Review: Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII
Prequel to Final Fantasy VII Brings Hack n' Slash Beauty to the PSP
Final Fantasy VII fans rejoice!
No, Final Fantasy VII hasn't been remade, but there is a prequel to the beloved story that answers many questions about the backstory to the tumultuous events that started Final Fantasy VII's tale. And, even for those who aren't Final Fantasy VII fans, or even Final Fantasy fans in general, the PSP has a new role-playing game with a very unique combat system that will appeal to all fans of the RPG genre.
What It's About: The Explosive Backstory to Final Fantasy VII
Crisis Core provides the backstory to Final Fantasy VII, one of the most heralded role-playing games created. It stars Zack Fair, a member of SOLDIER briefly alluded to in Final Fantasy VII as Cloud Strife's best friend and an acquaintance of Aerith Gainsborough.
The game is about Zack's experience as a member of SOLDIER for the Shinra Electric Power Company. He teams up with his mentor, Angeal, and Sephiroth to learn why Genesis, a First Class member of SOLDIER, has suddenly deserted the company. What they discover is layers of deception, betrayal, genetic reserach gone awry, and twists of fate so deep, Zack often wonders if he's really being the hero he's always wanted to be.
The Good: A New Combat System, Beautiful Graphics, Deep Story
As expected of a Final Fantasy game, the graphics are as beautiful as the plot is intricate. The engine uses the PSP's graphic capabilities to the fullest extent. For example, the summoning attacks are more cinematic than game-like. Thankfully, the cut-scenes can be skipped, as some of the attacks take almost a minute to execute (very true to the Final Fantasy name).
Instead of using the typical turn-based system for combat, Crisis Core employs hack n' slash battles. This change is quite necessary, since Zack fights alone, rather than with a party of five. However, this isn't a normal hack n' slash system. Typically for role-playing games, experience is built up with every battle, and the amount of experience gained determines the leveling up. But not with Crisis Core.
The Weird: Digital Mind Wave
Meet the Digital Mind Wave (DMW). The DMW is a little slot machine-like device that spins in the top left corner of the screen when Zack is in Combat Mode. It has both pictures of the game's characters and numbers. Once Combat Mode has been activated, the DMW will spin if Zack has Soldier Points accumulated.
Zack obtains these points by participating in battles. After a bit of spinning, the left wheel stops, followed by the right wheel. If these two images match, the DMW goes into the Modulating Phase. If they don't match, the middle image stops, and then the three number wheels. Depending on the combination of the numbers, the DMW will grant Zack certain status effects for a short period of time, such as invicibility or the ability to cast spells without using MP.
If the DMW enters the Modulating Phase, the combat scene is put on hold, and the DMW wheels take the full screen. The middle image then rolls to a stop. If it matches the left and right images, Zack will perform a Limit Break based on that character. Then the three number wheels stop. If the numbers are 777, Zack will level up.
If two of the numbers match up, then Zack's materia stored in that numbered slot will level up. If three of the numbers match, then the materia will level up two levels. At random times, the Modulating Phase will trigger either Summoning or Chocobo Modes, which, as they sound, perform summons or Limit Breaks with Chocobos and other odd characters (such as Moogles and Cactuars).
The Bad: Little Strategizing and Little Story
As you can probably imagine, the DMW makes gameplay a little frustrating since you can't exactly strategize combat with your Limit Breaks or summons. Of course, the DMW always seems to spin Limit Breaks against the weak enemies and never against the bosses, who can activate their Limit Breaks whenever they please. The only strategy you can implement with the DMW is to not count on it at all.
Typical RPGs have the main quest and a bunch of side quests. The side quests are usually optional, but it's usually wise to take them all on as you can obtain rare materia and level up more quickly. Crisis Core has something similar, but the side quests are called missions.
These missions are assignments from Shinra for Zack to go on, and he can go on them whenever he wishes. He only needs to access a save point to start a mission. Like side quests, the missions are a great way to level up, obtain rare materia, and obtain summoning materia. However, the missions feel like they don't really belong in the game. It's as if they've been thrown in to help a player level up as an afterthought - as if the developers suddenly realized that the story itself is extremely short.
The Verdict: A Must-Play for All Final Fantasy VII and RPG Fans
Final Fantasy VII fans in particular should rush out and buy Crisis Core, if nothing else, to see some of their beloved characters in action again. Aficionado will love watching Zack meet Cloud for the first time, fight alongside Sephiroth, and sell flowers with Aerith. But you don't have to be a Final Fantasy VII fan or even a fan of the Final Fantasy series to enjoy this role-playing game. If you relish role-playing games, this one has so much to offer: stunning graphics, deep story, and an unique combat system.
Crisis Core Cast
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