished Too short Boring Sector 7 crash Pace Aeris 100 mat. limit Cloud Vincent Cloud + Tifa n/a Votes 89 7 6 27 16 4 11 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 9 Element Aeris' death Music + Sound Graphics + FMV The ending The plot holes Easiness All of above Unfinished Too short Boring Sector 7 crash Pace Aeris 100 mat. limit Cloud Vincent Cloud + Tifa n/a Percentage 50% 4% 3% 15% 9% 2% 6% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 5%

Comment
Half of all voters were disappointed with Aeris' death, which wasn't surprising. Whether this disappointment is out of sadness or spite of the game is unknown.

A significant portion of gamers also registered their disappointment with the ending. Unlike most other games, the ending of FFVII posed more questions than answers, making a few players discontent.

The rest of the votes were scattered in other areas. Some votes were mysteriously directed at minor characteristics of the game, such as the crash of Midgar's Sector 7.

Should Aeris be Resurrected?

Answer Yes No Votes 131 50 Answer Yes No Percentage 72% 28%

Comment
A decisive majority of gamers wanted Aeris to return. Almost 75% supported a re-make of FFVII which would include Aeris' resurrection. This figure wasn't surprising considering most gamers were disappointed with the Ancient's death.

A minority of 28% were content. They believed Aeris' death added drama to the game, and including her resurrection would have ruined the story.