PSP

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII

It doesn't matter who you are, if you own a PSP, you owe it to yourself to pick up this title. And if you don't own one, yes, Crisis Core and a few others will certainly make it worthwhile.

It's hard to find any reason not to recommend Crisis Core to RPG fans in general and FF VII fans in particular. The lack of an overworld map and button-mashing combat may be off-putting for some, but these are really only minor blemishes in an otherwise flawless package. Just like saying you wouldn't date Cindy Crawford because of her mole, refusing to play Crisis Core based on these small issues amounts to simply being overly nitpicky. More than just recommending the game, Crisis Core is a genuinely great reason to buy a PSP. If you've been on the fence about grabbing Sony's handheld, then go ahead and pick it up and make this your first software purchase. You'll be truly glad that you did.

So outside of my issues with the DMW system, and some minor things like the unskippable animations for limit breaks, Crisis Core stands out as not only a fantastic Final Fantasy title, but one of the best games on the PSP to date. That's saying something in light in the pretty stellar year the system saw in '07, so hopefully you system owners out there will take my word for it and pick this one up. Great action in small bursts, and a fairly level headed storyline that won't leave you scratching your head. Even if your memory of Final Fantasy VII isn't as fond as others, Crisis Core still manages to be a fantastic game worthy of your attention.

Clocking in somewhere near 20 hours for the main quest, it will take the average player easily triple that to absorb every delicious tidbit and revitalized memory of the classic game that left its mark on us all well over 11 years ago. Crisis Core’s strengths heavily outweigh the minor dialogue contrivances or effeminate characters that the genre is known for today. Its greatest appeal, though, is being interesting and fun to both newcomers and FF7 veterans alike. Crisis Core is a triple-A tour de force with enough panache and stylistic flavor to infuse your PSP with enough mako energy to last you ten lifetimes.

First time players might not appreciate the value of the many cameos, classic locations, themes and love stories, but there's enough backstory (or, is that futurestory?) to chew on in the email system to ensure you know what's going on. The worst part? That eventually Crisis Core will end and fans will go to dig out their copies of Final Fantasy VII, fire up their 40GB PS3s and find they can't play it. And to that I say, if you want a remake, then vote with your wallets and pick up Crisis Core. It's taken far too long for non-American, English speaking gamers to get their hands on Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. But the good news is, largely Square Enix has managed to live up to incredibly high expectations. As the likelihood of a PS2 version of Crisis Core begins to diminish, now's as good a time as any to get into the series.

Forget remaking Final Fantasy VII, Crisis Core is the Final Fantasy game you've been waiting eleven years for. With amazing graphics, an intriguing new combat model and one of the best RPG stories I've experienced in years, Crisis Core may just be the game that makes you completely forget about God of War: Chains of Olympus!

Crisis Core stops being a simple Final Fantasy spin-off immediately and may stand as one of the best releases for the series on a handheld. Although somewhat short in comparison to other RPGs on the market, the game's length is perfectly timed to tell the amazing story Crisis Core represents. The flaws that exist are minimal, and the only reason they are noticeable is because of how incredible so many other aspects of the game tend to be. Crisis Core is what every Final Fantasy VII fan has been clamoring for, but most importantly, what any fan of great RPG's should be interested in. From opening to close, every note in this game plays well, and anyone that owns a PSP, even if not a fan of RPGs or Final Fantasy, should give Crisis Core a chance.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is the Square Enix role-playing game that people have been clamoring for ever since the release of the PSP. This is a phenomenal achievement, both in terms of graphics, gameplay and story. Although it's shorter than previous Final Fantasy outings, Crisis Core's story is no less interesting and intense. In fact, I would argue that the story here is one of the most interesting I have seen in a long time. Its roots are still very much in the Japanese RPG genre, but it's not afraid to try new things. Crisis Core is a must buy for anybody that owns a PSP, it's that simple.

"Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII" vem para colocar um sorriso nos rostos dos órfãos do clássico jogo do Playstation original, finalmente dando as tão sonhadas respostas a muitas perguntas nunca antes respondidas. E há ainda muita ação, uma história envolvente e muito conteúdo a ser descoberto, em um pacote completo para fãs de RPG, principalmente os da franquia da Square-Enix.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is a game that should surprise everybody whoever plays it for all the right reasons. It’s terrific fan service to those who love Final Fantasy VII and the series in general. While the game is quite linear, it actually works out as one if its strengths because it makes it a lot more approachable to players who don’t consider themselves hardcore RPG players because of their extraordinary lengths. The main story should take close to 12 hours to complete, but the side missions could take you well over 30 hours, maybe even more if you want to beat the game the perfect way. Luckily for those who blaze through, you can play through the game again in New Game + to import all your original stats, and it makes the game have that much more replay value. If you have the slightest interest at all, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is worth your time and money.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is a game that every PSP owner should go out and buy. This is the most original Final Fantasy title in recent years and really delivers one of the most emotional stories -- one that even a grown man could cry over. Initially, this looked to be nothing more than fan service from Square-Enix, but they really delivered a prequel to Final Fantasy VII that can standalone and not in the shadow of its sequel. If you want a gripping story and enjoy RPGs, then this is the game for you.

The ultimate payoff for Crisis Core is that you know - you know, beyond that shadow of a doubt - how it ends even before you sit down and play it. That’s Cloud’s sword Zack is holding, and he sure as hell ain’t holding it when VII’s main storyline starts. But how the game gets from point A to point Cloud-Gets-The-Sword, and how they pull off the spectacular ending that we won’t ruin but totally want to, is what makes Crisis Core a great game instead of just a good one. And it’s what will keep you playing even if little RPG pet-peeves get to you (come on, how many people do you have to talk to in this town before you can get on with the story?!). So knock a point off our score if you absolutely hate FFVII, but rest assured that Crisis Core is a game well worth owning.

Aside from a few issues, Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core is still a great game and a worthy investment of time. If only for the story elements alone, fans of the original game need to check out Crisis Core.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is a game you must play if you own a PSP, if you like RPGs, or if you want to get lost in a gripping story. Like most Final Fantasy games that came before it, it has its quirks. However, this is one of those cases where you should embrace them for their originality and charm because they add something uniquely compelling to the game. The only truly disappointing aspect of Crisis Core is reaching the end, because Gaia is a world you want to stay in, populated with extraordinary characters who will move you.

PSP fans, rejoice. This is the killer-app that you have been waiting for; the game which will send PSP units worldwide flying off the shelves - just like what Final Fantasy VII did for the original PlayStation. Granted, it has more fanboy than mainstream appeal, but the former group is a large demographic in its own right. Crisis Core may not finely strike a balance between easy and hard, and it may be difficult for newcomers to fully appreciate the world of Final Fantasy VII from this episode alone, but with a metric tonne of exciting battles geared towards both short and long-term play, Crisis Core is clearly a winner. *Victory Fanfare*

Crisis Core is the game that explains why the events in Final Fantasy VII were set into place. It is a must buy for all Final Fantasy fans and a terrific starting point for anyone who hasn’t been lucky enough to play the original Final Fantasy VII. Fans will get excited from the very opening scene when Zack is on top of a moving train headed toward a mako reactor. Those same fans will feel even more nostalgia when classic characters like Aerith, Yuffie, Vincent, Cloud, and even Sepiroth make cameo appearances and in some cases play pivotal roles in the plot. The story is top notch and while convoluted at times it fits perfectly into the Final Fantasy VII cannon. If you haven’t bought Crisis Core yet you should definitely check it out.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is a must have game if you own a PSP, the amazing painstakingly crafted graphics with the polished aural soundtrack combine to create a class leading front end for a wonderfully addictive and fun game. Unless you loathe RPG's then I wholeheartedly recommend this game to you.

Ich mag eigentlich keine Prequels, denn wieso sollte ich mich auf eine Story freue, deren Ausgang ich bereits kenne? ’Crisis Core’ ist die ultimative Ausnahme, welche die schwierige Aufgabe einer packend geschriebenen Vorgeschichte besser löst, als alle anderen Spiele, die ich kenne. Selbst im Filmbereich fällt mir auf Anhieb kein kompetenteres Beispiel ein, weshalb ’Final Fantasy 7’-Fans sich allein wegen ’Crisis Core’ einen PSP anschaffen oder zumindest ausleihen sollten. Der viel zu leichte Schwierigkeitsgrad (beziehungsweise im schweren Modus viel zu harte) und das etwas unmotivierende Roulette-System, dank dem das Aufleveln leicht vom Zufall abhängt, schwächen den Spielspaß kaum ab. Dafür sorgen nicht nur die grandiose Story, sondern auch die bemerkenswerte Grafik-Leistung, die hervorragende Steuerung und der größtenteils gelungene Soundtrack, auch wenn mich die rockigen Kampf-Musiken eher genervt haben.

Against the game’s many strong points, the things that can be held against it are fairly few. Unskippable cut-scenes. Some of the music is a bit relentless. The whole thing might be a bit too brief and random for some tastes. The camera can get a bit annoying sometimes when it gets stuck against walls. And the whole thing might not mean a lot to you if you’re not familiar with Final Fantasy VII (or all the retconning might enrage you if you’re too familiar with it). The brevity of that list is a testament to the quality of the game. Whether you’re a Sephiroth obsessive, or whether you couldn’t tell your Aerith from your Angeal, Crisis Core is an excellent action RPG, and it’s certainly among the best the PSP has to offer.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is a stunning prequel to one of the most loved RPG's of all time. Stunning visuals and audio only enhance what is a fantastic game overall.

It may sound like I didn't enjoy the title due to a few of its problems. That's not the case; I just want you to know exactly what to expect. Overall, this is a tremendous game which anyone who is remotely interested should pick up. It will provide you with anywhere from 15 to 25 hours of enjoyment depending upon the degree to which you explore the side missions and secrets. This is one of the very best games for the PSP and even one of the best in the Final Fantasy series. It is a title that almost everyone, even those who traditionally abhor the series, will thoroughly enjoy despite its mild quirks.

Vor allem die Zwischensequenzen sind top, die Charaktere und Monster echte Hingucker und der Soundtrack äusserst stimmungsvoll. Hinzu kommt ein interessantes Kampfsystem, welches alles in allem sehr gut funktioniert. Auch wenn man sich an die digitalen Bewusstseinswellen, welche den Glücksfaktor bei den Kämpfen deutlich erhöhen, erst gewöhnen muss. Einziger Wermutstropfen ist neben der etwas eigenwilligen Kamera und den beiden ziemlich unausgewogenen Schwierigkeitsstufen die verhältnismässig kurze Spieldauer von zehn bis fünfzehn Stunden. Diese lässt sich durch das Absolvieren von Nebenmissionen zwar deutlich verlängern, was angesichts der ziemlich eintönigen Aufgaben jedoch nur sammelwütigen Spielern wirklich Spass machen dürfte. Nichtsdestotrotz bleibt Crisis Core ein Muss für Final Fantasy-Fans und PSP-Besitzer, die mit Rollenspielen auch nur im Entferntesten etwas anfangen können.

Crisis Core is one of those games that I have waited a good amount of time for. Though it didn’t quite live up to the hype it didn’t make me want to put the game down. At first some things bugged me, but over time I just stopped caring and got absorbed into the story. If you didn’t play through Final Fantasy VII there’s a good chance that you won’t catch some of the nuances. Action game wise it’s pretty entertaining and something that hardcore fans must play. There are some that might feel let down by it, but I for the most part wasn’t one of them. Now the only thing for Squeenix to do is get started on that long rumored guaranteed cash cow know as the Final Fantasy VII Remake.

And that's that. Issues aside, Crisis Core is a great PSP game -- no question. It honors Final Fantasy VII's legacy. Even the game's music, while not composed by Nobuo Uematsu, is charming and fits the overall style of the world (though some of Uematsu's pieces do make a return and to absolutely stunning effect). I was sincerely moved by certain portions of the title and I suspect many others will feel the same. I wouldn't dream of spoiling anything for eager players, but I will say that Crisis Core's ending moments are a must see. I'd go so far as to call them brilliant. The power and emotion of the game is heightened by the raw inevitability of Zack's fate, which is fully explored in the original. I really enjoyed my time with this title, despite the gameplay problems, and I think this is yet another fantastic reason to own a PSP. Enjoy it.

Alles in Allem ist Final Fantasy: Crisis Core eines der besten Spiel die derzeit erhältlich sind. Es ist leicht genug für Einsteiger und interessant genug für Vetereanen. Zusammen mit der tollen Präsentation und einer außergewöhnlichen Handlung bleiben nur noch Details die hin und wieder den Spielspaß trüben.

Like Dirge of Cerberus, Crisis Core doesn’t take the easy way out and photocopy the source. Unlike Dirge, it’s actually an appealing game. The gameplay is a bit of a hybrid, but its open enough for exploration without getting lost. It’s obviously a game for fans, and it succeeds, but it’s also a good game for a portable platform that anyone can get into.

But despite its current exclusivity to the handheld market, Crisis Core is a solid entry into the Final Fantasy universe, if only for storytelling alone. This rounds out a lot of the mysteries of the events leading up to FF7 and it is a fun treat for a fan to go through and remember a lot of the flashbacks from the original game being fleshed out in this installment. Overall this is a must-buy for any FF7 enthusiast, but newcomers may have a few good times here, that is if they can tolerate a lot of interruptions in their battles.

And therein is the crux of Crisis Core's success: It's a game designed to feed on your nostalgic memories of Final Fantasy VII, and in that regard, it never falters. From the faithful 3D reconstruction of Midgar's slums to the fateful standoff in the Mako reactor, Crisis Core does a better job of putting players in FFVII's world than even the original game did. And it manages to be a worthy experience in its own right rather than an empty bit of filler riding on a classic's coattails. It's a flawed, but nevertheless impressive, prelude to one of the most influential games of the past decade. As far as prequels go, it's one of the good ones...maybe not quite a Godfather Part II, but certainly miles better than your average Phantom Menace.

While Crisis Core will not be giving any competition in regards to game of the year, it definitely pushes the envelope as far as visual and aural aesthetics go, displaying graphics and sound the quality which have never before been witnessed in a PSP game. The excellently crafted aesthetics combine with an entertaining and user-friendly gameplay system making it one of the best original PSP games. Hopefully, in the future, other developers will follow Square Enix's example and push the PSP to its technical limits.

Crisis Core n’est pas parfait. La richesse des materias et des missions contraste avec un level design vide. Si le joueur finit par s’ennuyer à traverser des couloirs sans âme, le fan reste lui toujours tenu en haleine par un scénario qui fait honneur à son ancêtre. A la fois hommage à Final Fantasy VII mais aussi à ses adorateurs, l’histoire retiendra surtout de Crisis Core une fin inoubliable, peut-être l’une des plus belles jamais vues. Un épilogue qui tend une nouvelle fois à prouver la puissance émotionnelle du jeu vidéo. Un sentiment encore trop rare que tous les fans de la série -et les autres- auraient tort de se refuser.

Segment indispensable pour aborder dans son ensemble le scénario de Final Fantasy VII, Crisis Core est une réussite incontestable sur le plan narratif et émotionnel. Haletant d'un bout à l'autre, le déroulement du jeu ne souffre quasiment d'aucun temps mort. Moins convaincantes, les missions secondaires sont là malgré tout pour relancer de manière drastique la durée de vie et enrichir le gameplay via l'acquisition de matérias et d'invocations optionnelles. Avec ce titre, la lumière se fait sur l'avant FFVII et l'hommage est enfin rendu à celui qui se tient depuis toujours dans l'ombre de Cloud.

Crisis Core is a truly new adventure, and deserves to be treated as such. As much as it will likely be enjoyed by fans of FFVII, I can also imagine gamers who missed that game playing this could become genuinely curious about going back in time to meet those old characters and learn about how their histories are connected. That's the best thing a game can do -- touch a player so effectively that their curiousity is piqued and leave them craving more. Crisis Core does a masterful job of that, and not even its technical flaws can pull it down.

When your compilation of FFVII spin-offs contain a dinky cell-phone game (Before Crisis), a mediocre shooter (Dirge of Cerberus), and an incomprehensible movie (Advent Children), it's easy to see that this solidly crafted action-RPG is easily the best of the pack. It looks fantastic (despite environments that can get barren and repetitive), plays well, and complements the lore of Final Fantasy VII nicely. The FFVII diehard should snag this post-haste (this really does make up for Dirge's mediocrity, honest), and even if you don't recognize the significance of playing Zack as opposed to Cloud, this is a worthy Japanese action-RPG.

Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core is well worth playing for series fans and newcomers alike. It succeeds on its own merits while also serving as a powerful tribute to one of modern gaming's most beloved adventures.

Crisis Core will make all mako energy-loving fanboys giddy with nostalgia, swoon over the sweeping soundtrack, and ingest every last detail of the story. Most everyone else probably won’t understand what all the hooplah is about, since the main draw is in understanding the references and connections to the original. A well-produced, uncomplicated, pleasant, but lamentably flawed action RPG, Crisis Core is only as special as you find Final Fantasy VII to be.

An interesting side effect of playing Crisis Core is a twinge of disappointment at the fact that those FF VII remake rumors haven’t amounted to anything. Seeing how Crisis Core breathes new life into the captivating characters and locations from the classic RPG proves that it could be done phenomenally. Sadly, spin-offs that expand the FFVII mythology will have to suffice, but I sure wish they were more fun to play.

Die Welt dürften Sie in diesem Abenteuer zwar nicht retten, aber immerhin einige höchst spannende Geschichten in der Final-Fantasy-Welt erleben. Das actiongeladene Spielprinzip kommt Einsteigern entgegen und ist dennoch komplex genug, um auch erfahrene Spieler zu fesseln. Die Grafik ist selbst auf dem kleinen PSP-Bildschirm höchst eindrucksvoll - speziell in den aufwendig inszenierten Zwischenszenen. Rollenspieler werden damit "gut" unterhalten.

Once you play this, you'll want to jump right back into the PSone classic. So, if you've done everything but make love to you Final Fantasy VII discs, throw on your galoshes, because the story is worth trudging through the foulest of gameplay for.

Whilst it does have its undeniable charms, first and foremost Crisis Core is designed to be fan service: Whilst the weight of the FFVII hallmark gives the game an undeniable sense of gravity, at times it feels as if it also smothers it.

Silti ei käy kieltäminen, etteikö suuri(n) osa Crisis Coren viehätyksestä perustuisi nostalgiaan. Kylmän tunteettomasti ajateltuna Crisis Coressa ei tehdä paljon muuta kuin ravataan määränpäästä toiseen ja hakataan himpskatisti mörköjä. Esimerkiksi vaihtelua tuovia minipelejä on vain muutama. Final Fantasy VII:tä pelaamattomille tai fanittamattomille Crisis Core lienee vain köykäinen, itseään toistava ja lyhyenläntä toimintaroolipeli. Pelin tarina on yksinäänkin kovaa kamaa, mutta resonoi kunnolla vasta Final Fantasy VII:n tapahtumat tuntevan mielessä. Vastaavasti ei ole mitään syytä, miksei Final Fantasy VII:n ystävän tulisi Crisis Coreen tarttua. Kokemus ei tietenkään ole yhtä hieno, mutta ainakin minä nautin muistojen verestelystä Crisis Coren parissa.

Beau et riche, Crisis Core n'est pourtant pas à conseiller à n'importe qui, car se lancer dans l'aventure sans connaître le précédent volet sera synonyme de se priver d'une partie de l'intérêt du titre. Voici donc un titre qui, de par sa construction, est assez difficile à appréhender pour les néophytes. Aux anciens par contre, on ne peut que conseiller ce flash-back qui remplit parfaitement sa mission.

Once again, if you just want a game that pushes your nostalgia buttons, Crisis Core will do that. Sephiroth is pretty, Aerith is cute and spunky, and some familiar locations look great in realtime 3D. For the fangirls, the homoerotic overtones are inescapable. For the guys, Tifa’s wearing a naughty-cowgirl outfit that belongs on the stage at the Crazy Horse Too.