Ever since the title was first hinted of years ago, Final Fantasy VII: Crisis
Core has been the one title that PSP owners have been clamoring for. And rightly
so, considering that the original Final Fantasy VII is still one of the most
popular and beloved video games ever released. However, the moment is finally
upon us, as Crisis Core is finally hitting store shelves. No doubt many gamers
may be a little surprised at just how different the game is from the original,
but once they get over their initial shock, they will discover a great
action-RPG that does justice to its predecessor. PSP owners, the wait is over,
and Crisis Core is a blast.
As many of you already know, Crisis Core is a prequel that follows Zack, who
FFVII fans will remember as Cloud’s former best friend. The game finds Zack as a
2nd rank SOLDIER performing missions and helping to find Genesis, a
rogue SOLDIER who has been rallying people against Shinra’s cause. Along the way
he’ll meet up with classic characters from FFVII lore, including Yuffie and, of
course, Cloud and Sephiroth.
The gameplay is markedly different from the original Final Fantasy VII, but hey,
this is a different game after all. The combat unfolds in real-time, with you
having a full roster of action-oriented moves, including combo attacks, dodges,
and blocks. However, you’ll also have special materia (for those that don’t
remember, materia are small orbs that allow you to cast magic in the FFVII
universe) that you’ll be able to use, effectively letting you cast spells or
even do special melee attacks.
One of the key new elements in the game’s combat is the new slot-based special
system, called the Digital Mind Wave system (DMW, for short). For each attack
you perform or spell you cast, the slots will begin to roll, and if you can get
them into a certain pattern or match up certain characters, you’ll get a special
boost, granting you a special move or a health boost and so on.
The battles in Crisis Core are randomized, and do tend to get a little too
frequent. Luckily, they move fairly quickly, so the break in pace shouldn’t be
too much.
In another difference from the original, Crisis Core is built on a mission-based
structure. As you progress through the game, you’ll unlock new missions at the
SOLDIER headquarters. While the main set of missions will take between 15 to 20
hours to complete, there are a bevy of side-missions that you can take to keep
the adventure going. The mission structure lends itself very nicely to the
game’s portability, as you can pick up and play a single mission in a sitting if
you want.
However, while the game is as fun and deep as you’ll find in a PSP action-RPG,
Crisis Core is not perfect. The game has a problem with repetition, as noted by
the randomized battles. You’ll often be stuck fighting hordes of the same
enemies that don’t offer up much of a challenge, outside of the occasional boss
battle.
Additionally, the camera has a tendency to get caught up on objects, which can
be problematic in battles, since you lose control of it while fighting. You’ll
have to do some maneuvering in order to free it up, which can be a little
annoying at times.
However, these gripes are fairly minor considering the rest of the game, which
offers up a compelling and deep story and some truly amazing graphics. The game
is arguably one of the strongest looking titles on the PSP, easily rivaling
anything you’d see on the PS2, let alone other PSP games. The character models
look great and very detailed, and the spell animations look fantastic.
Additionally, the environments are varied and look great as well.
The sound department is also no slouch. The soundtrack is of the high caliber
that people have come to expect from the franchise, and the voice work is also
quite good.
Aside from a few issues, Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core is still a great game
and a worthy investment of time. If only for the story elements alone, fans of
the original game need to check out Crisis Core.
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Gameplay: 8.5
Aside from a few quirks like repetition and a buggy camera, Crisis Core is a
great action-RPG with some really cool gameplay elements.
Graphics: 9.5
With a high degree of polish and some fantastic art direction, Crisis Core is
one of the best looking PSP games around.
Sound: 9.0
The score is great, keeping in line with the series’ pedigree. The voice acting
and sound effects are also pretty good
Difficulty: Medium
Concept: 9.0
Crisis Core presents some great story elements and prefaces the original game
very well, offering some truly compelling and emotional moments to the mix.
Overall: 9.0
Even without the Final Fantasy VII moniker, Crisis Core would still be a great
action-RPG game on the PSP. However, the game actually adds to the original’s
universe, making it a title that fans will definitely want to check out.
