Cloud

Cloud (クラウド, Kuraudo) is a downloadable newcomer in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U representing the Final Fantasy universe, being the sixth third-party character. He was announced right before the end of the Nintendo Direct of November 12th; and much like Ryu, he is packed with his themed stage, Midgar.

Cloud was released in a bundle with Midgar after the Direct on December 15th, 2015. The bundle costs $5.99 for one version of the game and $6.99 for both.

He makes a return in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, being playable for free. He is the 55th character unlocked.

Trivia

 * Before the release of Sephiroth, Cloud was the only character to remain fully voiced by a Japanese voice actor in Ultimate, as Marth and Roy received English voices during the transition from 3DS and Wii U to Ultimate.
 * Cloud is the first newcomer in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U that is from the 90s, as his game was released in 1997.
 * Cloud's pose in his official artwork in Smash Bros. mimics his pose from his official artwork from Final Fantasy VII. Additionally, in his Advent Children costume, his artwork mimics his pose from his official artwork from Dissidia Final Fantasy, which in turn is a modified version of his original artwork.
 * Cloud is the first character from Square-Enix to appear in the Smash Bros. series.
 * He is notable as Final Fantasy VII never came to any Nintendo systems, although the game was initially planned for the Nintendo 64 before moving to the Playstation.
 * Cloud, however, did appear in the music spinoff, Theatrhythm Final Fantasy, and its sequel, Curtain Call, for the Nintendo 3DS, as well in Kingdom Hearts: Re:coded for the Nintendo DS. His first appearance on a Nintendo console was in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, for the Game Boy Advance, and his most current appearance is in Final Fantasy Explorers for the Nintendo 3DS.
 * Cloud's addition to Smash Bros. marks his fourth appearance in a fighting game, the first being Ergheiz: God Bless the Ring, released in 1998 for the Playstation, and the others being the three installments of Dissidia Final Fantasy (the first two being on the Playstation Portable and the third being on arcade machines).
 * Cloud is the first and only character to have his own post-battle results theme that plays after his victory fanfare instead of the usual theme. His victory theme from Final Fantasy VII is followed by the results theme of the original game, which overlaps the default Versus results theme. This will not happen if he wins a Tourney Mode.
 * Cloud's announcement, "Storms Into Battle!", is a joke referencing his name, as some protagonists of the Final Fantasy games bear names that have a relation or motif with weather (i.e. Cloud, Squall, Tidus).
 * Cloud's dashing animation is a reference to the gliding movement system seen in Dissidia Final Fantasy and its sequels.
 * It could also reference his dashing animation upon attacking during battles in the original Final Fantasy VII.
 * He is the seventh character in the game that dashes by floating over the ground, after Bowser Jr., Rosalina, Palutena, Meta Knight, Charizard, and Mewtwo.
 * Cloud's intro animation is a possible reference to Omnislash Version 5, an attack he used against Sephiroth in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, where he slashes Sephiroth multiple times in the air before landing abruptly on the ground while his sword falls on his hand.
 * He also can use the very same attack in Dissidia Final Fantasy, where the ending animation resembles his Smash Bros. intro as well.
 * Despite having been voiced in English by Steve Burton in other media, Cloud retains his Japanese voice actor (Takahiro Sakurai) for all regions of Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U, being the only non-Fire Emblem character that has the same voice in all versions.
 * He is also one of three characters in Smash Bros. to feature a Japanese voice actor in both the Japanese and localized version of the game, the others being Marth and Roy.
 * Despite having a very unique moveset in Dissidia Final Fantasy, none of these attacks are featured or inspired by anything in Smash Bros. However, his Shield Stance, double jump animation and dashing animation does resembles his ones from Dissidia.
 * Cloud's ability to wall jump may come from Dissidia Duodecim, as it was an ability that can be used by all characters.
 * Braver is the only Limit Break that is not part of Cloud's Special Attacks, but rather one of his normal attacks.
 * Meteorain is his only Limit Break not featured in any attack.
 * The green hue present in most of his sword attacks is a reference to the Mako Energy Cloud and other members of SOLDIER are infused with in order to enhance their abilities. The Mako Energy is a central plot point in Final Fantasy VII, being the condensed energy from the Lifestream, the flow which keeps the planet Gaia alive.
 * Much like in Dissidia, Cloud's idle stance in Smash Bros. looks similar to Zack Fair's stance in Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core.
 * Much like in Dissidia, the design of Cloud's Buster Sword is exactly like the original Final Fantasy VII, as opposed to sporting the more detailed design by other Compilation of Final Fantasy VII titles.
 * Gameplay-wise, Cloud's trailer is the longest of all trailers in the game, and features pretty much his entire moveset except for his Getup Attack, Ledge Attack, Pummel, Forward, Up and Down Throws.
 * Cloud's dizzy animation could be a callback to his painful flashbacks and memories in Final Fantasy VII.
 * Cloud is the first third-party character with an Alternate Costume that changes his character model.
 * Cloud is the first third-party swordsman.
 * Cloud is the fifth swordsman to have a projectile attack, after Link, Toon Link, Robin and the Mii Swordfighter.
 * Cloud is the first character in the game whose weapon changes when his costume swap is applied, followed by Bayonetta.
 * This weapon, the Fusion Sword, is from Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, and is swapped with his Buster Sword. It does not, however, change any of his attacks or the damage delivered with those attacks, nor can they separate into their normal components as seen in the film.
 * Cloud is the second character in the series whose Final Smash is shown by name upon activation, the other being Pokémon Trainer's Triple Finish in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
 * Cloud is the first of two characters (that don't have a gender swap) to have a different portrait displayed on the Boxing Ring stage depending on what costume they are wearing. The second is Bayonetta.
 * Cloud's Classic Congratulations screen on the Wii U version shows him looking at the Shinra Headquarters in Midgar resembles the promotional image for Final Fantasy VII featuring him in front of Midgar.
 * Cloud's All-Star Congratulations screen resembles the iconic scene of the Nibelheim Incident in Final Fantasy VII, with Palutena taking Sephiroth's pose in the screen
 * Cloud is in his Advent Children attire, despite the event occurring many years before Advent Children. However, this may be a reference to how the Nibelheim Incident was featured as a flashback in Advent Children.
 * Cloud's victory theme is the only victory theme that plays the entire time the player is on the results screen.
 * This is the third time a representative from Final Fantasy crossed over with the Mario series, as Mario Hoops 3-on-3 and Mario Sports Mix featured special appearances by White Mage, Black Mage, Ninja, Moogle and Cactuar.
 * Cloud is the second character in Smash Bros. to feature sound effects during his attack animations that originated in his game of origin, the first being Ryu.
 * Cloud is the second character who has an alternate costume that has a different portrait, first being Wario in Brawl, followed by Bayonetta.