

It is likely Cloud could have been recruited at an even younger age if he was already an established Cadet during the events of Crisis Core. The game's storyline spans seven years, leaving Cloud at 21 when he is rescued by Zack after being infused with Mako. According to the official guidebook for FF7: Crisis Core, Cloud is 15 when he appears as a recruited Shinra Cadet. While it is unclear if the prequel game's plot will still be relevant to the storyline of Final Fantasy 7 Remake, the game does offer insight into how young Cloud may have been when he enlisted. Players may actually be able to infer this information if they played FF7: Crisis Core. Related: FF7 Remake Part 2 Needs To Make LGBTQ Relationships Canon

It also raises the question of how old Cloud may have been when he enlisted into the Soldier program, and how long he spent working for the Shinra Electric Company before he finds himself in the Sector 7 Slums. There is no indication that this may have changed in FF7 Remake, making Cloud painfully young for everything that he has endured leading up to the story's primary events. According to the original official Final Fantasy 7 game guide, Cloud is listed as 21 years of age at the start of the FF7 storyline.
