We mostly play games for escapism but sometimes we dream of becoeming the badasses we see on television, comics, movies, etc. That was going to be Cloud's dream as s soon as he joinened SOLDIER and he did get his wish in way but at a great terrible cost. Instead of being a badass, he never made to SOLDIER, was experimented on by an mad scientist and became a hero in his own fantasy world. In a way Cloud is sort of like anyone who dreams of becoming a hero, his own life sucked and he desired to be someone special. Who wouldn't want to be like Sephiroth? Sephiorth was idolized as a hero to most young boys until Nibelhelm Incident happened and we all know what became of that. I am not sure if it is true or not but I heard on TVTropes that Cloud is a deconstruction of most RPG heroes. What do you think of this?

I think that TV Tropes Will Ruin Your Life (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TVTropesWillRuinYourLife).

:) Everyone's talking about it, everyone's into it.

But yeah, I think you're right. Cloud always wanted the attention and respect that comes from being a "badass" and grew bitter when he was ignored by Tifa and her gang.