It has now been about three weeks since the initial release of Crisis Core so I think it's reasonable to assume all Final Fantasy VII addicts such as myself have already purchased the game. Therefore there's not really any point to appeal to those type of people at all, because they of the same mold who ran out and purchased Advent Children the second it came out on DVD, or if you're like me you found a bootleg copy of it in Japanese and watched it in subtitles(to this day, I have yet to see the American version). But with all those disappointments aside I really want anyone who enjoys a good handheld game to check this out.
For just a quick plot synopsis, the story-line follows SOLDIER member Zack Fair as he attempts to become SOLDIER 1st class and climb the corporate rank in Shinra Electric Company. (As a quick side note, why is SOLDIER capitalized? Is it an acronym for something? I would love for someone to enlighten me) The plot is amazing and seems to me to truly follow Final Fantasy VII guideline. Dirge of Cerberus may have had all the same characters, but it was just way too dark. Advent Children as well, really just had too much action packed in and no story at all. Contrasting both of Square's attempts to draw in the Final Fantasy VII crowd, Crisis Core actually has a good story. It's amazing for me to think that there was reason for me to buy this game, aside from really wanting to find out what happens to Zack. Throughout the game you watch Zack's life undergo a transformation that's as real as any crappy literature book I've had to analyze for an English class in High School. There is a small disadvantage to the story, in that, I really don't think you will enjoy it ask much if you are not a die-hard Final Fantasy VII fan. If you don't like Final Fantasy games, then this isn't the thing for you. Lifestream and Materia and all that jazz will just confuse the hell out of you. The soundtrack was incredible, and if it wasn't for the fact that it's 60 bucks on Amazon, I would definitely try to buy it. The story was so different in that, being a prequel, you knew exactly where it was going to end because you had already been there. So you don't play the game to get to the end, but to find out how you get to the end. To me, it was like playing a Quentin Tarantino movie.
I would almost go as far as to say that the gameplay falls under straight action, instead of an RPG. The battle system is essentially an improved version of Kingdom Hearts. The battle sequence is essentially initiated by running into an enemy instead of random twirling. Every time it happens in Crisis Core you hear this annoying voice say "Activating Combat Mode" which can get old fast, but it's still an improvement from the screen twirling in a circle like in the old days. Once the battle mode is engaged you are free to move around and fight which ever enemy you want to. The part I enjoyed most was the any slash to back of a foe counts as a critical hit. So you spend a lot of time trying to work around to the back to cause more damage. There's also a dodge button that can help you avoid even the most powerful attacks, which is amazing because it makes it so even a low leveled Zack can take out enemies way above him if you've mastered the battle system. But if physical combat isn't really your thing and you miss the customization days of old, no worries. Crisis Core upgrades the Materia with a Materia Fusion system, which enables you to create more Materia by combining items and old Materia. Eventually you can create a lighting spell that not only causes tons of damage but adds 50% to your health. Of course, you can also get very random results.
The strangest addition to the combat system, and what almost ruins it, is called the DMW, or Digital Mind Wave. Basically it looks like a three combination slot machine that is constantly rolling in the upper left corner of your screen. This basically handles any other Final Fantasy battle essential you can think of. It will level you up when hitting a certain combo, it also activated limit breaks and summons. I really did not like that the summons were random and could not be controlled. I learned to enjoy the DMW especially when it can randomly make you have no mp cost and such, but on the whole, especially starting out, it can be very annoying.
On to the problems, yes there are a few, as with any game. The main issue with this game, is that it's on the damn psp. I'm sure there are plenty of you out there who would argue to your death that the psp is the greatest portable system since the dawn of time, but I am not a fan. I have many reasons, but the main one is that the whole system just seems so fragile. Honestly, I just feel like it can break from just me playing it, and why the hell do I have to buy a memory card that only Sony makes? Aside from the system, the game is really pretty short. This is a horrible thing to complain about in a handheld I know, but I just finished it wanting more, so of course I'm playing it again in an attempt to beat virtually everything. The side quests of the missions can become incredibly repetitive to the point where only people who are really committed to beating the entire game will beat them, and this is coming from somebody who beat both Weapons in the original, a feat which took me over 80 hours. I think the game would be better if they had added in more side quests of sorts other than the missions. Like a submarine game or snowboarding perhaps?
In the end, I actually think hardcore Final Fantasy VII fans may be upset with this game. You are not going to enjoy the gameplay at all if you purchase the game expecting Final Fantasy VII. But if you purchase the game, expecting something new and original with that game's story, then you will no doubt enjoy this game. And again, I see no reason, why someone who just owns a psp(for whatever strange reason) and has never even played a final fantasy, would not enjoy this game, the plot would just seem very.... Japanese.
Rating 9/10
