User Review: Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII

Crisis Core is a prequel to the legendary Final Fantasy VII, and comes a whopping eleven years after the original game’s release. It follows Zack Fair, a SOLDIER who befriended the spiky-haired blonde Cloud Strife.
The first thing you see when starting up the game is a beautiful FMV intro, which leads into the menu. This is my first PSP game, so I’m assuming you need a Memory Stick for each one, but make sure you have one before playing this game. Without one, you won’t be able to save, and you NEED to save.

Back on track, the game opens with Zack on assignment with his mentor Angeal (Who bears a striking resemblance to the seventeen year old) where they must take back control of a train from Wutai troops. This is a Square-Enix game, so obviously it begins with an impressive FMV. This one is rather long and assures the player that they’ll be in for a great ride.

Gameplay is fast and in real time, a far cry from traditional Final Fantasy games. While battles are still random, Zack can freely move about the battle area and the camera isn’t locked. Dodge rolling and guard are performed with the square and triangle buttons respectively, and use up AP (action points) every time they are carried out.
Commands are selected using the shoulder buttons and confirmed with X, this setup suiting the very fast pace of battle.
Actions able to be taken are determined by equipped Materia, four allowed at the beginning of the game but six later on.

Zack himself levels up, but these Materia do, too, becoming stronger every time. Levelling is random (Some say it is not but I’ve levelled up three times in one battle before) and occurs when the DMW spins triple sevens.

Ah, the DMV, or Digital Mind Wave. This is one element of the gameplay system that cannot be controlled by the player. It looks like a slot machine in the upper left corner of the screens, and constantly spins, stopping every ten seconds or so. Its performance is affected by its level, ranging anywhere from Low to Heavenly.
Different number combinations will give the player different statuses, such as Regen, Null Damage or Invincible. These are very useful at times, especially during the most difficult battles. If two numbers that match an equipped Materia match up, that Materia will level up. If three matching character mugshots appear, a Limit Break occurs.
These are exceptionally powerful attacks and provide a brief rest from all the button pressing, as something similar to a cut-scene plays before the damage is done.

There are at least a dozen Limit Breaks to be unlocked throughout the game, and not all of them are hostile. There are some that are very beneficial, putting the DMW’s level up to Heavenly or healing Zack beyond his maximum HP or MP, sometimes doubling it. These are just two of the benefits, there are more to be discovered via Missions.
Missions are sidequests, and there are over three hundred of them to keep you occupied. While most are relatively easy, there are some real challenges hidden among them. Completing Missions can pay off big time, with many rare and useful items just waiting to be found. Each one can take anywhere between four and twenty minutes, depending on the player’s skill and the Mission selected.

The story was a little short for my tastes, but it does entertain just like any Final Fantasy and reveals a lot about what happened in the seven years leading up to Final Fantasy VII.
The voice acting is rather good, and the animation is excellent. Lip synching is spot-on and the characters’ personalities really show through.

Crisis Core’s visuals are incredible considering it’s a PSP title. There are regular FMVs throughout the game and they might take the player by surprise. In-game visuals are also impressive, and look a little like those of Kingdom Hearts II.
The FMVs have a level of detail in them that rivals upcoming PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 title Final Fantasy XIII, which is exceptional for a PSP game.

There are plenty of summons in Crisis Core, including some old favourites such as Odin and Ifrit. These are as powerful if not more so than the Limit Breaks, and every time they are summoned the player is treated to some serious eye candy in the form of a brief summoning and attacking FMV.

In conclusion, Crisis Core is an excellent game and possibly the best the handheld has gotten to date. Its playtime can range from twenty to fifty hours depending on the player, and knowing it’s a Square-Enix game, is of the highest quality.
More action than RPG, Crisis Core is a game most gamers will enjoy. I recommend it as a must-buy.