Amazon.com: Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII with Limited Edition UMD Case: Sony PSP: Video Games

68 Reviews

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

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4.5 out of 5 stars (68 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spectacular, March 25, 2008

By	N. Durham "Big Evil" (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars

I was never too fond of RPG's when I was younger, no matter how much I loved video games. Final Fantasy VII changed that, along with how I looked at the genre, as I, like many others, became addicted to the game's emotional storyline and well-rounded characters. Since then, we have seen a number of tie-ins, spin-offs, and even feature films based on the Final Fantasy VII universe, and now, Crisis Core has finally arrived. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is a prequel to the game, where you play as Cloud's old friend and partner Zack, and uncover secrets and revelations that are full of surprises, and lead up to the events of Final Fantasy VII. First off, the game is is simply gorgeous to look at. Not just the cut-scenes, which themselves are beautiful and stunning, but even the in-game graphics look great, making this undoubtedly the best looking RPG to hit the PSP, and the game's voice acting is even better. The game's combat system is also worth mentioning because it isn't quite turn based, and isn't quite real time. Instead, it is a fast moving system that is quite fun in itself, even if it may come off as a bit too easy for some. Leveling up and performing Limit Breaks is now determined by the slot machine-esque DMW system, which is a fun little twist as well. There are familiar characters abound as well: Cloud, Aerith, Tifa, and of course, Sephiroth. The game's story wonderfully weaves into FFVII mythology, and offers some new perspectives on Zack and Sephiroth, and those respects alone, Crisis Core is worth picking up. All in all, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is a stunning achievement that is an absolute essential addition to your PSP library, and needless to say, if you love everything Final Fantasy VII and you own a PSP, you have to pick up Crisis Core.

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The fantasy Begins..., March 26, 2008

By	Aziz Al-Masri - See all my reviews

Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars

What is there to say about Crisis Core:FF7? Well the major point is ANY, and I mean ANY fan of the original Square masterpiece NEEDS to buy this game. There now for the many other gamers

The story is fleshed out enough for any non player of FF7 will understand, the combat and magic system are easy to use and master. Some may call the combat too easy, but lets remember this is a game for a portable system. Who wants to play a couple of missions while waiting only to die multiple times.

The DMW is probably the most...well weird part of the game, it does not allow the player to control summons, limit breaks (the character super moves), or allow the player to level up. This may seem like a big minus but after about an hour of play it doesnt bother you anymore.

So to sum it up:

+
Great story with fun characters that FF7 players will love
Easy Combat System
Side Quests are perfect for players on the Go
Great Soundtrack (You will need headphones to completely enjoy this)
DMW after a couple of hours
MUST OWN FOR FF7 FANS!!

-
Loading times
Some voice acting is uninspired...im looking at you Genesis
Non FF7 players may not get the complete experience
Combat System may be too easy for hardcore RPG fans
DMW...for the first couple of hours

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly big for a handheld game, April 28, 2008

By	Kevin D A Major (Barrington, NH United States) - See all my reviews

Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is a prequel to that 1997 PlayStation masterpiece. In it, the player controls Zack Fair, SOLDIER 2nd Class, as he tries to solve the mystery behind Project G.

Like most RPGs, the most important thing is the plot. It is interesting, then, that Crisis Core's story is at once both flawed, yet somehow satisfying.

The bulk of the plot has little to do with Final Fantasy VII. There are cameos (Yuffie makes an early appearance), and Zack does play a minor part in some events alluded to in the original game, but its strongest ties to Final Fantasy VII are shown in the late chapters during the infamous Nibelheim incident. The rest seems rather like an effort by the developers to delay getting to that pivotal point for as long as possible.

Thankfully, the story is saved by strong characterization and decent voice acting. Zack is a pretty likeable fellow, despite falling prey to some standard anime hero cliches. At the very least, he's a refreshing change of pace from the antiheros polluting the digital landscape today. Angeal and Genesis are two new characters. Unfortunately, both are a bit bland. Angeal is the stodgy, family-honor-above-all type, whereas Genesis is primarily a pretentious villain. All hype, but very little substance. Aerith is mostly like her Final Fantasy VII counterpart - kind, sweet, a bit ditzy. Sephiroth fills the brooding quota nicely, and actually has a much appreciated hint of dark humor.

The gameplay is most likely the attribute that will determine review scores. Materia makes a comeback, but opperates somewhat differently than it did in the original game. Materia are magic orbs that grant Zack both abilities (magical or otherwise) as well as stat boosts. He can equip six at a time. The most notable aspect of materia, however, is the ability to fuse two materia (and later, one item) into a new materia. This gives the player the ability to customize Zack's stats as well as grant him powerful new abilities. Zack can also equip up to four items which also impact his stats.

Combat is fun and simple, but has a twist. Everything is done in real time. You'll control Zack around the battlefield, automatically targetting the nearest target. The most notable feature of combat is the Digital Mind Wave, or DMW.

The DMW is a slot machine in the upper left of the screen that is always cycling through images and numbers. If two numbers are 7, you'll get a status boost for a short duration. If the first and last image are identical, combat will stop, and the slots will cover the entire screen. It is here where several things can happen: Zack's materia will gain a level, Zack himself will gain a level, or a limit break will be triggered, resulting in a special attack or summoned monster spell. The 'problem' with the DMW is that it's seemingly random (although one's EXP does seem to be counted in the background, so Zack will gain levels at a normal rate) and there's no way for the user to control the slots. There's a large amount of luck involved getting a useful limit break (or any limit break at all). I personally don't mind the DMW, but your mileage may vary.

Graphically, the game is a powerhouse. It looks very impressive, and makes the world of Final Fantasy VII seem very much alive. Action is fluid, and even the non-pre-rendered cutscenes are impressive. It's one of the best looking games of the year, regardless of platform.

Musically, Crisis Core is very strong. Between its original tracks and the reimagined originals, the game leaves little to be desired on that front. I actually got chills watching the title screen's movie, and much of that stems from the music. Simply great.

In closing, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is a great game. Square-Enix crammed a whole lot of game in a tiny package, but it doesn't suffer for it. Instead, it's one of the best experiences of the year, a must for Final Fantasy VII fans, and a worthy addition to any gamer's library.