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| Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Review; Score: 9.2/10 | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Dec 18 2008, 06:49 PM (522 Views) | |
| Fayt | Dec 18 2008, 06:49 PM Post #1 |
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Easy wins have never been my style
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Full Name: Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Genre: Action RPG Developer/Publisher: Square Enix Platform: PSP Players: 1 Release Dates: JP - 13 September 2007 | US - 25 March 2008 | EU - 20 June 2008 Official Sites: Japan | North America | Europe Crisis Core is a prequel to the ever popular Final Fantasy VII, created 10 years before it on PSX. This will take you back 7 years prior the infamous events of FFVII. Here you play as Zack Fair, a confident 2nd class soldier aspiring to finally reach first class, along side the likes of his mentor Angeal, Genesis & the legend Sephiroth. In early proceedings you will be sent on a mission to deal with a resistance group known as Wutai with your mentor Angel, everything seems to be going smoothly. Although soon after you will learn that 1st Class Soldier Genesis goes missing. This will begin a chain of events that will chance Shinra and Soldier forever… Proceedings take place by using Zack Fair at all times, where you can roam freely in a limited area around the Shinra Company, or wherever your next assignment takes you. While you are off duty you can venture through, or outside of the Shinra Company as you please, talking to fellow soldier members, the townsfolk or attempting one of three hundred missions. Battles will occur randomly in hostile locations, and will “Active Combat Mode” in the very location you are, no localised switching to new battle areas here. Once a battle commences you will compete solo against however many opponents appear. Attack, defend, and perform an evasive roll or use items freely are your basic commands available at all times in a live action environment. You can also use various Materia or Skills dependant on your equipment setups during battle. The battle system is not overly complex, with a sound equipment setup and good timing of attacks and defence you shouldn’t have too many problems. Unless you go on mission frenzy then be prepared to grind it out on the tougher ones. Some elements unique to Crisis Core are as follows. Online Shopping: You need not visit shops to purchase items during the game, you can at any time (well with the exception of the middle of a battle of course) access an online shop via your menus and purchase whatever you need, when you need it. As you progress and perform various tasks throughout the game you will be able to gain even more shopping addresses for further access to various items, equipment and Materia. Mail System: As you progress you will often be receiving mail relating to Shinra Company announcements, newsletters from fan groups (if you join any…), messages from fellow Soldier members, or even just spam… The great thing is they are automatically sorted in various categories and are available to be re-read whenever you choose to do so. Although, it’s not a perfect Mail System, not once can you actually send a message back to someone. Missions: As you progress through the game you will be able to unlock more and more missions, some dependant on your actions throughout the game, some dependant on how far into the story you have come. Missions are non-life threatening situations where you can perform tasks for various groups, such as the Shinra Company, for a challenge with the security department, or simply to hunt out rare items and material. All of which are non-compulsory additions which are great for training and locating additional items, equipment and Materia during the game. Materia Fusion: Any Materia can develop up to level 5, where it will be Mastered, and cannot develop any further. However with Materia Fusion you can combine two types and create a new Materia. With various combinations you will be able to create rare Materia, or simply upgrade your existing ones to more advanced types (Like Fire > Fira), where it may also return back to level one allowing you to develop it further and gain even more stat bonuses. If you can use them well you can effectively upgrade the same Materia endlessly, while continuing to benefit from increasing stat bonuses! Digital Mind Wage (DMW): Level ups, and Materia Level ups for that matter are quite unique in that gathering experience points no longer exists. Here such levels are attained only by the DMW. Actively during battle (providing you have SP…which you should always have anyway) the DMW will spin constantly like a roulette. Here faces of important characters you meet during the game will appear, triggering emotions and memories from Zack. Should you match three of the same person you will then perform a special attack, and also gain a level up should the numbers attacked match. Three 7’s for example will allow Zack to get a level up. The DMW may sound confusing as hell, but it really just takes care of itself. Basically the more you fight the more chance you have to level up. Not entirely different to experience acquisition from random battles in the end really. Summary Story: The story is certainly not as long as your average Final Fantasy by any means, probably covering 15 hours for the core storyline, at most. (Missions however can make the game take MUCH longer). However what the story covers, and how it intertwines elements of FFVII itself is excellent. You’ll see, or at least hear of many FFVII characters and places along the way. While also learning a lot more about Shinra, Soldier, Sephiroth and of course Zack. I found it both very enjoyable and an excellent platform to FFVII itself, just a tad longer would have been nice though. 9/10 Battle System: While fairly simple, it’s easy to pick up and enjoy, it reminds me a little of the simple, yet beautiful battle systems of the Kingdom Hearts titles actually. 9.5/10 Graphics: Graphical detail, in particular cut scenes are absolutely stunning, let alone for PSP. Scenes of summoning in particular are outstanding; the graphics for the game itself are also very good for PSP and more then adequate to present the game well. 9.5/10 Sounds: The soundtrack to the game is excellent, and really helps the atmosphere or where you are, or the battles you are in. 9/10 Replay Factor: Since the game is not that long, you are bound to play it again if you enjoyed it. There are many little deviations you may have missed, missions you may not have unlocked and more to redo, and enjoy on a second attempt. 8.5/10 Final Thoughts: I would in fact say this is to date the best RPG on PSP. It’s fast, beautiful to view and listen to and comes with a really enjoyable story. If you are already a Final Fantasy fan and haven’t played it, just buy it already - I’d be very surprised if you were disappointed. The best thing is, any RPG fan, even if you have not played FFVII should find this enjoyable without ruining FFVII itself. Rating: 9.2/10 *This review is based on my personal opinions from my own experiences with the game, which is an English PAL version. |
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| Quark | Dec 19 2008, 01:43 PM Post #2 |
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bite my shiny metal-
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The online shopping technology mysteriously disappeared during the events of FF7
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| Fayt | Dec 19 2008, 03:34 PM Post #3 |
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Easy wins have never been my style
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That's because in Crisis Core you work for the technological superpower Shinra, in FFVII you are a small anti-Shinra group.
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| Decus | Dec 30 2008, 09:11 PM Post #4 |
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TzoTzo's LOVE SLAVE
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I actually haven't played this one yet. Does Silver ever appear? The guy with the long silvery hair, cerulean eyes, and the longest sword in history? If so I may play it. I know it will fall through with plot and character development (it's Final Fantasy after all), but since I have some ties with Silver, I'd like to see him inside of a game. I believe you encounter him during the original Fail Fantasy VII. Sweet guy. |
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| Freyjadour Falenas | Jan 18 2009, 11:27 PM Post #5 |
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Fellpool
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Silver?Nope,he doesn't appear. Also it didn't fail. |
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