Video Games : Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core - Special Edition (PSP)

Rating: - FANTASTIC!!!!
If youve played ff7 then this game is simply amazing, some might think its changed to much as i did for the first hour or so of game play but as with ff7, i got sucked into the story and it just made sense.
combat does get samey as some have said but frankly most ff games do and its after many hours of gameplay, its the story and other aspects of the game that grab most people and this has it all. it still has most of the depth youd find on a console version and the story line is (i think) the best out of all ff games (as an add on to the ff7 story line). its definately worth a play.
the things that might put people off are this game is more channeled than ff7. you cant explore the whole world as in ff7. you can explore alot of midgar etc and do the 300 side missions when you want but the side missions are from a static location(your instantly transported to the mission location, complete it then come back), the campaign is different you follow that around the world.
and for those ff7 fans who wont play it because they think the story line isnt full of suprises play it and like me youll definately be surprised.

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Rating: - Like Final Fantasy, Only Very Accessible
If you've every played a numbered Final Fantasy title then you'll know that it can take a good few hours before you settle into the game and you get to the stage where you're not fumbling around with weak characters. Crisis Core is a welcome change to this since you're right into the action very quickly and thanks to the new combat system, you really feel part of the action. It does this by being a great average of hack-n-slash gameplay and the kind of quick thinking strategy of FFXII. In fact alot of this game will remind you of FFXII, most noticably the way you move through level areas (the line of blue dots to show where the next screen is). Graphically its close to the early PS2 outtings for Square-Enix, games like Kingdom Hearts and FFX come to mind, but the quality is very high and extemely playable. Of note here is the sheer amount of FMV present. Not only is there a large amount of story played out this way (with some scenes lasting much longer than in any other FF game) its particularly exciting to see the summon monsters rendered fully every time they are called. Whilst the 'random' battles systems will no doubt infuriate many with its obviousness and repetitiveness, the overall mix of story vs action is very well balanced. But perhaps the best feature of the game as a whole is the multitude of side quests or 'missions'. Unlike in other FF games (notably FFXII) missions can be undertaken at anytime by simply standing at a save point and selecting Mission from the menu. No more spending hours trailing back-and-forth just to activate the next quest. This means also that charater leveling is much faster and more accessible to those who enjoy that aspect. From almost the start of the game there are enough side quests to give you the level increase to have a serious advantage over any opponent. Although the story can seem a little trite in places with somewhat desperate attempts to crowbar-in FFVII references and explanations, its a satisfying outting made all the sweeter by its superb playabilty. So it may not be as in-depth as a numbered title, but its fast accessibility will keep any Final Fantasy fan happy.

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Rating: - Final Fantasy is in my blood.....
First let me say I have enjoyed all the FF games, some more than others. This first decent version for the PSP is awesome. It's the first game I have really enjoyed on the handheld. At last something to show the graphic capabilities of the brilliant little device. The gameplay is exciting, feel the adrenaline when 'combat mode' engages...and if you get a little stuck you can go and try different Missions so it's never locked you into a corner. It's a bit of a nostalgia trip as you encounter the familiar world of SOLDIER, the TURKS and the legendary SEPHIROTH.
Great escapism, and easy to follow if your a first timer, and you won't be disappointed if you are a hardened RPG fan.

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Rating: - Great but not quite Final Fantasy...
Great game as a stand alone title, with an excellent combat system, fantastic music and really well developed characters.

The only problem with it is that it just didn't seem to fit into the final fantasy 7 brand - it was a bit too upbeat for most of it, almost like kingdom hearts rather than FF7.

I don't think it contributes to the story too, given that zack was just a single scene flashback.

But like i said, as a standalone game, it was great! Well worth a play.

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Rating: - It's good, but the hype is really getting the way
The original FF7 came out when I was 16. It was a fantastic gaming experience then, and still is now.
It is one of the best selling, most respected RPGs in the history of gaming.
The success is that great, that roughly 10 years later, Square Enix released the "Compilation of FF7" on the back of this. As many FF7 fans will know, the film Advent Children, the PS2 game Dirge of Cerberus, this PSP game Crisis Core, and lastly the mobile game Before Crisis (only released in Japan) are the parts of this Compilation.

Anyway, enough waffle. To cut it down, this game is not an RPG in the same style as the original FF7. It's more of an action/RPG cross over. Or more to the truth, it's an action game with some tiny elements of RPG to undertake.

The main story is very good. (Anyone who has played the original FF7 kind of knows what to expect from the ending.) It's great to see old faces given a makeover to fit with the technical capabilities of the PSP - it really brings the story to life. That said, the story isn't exactly complex, and I did actually find Genesis irritating after a while, simply because all he ever does is recite a poem called "Loveless"... which is the main theme/subplot to the entire story. You'll see what I mean when you play it.
I also have an issue with how long Zack's story progresses after he and Cloud escape from Shinra Mansion... I'll say no more to avoid spoiling teh fun, but I'm happy it didn't go down a predictable route.

Gameplay is rather simple. In relation to the buttons, you have Attack, Roll/Dodge and Guard. Nothing particularly daunting. (The L and R buttons help you select spells/items.)
I have to say, I know this isn't an RPG, but this is where the cross over doesn't fully work. While playing FF7, you get to use many Materia, and you have plenty of time for experimentation. Given that Crisis Core is only about a third of the length of the FF7, once you obtain certain Materia you might as well not bother using anything else... which then gets a little tiresome.

The main storyline plays fine, and can be challenging if you don't undertake any of the side missions. Doing these missions helps Zack level up and obtain rarer Materia and items. To be honest, you can increase your levels so much that the entire main story is utterly easy, leaving you to try and complete the incredibly difficult side missions later down the line, if you can be bothered. (There's 300 missions to undertake, ranging from Very Easy to Very Hard.) Doing so will not alter you games ending, although you will receive some items (no, I won't say what they are)... doesn't really seem worth putting the hours in. (If you ever defeated Yiamzat in FF12, you'll know what I mean.)

Graphics are fantastic. The FMV are superb... equally as good as Advent Children. The in game graphics as also rather good. In fact, this game probably has the best graphics on the PSP. (Without ruining the surprise, the ending to this game is great... it's makes you yearn for FF7 to be remastered for the PS3.)
The music is also great - using remixed versions of tunes from the original game, as well as many new tunes.

Anyway, I haven't really got anything else to say compared with every other review.
Should you buy this game? Yes - especially if you've played FF7 (or any other FF7 related release.) It's also one of the best game currently available for PSP.
The only thing I would say is don't believe the hype. It's got so much to beat when compared to the original FF7, and it simply can't do it. It's a different game with a linked story. It's not FF7. It hasn't got the depth or length of playtime compared to it's original sibling.
However, despite my grumbles, it really is a good game... and those 300 side missions will keep the true geek out there satisfied. And if you're really that bothered about making the task harder for yourself, play in Hard Mode... it's pretty pointless if you ask me, as it doesn't lengthen out the story or give you a special ending, it literally just makes things more difficult. (Yawn!)