Barret is the 35-year old leader of the rebel team known as AVALANCHE. He leads the team in a quest to stop shin-Ra's mako reactors and save the life of the planet. Although he is truly devoted to the team, Barret often regrets having to leave he young daughter, Marlene, alone or in the care of others. Barret's motives are unclear but most believe that Shin-Ra were somehow involved in the death of his wife.
Although he may not look it, Barret is one of the most versatile characters in the game. Unlike most, Barret has weapons for long and close-range combat, witch enables him to perform well in either rank. You'll want to keep Barret in the back rank most of the time. This enables him to do heavy amount of damage, without taking it in return. Avoid loading Barret up with Materia that reduces hit point and strength. You may want to use him as a damage magnet later, and if so he will have to be as strong as possible.