Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII - PSP

This was the first console type game I've ever played. I've only played PC games until I bought a PSP 3000 recently due to "degrading" PC game support; in addition, I've only played flight simulation, sports, action, and adventure type games. I have never enjoyed a role playing game enough to finish one before. Standing in the isle at the local Best Buy, I was afraid I wouldn't like Crisis Core when holding it in my hand against God of War. NOTE: The PSP 3000 scanline issue is present in this game, but only if you're only looking for it. It does not detract from the overall graphical presentation or enjoyment of the cut scenes or game play in any way. I observed it about a total of 5 seconds out of the 52 hours of playing time Crisis Core says I've be playing. I'm a perfectionist too, it's why I waited so long to buy a PSP3000. I'm glad I didn't wait any longer than I did. The game was and still is a captivating interactive movie for me. It combines elements of action and role playing into a gripping storyline framed in Hollywood caliber cinematography. The player has complete control of the character's actions, and the storyline flows smoothly with the character's development. The cut scenes are beautifully done in high quality CGI. It's truly like being an integral part of an epic movie. The item/attack selection control takes a short time to get used to. It's simple to get used to, but it is definitely a challenge to master. One has complete control to select equipped items and attack types before each battle. The limit on carried items alone gives a player a strong desire to continue their quest to acquire more powerful items to fill the limited slots. The real bonus is that you keep the items and skills you acquire when the game ends and you save the game. You can then start a new game with all the power to completely wipe out all those enemies that gave you a hard time. After finishing the game, one's new quest is no longer the story. The new quest is to achieve all the items you never knew existed when playing it the first time. The story has altered my personal thoughts about life. Before playing this game, I had thought it would be better for me to go off to war without emotional ties to anyone. My girlfriend has paid a heavy emotional price for that attitude. Crisis Core has given me a perspective of loved ones at home that I shouldn't deny or suppress. I fortunately have time to address my issue. I used to think only movies offered dramatic entertainment. Crisis Core draws a gamer into an epic story that I never expected from a game. Crisis Core is truly a masterpiece of collaborative work. After following the entire story to it's conclusion, Crisis Core may change one's perspective on some aspects of life. It did for me.

If you like the story of Final Fantasy 7 and everything about it (Advent Children movie, etc.) you will definitely need to experience this as well. This game is impressively presented on the psp. Music will be familiar - as well as some new tunes you will love. The combat system might be a draw back for some. It is a similar style as kingdom hearts, but more simplified/slower. (Instead of using the d-pad to access your magic/items you scroll through your actions with "L/R" buttons and just press "X" to execute.) Most of the time you will be on the average attack option and just button mashing "X". It's very simple so don't flashback to FFVII where you first got confused about equipping all these different materia on different armor (by the way you get to fuse different materia together to make new materia later in the game - which is kind of cool). The Final Fantasy stories are always engaging so I wasn't let down at all. Pick this game up. Its what we have been waiting for!

This game was my first in the FF:VII series because I was over old games and I got interested in FF a tad late. I don't know about the events of FF:VII specifically but I knew about some pre-FF:VII events. I picked this title up because it looked beautiful and at the same added to the ever so popular FF:VII story. It was intended to be a sad story but had cute moments and a lot of hidden FF:VII references (apart from the plot) All of the characters were beautifully portrayed, especially Sephiroth. He was simply amazing in the cutscenes in this game. I liked the freestyle combat system which you could find in Kingdom Hearts. You don't have partners to fight with or new weapons to use (you get 1 weapon change with no change in damage) I also like the challenging missions because it requires very fast reaction time; far more challenging than kingdom hearts. What I did not like though, was the lack of help when it came to managing inventory. It can be a very tedious task finding the item or materia that you just gathered because you cannot set the parameters for the auto-sort system. The materia fusion system can be confusing but to be honest I wouldnt expect an in depth explanation within any game on features that involve experimentation. I sort of wish the game were longer but the game had a plot that everyone, who kept up with the FF:VII story, knew where it would end up. There is not much replay value aside from a hard mode and incentive to get the secret ending from beating the game a second time around. The incentive to beat the game again is the ability to retain lvl,items, and some other stuff when you decide to beat the game again.

The final fantasy series has been a fun and adventurous RPG since the 80's. Today, developers at Square Enix should give themselves a pat on the back for one of the best (if not the best) RPGs to ever grace a portable game system. For those who have followed the original FFVII (Square's best known masterpiece) the story of crisis core (for the PSP) takes the gamer through the series of events that lead to the original. The player assumes the role of Zack, a young, enthusiastic member of Soldier (Shinra's elite military force). In battle, Zack is a one man team, which the player must strategically fight in real time, taking advantage of Square's improved combat system. With its hours of gameplay, beautiful cutscenes (especially for a portable!), excellent soundtrack, and well defined characters, the player will find themselves immersed in the final fantasy world that gamers all over have enjoyed since the mid-90's (when FFVII first came to the US). The only painful drawback to this game was the lack of camera control, which had the potential to pose difficulty when attempting to reduce encounters or finding specific items or chests. However, gamers can get past this rather quickly, as the game has many positive things to offer. If you are a fan of the series, or RPGs in general, I highly recommend adding this game to your collection.

Wow. If you're a final fantasy 7 fan, you need this. And if you're a psp gamer, and want a quality game, you also need this. This game has it all. The characters are well-known, and loved( Cloud, Sepiroth, Aerith, Reno,etc-(IF YOU LOVE FF7, YOU KNOW WHO THEY ARE), and the new characters are just great(AND DID I MENTION YOU GET TO SQUARE OFF AGAINST SEPIROTH?). The story is superb. Has some nice twists, and though it is a prequel, there is alot you dont know, and those things are finally revealed-therefore allowing you to understand the FF7 series even more. Also, the game dosent just end after the story; there's a hard mode(and it's quite challenging) and about 300 missions to complete. There's also tons of power-ups and items that you can't get by just playing the story mode alone. I can tell you from experience, this game can get addictive. The only flaw I could think up is the level up system. This game is rpg, and you level up by getting 3 sevens in the DMW slot. The leveling up isn't random, but it still could be better. Other than that, this is everything a gamer or a final fantasy 7 fan would want.

"Men cry no for themselves but for their comrades" is the main line that catches many gamers when they first put the game in and see. And of course its true for Cloud Strife the main character of Final Fantasy VII but the secondary character in Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. In Crisis Core you play as Zack Fair if gamers who played FF VII know that he is the most mysterious character who is only known by Tifa's & Cloud's memories of him. And many returning characters whom those who are fans of Final Fantasy also may reconize characters from Before Crisis and Dirge of Cerberus. And although many look forward to the same old Active Time Battle (ATB) in FF VII but they switched it to a Real Time Battle (RTB) like in FF XI due to only playing as one character which some gamers are disappointed in. The game is relatively short but it can be extremely long if you decide to play all 300 additional missions. But in spite of the cons I would recommend buying or renting this game if a fan of Final Fantasy VII or any other games with the title Final Fantasy.

if you like the story of Final Fantasy 7 and everything about it (Advent Children movie, etc.) you will definitely need to experience this as well. this game is impressively presented on the psp. music will be familiar - as well as some new tunes you will love. the combat system might be a draw back for some. it is a similar style as kingdom hearts, but more simplified/slower. (instead of using the d-pad to access your magic/items you scroll through your actions with "L/R" buttons and just press "X" to execute.) most of the time you will be on the average attack option and just button mashing "X". its very simple so don't flashback to FFVII where you first got confused about equipping all these different materia on different armor (by the way you get to fuse different materia together to make new materia later in the game - which is kind of cool). the final fantasy stories are always engaging so i wasn't let down at all. pick this game up. its what we have been waiting for!

Storyline: You control Zack Fair who played a pivotal role in the back-story of Final Fantasy VII. The magic of Final Fantasy VII has returned. The story is heart-wrenching as well as romantic. Don't expect anything less from Final Fantasy VII. Gameplay: The Materia system has been redone, accompanied by the DMW system. The gameplay challenges and excites both RPG veterans and beginners. The conversion between turn based to action based will discourage hard-core fans of turn based combat. Graphics & Music: With the best graphics to date. Period. Accompanied with breathless next-gen CGI. The inclusion of music found in Final Fantasy VII (PSX) and the movie “LAST ORDER FFVII” it makes for a inspiring soundtrack. Overall: Amazing. It's an overall improvement to early aspects of Final Fantasy VII and more. Crisis Core is the shining star of the Final Fantasy VII's compilation. Angels have but one dream!