Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus Reviews

• Why Vincent, why?

  
  By A1EN4XAKX9LK4A on 2006-08-19
  Ah.. What have they done to you Vincent? Final Fantasy VII for the Playstation was an instant classic. Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children also received fine reviews. How then, could Dirge of Cerberus be bad? Well.. if it was done like this I guess.
  
  This game is unique to the Final Fantasy world because it is an action game, not the usual RPG. Also, it stars a side character from an earlier game which hasn't been done yet either. However, in this case change isn't good. For starters many of the guns are basically the same thing. Of course there are a few differences, but none really too noticeable. Also, the action just becomes stale after awhile. Sure, the enemies change but it's never anything special. All you really have to do is click the R1 button a few times and they all die. Not to mention, the game designers seemed to try and make it as annoying as possible. There are constant loading and saving in the middle of the game that really bogs down the action. But, even after all these saves mid-mission death takes it's toll. You can run through three parts of a four part mission, waste a bunch of time doing boring gun fighting, and then die. And sometimes when you die, they send you all the way back to the start. ...That sucks.
  
  Still, for fans of Final Fantasy the game does have some redeeming qualities. The CG cutscenes are beautiful and the story of Vincent Valentine is rather interesting. Still, when those cutscenes are just popping up two or three times every mission it can get a little tedious. Not to mention, there are load times between the cut scenes and the action. So, you have to wait through that as well.
  
  It is also good to note, that it is cool to hear voices of the characters from a game from 1997. The music isn't too bad either. But, compared to Final Fantasy games from the past it really isn't anything to write home about. Overall, this game doesn't really last too long if you go through it quickly, like I did. But, after you beat the game there are a bunch of extra missons that you can take on for fun. I would have added more value for that, but Square decided to scratch the online portion of this game. That makes the additional missions mute.
  
  A Final Fantasy fan will probably buy this game regardless of what I say. But, as a fan of the series I'd reccommend just renting it. You can easily play through the game in 5 days, and with no online or anything to make it worth keeping, the replay value isn't great. Dirge of Cerberus delivers on telling a story of a very popular side character, but fails at actually creating a decent shooter.
  
  
  

• Amazing cut scenes and main character - but not well developed

  
  By A3V6Z4RCDGRC44 on 2006-09-03
  In an odd twist, the Final Fantasy series has "gone backwards" to expand on Final Fantasy VII. Latching onto a minor character - Vincent Valentine - we now find out what happened 3 years later.
  
  Vincent is older than the typical Final Fantasy Teen character - more along the lines of Auron from FFX. He loves to dramatically swirl his cape as he moves. He is dark, brooding, and ruthlessly efficient in his attacks. I like all of this.
  
  The cut scenes are simply *gorgeous* at times. The movements of characters is just amazing. The small motions, the emotions shone, this is a work of art.
  
  Unfortunately, given these great achievements, the actual gameplay really doesn't hold up well for me. I understand that this is not a RPG - it is a combat game. You go around attacking enemies, little numbers of damage bounce over their heads, and you reduce them to zero. The "world" is a Final Fantasy world, but it's not really a Final Fantasy game. It's about building up gun components, shooting, and then shooting some more. Puzzles involve getting cards to get through doors, and figuring out how to kill enemies.
  
  The in game graphics are much less impressive than the cut scenes. Your character is reduced to jumping and walking. There's no diving, rolling, or other special moves. Even worse, there are incredibly numerous long pauses as you go between gameplay and cut scene. There must have been a better way to integrate those quickly, especially as many of the cut scenes are just brief little "thank you"s.
  
  Also, while I know Vincent is a dark, brooding type - a type that appeals to me a lot, by the way - I find him a bit too uncaring about the people around him. He seems often to get involved reluctantly. He almost seems to dismiss some people as being beneath his notice. This isn't a kind of hero I appreciate.
  
  In general, as much as I tried to get into this new style of game, it just didn't work very well. There are many other combat style games that involve characters that can creep, roll, dive and use great combat moves. With Vincent doing these things in cut scenes, he should be able to do them in actual gameplay as well.
  
  

• Final Fantasy Should Remain in the RPG Realm

  
  By A29BQ6B90Y1R5F on 2006-08-17
  The unfortunate thing about Dirge of Cerberus is that it has the curse of being in the universe of one of the greatest and most beloved video games of all time: Final Fantasy VII. There's no way Dirge of Cerberus could possibly stack up to Final Fantasy VII. To expect any spinoff to stack up to the original Final Fantasy VII name and legacy is unrealistic. Dirge of Cerberus is pretty different... for Final Fantasy, that is. For your basic shooter, though, it's really not that different from any other shooter.
  
  A group of underground soldiers known as Deepground have plans to revive the dreaded Omega Weapon. In order to do that, however, they need Vincent Valentine. Throughout the game you'll play as Vincent Valentine, getting to the bottom of this mystery. The gold of the story is that it provides quite an interesting look into Vincent's past. There are moments when the story feels a little complicated, but it's still a good experience nonetheless.
  
  Dirge of Cerberus isn't really an RPG. Square refers to it as an "RPG Shooter," but in reality, it's really just a shooter. The game has a rather simple formula for its missions. You'll view a cutscene that introduces you to the level. The cutscene is usually long, and you'll have to wait for it to load first, and then you'll have to wait for it to load after its over. Then you'll go into said level and blast everything and anything that moves. Then at the end of each level you'll fight a boss. Rinse and repeat. Every stage in the game is pretty straightforward. All you need to do is keep shooting at virtually anything that moves. In some missions there are other things you can do, but really, you don't have to do these optional events. They're just there so you can improve your score. The basic goal of just about every mission is to kill stuff.
  
  A lot of these levels feel a little uninspired. Most of them are bland looking with not much of anything for you there. You can't tear apart the environment or anything like that. It's also sad that a lot of areas in some levels look the same. These stages don't really show you a lot of variety in the environment. You'll also find yourself visiting some pretty familiar areas like Midgar. When you visit most of these familiar areas, however, you don't really feel like you're revisiting anything in Final Fantasy VII. Also, you'll mostly find yourself in the sewers or something. It's also really sad that you can't explore more of the world. The game is set in such a linear path that you can't explore your surroundings.
  
  Going through most of these levels isn't always bad. Most of the action isn't all it's cracked up to be. You simply aim and shoot. The game provides a nice targetting system that makes missing most enemies nearly impossible. Even worse for the gameplay, there aren't a whole lot of variety with the enemies themselves. You'll mostly battle soldiers. Though from time to time you'll battle other things such as mechs and dogs. Once you've seen one soldier, though, you've seen them all. They're downed within a couple of shots, and their attack patterns aren't really all that varied. Before long, the enemies will do the same predictable things they always do. The game becomes incredibly easy before it even gets a chance to get hard. When you're near the end of the game, the enemies will still have their same old attack patterns. They never ever change. Bosses can be tough, but the only thing that actually makes the bosses tougher than your normal enemy is that they have more health.
  
  In addition, most levels have little in-game cutscenes of their own. Again, though, you have to wait for the cutscene to load and then wait for it to load when it's over. These moments wouldn't be so bad if they didn't constantly come in the middle of the action. One minute you're shooting up your enemies, the next the game is loading a cutscene that might only last for a minute, and then the next your back in the middle of the action. It isn't that these moments are bad, it's just that they're inserted at inappropriate times.
  
  Using magic also has its own hits and misses. You can equip materia to your weapon and fire off a magic shot. This adds some variety to the stale gameplay, but you'll end up depleting your MP really fast. There's not enough of the magic to go around. Likewise, you'll find items called Limit breakers which will allow you to use Vincent's limit break for a limited amount of time. Using Vincent's limit break provides some more fun to the game. You'll get to rip most of your enemies to shreds, but unfortunately, it only adds more ease to the game. Even bosses become a cakewalk with the limit break. Even though it only lasts for a limited amount of time, you'll still be able to take down a boss using the limit break.
  
  Weapon customizing is a nice addition, however. After each level you have a chance to use the gil you've earned from enemies to upgrade Vincent's weapons. Throughout most of the game you'll be using the Cerberus, though. It's by far the most potent weapon in the game. It's nice to be able to explore and customize a vareity of weapons at least.
  
  Dirge of Cerberus isn't a long game. It may take you less than ten hours to complete it. Upon completing it, though, you unlock an abundance of extra missions and such. The standard game is nothing special, but the extra missions can really keep you busy for a while. They're a lot more fun than the standard missions, and ask a lot more of your skills.
  
  Graphically, it's hard to judge Dirge of Cerberus. Most of the environments are pretty run of the mill for the genre. There's not a lot of vareity or interaction with anything in these levels. Most levels really aren't that impressive looking. On the other hand, the pre-rendered cutscenes are beautiful to look at. These cutscenes themselves look just as good as the movie Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. Outside of that, however, Dirge of Cerberus doesn't take the PS2 to its full capacity. Most of the music is alright. Nothing great, but good enough nonetheless. The voice acting is pretty standard. Not a lot of emotion, but at some points it goes along with the dark mood of the game rather well. Sometimes the characters not having emotion is what makes the voice acting good at some parts of the game. On the whole, though, it's not fantastic voice acting.
  
  Dirge of Cerberus isn't really a bad game, but outside of it having the Final Fantasy name on it, there's really nothing in this game that sets it apart from other shooters and action/adventure titles. The Final Fantasy name is the only real reason to get this game. It's interesting to learn about Vincent, and to expand upon the Final Fantasy VII universe, but perhaps Final Fantasy should stick strictly to the RPG genre.
  
  The Good
  +You get to play as Vincent Valentine
  +Vincent's past and story is explained rather well; the overall storyline of the game is pretty well done
  +Beautiful pre-rendered cutscenes
  +Neat weapons customization
  +You get to use Vincent's Limit Break
  +Tons of extra missions after the game is completed
  
  The Bad
  -Little innovation
  -In game graphics are not up to standard for the PS2 or Square-Enix for that matter
  -Poor voice acting in many spots
  -Environments are bland
  -There isn't enough vareity to the enemies, they do the same thing over and over until the end of the game
  -The gameplay gets stale... fast
  -The stages lack variety and exploration; they're all linear paths
  -There's little challenge to the game
  
  

• Not as good as I thought....

  
  By A2BTVW8Q1LTPXI on 2006-08-17
  I'm not really sure why I bought this in the first place, besides having played Final Fantasy VII for the PS1 numerous times. The reviews of the overseas version were bad, citing terrible aiming and control of Vincent. Also reviewers said it was too linear, and there wasn't enough to do. I read that some of these problems would be addressed in the American version, so I picked it up to give it a try. Here's what I think so far:
  
  Vincent moves very well, and is fairly easy to control. I haven't had any trouble with the targeting or anything like that. Gun customization changes things up a little bit and makes it where you can use different types of guns just by changing the gun barrel, adding a scope, etc. At first I had a ball playing the game. The gameplay sort of reminded me of controlling Dante in Devil May Cry, but not quite as good. The cut scenes are amazing, and help set up the story well.
  
  Here's the problem: The game is very repetitive. Other than just running around shooting the same types of enemies, there's not much else to do, except when a civilian calls for help or something like that, and when they do, you're only running over to shoot whoever is around them. No exploration is needed, or is really allowed, because the areas are pretty much closed off. It's not exactly linear (you can move around the area you are in, climb on things, etc), but you are usually confined to the screen you are on between cutscenes.
  
  I wanted to like this game, and I will still probably finish it because the story and cut scenes are great, it just lacks playability. The gameplay is not that great, and was overly easy for me.
  
  

• Fun game......just a really bad game.....

  
  By A1ANKJ2CYX61H5 on 2006-09-19
  I read poor reviews for this game in PSM magazine yet failed to believe them seeing I am a hardcore Final Fantasy fan. I ran to the store and picked this up, popped it in my PS2, and awaited to review it myself. I seem to speak for myself when saying this...but I just think simple games that are easy are just...fun. This game was amazingly fun, just not worth 50$. I highly suggest renting this game, unless you're a FF collecter (like myself). The length is also dissapointing, seeing I beat it in one sitting (only about a 4-6 hour game).
  
  Ok...now for the more "technical" review: There are only three guns, the majority of the entire game is spent watching cut-scenes rather than playing (I'm not exagerrating), Dungeon design is poor and predictable (pretty much just walk forward), the action consists of repeatedly pressing one single button (no fancy combos, even though they tease you by showing Vincent pull them off in cut-scenes), there is a "jump" command by pressing X in yet only few things can actually be jumped over or upon, lacks story, etc...however, the music is pretty good (even without Uematsu), the CG is great (Advent Children quality), and the characterization of Vincent is a plus...If you're looking for a good game, don't play this...if you're looking for a 'fun' (meaning easy, and simple) game, or a variation on the Final Fantasy we all know and love...then I suggest RENTING this. Unless of course, as I've said before, you simply want to buy it for its title, or to add to your FF collection.
  
  
• Mostly for the Enthusiast
  By A1M4NJYP0WNL8Q on 2007-02-02
  Dirge of Cerberus is a third person shooter that picks up several Final Fantasy VII threads and weaves them together into an interesting side trip down Final Fantasy's memory lane. The story follows Vincent Valentine as he gets drawn into a mystery filled with surprise attacks and the disappearance of whole cities that occurs a short while after the events of Advent Children. It is full of references to (and characters from) FF VII, and many mysteries about Jenova and Omega will be revealed. Vincent's task is to discover something important about who he is and, of course, save Midgard's world.
  
  I bought this because, well, I'm a Final Fantasy geek. Even though I'm not a third person shooter geek. There are only a few such games on my shelves - Jak, Prince of Persia, Bloodrayne, etc., - games that got a lot of critical notice. So take my opinions with a grain of salt.
  
  The story is interesting and the artwork good. Gameplay isn't particularly complex - you build weapons as you gain cash and, for the most part you point and you shoot. You can also use physical combat and dodge and run, but again, don't expect any complicated moves. For some reason the game's play reminded me a lot of Castlevania. That isn't bad, but it's lacking in terms of the state of the art that I expect from the Final Fantasy series. It just doesn't really push the envelope.
  
  My third person skills are pretty rudimentary, but it only took me about 10 hours to run the game the first time through. There a about a billion little side quests you can also play, plus all kinds of goodies you can unlock, but this is definitely a less than 20 hour experience, which means that you are spending a lot for a small game with limited variability. So the best reason for buying Dirge of Cerberus is that you, like me, are a fan and would want to have it for the context as well as the game..
  
  
• Great work
  By on 2006-08-19
  First of all, i'm not really kid but anyways this is not the subject...
  I read many bad reviews about this game and i was really disappointed from what i read and i didn't have any high expectations but then i decided to buy the game and well, i was surprised!!
  This game has such great graphics, music and a magnificent story that tells Vincent's history and makes him a better character although he's good enough
  The gameplay is not as bad as everybody says, it's very fun although it's repetetive but the game is too short so you won't really get bored of it
  The 40 missions are the best part about the game, they're very fun and actually they're better than the Story Mode mainly because there are cut scenes every while
  Overall, this game is basically for FFVII fans but it's also good to non-fans
  
  
• Unparalled Power At Every Level!
  By A1K02P3KSKZKQQ on 2007-05-05
  OK, I've read all the reviews of the game saying things like "too much story", "clunky engine", or "not exciting enough". Well, I've played this game and all those reviews are wrong.
  
  The game is incredibly fast-paced with a riveting storyline, on-par with games like "Half-Life". The fluidity of character motions are astonishing, with very realistically detailed 3D graphics. It was ECSTASY to take charge as the Galian Beast, use Materia shots, or sit in gun turrets for unlimited ammo. The switch from third-person to first-person perspective on the fly was nicely done, and I felt amazed at the secret ending shown after the credits.
  
  In all, this game really has EVERYTHING that FPS fans want and EVERYTHING Final Fantasy fans want, so I don't understand why people are complaining.
  
  
• Bland and uninspired...
  By A2LPJD19MGBNXJ on 2006-08-18
  Yes, I realize that the reviewer two slots below me said the same thing, but it bears repeating. FFVII:DoC feels very...boring.
  
  First off, the game is a bit too dark for my tastes. I understand the necessity for ambience and storytelling, but the fact is, I don't like dark games. Typically, they allow for the creators to be lazy in backgrounds, character designs, etc. And we have exactly this problem in DoC. The graphics hearken back to...The Bouncer? That game came out years ago! Moreover, the mission system (which I generally like in a game) is pretty boring as well, usually consisting of shoot enemy A before he causes calamity B. I would have liked more thinking involved (although that's a bit unfair as a criticism, since this is an "Action Game").
  
  Controls? They're OK, but it's a drag not having free-moving sights (you can only shoot at someone if you're locked onto them). It makes sniping too easy, and switching targets too hard.
  
  Storyline? It doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but I didn't see Advent Children. Still, a game should stand alone.
  
  All in all, this a fair diversion, and probably would have been worth twenty bucks, but fifty seems pricy for this fare...
  
  
• pretty good
  By AS7CLUNDWFYXW on 2006-08-18
  the first thing people have to realize is that this game isn't an RPG and therefor can't/shouldn't be compared to final fantasy VII or others. as far as shooting games go this one seemed a lot of fun to me. normal shooters just aren't my thing but i personally thought adding all the greatness of final fantasy VII into a shooter was a great idea. yes it is a dark game and yes the overall goal is to shoot everything that moves but when it's vincent valentine who cares? the cut scenes are beautiful and in bulk! all of your favorite characters will appear in this game and a everything about vincents past that werent completely explained in FFVII will be explained here. limit breaks and materia use have returned in this game but have been changed a little. the controls are simple to learn and feel very natural after about 30 minutes of play. the game isnt as long as i would have liked it to be but its still entertaining. at times i wasnt sure if i was playing a game or watching a movie. the CGI is the same as it was in advent children and is done really well. i gave this game 4 stars because it might confuse someone who hasnt played FFVII so its mainly for fans of the game. overall i give this game 5 stars for fans and 3 stars for people new to FFVII.
  
  
• Jack of all trades, master of none.
  By A39PDV8ISJIJ55 on 2007-03-02
  Though you can argue (and have done so) that the game is overly punctuated by too many loading screens and cutscenes, I have to say that the cutscenes did a lot for the plot. Actually, it was refreshing to play a Playstation 2 shooter with a passable (and then some) plot. And though the level designs and gameplay were a little simplistic, the game engine itself seemed to be very well executed. For some reason, (production value? coding expertise?) the hit detection, graphical finesse/performance, collision fields, and flexibility of the game mechanic was far above the previous shooters of the system. For instance, Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood was fantastic, but looked worse, had extreme graphical slowdown during action, and technically could hardly decipher a headshot from a mere graze. The main flaw of this game is the substandard analog sticks and now dated performance of the Playstation 2 system. But if I had to choose, I'd rather continue to play well-executed, well-animated, well-musically-scored, and well-styled Playstation 2 games than spend 400-600 dollars to play next-gen games which still have the training wheels still on.
  
  Like Vincent, who brawls and shoots but doesn't particular dominate in either regard, this game delivers in RPG and shooter respects but doesn't really impress. In it's own way, again, this was refreshing. Having beaten most shooters and RPGs for the last... oh, seven consoles or so, it was a nice change to get to enjoy both without chugging through 4 discs worth of random encounters. The gameplay isn't really stressful... there is no real feeling of missed something or messing something up, and you can always die on purpose if you want more money or experience. It's nice to come home and sit down to something enjoyable between the demands of adult life.
  
  Though there is certainly room for improvement, I think Dirge is a solid contribution to the almost non-existent genre of RPG-shooter. I'd like to see where these ideas can be taken to, especially in the online gaming environment. I hope Square doesn't become scared by the apparent lack of consumer support for this one. It's walking a fine line: if you're a big FFVII fan, you'll probably hate it. If you're luke-warm, you'll probably like it. And if you just like shooters, or maybe even Parasite Eve, you'll probably be somewhere in between. Still, every time this developer steps out of line from their cash-cow franchises (though making a spin-off FF game can only in all fairness be said to be a "baby step"), I firmly believe they still have the capacity to deliver unusual and worthwhile game experiences, just like with Einhander, Bushido Blade, and maybe even the Brave Fencer Musashi "series".
  
  
• Good, but lacks polish.
  By A24JJ3VK3DOTTW on 2007-07-14
  Dirge of Cerberus is a good adition to the Final Fantasy series, but it lacks alot of polish. To start this out as methodically as possible, let's talk about the story... The truth is, that the story basically revolves around a side quest from Final Fantasy VII, and then builds on it, being set three years after the events of the game. The story obviously follows Vincent, who in my opinion, is the coolest character in the entire Final Fantasy series (just my opinion, again). Through the course of the game you'll learn more about Vincent's past, as well as the awesome power that he possesses. I'd rate the story in itself to be around four stars, since it is pretty great, especially if you're a fan of Final Fantasy VII, but it loses points for the fact that it feels way too much like an elaborate side quest, even when you inevitably have to save the world at the end of the game.
  
  Next up, gameplay... This is the part that could really use the aformentioned polish. In theory, it's not really that bad, but in execution, it loses points for alot of the details of it. For starters, Cerberus (Vincent's pistol) is by and large the most useful weapon. You only need the machine gun for swarming enemies, and the rifle for enemies too far off to hit with a pistol shot. Now, I do believe that Vincent's pistol SHOULD be powerful, but still, not so much that it overshadows the other weapons. The auto-targeting might seem silly to fans of the FPS genre of games, but it actually works rather nicely here. You can't make called shots very well, but you usually don't need to. You can always toom in if you need a head shot. Enemies can be annoying in that they tend to be exceedingly good shots, especially snipers. Now this seems realistic, but it makes it very hard to get an S rank in the damage recieved stat for a level. A major flaw is the inability to move absolutely freely. This means that you can't jump over the railing; you must take the stairs. You will never fall off an endless cliff, and there are no platforming sequences. It can feel far to restricting at times. Also, Vincent doesn't really seem as agile as you might expect. The least they could have done was give him a wall jump or something. The ability to roll would have also been a good addition. At the very least, he's capable of shooting from any position, so that's one good thing. At the end of every level you have the option of gaining xp, or gil. Both have their own merits, and it's a great option to have. You can also buy items and ammo at the end of every level. Later on, you'll probably find yourself stocking up on potions, and ammo for your trusty Cerberus, or one of the other weapons if you prefer. Alot of where the game went wrong is with the extra missions. They tend to be rather difficult (to a flaw), making it much more satisfying to run through the regular game at an increased dificulty. The major problem is that you often run out of ammo for the weapon you're using. It would have been nice if the extra missions supplied you with an X amount of gil, and a chance to spend it on ammo or items of your choice. However, it doesn't, so as I said, the extra missions are exceedingly hard in some cases. Overall, I'd give the gameplay a 3 star rating. It could have been at least four, but there are too many slight problems to ignore.
  
  Now there's the sound. I personally (though I know many don't agree with my sentiments on this) like the sound Vincent's gun makes. It's something of a light pop as opposed to a powerful bang. The musical score and other sound effects are also mostly good, but not spectacular. I'd give the sound a 4 star rating.
  
  On to the graphics. Without saying too much, the CG movie scenes are nothing short of amazing, showing the best of what the PS2 can offer. The in-game graphics are good, but they seem like they could have been better; particularly the scenery and stages. They're good, but feel a little flat. On the other hand, one of my greatest pleasures with the game would be simply watching Vincent's tattered cape billow out behind him... (He's just so cool!) I want to give the graphics another 4 star rating. They were great, but just felt a little stiff in some areas. It's no real issue though.
  
  Lastly, it's the replay value... After you complete the game, you can pump up the difficulty to try taking on the game with your weapons from before. You can also attempt the many extra missions available, though as I stated before, those can be annoyingly hard. Unless you really enjoyed the game like I did, there's probably not much joy to be had after the main story is complete, though I also like seeing the story again... and again... Replay value, I want to give a 2 star rating. I don't imagine most will enjoy the game as much as me, and the fact is, there isn't much new after completing the game, unless you want to tediously try to unlock all of the scenes, artwork, and other extras.
  
  In the end, Dirge of Cerberus appeals to me as a could have been great game with a shaky foundation. I for one actually hope for them to release another game such as this, but while clearing up all the flaws of this game. If they can get it right on the second shot, it'll be a wonderful thing in my book.
  
  
• This is the most incredible underrated game in history!!
  By on 2006-08-17
  First of all, i'd like to say that this game deserves more attention than it gets... everybody says it's generic and the GAMEPLAY is weak but i think game is closer to perfect than many other games
  
  Story
  10\10
  
  The story is remarkable, it's about Vincent Valentine a secret character from Final Fantasy VII... however somehow he's connected to the Deepground SOLDIERs and as you progress through the game everything will be explained and also Vincent's past will be revealed
  Truly, the story of this game is magnificent and it really explains Vincent's past and present in a very good way
  
  Graphics
  10\10
  
  The graphics are wonderful, they're incredibly detailed and the characters have very interesting models and looks and the enemies look fine
  Seriously, the graphics are top notch and the effects are really good and they're not boring at all
  The full motioned videos are perfect, they're similar to the graphics used in Advent Children
  Overall, the graphics are perfect and this is one of the game's best aspects
  
  Music
  10\10
  
  The music in this game is very underrated, personally i think the music is remarkable and very fitting... my favourites soundtracks are A Proposal, Fight Tune "Girl Named Shelke" and REDEMPTION, and believe me they're really good and of course the other soundtracks are also very good
  The voice acting is very good and the sound effects are very realistic and overall, the music section is also perfect
  
  GAMEPLAY
  9\10
  
  I'm not saying the GAMEPLAY is bad but it could have been much better than this, thankfuly Vincent's speed was increased after the release of the Japanese version and not just that, the controls and the camera were fixed and Vincent now can use Double Jump and shoot in mid-air so you all should be thankful for the company that created this game for all the enhancements
  However, the game is a regular shooting game like other shooting games but it presents the gun customization system which is very entertaining the GAMEPLAY's best aspect... believe me it's very fun
  I'm not gonna talk much about GAMEPLAY but i'm gonna say that there are few flaws, for example the dungeons are linear most of the time and Al isn't as smart at all and the camera can sometimes be annoying, but those are just minor flaws
  Overall, the GAMEPLAY could have been better than this but it's still very good and very fun
  
  Difficulty
  10\10
  
  The game has Normal and Hard difficulties at the beginning and after finishing the Hard difficulty the Extra Hard difficulty is unlocked
  The difficulties are perfect because they provide challenge to the player especially if you chose the Hard or Extra Hard difficulties
  
  Extras
  10\10
  
  The Story Mode has many side missions and they're very fun and also there are 40 exclusive missions added to the US version of the game because the Multiplayer Mode was removed
  Don't worry, you'll find many things to do aside from the story in this game
  
  Characters
  10\10
  
  This game stars 3 Final Fantasy VII characters; Vincent, Yuffie and Cait Sith who have unique personalities and stories, also the game features many other important characters such as Reeve, etc ...
  Also, the game witnesses special appearances by Cloud, Tifa, Barret, Cid and Red XIII who were the heroes of the original game and they're not shown much in this game because it revolves about Vincent alone
  The game has many characters from Final Fantasy VII and also a set of brand-new characters who make the game even better
  Overall, the charatcers are very cool and there are many of them and each of them has a unique personality
  
  Overall
  9.6\10
  
  This game could have been much better if more things were fixed in the game, but the game is good the way it is
  I recommend buying this game immediately because it's really good and very fun and some people may say that it's generic but each person thinks in a different way so you gotta try!!
  
  
• Cool
  By on 2006-08-17
  I never really play RPGs except for the Final Fantasy series mainly because of Final Fantasy VII, it was my first Final Fantasy and it'll always remain the best and that's the reason why i bought the game, to learn more about Vincent Valentine one of my favourite characters
  
  Graphically the game is very good, it has its own graphical flaws but i still like the graphics a lot and the FMVs are outstanding!! Litterly, you'll be obssessed by them and the soundtracks are overall great
  The story is brilliant, it really tells Vincent's story in a very interesting way and the cut scenes are incredible... the story is the game's highest point and that's a sure thing
  The difficulty is very good since there are difficulties and there's also a bunch of extras in the Story Mode and also 40 missions to unlock after finishing the game once
  The gameplay is very good, it plays like a regular shooting game but it has a special atomsphere, Vincent has a Limit Break which allows him to transform into monsters and he also has unique skills
  Overall, the gameplay is very good although repetitive at some points but it's still very fun
  
  Overall, this game is worth all the wait so buy it without fearing anything
  
  
  
• In it for the story
  By A2HOD2283415TT on 2006-08-26
  To be honest, gameplay-wise, Dirge of Cerberus wasn't anything special. You're confined to narrow hallways the entire game, you can't jump over anything, and you can pretty much clear any level by just standing in harm's way and firing.
  So, what's the point of playing this game? The story!
  Anyone who'se played FFVII will tell you that the game was all about an interesting story, and this game takes you back into the world of FFVII to explain many of the events that took place in the original game, as well as introduce new characters with their own stories.
  If you can't get enough of FFVII, I see no reason that you shouldn't pick this up.
  
  
• Meh... watch "Advent Children" instead.
  By A39W3263A9HCMN on 2006-08-31
  I don't blame Nomura-san for not wanting to direct the game. The original game and "Advent Children" were much better, and this was...just OK.
  
  GAMEPLAY: 5/10: WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY too easy. I beat the game in 3 days. Some nice action and CG cut scenes, but It was way too short.
  
  GRAPHICS: 9/10: Some cut scenes have amazing CGI, and the game graphics are good too.
  
  WEAPONS: 4/10: A real bummer. Vincent's weapons are less capable of anything, and some you can't use materia.
  
  SOUND: 5/10: 5 for the sound effects, 5 taken off for the dialouge.
  
  MUSIC: 10/10: Spectacular. Plus, "Longing" and "Redemption" are spectacular.
  
  OVERALL: 4.5/10: A real dissapointment.
  
  So rent it, but don't believe the hype. Not worth buying.
  
  
• More like a movie than a game.
  By A3DLWSSO2LVC1E on 2006-11-30
  Final Fantasy VII for the ps1 was (and still is) considered one of the best RPG's ever created. The same cannot be said for the spin off of a side quest character that tries too hard to be hard core and ends up being mistaken for a Devil May Cry clone.
  The good news:
  -You can customize your weapons to cause maximum damage.
  -It's kind of neat to see final fantasy VII characters in 3-D with voices.
  The bad news:
  -This game is horribly paced. You can't get into the game play because there's a cut scene every two minutes or so. Most of them have nothing to do with where you are fighting so they seem terribly misplaced and you just don't really care enough about the characters to WANT to watch them. This game is way too concerned about being an animated movie rather than an actual game.
  -The aiming system is shot and you cannot lock onto enemies the way you should be able to. If this had been fixed, this could have at least been an average game.
  -The same goes for the camera, you never face the direction you want to face and that immediately gives this game the score that I've chosen for it.
  
  I love Final Fantasy VII for the ps1. I even liked Advent Children a little bit. But this is criminal for anyone who likes the franchise.
  
  
  
• Whoa! A third person shooter from Final Fantasy? Well, it works...
  By A1ULGGH9KQTXOH on 2007-01-03
  Ok, so, is it actually possible that after who-knows-how-many turn-taking RPG's from Square Enix, they actually produce a 3rd person shooter? Yes. Alright, deep breathing. Now, item two: Will it work? Answer: Yes! Though not receiving very glowing reports from others, the little beauty does shine.
  Anyone who's played Final Fantasy 7, or seen Advent Children, will probably know Vincent Valentine, a dark individual with a collar so high he can barely see over it. Yes, he's a supporting character, get over it. Also, what would Vince be without Cerberus, his triple barrel shotgun. So this opens opportunities for all different sorts of guns. Like, say, Griffon, Hydra, or a machine gun special? (Not to mention, an occational gattling-gun/turret?)
  Wonderful cutscenes demonstrating Vincent's eternal coolness litter the game, as well as an engrossing plot that will appeal to any FF fan, vet or not. Three years after Meteorfall, Midgar is still Hell. Vince has to stop an organization called Deepground, who's ultimate goal is to awaken O... Oops, talked too much. Play it, get hooked, you'll discover the plot.
  Though not as long (or hard) as the other FF games, it makes up for it by flashing off gorgeous graphics and the most known and beloved FF characters. (Cloud Strife, Yuffie Kisaragi, Cid Highwind, Tifa Lockhart, Barret Wallace and... a brief appearance of... Sephiroth...
  Okay, it doesn't follow the same style as the other FF games, so hardcore fans may not like it, but all the same it's a must play, with sensational boss battles and skirmishes.
  Evaluation.
  Story: 10/10
  Gameplay: 9/10
  Graphics: 11/10
  Sound: 8/10
  Bottom line: 9/10
  
  
• This Game is Only for True Fans of Final Fantasy VII.
  By A27OGNBD5EKZ85 on 2006-09-03
  Dirge of Cerberus is a game that continues the story of Final Fantasy VII after the first game and the movie Advent Children. The game has a completely different battle system. Instead of the turn based RPG battles it is a third/first person shooter game. Throughout the game you can collect items (i.e. Phoenix Down, Potions, Ethers, etc.) to help you along the way, and modifications can be made to the weapons you carry around to fit your taste. For example: you can modify a gun to be a rapid-fire gun with low accuracy, or have a slow shooting gun with a extremely high accuracy. The graphics are spectacular and the game's CGI videos are on par with the animation from Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. However, the main character this time around is not Cloud Strife, but one of the hidden characters Vincent Valentine. One gets a fairly good idea of Vincent's past by playing Final Fantasy VII, but now we get the chance to see a much more in depth explanation of what happened to him during the experiments in the Shinra Mansion. Furthermore, we learn more about what happened with him and the woman who gave birth to Sephiroth. Most of the original characters make a brief appearance in this game, but if you are expecting to see all of them then don't bother playing the game. The game focuses on Vincent 98% of the time. The only other character that has a big role in this game is Yuffie and even she isn't there most of the time. Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Cid, and Red XIII are there, but have very small roles and some of them don't even show up more than once. Along with seeing some old friends we meet some new people (good and bad) along the way.
  
  ***WARNING SPOILER BELOW***
  
  If anyone is expecting to see Aeris or Sephiroth you can forget it. Sephiroth shows up in a memory sequence and that's it, and Aeris doesn't show up at all.
  
  ***WARNING SPOILER ABOVE***
  
  To sum up the game is fun, and the reason I say for "True Fans Only" is because I feel that only true fans will care about what happens in the game. Casual fans are probably going to want something that was just like the original game, which is something that this game is definitely not. Something to keep in mind is this game will be very confusing if you haven't played the first game and/or seen the movie. If you're like me and you're looking to learn more about Vincent then I recommend you try this game because it was entertaining for me. However, if you want the original game play and to see a lot more of the entire cast of Final Fantasy VII then this is not a game for you.
  
  
• This game is the definition of "Generic"
  By A3KZUBM6S477EQ on 2006-09-13
  I just beat DoC (Dirge of Cerberus), and if I had to describe this game in 1 word, it would be: generic - and that saddens me deeply, because this game had the potential to be bad arse. I mean come on, Vincent Valentine (cool name, huh?) is a awesome, well designed character, and the FFVII world is a classic theme based world to make a great game off of - RPG or not.
  
  DoC; without a question of a doubt, was a rushed, lackluster, poorly executed effort by the SquarEnix developers. With that said, I didn't think the game was "horrible" or "pathetic" just... poor. It was clunky, and unpolished. There was a lot "1 shotting" the enemies, and the boss battles were really lame - even the final boss I beat on the first try - and I played the game on hard mode - not to say I didn't die during the game... but all the times I did die, was because I practically fell asleep at my chair or I was rushing during certain parts of the game and wasn't paying attention to my health bar - basically, the game didn't force me to use my brain or any skill at all. It was just a lot of cut-scenes with some running down hallways and 1-2 shotting enemies, and melee attacking bugs. Just a poorly made game - theres no denying that.
  
  However, DoC's models were very good - and the characters looked very good during the cutscenes - so it did shine in the graphics department quite a bit. And the character art was also very cool - I liked all the new enemies (although Vice seemed a little generic) and the storyline was entertaining, even though it was slowly paced at times. The voice acting department needed some help - the voice actors in themselves wern't bad - but it was the pacing and timing that was way off. In the CGI cutscenes, the lip synching was sometimes noticably off - which is just pure lazyness in my opinion.
  
  The music in itself was pretty "meh" - however, it DID fit the game, and thats basically all that matters. Some of the level songs captured the essence pretty well, and Gackt isn't too bad - although I don't really care for his music (not that its bad, I just dont care for it) I couldn't listen to a DoC soundtrack, like I could listen to other game soundtracks.
  
  I just felt DoC should've been so much more. Something along the lines of a Max Payne, Freedom Fighters, or a Metal Gear. There should've been times when Cloud, Yuffie, Tifa, actually played alongside you, and become AI controlled allies - or vastly open levels or complexes with a little more roaming and exploring freedom. There should've been more gun variances, melee weapons, combos, rare items, rare weapons, summons, and a more intuitive limit break system, and other things like this. I mean the game certainly deserves that type of polish and ingenuity. This game had the potential to be a classic, and Square-Enix didn't even TRY for it. They fell flat on there faces.
  
  And thats whats disappoints me the most...
  
  
• THE FFVII UNIVERSE RETURNS WITH A VENGEANCE!
  By A1AMWBZ75Z9KSD on 2006-11-13
  I honestly don't know why everybody is so negative regarding this game. I think it's phenominal! Great missions, great story and game play, and the variety in the weapon customization feature makes for fun little side quests. Overall it's a great addition to the FFVII universe and I definitely hope to see more games with these characters coming out soon! Even a remake of the original FFVII would be grand!
  
  On the whole, Vincent Valentine is one bad dude! The bosses are interesting and cool, and the links to the original game are awesome!
  
  If you're a fan, buy this game. If you're not a fan and want to have an interesting gaming experience, the please consider this title.
  
  The Timewarrior has spoken.
  
  
• A great game
  By A3BN1J04F5IRTV on 2006-11-23
  When I went online looking at reviews I started to get rather edgy about buying this game, but OMG! This is a great game. Sure it isn't the best FF game out there, but it is definately one of the better gun games out there. Sometimes the graphics get rather distorted, but I think that the A+ graphics in the middle of the game really make up for it. I'm glad that Vincent finally gets his own game. In short you people who hate this game are wierd.
  
  
• DOC Fan
  By AZFELU2ZTLRP5 on 2007-03-22
  I will never get tired of the game. DOC is my favorite game. Its sweet because i get to use my favorite character from FF7. The graphics is cool and modifying my own weapons is sweet. If you are a FF7 fan you will like it.
  
  
• Not the FFVII you grew to love-but fun nevertheless
  By AD89XR3O6MKW9 on 2007-07-12
  It's like going to a family reunion (less macabre than Jenova's reunion). You're happy to see everyone that you haven't seen in years, yet things are not quite the same as you remember them. That's because this game completely changes its focus. This is not about Cloud and his reistance gang with a story that is majestic beyond all proportions. It's about Vincent Valentine-an optional side character in the original FF-VII and his story (past and present).
  
  But it works...
  
  When you learn of Vincent's story in FF-VII-you know it goes off in a different direction-there were many possibilities. Now focusing on the actual gameplay...it's fun. I'm not a huge fan of shooters and knew my reason for buying this was to revisit some old friends at a family reunion. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the game is really fun. The cut scenes are beautiful, the gameplay is engaging, and the report card you get at the end of each section leaves you with the anticipation (or dread) you get when you actually get a report card.
  
  Overall-it didn't leave me with the sense of satisfaction that most FF games do, but I knew that I would be replaying the game again soon. Another reason for the less than perfect rating is selfish...my favorite character (Red XIII) is pretty much completely absent from the story, although he has a cameo at the end. The recent reduction in price is also an attractive feature-this game does not take long to finish.
  
  Happy hunting Vincent Valentine.
  
  
• Better than I was expecting!
  By A3013FN3IEUOYO on 2007-08-15
  I read a lot of reviews about this game and had determined that I was going to be disappointed by this game, but in fact I WASN'T.
  
  This game provides good and interesting action. The story was engaging (though not quite as much as the original FF7). My only problem with the game was that it was brief and they tried to cover up the brevity with extra missions. I and I'm sure other FF fans would've preferred the story to have been more detailed and longer.
  
  But that is the only flaw. Some people have complained about the camera angles, but I don't see any way it could've been that much better, and with a little skill it isn't a problem.
  
  As a very big fan of the original FF7, I am still waiting for something in the Compilation to be really outstanding, but I am still waiting. Perhaps Before Crisis will provide what I am really looking for. But Dirge of Cereberus definitely was worth my time.
  
  
• Somewhere Between a Shooter and an RPG...
  By A13HZ32RKEQ9KO on 2007-11-07
  I'll start with the bad. This game tries to incorporate RPG aspects into a shooter game, and doesn't do that great of a job of it. The gameplay itself isn't all that exciting as far as shooters go, except for a few enemies they decided to try to make challenging, though they're usually more annoying than anything. There's usually very little strategy involved in taking out any of the enemies, but I have come across two parts in the game where I had to take out a few snipers with really bad aim. Which is pretty much be the only break from the typical "run into the fray and shoot anything that moves" action that the rest of the game consists of, aside from the occasional turret gun you find that you can man. The levels have a good amount of detail, though the dark and gloomy aspect might get on your nerves after a while. Each stage is basically a big long hallway, in that there's really nowhere you can go most of the time other than forward and backward, aside from a few other paths that branch off and are usually a dead end. The enemies get pretty old after about the 4th stage, since about 85% of them are either soldiers or cyber-dogs (not counting bosses). The levels sometimes incorporate some small amount of interactivity, like jumping up on one box and then to a ledge to get an item, but I think I've been able to do something like that maybe twice in the whole game. There are constantly areas where you see ledges that you should easily be able to reach and small boxes and other objects you should easily be able to jump over, but for some reason you can't. You also watch Vincent do some insane acrobatics during cutscenes, bouncing off walls and flying through the air a la Mario, yet you never get the chance to do anything even remotely close to that cool.
  
  Ok. Now for the good. The storyline is really the main reason to play through this game. It gives you a more in-depth look at the history of Vincent Valentine before you meet him in the original FFVII. There are also a lot of unlockable extras that can be obtained throughout the game, and a bunch of a extra missions after you beat the game. The simplistic gameplay can be fun when you just want to shoot someone in the face for no reason, so I guess I have to give it that. The weapon-upgrading system lets you customize your gameplay to suit your own preferences. There are different barrels designed for short, medium, and long range combat, and you'll have a pistol, machine gun, and rifle fun frame, and you can add accessories and/or materia to these. You can have one kind of materia on each weapon (fire, blizzard, or thunder), though you usually won't get more than 4 or 5 uses before you run out of magic.
  
  All in all, there isn't much depth to this game, but it is good if you need something to entertain yourself for the weekend. Anyone who enjoyed Final Fantasy VII will probably want to play through this game just to watch the flashbacks and see the story of Vincent unfold prior to the original game, and you get a more in-depth look at his character and others that were involved with him during that time. And once you unlock the extra missions and extra hard move the game gets a little more interesting, so there's always that.
  
  
• How can people say this game is boring?
  By on 2006-08-24
  First of all, I thought FF7,DoC was quite fun. You gotta admit though it is nicer than waiting to take turns attacking with three people! but I kinda have to say gameplay was a little less then I expected. If DoC is like this, then what about FFXII? Well I loved this game and the terrific ways you can custumize. I love Squaresoft/Square-Enix's work... But I have to admit it's not my favorite... Kingdom Hearts II is or FFVII.
  I hope my review has also talked about Square's other fantastic work.
  
  
• I got it for the cut scenes
  By A329U9CDUPKXAC on 2006-08-30
  I'm not a fan of shooters. But I am a fan of Final Fantasy VII so that's why I got this. Still not a fan of shooters but it's all right. I got the game because I love the characters and the story so I'm more than satisfied. The cut scenes are beautiful. They're long but I'd rather watch them than play the game anyway to be honest.
  
  
• From the mouth of a Final Fantasy addict.....Great!!......albeit short
  By A2SOHAPA6FHTGZ on 2006-09-07
  I see a lot of bad reviews for this game, but honestly I think it is one of the greatest games I have played in a long time. I will list out the pros and cons first and then elaborate on what I mean:
  Pros:
  Excellent Plot
  Gorgeous, better than DVD quality graphics
  FF7 characters all present at some point in the game
  Different from the standard battle system, something new
  Cons:
  EXTREMELY SHORT (Completed the main story in 14 hours)
  No materia leveling, map traveling, etc. that is standard of Final Fantasy
  Is a first person shooter first and foremost (some people don't like this)
  Very very easy in standard mode (only 1 truly challenging fight in the whole game)
  
  
  Let me explain why I think it is a great game. I will admit my biased to FF7, as I am a fanatic to the chore for the story and its various other parts (advent children, etc.). That being said, if you take an objective view of the plot line and compare it to some of the more recent things put out, like Kingdom Hearts II which has a plot as thin as paper, it's truly incredible. The fact that FF7 has done so well that Square has kept expanding on the story this way is a testament to how loved the game is (FF7 is still one of the top 3 bestselling games ever for the original PS1). And it should be noted that all of the original characters do make an appearance in this game, but Vincent is the center character and the only one you really get to play with. The game play is very simple, and you won't need a guide book or online FAQ unless you are doing the extra missions or trying to get the extra cut scenes.
  
  Now, it is a very short game as other people have mentioned, so it may be more beneficial to rent, HOWEVER, many people miss that if you play the 40 some extra missions and shot some of the secret targets throughout the main story, you can unlock some extra cut scenes (the extra missions are quite hard in my opinion and will take a while to get through). Also, I am not a big third person shooter fan, but this game does have eerie similarities to Devil May Cry, which I did like. I think that taking a break from the standard battle system of the series is a good move on Squares' part, considering that this game is truly only going to be understood by those who knew and loved the original FF7; so why spend the time evolving the standard system on a sequel game? While the replay value isn't stellar, you can increase the difficulty after you complete the game so that if you chose to go at it again, it will be more of a challenge. As stated above, the graphics will impress even the most seasoned RPGer. I couldn't believe how crisp and clear is all looked, you feel like you are really in the battles.
  
  So in summary, if you love the final fantasy series, and were especially as in love with FF7 as I still am, you need to get this game....it will be worth it just for the cut scenes. More casual fans should probably stick to renting it since it won't be worth the investment. I give it a high rating because I think the plot alone deserves it. Really, if you think about it, this game was made more specifically for those who loved the plot than those who love shooters. The shooting was just to add some variety to keep those who worship Final Fantasy interested and tuned in until FF12 comes out.
  
  
  
• A severe disappointment
  By A1T4FIIJ22N68X on 2006-09-11
  Square Enix has dropped the ball with the conclusion to the FFVII "trilogy." The game play mechanics are frustrating (it appears they used the FFX engine). You can jump from some ledges but not other (identical) ones and certain obstacles (blocks, barbed wire, etc) can be jumped over, while other (identical) ones can not. Also, when you customize your guns (by adding accessories), only the gun in the "Customize" menu reflects this change. That is, your in-game gun is unaffected by the changes you make; this holds true only for accessories, not the gun parts (e.g. barrels) themselves. Another complaint against the weapon system is that all the guns/barrels of a given type (e.g. machine gun frame, handgun frame), from the toy gun to the Cerberus to the Ultima Weapon look exactly the same. The in-game graphics leave much to be desired, and as I suggested earlier are no improvement over FFX graphics (which were fine for an RPG, but not for a final generation action/adventure game). Finally, if you acquire all the G-Reports in the game (which unlocks an extended ending sequence), the game offers no real finality to the FFVII storyline. Overall, FFVII: Dirge of Cerberus is a severe disappointment.
  
  

• PlayStation: The Official Magazine (1-year)
• Electronic Gaming Monthly
• Play
• Tips & Tricks Magazine

• Final Fantasy XII
• DIRGE of CERBERUS(tm) -FINAL FANTASY(r) VII- Signature Series Guide (Bradygames Signature Series Guide) (Bradygames Signature Series Guide)
• Final Fantasy VII - Advent Children (Two-Disc Special Edition)
• Final Fantasy X-2
• Final Fantasy X