Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII with Limited Edition UMD Case Reviews

• Spectacular

  
  By AJKWF4W7QD4NS on 2008-03-26
  I was never too fond of RPG's when I was younger, no matter how much I loved video games. Final Fantasy VII changed that, along with how I looked at the genre, as I, like many others, became addicted to the game's emotional storyline and well-rounded characters. Since then, we have seen a number of tie-ins, spin-offs, and even feature films based on the Final Fantasy VII universe, and now, Crisis Core has finally arrived. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is a prequel to the game, where you play as Cloud's old friend and partner Zack, and uncover secrets and revelations that are full of surprises, and lead up to the events of Final Fantasy VII. First off, the game is is simply gorgeous to look at. Not just the cut-scenes, which themselves are beautiful and stunning, but even the in-game graphics look great, making this undoubtedly the best looking RPG to hit the PSP, and the game's voice acting is even better. The game's combat system is also worth mentioning because it isn't quite turn based, and isn't quite real time. Instead, it is a fast moving system that is quite fun in itself, even if it may come off as a bit too easy for some. Leveling up and performing Limit Breaks is now determined by the slot machine-esque DMW system, which is a fun little twist as well. There are familiar characters abound as well: Cloud, Aerith, Tifa, and of course, Sephiroth. The game's story wonderfully weaves into FFVII mythology, and offers some new perspectives on Zack and Sephiroth, and those respects alone, Crisis Core is worth picking up. All in all, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is a stunning achievement that is an absolute essential addition to your PSP library, and needless to say, if you love everything Final Fantasy VII and you own a PSP, you have to pick up Crisis Core.
  
  

• Cinematic and beautiful, but...

  
  By A3JUMMIGJ7B38X on 2008-03-26
  When Square-Enix puts out a numbered Final Fantasy title, it never disappoints. But it's been painfully clear that any Final Fantasy spin-offs based on those games will miss the mark. Such is the case with Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. If you're expecting the same engrossing gameplay and engagement you had playing the original Final Fantasy VII, you'll be sorely disappointed.
  
  The bad:
  -Horrible, and I do mean HORRIBLE play control. You can seriously play through the battles blindfolded. All you do is simply hit the X button. The character moves on his own. Square-Enix should've either given us traditional turn-based battles or fully controllable God of War-style battles, not this weak combination of both.
  
  -The actual game is very short, with only 10 chapters. After two hours of play, I was already in chapter 4, and that's after taking a good chunk of time doing side-missions as well.
  
  -Side missions extend the game slightly, but they're also very short and not very engaging.
  
  -DMW, which is a slot-machine-type meter that spins throughout the battle. The player has no control over it, and this is what determines if you or your attributes level up, or if you perform a limit break or use a summon. Basically, your progress and level is determined entirely at random (A level up happens when the first and last symbol match AND this corresponds to a 777). No skill is required.
  
  So why, you ask, did I give this game 4 stars?
  
  The good:
  Story - Plain and simple, the story is absolutely incredible. The cutscenes are stunning, especially for the PSP. The voice acting is the best I've ever heard...period. The characters are convincing and engrossing. The atmosphere throughout the game is classic FFVII, and this alone is why you won't be able to put the game down.
  
  A review from GameInformer said that it's well worth trudging through some of the worst gameplay ever just to see this story to the end, and I whole-heartedly agree. I'm hooked on it, and I'll gladly waste hours on side missions in the hope that I'll randomly level up, just so I can be strong enough to beat the final boss and bridge this story with Final Fantasy VII.
  
  

• 4.5 Stars: An Amazing Addition to the Final Fantasy VII Collection

  
  By A29BQ6B90Y1R5F on 2008-03-26
  Pros:
  +Amazing storyline
  +Impressive graphics and CGI
  +Easy to learn combat system
  +Plenty of side missions
  +Remixed music sounds great
  
  Cons:
  
  -Gameplay can be repetitive
  -Not always the best voice acting
  
  Whether you care to believe it or not, Final Fantasy VII became one of the most influential video games ever made. More than ten years later, the game is still a milestone in gaming, with fans playing it religiously, even to this day. Dirge of Cerberus didn't exactly make a big splash in the Final Fantasy VII fandom. However, Crisis Core not only succeeds in the places where Dirge of Cerberus did not, it also helps to fill in many gaps found in the original storyline.
  
  Crisis Core is a prequel to the main game and centers on Zack Fair, a member of Shinra's SOLDIER Unit. He dreams of one day being a hero, and he gets his chance when a member of SOLDIER 1st Class suddenly goes missing in Wutai and Zack is sent to investigate. This sets the stage for the events leading up to Final Fantasy VII in an amazing, detailed story that helps to answer a few lingering questions from Final Fantasy VII, and helps us see Zack as much more than a mere plot device. The story is told through some CGI cutscenes that look as though they were ripped straight out of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. Needless to say, the story sequences look spectacular. Throughout the story you'll get to know some new faces and you'll see other characters pop up from Final Fantasy VII and even Dirge of Cerberus. Any devoted fan to the original Final Fantasy VII will be absorbed and enthralled by the storyline.
  
  Crisis Core is, first and foremost, an action RPG. At first the combat can be slightly confusing. As you traverse through areas you'll enter Combat Mode where you'll fight many enemies at once. You'll mostly be mashing on the X button to land attacks but you can also block attacks and dodge attacks. The L and R buttons also let you cycle through your attack, items and materia. Battling is very similar to Kingdom Hearts. Including the button mashing experience. The game isn't too hard to get into, but some of its other mechanics concerning battling can be a little confusing at first.
  
  Crisis Core utilizes what's called a Digital Mind Wave (DMW). The Digital Mind Wave is a slot machine in the corner of the screen that is constantly spinning. At first this may just seem like something to give you a little boost in battle. From time to time you'll find that in a battle you can use Magic without losing MP, or you'll get a bonus that keeps you from being knocked down by attacks, or even a moment of temporary invincibility among other things the DMW can do. However, as you'll soon discover, the DMW is also responsible for increasing levels, performing limit breaks, and leveling up your materia. You have no control over the slots, but much of the system actually works in your favor. You'll come to realize you get level ups and perform limit breaks quite often in battle. In short, the DMW in no way interferes with combat itself. The learning curve to Crisis Core is relatively simple.
  
  Final Fantasy wouldn't be Final Fantasy without sidequest. When not going through the main story, Zack can undertake missions for Shinra. If there was anything that Crisis Core lacks, it's creativity in its side missions. While there are literally hundreds of them, they all simply send you off to dispatch more enemies. While some of them are fun (particularly boss battles) it can become repetitive rather fast. On the bright side, however, they yield some great rewards and they often go by quickly.
  
  Graphically, it's needless to say that Crisis Core is arguably the best looking PSP game out there. You'll be amazed at how detailed everything is. You'll also revisit areas from Final Fantasy VII and they look almost exactly the same, only being given a huge face lift. Even some Playstation 2 games don't look as good as Crisis Core.
  
  Musically, the game actually sounds pretty good. A lot of the battle themes grow on you and become catchy after a while. The music presented in many of the areas is also really good. There are also some tracks remixed from Final Fantasy VII that sound really good.
  
  Does Crisis Core have any real problems? Yes, but they're not huge problems by any means. For starters, the voice acting isn't the greatest. There are some good voice talents, but there are also a couple of wooden voices here. In addition to that, you can't skip any cutscenes, which can serve as a major problem if you happen to lose a tough battle. You also can't control the camera in battle which would really help the player out when the enemy clouds your vision (you can, however, control the camera outside of battle).
  
  The biggest problem with Crisis Core is that you spend much of your time just mashing on one button throughout the game. Even worse, the game's combat system is a little too easy to take advantage of. It's a great combat system, but it is also a combat system that doesn't really challenge the player enough.
  
  At the very least, however, the story is more than enough to make up for the shortcomings. Fans of the original game will more than likely be overcome with nostalgia when they reimmerse themselves within the world of Final Fantasy VII. If you loved Final Fantasy VII, by all means pick up Crisis Core. It's a treat for any and all Final Fantasy VII fans. Needless to say, if Final Fantasy VII wasn't your cup of tea, then Crisis Core is most definitely not for you.
  
  

• Rushed, repetitive, and uninspired

  
  By A39W3263A9HCMN on 2008-04-02
  IF you could play FF7 the game or then watch FF7AC consecutively without any interruption, I don't think you'll have the same here. I have always loved FF7, it has been a good ride. I loved the original game, and I loved Advent Children. I can't say I liked Dirge of Cerberus, it just felt like they made a game just for the sake of making a game.
  
  And then there's Crisis Core...
  
  As soon as I started playing the game, I felt it was going to be just... OK. And sadly, my calculations were true. This is just as bad, if not even worse than Dirge of Cerberus. Sure, the graphics are good but that's about it. Need proof? I'll give it to ya:
  
  -Watch out for invisible walls! There are a few places in the game where you're trying to go to other places but you can't.
  
  -The battles are so easy and predictable, you can do them while in a deep sleep. All you need to do is just hit the X button several times. It looks like Squeenix didn't put any thought into it.
  
  -The gameplay is VERY repetitive. You can care less halfway through, which brings me to my next reason...
  
  -The game is WAY TOO SHORT! About an hour in, I was already on Chapter 4. Just an hour later, I had finished the game.
  
  -The music. It sounds like leftovers from Halo 2. The music doesn't fit and at times they repeat the same song over and over, it's like hearing a guy's cell phone ring for 2 hours.
  
  -As usual, the voice acting...
  
  -The ending. Enough said.
  
  This game had so much potential, but wasted it. I really am sad to say this, as I used to LOVE FF7 to death. Overall, skip it.
  
  

• The fantasy Begins...

  
  By A2JXU3DQ71K628 on 2008-03-26
  What is there to say about Crisis Core:FF7? Well the major point is ANY, and I mean ANY fan of the original Square masterpiece NEEDS to buy this game. There now for the many other gamers
  
  The story is fleshed out enough for any non player of FF7 will understand, the combat and magic system are easy to use and master. Some may call the combat too easy, but lets remember this is a game for a portable system. Who wants to play a couple of missions while waiting only to die multiple times.
  
  The DMW is probably the most...well weird part of the game, it does not allow the player to control summons, limit breaks (the character super moves), or allow the player to level up. This may seem like a big minus but after about an hour of play it doesnt bother you anymore.
  
  So to sum it up:
  
  +
  Great story with fun characters that FF7 players will love
  Easy Combat System
  Side Quests are perfect for players on the Go
  Great Soundtrack (You will need headphones to completely enjoy this)
  DMW after a couple of hours
  MUST OWN FOR FF7 FANS!!
  
  -
  Loading times
  Some voice acting is uninspired...im looking at you Genesis
  Non FF7 players may not get the complete experience
  Combat System may be too easy for hardcore RPG fans
  DMW...for the first couple of hours
  
  
• Sorry Square Enix, but you've forced me.
  By A37QUQPYFMR9Y9 on 2008-03-30
  OK.
  
  So I bought this with the assumption that I would be given more insight into the world of Final Fantasy VII. Finally, a revisit to the world that ultimately kept me going on RPGs through the PlayStation era.
  
  To save time, and not rehash what's already been said, allow me to just bullet out things for you. Then you can make up your own mind.
  
  ** What Crisis Core Does Right **
  
  - The graphics. Easily, the most beautiful on the system. The cutscenes are up to the caliber of Final Fantasy XII and I'm not kidding here. It really pushes the power of the system to its limits just based on pure aesthetic beauty.
  
  - The story. Final Fantasy VII had such a deep storyline, even though the cutscenes didn't have spoken text, that to revisit it WITH spoken text just gets you in an emotional spot if you played VII. I can say with certainty that this game will bring nostalgia if you let it. Not all questions are answered though.
  
  - The challenge (some of it anyway). There are bosses and enemies that will give you a run for your money.
  
  - The side missions. There are so many I actually got tired of doing them, which hasn't happened in a long time on any system, much less a handheld one.
  
  
  ** What Crisis Core Does Wrong **
  
  - The DMW or whatever it's called. Basically, this is a glorified double slot machine, numbers and pictures. As the numbers match up, your materia does as well - or possibly, you do. Yes, you read that right...you don't control when you level up, it's all a gamble. This is problematic, because as you approach certain bosses, you can't really do anything about them if you happen to be underleveled, except try to do some missions and cross your fingers hoping you get a level up.
  
  The other problem with the DMW: it controls your limit breaks, summons, and special attacks. That means you can't control what gets done when. When you're fighting that boss and he levels you, nearly killing you, you can't just use Aerith's Healing Wave to get you right back into the action; instead, you see that it used Sephiroth's Octaslash (great damage mind you, but healing is a priority here!). What's more, the enemy can use theirs over and over again without fault, putting you at a distinct disadvantage whether you care to have it or not. You feel out of control most of the time; you can use items, regular spells, and the attack button whenever you please, but that's it. Against a boss, that's just not sufficient.
  
  2 - The story. "But you just praised the story!!" True. It is a good story - it's just not told the way I think it should have been. See, the way the story is told in CC, it's like Final Fantasy VII never existed. Which I suppose is the point but, it DID exist. We played it, some of us remember it quite vividly even to this day. I remember Aerith's surprise when Cloud dropped in on her unannounced. I remember other details where, in CC, these seem to have never happened - for example, the aforementioned Aerith detail...if CC is to be believed, it means Aerith must have lost her memory in Final Fantasy VII. It's hard to explain without spoiling it, but trust me - it's trying too hard to be a prequel, instead of a prequel with tribute qualities.
  
  3 - No parties/teams. This is a personal pet peeve of mine. If Final Fantasy VII allowed you to have a 3 man team, I expect to have a 3 man team here. Sadly this is not the case. You're using Zack the whole time through, and while Zack is a proficient fighter, I can't help but wonder just how much more fun this game would be if I had some others assisting me during certain fights.
  
  4 - Somewhat false expectations of the game. I mean, the cover of the game alone is false advertisement of the first half of the game.
  
  Ultimately, the game has its moments, but it's definitely a let down for fans of Final Fantasy VII who actually enjoyed the battle engine and system. The materia system is there and everything is in place, but it just doesn't "feel" like Final Fantasy. It's like a completely different game. If at least the DMW weren't here, I could tolerate it, but as is...
  
  Just don't go in with ANY expectations.
  
  
• Surprisingly big for a handheld game
  By A3WIOO9L0DNGZ on 2008-04-28
  Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is a prequel to that 1997 PlayStation masterpiece. In it, the player controls Zack Fair, SOLDIER 2nd Class, as he tries to solve the mystery behind Project G.
  
  Like most RPGs, the most important thing is the plot. It is interesting, then, that Crisis Core's story is at once both flawed, yet somehow satisfying.
  
  The bulk of the plot has little to do with Final Fantasy VII. There are cameos (Yuffie makes an early appearance), and Zack does play a minor part in some events alluded to in the original game, but its strongest ties to Final Fantasy VII are shown in the late chapters during the infamous Nibelheim incident. The rest seems rather like an effort by the developers to delay getting to that pivotal point for as long as possible.
  
  Thankfully, the story is saved by strong characterization and decent voice acting. Zack is a pretty likeable fellow, despite falling prey to some standard anime hero cliches. At the very least, he's a refreshing change of pace from the antiheros polluting the digital landscape today. Angeal and Genesis are two new characters. Unfortunately, both are a bit bland. Angeal is the stodgy, family-honor-above-all type, whereas Genesis is primarily a pretentious villain. All hype, but very little substance. Aerith is mostly like her Final Fantasy VII counterpart - kind, sweet, a bit ditzy. Sephiroth fills the brooding quota nicely, and actually has a much appreciated hint of dark humor.
  
  The gameplay is most likely the attribute that will determine review scores. Materia makes a comeback, but opperates somewhat differently than it did in the original game. Materia are magic orbs that grant Zack both abilities (magical or otherwise) as well as stat boosts. He can equip six at a time. The most notable aspect of materia, however, is the ability to fuse two materia (and later, one item) into a new materia. This gives the player the ability to customize Zack's stats as well as grant him powerful new abilities. Zack can also equip up to four items which also impact his stats.
  
  Combat is fun and simple, but has a twist. Everything is done in real time. You'll control Zack around the battlefield, automatically targetting the nearest target. The most notable feature of combat is the Digital Mind Wave, or DMW.
  
  The DMW is a slot machine in the upper left of the screen that is always cycling through images and numbers. If two numbers are 7, you'll get a status boost for a short duration. If the first and last image are identical, combat will stop, and the slots will cover the entire screen. It is here where several things can happen: Zack's materia will gain a level, Zack himself will gain a level, or a limit break will be triggered, resulting in a special attack or summoned monster spell. The 'problem' with the DMW is that it's seemingly random (although one's EXP does seem to be counted in the background, so Zack will gain levels at a normal rate) and there's no way for the user to control the slots. There's a large amount of luck involved getting a useful limit break (or any limit break at all). I personally don't mind the DMW, but your mileage may vary.
  
  Graphically, the game is a powerhouse. It looks very impressive, and makes the world of Final Fantasy VII seem very much alive. Action is fluid, and even the non-pre-rendered cutscenes are impressive. It's one of the best looking games of the year, regardless of platform.
  
  Musically, Crisis Core is very strong. Between its original tracks and the reimagined originals, the game leaves little to be desired on that front. I actually got chills watching the title screen's movie, and much of that stems from the music. Simply great.
  
  In closing, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is a great game. Square-Enix crammed a whole lot of game in a tiny package, but it doesn't suffer for it. Instead, it's one of the best experiences of the year, a must for Final Fantasy VII fans, and a worthy addition to any gamer's library.
  
  
• A beautiful game.
  By A1Q6YYZ12ZZMCI on 2008-03-26
  Disclaimer: If you aren't a fan of Final Fantasy VII, this game probably won't hold a lot of value to you. Sure it is fun but the story is a huge part of it and you'll simply lose something from it. If you haven't played Final Fantasy VII but would like to, I recommend playing the original first, as it will allow you to get the most out of this.
  
  With that out of the way, this game is exceptional. You guide SOLDIER: 2nd Class Zack Fair through the trials of his aspirations to become a 1st Class. All the while learning the history of the Shinra Inc., how Sephiroth became the evil man he is today, and what set the now-legendary Cloud Strife on his fated path.
  Gameplay: This is an action RPG in which you control Zack Fair for the entirety of the game. Using the L and R buttons, you switch between Attack and Item commands, as well as equipped materia. (Materia being the glass-like spheres from FF7 which allow you to cast magic.) The battles take place in real time. You are restricted to an 'arena' size, but the combat works a lot like Kingdom Hearts, complete with Block and Dodge Roll.
  Of course the component that gets the most attention is the Digital Mind Wave (DMW) which is a slot-machine-like display in the upper right corner. It continually spins as you fight and the results give you stat bonuses. The pictures are comprised of people important to Zack and three of the same person will net you a Limit Break, usually relating to that character. There are also numbers. Three 7s will level Zack up, two of any number will level up the materia in the corresponding slot, and so on.
  Sometimes it can get repetitive, but it can be pretty deep if you make it with accessories and fusing materia and the like. It is rewarding, all in all.
  
  Graphics: Breathtaking. Throughout the entire game you will find yourself astounded that a handheld device could produce such graphics. In-game graphics are easily on par with early to mid-life PS2 games and Square's famous FMVs are nearly on par with Advent Children and those in Dirge of Cerberus.
  
  Sounds: The effects are all satisfying. There is a great soundtrack, the original tracks are great. But the most dramatic are the nostalgic remixes of classic Final Fantasy VII tracks. Nibelheim's theme, the battle and boss themes, Aerith's theme, and the ubiquitous One-Winged Angel are all here in champion form. On the whole, the english voice actors do a fine job portraying the characters. Some lines are delivered awkwardly (particularly Angeal). But standouts such as Genesis, Sephiroth and Zack give outstanding performances. As do the rest of the Advent Children cast that reprise their roles.
  
  Story: And this is what it's all about. The fact that the gameplay is fun is a mere bonus to this incredible story. Not only do you still care about the characters from FF7, but you come to know new ones. And, in the case of Sephiroth, get a glimpse at him back when he was a hero and not a villain. Anyone who played Final Fantasy VII knows how the game will end, and that sense of looming makes you wish for the game to wear on for the sole reason that you don't want to see Zack meet with his fate. I can count on one hand the video games that have brought me close to - or made me cry - and this one is definitely on the list. A beautifully bittersweet ending brings this game to a close that you will not soon forget.
  
  
• This game is not fun
  By A1RYU3V8L7I8S2 on 2008-05-13
  Simply put, it is a cg movie that you watch. In order to advance to the next scene you have to push the x button 5000 times. They call this button mashing 'combat mode'. There is nothing fun, interactive or engaging about it in my opinion. This is coming from a guy that really enjoys rpg's.
  
  This is something for fans only. Or 12 year olds who liked Kingdom Hearts and want something 'edgier'. Pure simpleminded garbage.
  
  
• Simply put, one of the best games available for PSP
  By A2VIU3OICBEUWH on 2008-03-27
  I myself have not played any Final Fantasy game since VII first debuted nearly 10 years ago. What I remember of that game was that it was one of the most in depth games pertaining to the story and overall it was the best RPG I had played. It was one of the most memorable experiences I had ever had of playing any game.
  
  Just recently, Crisis Core was released on North American soil. I had no idea what to expect, but my friend recommended picking up the game a few weeks before its release. I picked it up the day it came out and I literally haven't stopped playing it. I've had to recharge my PSP about three or four times already! But seriously, this game is totally distracting me from my Xbox 360, because I can't turn off my PSP.
  
  First off, the graphics are gorgeous considering it's on PSP. The cutscenes and summons are unbelievably detailed, as expected from final fantasy games. The voice acting is pretty good, though the dialogue can be over-the-top cheesy at some points. Materia Fusion is pretty useful because there's lots of combinations as long as you have plenty of spare materia. The story alone is just amazing, almost possessing the magical traits of the original FFVII.
  
  However, there are some things that bother me while playing this game as well. The side missions start out as fun, but because of their repetition of almost same scenarios they start to feel like doing a chore more than enjoying the game. Also the battle system is somewhat hard to handle, you'll be constantly pressing the X button, and the triangle button for defending against attacks sees little use because frankly it's pointless to defend when you're surrounded by enemies. You'll only really use the triangle button during battles with only one monster or a boss. It can be quite annoying using the DMW spinning reel because it's completely random, making it sometime take forever to level up you or your materia. It may sound like I'm bashing the game around too much, but the game is just so fun and the story is so good these things seem very minor.
  
  Bottom line, the game is not perfect, but it does come close. Take it from me, I'm no Final Fantasy fanboy, I don't even play RPGs that much, but when a good RPG comes around, I don't let it pass me by. Pick this game up once you get the chance, you're missing out on one of the best games to come out on the PSP.
  
  
• Incredibly challenging extras
  By A2IORBX9QMXJVT on 2008-03-30
  This game was made for those who already know what Final Fantasy is all about. I would not suggest playing this game unless you've played any Final Fantasy game before or at least Kingdom Hearts. The gameplay is easy to learn and you can customize your character to fit the needs of battle. However this is a warning for those who like to choose hard mode to show off...this game's hard mode is no joke. If you HAVE to try hard mode don't save at least. Even if you don't choose hard mode, the extra missions are still just as hard. This game is great overall but the difficulty of some of the extra missions is over the top, which isn't always a good thing in my opinion.
  
  
• FFVII lovers great buy!
  By A1BK49XWK55HWG on 2008-04-01
  if you are a fan of FFVII from Play Station - this game is great! it explains a lot of the story from ff7 and from the movie advent children. the game play is really fun and it is not too short which was a concern when i first got this game - plus the graphics for the PSP is awesome. looks as good as advent children. once again, great buy for ff7 lovers
  
  
• Could Have Been Better
  By A8G5PF5XPMXR9 on 2008-05-02
  Story (8/10): Great story as it relates to Zack but contains gaps in the plot for the other characters, leaving the overall experience not quite connected.
  
  Graphics (10/10): One of the best for the PSP.
  
  Sound (10/10): Usually I zone out the sound on most games but not this one. Voice acting and music were great. Music contains hints of the original FFVII along with its own.
  
  Control (4/10): Poor use of buttons. There is one attack, one dodge, and one block button. The block button is basically useless. I used it for 2 battles against Summons and that is it, I used the dodge for the remaining 98% of the game. Both Magic and physical attacks are mapped to the X button and you use the L&R shoulder buttons to switch through them which can be kind of a pain. With 4 buttons, they should have used one for dodge, 2 for attacks (think GOW's small and heavy attacks), and one for magic. The only positive is that the controls are responsive.
  
  Gameplay (4/10): This is were the game really fails. Crisis Core is a low level Hack n' Slash game especially considering the one button attack command. All battles are basically the same no matter the monster and the "side quests" are dull and really don't give you anything of value.
  
  Overall (7/10): While the production values are great, the gameplay is really lacking. The story will carry you though the game at most once. The only reason for replay would be to collect all the items.
  
  
• Im done with this crap
  By A1M1LZ5SX12PVV on 2008-05-10
  Hello my fellow fans of FF. I loved this game. Great visuals, ok game play (though not what I expected at all), and a cool story.
  So why one star. Because I didnt ask for this. No one did. Raise your hand if you wanted a prequel... No one... Ok what about the game FFDOC... A few hands... Ok... Did anyone ask for a movie about what happened after... Only a handful... How surprising... No one really wanted this crap. We just want a redone version of FF7.
  Stop yanking our chain and give us what we want already. I hear rumor they are scared it wont sell that well. We bought FF7 on the PS1, and PC (we even illegally downloaded it off the net many times). We bought FFAC, FFDOC, and now FFCC. Why do they torment us?
  I bet you all my paychecks for the rest of my life that it would sell like snow cones in FL during summer. If they remade it for the PSP with graffics from FFCC then heck yeah, or they could do it on the PS3 with FFAC graffics and Id buy a PS3 just for it.
  I am never buying another game from Enix or associated companies until they remake FF7. I hope others will do the same. Im tired of this crap. I want FF7 gosh darn it.
  
  
• Great Story, Beautiful Music, and Gameplay Tailored for the PSP
  By A2BVOBG7YDSVOZ on 2008-05-30
  Crisis Core is the most fun I've had with a game in years. Sure there are some flaws in the gameplay, but the story, characters, side quests (missions + materia fusing), and the music (my favorite OST in years!) absolutely rock me. The ending is just immensely well done and makes up for any gripes I had with the Digital Mind Wave (DMW). It's just such a beautifully tragic finale.
  
  Unlike most PSP RPGs, this game can be played in quick bursts, making it ideal for a portable system. The game has a group of bonus missions that can be played any time you're at a save point. Most of them take five to ten minutes, with the later ones requiring more time. It actually takes more time to complete all the bonus missions than it does to beat the story mode. Of course the missions aren't as exquisite an experience as the story mode.
  
  I guess that's what's so unique about the game -- it's an emotionally moving tragedy. From Zack to Genesis to Angeal to Sephiroth, things just end on such a sad note. It was nice seeing how awesome Sephiroth was before he lost it. It just makes his character in FFVII all the more pitiful. And poor Aerith...she just can't get more than two days of happiness at a time.
  
  I've beaten the game twice -- once to experience the story and a second time to complete all the missions and bonus quests. I'm actually halfway through a third run since the game is fantastic for quick bursts of play. I don't see the game coming out of my PSP for a long, long time.
  
  
• It only took 2 years...
  By ALC6LWQXBHIPG on 2008-03-26
  
  Well I just got it last night and I have to say, if you are a FFVII fan, then this is a no brainer. if not, you may not want to grab this too quickly. I played for about 2 hrs last night and so far it's not bad but you still kind of feel that it's still not the FFVII that you have been waiting for on the PSP. BUT....it's still worlds away much better than the last offering. So far playing, there are a lot of very well rendered CG cutscenes from the beginnign an excellent tutorial telling you how everything works, and a nice intro to the characters and an early appearance by Sephiroth!! (Not a spoiler because it's not what you think!)
  
  So far, the story is pretty good (due to the cutscences). My only gripe is, for an action RPG, there is a lot of extra button pushing you have to do to play...X controls your attacks but instead of having another button to use your magic attacks, you have to use the bumpers to slide to the appropiate spell you want to use and...hit X... ...and that can be very critical when fighting a boss! Nothing worse than thinking one thing and your fingers hit another at a critical moment. I think that Square should have considered putting a Spells button elsewhere.
  The DVM is actually kind of fun but I wish there was a bit more control over that.
  
  But still, if you loved FFVII this is the game you wanted...I give it a 4 out of 5.
  
  
  
• Crisis Core is the Best Game Yet for PSP
  By A3KZSHMULHEOK4 on 2008-03-29
  Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, in my opinion, is the best PSP game yet. The characters, AMAZING graphics, materia, story, world, music, everything about it is amazing. If you have a PSP, you would be missing out on a lot of fun if you don't get this game!
  
  
• The best the psp has to offer
  By ARDWLKRI24NND on 2008-03-31
  This is by far the best psp game. While there are other great games (disgaea, silent hill, jeanne darc, etc) no other game offers this kind of production value.. I mean, the cgi is advent-children quality. Anybody THINKING about buying the game, dont think about it one more second and order it. Best 40 bucks Ive spent in a very long time.
  
  Dont listen to anyone saying that it isnt challenging, put the game on hard and you will have a hard time (at least on some battles, not in every single one)
  
  
• Just barely short of perfect
  By AN9J46667D80O on 2008-04-01
  Ah, the Final Fantasy series. Who can forget fine games like Final Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy XII?
  
  Of course no one can forget Final Fantasy VII. This is largely because Square-Enix won't let us forget it. We have games like "Before Crisis" and Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus, and of course the incredibly well-done movie Final Fantasy VII - Advent Children (Limited Edition Collector's Set) (go find my review of it and vote it helpful! Please? I'll be your friend! ^_^ ). Now into this fray of Final Fantasy fantasticness, we have "Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII".
  
  Now, I never played "Before Crisis" (though neither did anyone else), and I haven't played "Dirge of Cerberus" either, so I can't compare this to those.
  
  What I can do is say that this is one hellishly good game! The graphics are amazing. The music reminds one of the music from the original game without directly copying it (except for in a few places). The plot, at least so far, is compelling and interesting. Further the game really opens up the world we were introduced to way back in 1997.
  
  The game isn't perfect. I still haven't found away to remove the annoying subtitles, and I do have to join in the complaints about how all you really have to do to win is press "X" a lot. Plus having the DMW screen pop up every few moments gets old. I'm also really sick of "Active Combat mode activated" message you get when you go into, well, active combat mode.
  
  That said, this is, without a doubt, one of the finest games on the PSP, joined in competition only by God of War Chains of Olympus (which I also enjoyed). It's probably one of the best RPGs I've ever played.
  
  Overall, if you like good action, great graphics, nice music and a plot you can chew your way through, then buy this game! If you don't like those things, well, heck, why would you buy ANY Final Fantasy game? :)
  
  
• Best PSP Game Yet!
  By A3P85ATRJ2F5JI on 2008-04-03
  I might be slightly biased since I am obsessed with everything Final Fantasy, but this game absolutely floored me. I bought a PSP purely for this game, and I was not disappointed in the least. The graphics are better than FFXII, and considering they're on a small screen, they are extremely amazing. Typically, Square Enix games have at least one voice actor that you wish you could kill 10 minutes into the game, but every voice in this one was flawless. Zack's voice was emotional and excited, carrying across the message that he is at a stage in his life where everything is relatively carefree. Once the plot develops and Zack matures, his voice takes on a more serious tone, but you can still hear the original Zack through it. Steve Burton returns as Cloud's voice actor, and he too is completely flawless. New voices such as Genesis and Angeal are added, but their voices seem to fit with their looks (if that makes any sense lol).
  The gameplay is comparable to Kingdom Hearts. You have your dodge, guard, and of course, the X that you keep mashing to kill your enemies. You can't jump, but it doesn't take away from the gameplay. I especially like the DMW (or reel system) that gets you extreme attacks that make the difference between beating the game and getting beaten up.
  A touch that really struck me? The music. If you have ever played the original FFVII for the PS, you will remember groundbreaking whimsical music. They have restored the exact same music, and it is striking. The old cartoonish tones of the original music would not have fit with this new game, so it's a good thing that they remade the music.
  I beat this game in 15 hours, but I only did 10% of the missions. They get a little redundant after a while, so taking on over 300 of them did not appeal to me personally. This game wasn't so difficult that I had to read cheats to beat it, but it wasn't as easy as hack, slash, and move on. There is a little more strategy to it than that.
  I can't remember the last time I payed full price for a game, but I did for this one, and I have no regrets whatsoever about spending $40 for this moving, beautiful game. If you played the original game, you should at least look into renting this one. For me, the replay value is extremely high, so buying it seems to be the better option in my opinion. This is undoubtedly one of the top games that I have ever played, and I can only hope that other people are as enthused about it as I am so that Sqaure will make more amazing games like this!
  
  
• Amazing
  By A1NVYJ41XB8WGV on 2008-04-03
  This game is simply amazing. ITs a prequel to the original FFVII and follows the story of SOLDIER 2nd class Zack, and gives you more information about what happened before FFVII. The gameplay is simple, and easy to catch on to. All you do is cycle through your commands (that you set) and press x to do it. There is also a new battle system called the Digital Mind Wave (DMW). It's when a slot spins and randomly lands on a character and number. This gives you either a power surge, limit break, or a level up. The only thing I don't like about this is that it happens all at random. There isn't any experiance that makes you level up. The graphics and voice acting are some of the best I've seen and heard on the PSP.Even the in game graphics look good. The cutscenes are extremely detailed and look like they came straight out of Advent Children. I had no problems with this game and highly recommend it.
  
  
• Great at first...
  By A392T55RPNA7F7 on 2008-03-27
  This game is great at first, but when you continue, you realize it's the same repetitive button smashing over and over. The story is good, and the game play is comparable to Drakengard, though I found Drakengard more challenging.
  The high ave. rating for this game is due to FFVII fanboy hype. This game's okay when compared to other games, but awful when compared to Final Fantasy as a genre.
  
  
  
• High Production - Great Story - Low Fun Factor
  By A204PFOULBF871 on 2008-04-16
  So you are excited about the new FF game on PSP? Ya, so was I. I was looking forward to a new customizable team of FF players to do my heroic bidding. What did I get instead?? I got 1 new character with a know it all personality who fights mission after mission of boring hack and slash. (I won't discredit the game for having 1 character, I could have researched that myself before buying.)
  
  That being said, I will continue to play an hour or two a day to finish the story. It's not ALL bad... being a fan of FF7, it's awesome to play from a different perspective and see references made to "AVALANCHE" and "SOLDIER". Those 2 words alone are great nostalgia.
  
  Here's the good
  
  ** The story is amazing
  ** Super high production level (great sound and music, astonishing movie scenes, even the menus are pretty awesome looking
  ** Mission mode gives you stuff to do on the side, and you get some free roam time of midgar, and a cool e-mail type system from other NPC's in the game
  ** Materia is back! There's some cool stuff to be done with it now too...
  
  Here's the bad...
  
  ** REPETITIVE GAMEPLAY!!!!!!!!!!!! (fine don't believe me, but you cannot deny it if you try it) It gets to the point where you just don't care about the gameplay anymore... you'd rather just watch all the storyline scenes and cinematics and then put the game away.
  ** Not much strategy involved... this is due to a lot of randomness in the battles... in fact most of the entire game is watching a slot machine scroll down faces of allies that you've unlocked and then performs a special attack. Basically you "watch a fight happen" rather than control it. (generally speaking of course. I mean you do have to hit the X button a lot yourself.. lol)
  ** Decently high load times, something I probably wouldn't complain about if the game was really enjoyable.
  ** Ability to only control only 1 character. (this may change as I'm only about 8 hours in but at this point I HIGHLY doubt it due to the nature of the combat system!)
  ** Fails to live up to the FF name we mostly love. Granted, I'm not a huge fanboy of the series, but I know that FF means quality... and here I only see quality in the cinematics and production... it fails to be present in the gameplay.
  
  All of that being said, a Final Fantasy fan should not pass up the game because of it's share story value alone. It's awesome to see the Shinra side of things and see the build up to what eventually brings us to FF7. If you haven't played FF games before (I know not many haven't) then there is no need to jump into the story here. It would be a horrible introduction to the series. I think I've ranted long enough... I think to make a long story short I'll leave you with this.
  
  Buy it if you are a FF fan but don't expect a great experience, just a good story. If you aren't a fan to begin with, then just avoid it all together... there are plenty of other good PSP games to spend your money on.
  
  
  
• CC with UMD
  By A2NOJVQUPKPTEI on 2008-05-05
  This is a wonderful and refreshing return to Midgar. The combat system is great and contrary to many other reviews, the slot machine style DMV is an innovation and works for you more than against. The limited edition UMD Case.... Some pictures it looks leather, some pictures it looks like a solidly constructed rubberized case. This case is, in actuality, a very cheaply made piece of plastic akin to a promotional toy you'd get with a kid's meal. The clips inside look like they'd snap extremely easily. It holds two UMDs. I'm not trying to disuade you from purchasing the copy with the case (it's the same price, you'd be stupid not to.) I'm definitely not saying you shouldn't buy the game (this has nothing to do with the amazing game, in fact I'm telling you to buy it even if you have to buy a PSP too so you can play it). I'm merely informing you on the case quality so you don't get your hopes up too high in regards to the limited edition free gift.
  
  
• Crisis Core review
  By A1GUXPY3LXBYPQ on 2008-05-29
  This is a awesome game that features great promise in new age RPGs. The style is a mixture of action and role playing with a little spice of luck with the chance of either hitting multiple, critical, or just getting lucky from the slots that is always rolling in the action. Controls are smoothly done and the detailed art of the games portray the Final Fantasy 7's setting pretty accurately. Overall, the game play magnificent and the story has promising upbringing toward the future Final Fantasies.
  
  
• Good, but a few flaws
  By A2VNKD1487NE63 on 2008-06-01
  Overall, the game is a great addition to the Final Fantasy line. I've read a few reviews that criticize this as a very short game - about ten hours. This is only true if you don't do all of the Missions. There are 300 Missions, which are almost all optional. The Missions give experience and unique items that are not available elsewhere. I did all of the Missions as soon as they became available, and spent about 110 hours on this game before beating the final Boss.
  
  My criticisms are few, but I feel they are significant. First, you really have no control over the Limit Breaks and their special Summons. Neither do you have much control over leveling up. Experience and the bizarre leveling up system are integral to Limit Breaks. Once I raised the character to the maximum level 99, I had fewer Limit Breaks, which made some of the side missions more difficult (such as obtaining the Genji Shield, which requires a Limit Break of a specific kind at a specific time). The system for initiating the Limit Breaks, a kind of automatic lottery called the DMW, is also not under your control. This DMW interfered more with my fights than anything else, and at times the interruption was beyond annoying.
  
  There are many cut scenes, and you cannot skip them. At the end of the game, the cut scenes take forever before the credits roll, and the credits are also very long. Between watching the movie/cut scenes at the end of my first game and starting a new game, I wasted about 45 minutes. You must wait through these if you wish to start a "New Game +", with your character level and equipment preserved. The New Game+, however, is too easy, and you can't level up beyond the level 99, so there is little point in playing through a second time for someone like me (who got all of the rare items the first time I played).
  
  If not for these flaws, I would have given this game 5 stars. The interface is simple, the game sufficiently complex, and the graphics are the best I've ever seen in a handheld gaming system. Of course, you can't actually "win" at the end of the game, as this game is a prequel to the Final Fantasy VII game for the Playstation. I hope they either reissue FF7 or remake it for the PSP. I never played FF7 when it was easily available, and this game makes me want to follow through with FF7.
  
  
• The begining...
  By A22RHO40R383Y on 2008-06-02
  With all this Final Fantasy trilogy this item is a must of you loved FFVII. Besides, if youre not one of those FFVII freaks (like me who bought it without even reading reviews) you'll get one of the best PSP titles on RPG in my opinion. The summons are amazing to wathc over and over again. The sound will make you shead a tear.
  
  
• Worth every penny and more!
  By A1OYX4067EGMMG on 2008-06-02
  I'm sure fans of Final Fantasy would have picked this title up JUST BECAUSE this is a Final Fantasy game and we've all been wowed by the new-gen graphics of the Compilation of VII series, and yet this game may have surprised even those who thought they knew what to expect! After drooling over the opening scene, I was immediately drawn into this game. Chock full of Final Fantasy VII's original history, this is the best place to start if you've wanted to see what all the fuss was about; and veteran gamers finally get to fill in the blanks that the original game was always poking at! My only complaint-- too short. I had this game mastered in a little over two weeks, Kingdom Hearts II took me at least a couple of months. Seeing as that is my only complaint-- what are you waiting for?! BUY THIS GAME! The collector case is an awesome little addition-- and it has slots for... two games? The rumor mill is buzzing about the original game being remade for the PSP! Was SquareEnix dropping a subtle hint? Fans everywhere, new and old, are holding their breath on this one!
  
  
• Simply the BEST game in the market!!!
  By A1URYPVG5DLLZZ on 2008-06-09
  I really have loved FF games since forever.. but this game... has captured me and has been a part of my life for the past 2 months.. I even got attached to every character.. specially Zack.. When i saw the ending,,, i cried my eyes out.. its unexpected and yet sad and shocking..
  The game is awesome from every aspect and worth every penny you spend on..
  
  
• great pre-sequell to FFVII
  By A2LJ6HBTAIJE81 on 2008-06-11
  This game is happen to be a great game, after playing FFVII when i was just a kid (14) and now as a 23 years old i bought the PSP only because of this game.
  
  the story line is amazing, the graphics are state of the art for the PSP console.
  and my god the the videos...
  
  all though the game is not a full scale RPG like the original FFVII the game is a bit action like, the battles are massive and intense.
  When i mean that the game is no full scale RPG i mean it by.
  First: there are a verity of Material and item to collect you can even synth new materials... but it doesnt feel like your really need it except the Fire/Ice/Thunder/Cure all the other Materials seem pointless.
  Second: The level system is awkward there a little slot machine the allways runs in the background when you fight, the are too things in that slot machine: Faces and Numbers.
  the faces are different collection of limit brakes ( a special strike or magic) and the number are for leveling up
  for example
  if you get 777 you will gain a character level.
  when there are combination like 223 115 556 your equiped materia will level up... yea its weird but its kida fun.(feels like vegas!)
  Third: The item system feels limited There are no items like Swords only shields armlets etc. and you dont get to see them on the character.
  Forth: there are no world exploration! its feels like your in a platform game and moving on from level to level. the only thing you get to explore is the Missions, as a shinra solider you can get access to mission that way you can level up like when you used to walk around the world in FFVII.
  its a convenient system tough, it gives the game a pick n play option since the mission are max 5 min to a mission.
  
  the story of the game take place before what you know in FFVII this you play as a solider in Shinra co. and this time you get to discover all about the life stream and macko energy.
  
  the game is set like that even if you never played FFVII you'll get into it in no time. the game have this fantasy cyberpunk feeling.
  great sound track with some new track and original mixed track from the FFVII.
  
  this is the first game i played on my PSP and I all really believe this one of the best games i ever played
  
  
  

• God of War Chains of Olympus
• CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- Signature Series Guide (Bradygames Signature Series Guides) (Bradygames Signature Series Guides)
• PSP 2000 Console - Piano Black
• Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
• Patapon