I am going to admit it; when I first heard about this game, I went completely insane with both anxiety and delight. I was terrified that Square Enix was going to butcher the prequel to one of the most beloved games of all time. Even so, I bought it the day it came out, crossing my fingers and hoped for the best.
The game didn’t disappoint.
As of September 30, 2008, Square Enix announced that Crisis Core had sold over one and half million copies of the game, and it’s easy to see why. Crisis Core was as pleasing to the eyes as it was to the heart. The game explores the past of Zack Fair, a first class SOLDIER, and gives answers to questions the fans of Final Fantasy the world over had been asking for years.
The combat system for Crisis Core is both inventive and refreshing. You select your mode of butt-kicking at the bottom of the screen, be you attacking or using fire materia to toast your enemies. It’s pleasing to fans of the original game in the sense that they kept roughly the same materia system, but jazzed it up and made it live-action combat instead of turn based.
While in battle, a slot machine-like mechanism, the DMW, has been added. If you get three character faces line up, Zack performs a special move. If three numbers line up, your materia, or even your level, will increase. Status boots are common with the DMW as well, if no pictures or numbers line up. The ‘No MP cost’ effect can sure come in handy when you’re fighting a mechanized foe and simply want to nuke them with a Thunder spell.
Crisis Core is pleasing both in the visual and audio departments. The chosen voice cast seems to fit well enough – Zack’s enthusiasm was caught well – and the cutscenes are something you wouldn’t expect to see on a hand-held gaming system. Beat a side mission and hear the ever-familiar victory theme; songs from the Final Fantasy VII are sprinkled throughout, though they’ve been given a bit of an upgrade.
Beat the game once for the story, then beat it again with New Game Plus and try to do all of the side missions. Trust me; it’s more addictive than you’d think.
Highlights:
-Great visuals and catchy music make for a pleasing play-through
-Decently picked voice cast fit the characters and the moods set in the game
-Tons of side missions to beat, with difficulties ranging to very easy to very hard
-A Prequel that delivers answers, yet opens doors for newer generations to enjoy the saga
Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core
System: PSP
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Find: Goozex
All reviews are based on final retail code unless otherwise noted.
Want to know more about the game? Just ask! We love to hear ourselves type, and might even say something vaguely resembling an answer to your question(s)…
July 30th, 2009 at 4:16 am
I want to play this game so badly! I have heard great things about it. (Runs to goozex)
July 30th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
This game’s biggest shortcoming is its stunted longevity. I wanted to spend more time with the characters, especially Aerith, and then it’s all over just as I was getting into it.
They tried to pad it with the side missions, but I think the story could probably be completed in five hours if you skipped anything extra. Still, it was GREAT while it lasted.
August 2nd, 2009 at 1:25 am
Argh damnit, I need a PSP! Anyone want to donate to the “let’s get WITA caught up with gaming systems” fund? :O
August 2nd, 2009 at 12:57 pm
WITA, I had to borrow my brother’s PSP to play this one. we need to get pretty GEN PSP’s made!!!