Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII: A NEW WAY TO PLAY FF GAMES.
BURNTRBR44
100% score
LIke many other GamePro users, I have been eagerly waiting for this game to come out for the PSP for two to three years. Was the two to three year wait well worth it? After playing through the game, I have to say it was well worth it.
First of all, let's start with the new battle system. I have not played Final Fantasy XII yet so this was my first time with the real time system with action RPG elements. Like many other Final Fantasy diehard fans, I was not sure how this would play out because the most recent Final Fantasy game I played was Final Fantasy X for the PS2 which was the last Final Fantasy game to include a turn based battle system. Turns out that I really did enjoy the new battle system although there is only one character in this game that you control and that is Zack. With the X button, that is the action button in battle where you can attack with the Buster sword (Zack does not start out with that sword but will get that sword eventually), attack with magic, or use items. The square button is to evade attacks which is awesome when you get the hang of it. The triangle button is to defend with the Buster Sword. You can select that attack command with the circle button but I prefer to use the L and R buttons because in real time, speed means everything. This game feels more of a beat 'em up game except you can develop the character. Anyone remember The Bouncer? It feels a bit like that and if this is indeed the direction that Square Enix wants to take the Final Fantasy series, I will be thrilled!
The graphics are the best I have seen on the PSP to date. You get the CG stuff as well which is freaking awesome. Some of the CG stuff are even from the original FFVII game on the PSone. The way the environment and the battle system blends just shows you how much effort Square Enix put in making this game for the PSP. I'd say this game would have looked pretty good on the PS2 as well. Way to go SE!
One of the notable differences in this game compared to the first 10 FInal Fantasy games is that there is no world to explore and this takes away the exploration aspect of past Final Fantasy games. The game seems to be pretty linear but this is where the missions come into play. Since there is no overworld to make Zack into the biggest badass character, the missions provide a way to level up Zack and there are 300 missions which is quite a lot and I completed just 15% of the missions when I beat this game just recently so the replay value really kicks in with the missions. After expriencing the missions, I do not miss the overworld or exploration aspect of past Final Fantasy games and this makes me much more excited for Final Fantasy XIII which is supposed to have a similar story structure as FFVII and FFX and those two are my most favorite FF games so I am looking forward to that game if that game follows the blueprint of CC:FFVII.
This is a must get if you have played the original FFVII and for JRPG fans that want a RPG that is not turn based. This game could very well appeal to action game fans as well.
If I could give this game a 6 out of 5 rating, I'd do it!
