This is probably my first time reviewing a game that I have completely finished. Usually I would only go through about 40% of the game before jumping onto my review. Not that I prefer it that way but the lack of time prevents me from finishing a game within a short period of time, unless of course the game’s length is short itself.

Taking that into consideration, I can honestly say Crisis Core is very lengthy game. The main storyline itself would take about 10 hours to complete. Throw in the side missions and the total hours would easily exceed the value of 60. This is to date the longest game I have ever played on the PSP, taking over my personal record which Jeanne D’Arc previously held.

Heading back to the roots, Crisis Core depicts the storyline of Zack Fair, a SOLDIER working for Shinra Corp who dreams to be a hero one day. Actually I would say the main point of this game is to see how Sephiroth went from honest-to-goodness hero to the famous villain whom we all love and hate. Zack is more like a ‘point-of-view’ that sees all the changes that are happening from within Shinra itself. A first class view no doubt.

As a direct reflection of Final Fantasy 7, Crisis Core starts off with Zack infiltrating on top of a train, similarly like his future yellow spiky haired successor. After a short intro CG cutscene that is nothing less than awesome, you will be thrown right into a battle. From here onwards I finally understood the gameplay mechanics behind Crisis Core. Pretty much to say I was confused upon going through some of the gameplay videos before this.

From my personal point of view, Crisis Core’s style falls between Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts, more on the later than the former. You have the freedom to move, attack, dodge, defend, use items or cast magic at any time yet only one command can issued at a time. It felt a bit sluggish at first but after that it’s all good.

As much as similar elements are implanted inside Crisis Core, Square-Enix threw in something totally new and that is called the DMW (Digital Mind Wave). The DMW is a “slot machine”-a-like that keeps spinning during battle. Once you hit a jackpot (e.g. 3 Sephiroths), you will perform a limit break base on who you have gotten. Apart from that, DMW can also trigger summons, from Bahamut Fury that looks like Freedom Gundam to “Zantetsuken” Odin to “Needle Killing” Cactuar. The summon animations will definitely leave a wow impression.

I find it hard to love yet hate DMW at the same time. Early in the game, it’s easy to get a ‘hit’ on the DMW but as you progress further, the chances become less and less. Honestly speaking I’m not sure if its just my luck or it is indeed harder to ‘hit’ as your level gets higher. However judging by how my girlfriend played the game, I would say it’s just my freaking luck. Regardless, any DMW hit is always welcome.

The storyline in Crisis Core is like what I would expect from a Final Fantasy game, albeit a bit short. As I have mentioned, it will probably take an average player about 10 hours or so to reach the end. The side missions are something which most people would avoid at first until a new game+. Frankly speaking, the missions are a loop of one another. You are thrown into a map, locate the main monster or enemy you are suppose to find, kill it and mission accomplish. The lack of mission variety is what made most people gave up mid way but that is the only way to collect rare materias or equipments and to fight the hidden boss Minerva.

Hidden Boss Minerva

Graphics, sound and music are top notch. Zack’s animation is fluid with plenty of detail and the music remixed from Final Fantasy 7 will definitely keep your adrenaline up.

All in all, Crisis Core is a great game and a must have for any PSP owners. The lack of space in the UMD is probably the reason for the recycled missions, but Square-Enix could have altered the objectives a bit to make them more interesting. Running through the same thing for 100+ times isn’t exactly what I call … fun.

- Yet to own the game? Get your copy of Crisis Core from Play-Asia -

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