RPG-icon-to-end-all-icons Cloud Strife is everywhere. From the original FF7 to Advent Children, Crisis Core and Dirge, and even in other spin-offs like Dissidia and Kingdom Hearts. Now he's on a live-action TV series. As seen in Battlestar Galactica's spin-off series, Caprica (which I've yet to watch btw - can't wait!), a familiar yet unmistakably-Cloudish figure appears as an Easter Egg. I spy with my eye...

You think you know the FF7 universe all the way up to, and including, Crisis Core? Studio Bent Stuff, the guys in Japan responsible for the FF Ultimania guides, is taking advantage of the upcoming release of FF7: Advent Children Complete. The FFVII 10th Anniversary Ultimania, which was more recently released side-by-side with Crisis Core: FF7, is getting an update to reflect new info released for the FF7 universe.

Right off the bat, I will say that this does not have anything to do with FF7's Cloud Strife. It could, however, be related to the Lifestream - but that already's a bit of a stretch. See, when you're talking Internet jargon, a cloud basically refers to a network of resources. Cloud computing comes in when you have that cloud sharing resources for a common goal. Yes, think Folding@Home. But what's the next step for Sony?

It'll still be a while before we get the English version of Dissidia: Final Fantasy, but it seems a lot of you couldn't wait and got a copy of the Japanese version. Here's some new info on how to get yourself a Snowboard accessory.

Think you can go against a level 45 Cloud Strife?

New Dissidia scans from Famitsu! And they aren't your usual weekly character spotlight either. With the Japanese release looming ever so close now, it looks like Famitsu is milking everything they can from Square Enix: this Dissidia feature is huge. Like... Huge huge! Tentacled baddies, geostigma'ed dudes, some fanservice for the females, EX modes and the lot of 'em, plus... probably the greatest secret of all: FFXII getting some representation in Dissidia!

*Update* Epic translations finally surface!

FF7-purists (meaning those who believe that the spin-off movies and games weren't FF7-worthy), rejoice! Finally, Cloud Strife and Sephiroth make it to the magazines! Shonen Jump has published their Dissidia: Final Fantasy feature, putting the FF7 characters in the limelight.

Square Enix's Dissidia: Final Fantasy is catching the attention of a lot of gamers. Being a tribute to 20 years of FF games, this cross-over title for the PSP looks like it's got a lot to offer. Join us as we delve deep into the confirmed (and not-so-confirmed) details of the game: story, characters, and whatnot. Heck, we might as well take a walk down the memory lane of yester-decade's Final Fantasy games while we're at it! Keep your eyes peeled, you just might find Valkyrie Profile's Lenneth doing a cameo!

We can always trust Square Enix to capitalize on the recent release of its spin-off to the famous Final Fantasy VII title, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. The company, in collaboration with Play Arts, will be featuring miniature action figures of Cloud Strife and several other characters at the upcoming New York Comic Convention 2008 this weekend. You can take a look at a preview of the Cloud figurine in our full article.

Our friends in Japan are just exactly three days away from getting their hands on Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. We will really be honest with you now because we're pretty sure that we are all on the same boat - we're jealous of them because Square Enix has yet to confirm if the game will be available in English-speaking territories.

To help alleviate our suffering, here are nine new videos for Crisis Core. Some of these are cut scenes featuring much-loved and important characters such as Zack Fair, Genesis, Angeal Hewley, Lazard, and Sephiroth. Two separate video clips are dedicated for Cloud Strife and eye-candy Aerith Gainsborough (God rest her soul).

As much as we enjoyed watching these cut scenes despite them being in Japanese, we find the last couple of videos highly important as they show how the new Crisis Core: FF VII features work like the new battle system and materia system. Have fun!

See the rest of the videos after the jump!

We still have no word if Square Enix is planning to release Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII in other markets aside from Japan but the last we look, September 13 the Japanese release date is still a go. To compensate, here's the opening cut scene for Crisis Core from QJ.NET reader EGC.

This fourth entry in the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII series is very crucial as the game focuses on the events of Nibelheim. Here, we get to see 1st Class SOLDIER Zack Fair as well as Cloud Strife when he was still a Shinra Guard. In terms of gameplay, we're pretty sure that you will all be looking forward to the new battle system known as Digital Mind Wave.

On a hopeful note for our readers, a previously released trailer for Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII might have hinted on an English release for the game as the credits in the said clip were done in English. Apart from that, there's no other form of confirmation about the matter...yet.