and in “On the way to a smile,” (Tifa’s story) it clearly talked about their relation ship. She even said
“Cloud… do you love me…?”
then he woke up and they started talking about the kids.
and even on the Denzil’s story it talked about how he needed another family and he got it.

LOVE!Tifa and cloud!!

Which is why he ultimately did not be with both. Even later on in Advent Children we don’t have the image that they are made for each other or true love partners - we get the impression that they are still good friends working together who care for each other’s livelihoods. Tifa has something for Cloud for sure…but Cloud, in all I’ve seen, he holds back rather than fully embrace Tifa the way you embrace a life partner.

You pointed out how his persona was heavily influenced by Zack…but that doesn’t invalidate the love at all. Its just a unique twist to a love story…Imagine thinking you initially care for someone because you simply cannot remember your own past, but instead find a real love blossom on its own.

Had cloud truly loved one over the other, he would done something, he would have said something.
The first part of the game it is undisputable that it focuses on his relation with Aerith. The second part of the game, after we accept the fact that won’t come back, we see a “closer” relation fostering with Tifa. Where we could control the situation, he could have moved towards both (although a date with Baret does raise the question of Cloud’s sexuality). This moving back and forth between the two, as well as allowing the option of pursuing both leaves it to be vague. It was left vague not because they want us to go crazy…but simply see that he loved both.

Sometimes I wonder how good FF7 was. Was it really better than other RPGs, or is it just a serious case of Nostalgia? That said…I still liked FF8 more *hides under a rock*