Home Games Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII

FFVII: Crisis Core

RPG
Releases: 04.25.08
Square Enix
Square Enix
ESRB: Teen

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII

Hold on to your Buster Sword. FF VII is on the PSP . . . and it is good.

by Sarah Schutz

Most days my totally stellar Darth Vader Star Wars Special Edition PSP Slim sits, covered in dust in its sacred spot in my nightstand, only to be pulled out for the rare new PSP game release worthy of attention or for the occasional car trip (although Professor Layton has recently claimed those). While I oooohed and ahhhed over the accomplishment that was Chains of Olympus, it still didn't feel like a complete console game - and God of War was the one license I thought would truly command the PSP's power. There was no way that the world of Final Fantasy VII could ever be recreate, and especially not on a mobile device. I was wrong.

While the gameplay and graphical vision of the Final Fantasy series has been reinvented over the years, the spirit of the game has steadily remained true (aside from Final Fantasy X:2 and a few similar less inspiring sequels). With Final Fantasy XII's turn away from the series' turn-based gaming roots, gameplay seems up for grabs, with the implied promise that the internal RPG structure will remain true to its roots. Crisis Core keeps that promise. The game is in no way a "portable version" of its console pedigree. Crisis Core is a complete PSP game that successfully builds on the Final Fantasy storyline without diminishing quality for size. Crisis Core uses, essentially, sped up turn-based gameplay combined with action controls. While you still have timed control over spells, special moves and item usage, it all happens in real time and much more rapidly than its predecessors that allowed you to go out for a quick snack. Extensive item and equipment sorting and Materia blending allow you to customize your fighting abilities, choosing the style of gameplay that suits your skills. While the fighting can get repetitive as is symptomatic of the Final Fantasy series, the various forms of fighting, immersive storyline and outstanding presentation quickly lead you to forget your complaints.

Crisis Core is a prequel to all that happens before Final Fantasy VII, so if you're a newcomer to the series, you won't be entirely lost, but understanding this game from the original Final Fantasy VII makes for quite a stunning experience. As you witness the stunning visuals and voice acting coming from your tiny PSP and engage with the eloquent gameplay, you'll forget this wasn't meant for the big screen. You'll find yourself wholly satisfied with the gaming experience even though it takes shape in a much smaller form.

Complete Final Fantasy game that fits in your pocket

Those tired of the series may be too stupid to care

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