For me, FFVII was the first FF game that I played. I suppose that I liked it because Cloud is smoking hot in those cinematic cut scenes. Another reason was because, like other people, I got "character sympathy". A lot of the times during the game when Cloud was feeling emotional, I would feel it too. Kinda strange but true.
I agree that Aeris/Aerith was uber annoying and should be shot in the head. I only cried when she died because Cloud did. I'm even getting teary-eyed right now just thinking about it.
Cloud's struggles, both mentally and physically, are what still draws me to the game. He kept going even when others would have given up. He fought for what he believed in. I cheered when he won, I cried when he was sad, I laughed when he was happy. For me, he became a great friend and someone to look up to.
I still play the game from time to time, to relive those moments. I spent so much of my time on that game, it became a part of me.
I get it that some people don't like that game, and that's o.k. There are some games that people rave over that I don't like.
