RSS
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
There's no crisis to be found within this game.
March 28, 2008 | 1:55 PM PSTby: Matt Furtado
Kombo's Review Policy: Our reviews are written for you. Our goal is to write honest, to-the-point reviews that don't waste your time. This is why we've split our reviews into four sections: What the Game's About, What's Hot, What's Not and Final Word, so that you can easily find the information you want from our reviews.
What the Game's About
Everyone knows the story of Final Fantasy VII and the ventures of Cloud and the group of Avalanche as they fought against the tyrannical Shinra Electric Company. What you don't know is the events that led up to that story and what happened within Shinra and Soldier that led to the catastrophic events of the Nibelhiem massacre. Despite only having a minor sequence in Final Fantasy VII, Zack actually had a major impact on the character of Cloud, which is fully explained with Crisis Core. Aside from seeing the story unfold through the eyes of Zack, you also get to see a side of Sephiroth that you never thought you would -- a likable human side. There is no denying that this is a powerful and moving title that Final Fantasy VII die-hards – and perhaps even those of us who aren't the biggest FFVII fans – will instantly fall in love with.
What's Hot
We'll start with the character of Zack. While Zack had such a minor role in VII, you wouldn't expect him to turn out to be one of the deepest and most interesting characters in any Final Fantasy title released, thus far. What makes Zack standout so much is how his character interacts with others throughout the game. Zack shows a lot of passion for his beliefs and gains loyalty from others because of it. Because of Zack's undying commitment to duty, friends, and loyalty to others, you'll become connected not only to him but the supporting characters as well. There is a lot more we could go into about Zack and his character, but even the smallest bit of information could potentially spoil some of the more appealing aspects of the game and the later story twisting segments.
Crisis Core
Aside from Zack, the game really shows the human side of Sephiroth through his interactions with Angeal, Genesis, and Zack. Sephiroth reminisces several times throughout the game about the "fun" he, Angeal, and Genesis would have together in the company training grounds. By showing this more human side of Sephiroth, you begin to understand why he suffered from such a major mental breakdown in the Nibelhiem incident. Aspiring Psychologists could enjoy trying the diagnose Sephiroth and Genesis throughout this title, because both come to a realization of their being and worth to Shinra, which causes both character's mental breakdowns.
To help convey the feelings portrayed throughout this epic tale, the game features staggering graphics and cut-scenes. Every little bit of the game is highly detailed and compels you into the story that much more. Everything is remarkably well-done and the use of in-game cut-scenes and prerendered cinematics has never been used this proficiently before. Square-Enix makes use of dramatic angles and camera zooms to capture the emotion on the faces of the main character during specific parts of cut-scenes. Aside from using such amazing camera direction and movie quality angles, the game has brilliant cinematography. There is one scene between Sephiroth, Angeal, and Genesis that is so well done that you'll be in awe. The quality is further enhanced by the voice acting. It is rare to find such a high pedigree of English voice-overs on the RPG scene. Each actor captures their characters flawlessly and delivers the perfect sense of emotion and tone given the situation. Thanks to a strong voice-acting cast, the story becomes that much more enjoyable. Sephiroth has the perfect smug sound to match his look and level of confidence, whereas Zack has that childish arrogance undertone delivered in a moderately youthful voice.
On top of great cut-scenes and voice-acting, the music really helps add emotion to the title. Before even starting the game, you are greeted by a peaceful song played on a piano that just tranquilly tells you this is going to be an emotional experience. All the music is so well-orchestrated that you'll turn up the speakers to full volume. Crisis Core has one of the most powerful musical soundtracks ever heard in any Final Fantasy title. Never before have we been so moved by game music as we have with this game. Additionally, many familiar tracks have returned with some minor remixes to fit the tone of the game better.
Crisis Core
One of the biggest changes made in this installment is the battling system. Crisis Core isn't your typical RPG; it's instead an Action RPG – with an emphasis on action. RPG fans fret not because the game still uses many of the same elements found in FFVII, like materia, limits, summons, etc. The difference is how they are used this time around, though. Battles are still completely random during the main story, but that is pretty much the only similarity you'll find between Crisis Core and previous Final Fantasy installments. When a battle begins you are limited to a moderately sized area to do combat in. You are free to walk around it in any fashion you deem necessary –- think Kingdom Hearts here. You'll target an enemy and from there be able to choose your course of action using a sidebar of commands. The commands consist of Attack, Items, and then your equipped materia. You'll use your L and R triggers to cycle through the available commands. From there, Zack will perform the desired action.
What makes the combat system unique is that you have total control over your actions. You can perform combination of a melee attack and then quickly follow it with a magic spell before the target even gets a chance to attack. This really makes the battle system a lot quicker and more accessible to newcomers. Aside from performing offensive gestures, you can also go on the defensive by guarding and evading. Evading is the more useful of the two defensive options, but it does come with some baggage – it costs you Action Points every time you use it.
Love it or hate it, the materia system is back again and this time offers some customization options. Square-Enix has developed a new way to use materia known as Materia Fusion. This will allow you to fuse together materia and create new spells or enhance attacks, such as the Fira Blade. There is no clear-cut method to using the Materia Fusion so it's best to experiment with different combinations to see the unique results.
Aside from the main story, which will last you roughly 20 hours, there are a whole lot of side missions to play through. Basically, the side missions come down to you fighting hordes of enemies at different locations, and at the end you receive a new materia or item to use. It may not sound like anything special, but it is one of the most addicting aspects of the game. With the fast-paced battle system, you'll be able to run through the easier missions fairly quickly, but they get difficult farther down the line. One of the hardest missions you come across fairly early on in the game is a battle with the summon Bahamut. In order to add summons to your DMW cycle you need to first battle it one-on-one and gain the necessary materia. These battles are intense and a thrill ride.
What's Not
There is a minor gripe with the new battle system, and it's in regards to the Digital Mind Wave, or DMW for short. The DMW is a slot machine that decides two of the most important aspects of the game: leveling up and limit breaks. The DMW consists of six slots: three contain character silhouettes and the other three contain numbers. As you battle enemies, you earn SP – Soldier Points – which make the slot turn. When a left and right character silhouettes match, you enter a limit-verge screen where you wait for the number slows and center character to stop spinning. If the numbers match, you may level up – only if they all hit 777 – or if two of the three numbers match up your materia equipped in the corresponding spot will level up.
Crisis Core
This is hard to understand initially, but you'll eventually come to understand the flow of the DMW better. The main problem is that the DMW is random, and you have no control over the outcome of the slot. So if you feel like you aren't leveling up quick enough, the chances are you probably aren't. On the flipside, there are segments within the game that your character's heightened emotions make it likelier that you'll level up or reach a limit break several times within a battle. So if you notice you are putting in a lot of time and not powering up accordingly, just keep treading on because you'll eventually balance out. The system is strange to come to terms with at first, but give it a chance and it'll feel like second nature. Some players may not like the idea of having no control on leveling up or limit break use, but the game does try to activate these when needed.
Crisis Core really shows off the graphical capabilities of the PSP, but it is a shame to see several of the environments so bland and lackluster. Midgar is full of life with townspeople and really immerses you in a lifelike city, but once you enter the country, everything is dull and plain. When you enter battles, you are surrounded by stagnant backgrounds that lack any type of life and it really draws back from the immersion that the rest of the game delivers. This is a very minor gripe when the rest of the game is far beyond anything else out on the PSP; nevertheless, it is disappointing to see.
One of the flaws that Crisis Core has to deal with is the fact that it is prequel to a game that came out a decade ago. Much like Star Wars Episode 3, you know the outcome already. We all knew Anakin Skywalker was going to become Darth Vader at the end of Episode 3, and Crisis Core suffers from the same dilemma. Fans of Final Fantasy VII already know Zack's fate before coming into the game, and this is kind of a turnoff knowing the ending even before playing. We know Square-Enix can't change the past, but it is a truth we wanted to point out. Luckily, there is a deep storyline behind Zack and Sephiroth, Zack and Cloud, and so many other characters that the events leading to the end keep your mind away from the inevitable truth of what is going to happen with Zack.
Crisis Core
Final Word
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is a game that every PSP owner should go out and buy. This is the most original Final Fantasy title in recent years and really delivers one of the most emotional stories -- one that even a grown man could cry over. Initially, this looked to be nothing more than fan service from Square-Enix, but they really delivered a prequel to Final Fantasy VII that can standalone and not in the shadow of its sequel. If you want a gripping story and enjoy RPGs, then this is the game for you.
What the Game's About
Everyone knows the story of Final Fantasy VII and the ventures of Cloud and the group of Avalanche as they fought against the tyrannical Shinra Electric Company. What you don't know is the events that led up to that story and what happened within Shinra and Soldier that led to the catastrophic events of the Nibelhiem massacre. Despite only having a minor sequence in Final Fantasy VII, Zack actually had a major impact on the character of Cloud, which is fully explained with Crisis Core. Aside from seeing the story unfold through the eyes of Zack, you also get to see a side of Sephiroth that you never thought you would -- a likable human side. There is no denying that this is a powerful and moving title that Final Fantasy VII die-hards – and perhaps even those of us who aren't the biggest FFVII fans – will instantly fall in love with.
What's Hot
We'll start with the character of Zack. While Zack had such a minor role in VII, you wouldn't expect him to turn out to be one of the deepest and most interesting characters in any Final Fantasy title released, thus far. What makes Zack standout so much is how his character interacts with others throughout the game. Zack shows a lot of passion for his beliefs and gains loyalty from others because of it. Because of Zack's undying commitment to duty, friends, and loyalty to others, you'll become connected not only to him but the supporting characters as well. There is a lot more we could go into about Zack and his character, but even the smallest bit of information could potentially spoil some of the more appealing aspects of the game and the later story twisting segments.
Crisis Core
Aside from Zack, the game really shows the human side of Sephiroth through his interactions with Angeal, Genesis, and Zack. Sephiroth reminisces several times throughout the game about the "fun" he, Angeal, and Genesis would have together in the company training grounds. By showing this more human side of Sephiroth, you begin to understand why he suffered from such a major mental breakdown in the Nibelhiem incident. Aspiring Psychologists could enjoy trying the diagnose Sephiroth and Genesis throughout this title, because both come to a realization of their being and worth to Shinra, which causes both character's mental breakdowns.
To help convey the feelings portrayed throughout this epic tale, the game features staggering graphics and cut-scenes. Every little bit of the game is highly detailed and compels you into the story that much more. Everything is remarkably well-done and the use of in-game cut-scenes and prerendered cinematics has never been used this proficiently before. Square-Enix makes use of dramatic angles and camera zooms to capture the emotion on the faces of the main character during specific parts of cut-scenes. Aside from using such amazing camera direction and movie quality angles, the game has brilliant cinematography. There is one scene between Sephiroth, Angeal, and Genesis that is so well done that you'll be in awe. The quality is further enhanced by the voice acting. It is rare to find such a high pedigree of English voice-overs on the RPG scene. Each actor captures their characters flawlessly and delivers the perfect sense of emotion and tone given the situation. Thanks to a strong voice-acting cast, the story becomes that much more enjoyable. Sephiroth has the perfect smug sound to match his look and level of confidence, whereas Zack has that childish arrogance undertone delivered in a moderately youthful voice.
On top of great cut-scenes and voice-acting, the music really helps add emotion to the title. Before even starting the game, you are greeted by a peaceful song played on a piano that just tranquilly tells you this is going to be an emotional experience. All the music is so well-orchestrated that you'll turn up the speakers to full volume. Crisis Core has one of the most powerful musical soundtracks ever heard in any Final Fantasy title. Never before have we been so moved by game music as we have with this game. Additionally, many familiar tracks have returned with some minor remixes to fit the tone of the game better.
Crisis Core
One of the biggest changes made in this installment is the battling system. Crisis Core isn't your typical RPG; it's instead an Action RPG – with an emphasis on action. RPG fans fret not because the game still uses many of the same elements found in FFVII, like materia, limits, summons, etc. The difference is how they are used this time around, though. Battles are still completely random during the main story, but that is pretty much the only similarity you'll find between Crisis Core and previous Final Fantasy installments. When a battle begins you are limited to a moderately sized area to do combat in. You are free to walk around it in any fashion you deem necessary –- think Kingdom Hearts here. You'll target an enemy and from there be able to choose your course of action using a sidebar of commands. The commands consist of Attack, Items, and then your equipped materia. You'll use your L and R triggers to cycle through the available commands. From there, Zack will perform the desired action.
What makes the combat system unique is that you have total control over your actions. You can perform combination of a melee attack and then quickly follow it with a magic spell before the target even gets a chance to attack. This really makes the battle system a lot quicker and more accessible to newcomers. Aside from performing offensive gestures, you can also go on the defensive by guarding and evading. Evading is the more useful of the two defensive options, but it does come with some baggage – it costs you Action Points every time you use it.
Love it or hate it, the materia system is back again and this time offers some customization options. Square-Enix has developed a new way to use materia known as Materia Fusion. This will allow you to fuse together materia and create new spells or enhance attacks, such as the Fira Blade. There is no clear-cut method to using the Materia Fusion so it's best to experiment with different combinations to see the unique results.
Aside from the main story, which will last you roughly 20 hours, there are a whole lot of side missions to play through. Basically, the side missions come down to you fighting hordes of enemies at different locations, and at the end you receive a new materia or item to use. It may not sound like anything special, but it is one of the most addicting aspects of the game. With the fast-paced battle system, you'll be able to run through the easier missions fairly quickly, but they get difficult farther down the line. One of the hardest missions you come across fairly early on in the game is a battle with the summon Bahamut. In order to add summons to your DMW cycle you need to first battle it one-on-one and gain the necessary materia. These battles are intense and a thrill ride.
What's Not
There is a minor gripe with the new battle system, and it's in regards to the Digital Mind Wave, or DMW for short. The DMW is a slot machine that decides two of the most important aspects of the game: leveling up and limit breaks. The DMW consists of six slots: three contain character silhouettes and the other three contain numbers. As you battle enemies, you earn SP – Soldier Points – which make the slot turn. When a left and right character silhouettes match, you enter a limit-verge screen where you wait for the number slows and center character to stop spinning. If the numbers match, you may level up – only if they all hit 777 – or if two of the three numbers match up your materia equipped in the corresponding spot will level up.
Crisis Core
This is hard to understand initially, but you'll eventually come to understand the flow of the DMW better. The main problem is that the DMW is random, and you have no control over the outcome of the slot. So if you feel like you aren't leveling up quick enough, the chances are you probably aren't. On the flipside, there are segments within the game that your character's heightened emotions make it likelier that you'll level up or reach a limit break several times within a battle. So if you notice you are putting in a lot of time and not powering up accordingly, just keep treading on because you'll eventually balance out. The system is strange to come to terms with at first, but give it a chance and it'll feel like second nature. Some players may not like the idea of having no control on leveling up or limit break use, but the game does try to activate these when needed.
Crisis Core really shows off the graphical capabilities of the PSP, but it is a shame to see several of the environments so bland and lackluster. Midgar is full of life with townspeople and really immerses you in a lifelike city, but once you enter the country, everything is dull and plain. When you enter battles, you are surrounded by stagnant backgrounds that lack any type of life and it really draws back from the immersion that the rest of the game delivers. This is a very minor gripe when the rest of the game is far beyond anything else out on the PSP; nevertheless, it is disappointing to see.
One of the flaws that Crisis Core has to deal with is the fact that it is prequel to a game that came out a decade ago. Much like Star Wars Episode 3, you know the outcome already. We all knew Anakin Skywalker was going to become Darth Vader at the end of Episode 3, and Crisis Core suffers from the same dilemma. Fans of Final Fantasy VII already know Zack's fate before coming into the game, and this is kind of a turnoff knowing the ending even before playing. We know Square-Enix can't change the past, but it is a truth we wanted to point out. Luckily, there is a deep storyline behind Zack and Sephiroth, Zack and Cloud, and so many other characters that the events leading to the end keep your mind away from the inevitable truth of what is going to happen with Zack.
Crisis Core
Final Word
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is a game that every PSP owner should go out and buy. This is the most original Final Fantasy title in recent years and really delivers one of the most emotional stories -- one that even a grown man could cry over. Initially, this looked to be nothing more than fan service from Square-Enix, but they really delivered a prequel to Final Fantasy VII that can standalone and not in the shadow of its sequel. If you want a gripping story and enjoy RPGs, then this is the game for you.
February 8, 2010
