Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Final Fantasy VII" in English language version.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)This was Nomura's first shot as a design lead, and he attacked it. VII was shaping up as a dark game, and his first design for chief protagonist Cloud Strife was a slick, black-haired kid to contrast uber-villian Sephiroth's silver mane. Unfortunately, Cloud just didn't look very heroic. A spiky blonde hairdo lightened him up and kept his prickly nature intact, and the colossal sword by his side was met with instant approval...
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)This was Nomura's first shot as a design lead, and he attacked it. VII was shaping up as a dark game, and his first design for chief protagonist Cloud Strife was a slick, black-haired kid to contrast uber-villian Sephiroth's silver mane. Unfortunately, Cloud just didn't look very heroic. A spiky blonde hairdo lightened him up and kept his prickly nature intact, and the colossal sword by his side was met with instant approval...