We all know that Final Fantasy VII’s dependable brawler, Tifa, is the best girl (for Cloud), despite what developer/ publisher Square Enix says, but did you know she was also the best character? By this, we mean Tifa has just been awarded the prestigious “best character” award at the Famitsu Dengeki Game Awards.
Beloved by multiple generations of gamers at this point, Tifa won the popular vote to secure the title, and she’d have gotten ours as well, beating out the likes of Astro Bot in the process. Tetsuya Nomura, who originally designed the character and now directs the Remake series, says there is far more to the character’s lasting appeal than just her striking good looks. In a statement translated by Genki on Twitter, Nomura said:
“Thank you for voting for Tifa. It has already been about 30 years since I designed the original Tifa. Even after 30 years, her getting such support is a great honour as a designer. However, a character is not just about appearance; personality is also important. I believe Tifa’s good qualities are the combination of her character, expressions, voice, movements, combat abilities and all of her other charms. The entire team worked together to create her charm, and we are truly grateful for the recognition that it has received.”
