Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII – Reunion

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII – Reunion is a remastered and enhanced version of the 2007 PSP prequel to Final Fantasy VII, following the story of Zack Fair, a young SOLDIER operative working for the Shinra Electric Power Company. Set in the dystopian metropolis of Midgar and expansive world of Gaia, the game explores Zack’s journey to uncover dark conspiracies within Shinra while engaging in real-time action RPG combat with materia-based abilities and tactical enhancements. As a direct prequel to the iconic Final Fantasy VII, it bridges narrative gaps and details events leading to Cloud Strife’s origins.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII – Reunion: Review

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII – Reunion is a masterclass in how to remaster a classic game. It brings Zack’s story to a new generation of consoles in a way that both preserves the original’s experience and improves upon it in every way, thanks to the addition of a few new mechanics and features, as well as its stunning overall presentation. For fans of Final Fantasy VII, whether you love the original, the remake, or anything in between, Crisis Core Reunion is a must-play. The gameplay is fun, the environments are beautiful, and playing the game on modern consoles is a blast.

Development History & Context

The original Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII was developed by Square Enix for the PlayStation Portable (PSP) and released in 2007. The game serves as a prequel to the 1997 title Final Fantasy VII and is part of the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII, which includes other products related to the original game. The game primarily focuses on Zack Fair, a young member of the paramilitary organization SOLDIER, who is assigned to look for the missing SOLDIER Genesis Rhapsodos. As he searches for Genesis, Zack discovers Genesis’ origin, Project G, and its connection to the high-ranking SOLDIERs, Sephiroth and Angeal Hewley.

The game was directed by Hajime Tabata, with Tetsuya Nomura serving as creative producer and character designer. Before development, the Square Enix staff initially planned to make a PSP port of the mobile phone game Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII, but after discussion, they decided to create a new game instead. The plot is based on a scenario Kazushige Nojima had in mind when working on Final Fantasy VII. Crisis Core enjoyed strong sales, selling over two million units worldwide. Critical reception was generally positive, with praise for its story but mixed responses on its combat system.

The remaster, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII – Reunion, was released on December 13, 2022, as part of the remake series. Its storyline is recreated in the mobile game Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis. The remaster features new models and lighting, redone voices for consistency with the Final Fantasy VII remake project, and rearranged music. The graphics are redone in high fidelity, and the interface resembles that of Final Fantasy VII Remake in appearance, using the power of Unreal Engine 4. Many characters, creatures, and objects have been redesigned to match their Final Fantasy VII Remake counterparts, likely for continuity with the Final Fantasy VII remake project.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Plot

Crisis Core begins seven years before the events of Final Fantasy VII, and many characters from that game and related works appear. However, the primary characters in the game are from either SOLDIER, which consists of Mako-enhanced superhuman soldiers, or from their covert branch of operatives, the Turks. The main protagonist is Zack Fair, a young and friendly SOLDIER. His mentor and friend is Angeal Hewley, a 1st class SOLDIER who is also friends with fellow SOLDIER members Sephiroth and Genesis, who ultimately becomes the game’s primary antagonist.

The SOLDIER operatives work under Director Lazard, the illegitimate son of President Shinra. Zack is also friends with the Turks, particularly their leader Tseng and one of their female operatives, Cissnei. Over the course of the game, Zack encounters and befriends Aerith Gainsborough, a young woman tending flowers from a ruined church in the Midgar slums, and Cloud Strife, a Shinra infantryman.

Characters

Zack Fair is the protagonist of Crisis Core, and his journey is one of self-discovery and heroism. He starts as a young, eager SOLDIER and evolves into a mature, honorable warrior. His relationships with Angeal, Genesis, and Sephiroth are central to the story, each representing different aspects of Zack’s character and the themes of loyalty, betrayal, and identity.

Angeal Hewley is Zack’s mentor and friend, embodying the ideals of honor and duty. His character arc is tragic, as he struggles with his identity and ultimately sacrifices himself for Zack. Genesis Rhapsodos is the primary antagonist, driven by a desire for power and recognition. His actions set the main conflict of the game in motion, and his rivalry with Zack is a key part of the story.

Sephiroth is a complex character, initially appearing as a skilled and honorable SOLDIER but later revealing a darker side. His interactions with Zack and Genesis are crucial to the plot, and his eventual fall into madness is a major turning point in the story.

Dialogue & Themes

The dialogue in Crisis Core is well-written, with each character having a distinct voice and personality. The themes of the game are explored through the characters’ interactions and the events of the story. Themes of loyalty, betrayal, and identity are central to the narrative, as Zack struggles to understand his place in the world and the true nature of his friends and enemies.

The game also explores the consequences of experimentation and the dangers of unchecked power. The Jenova Project and the creation of SOLDIER are central to the plot, and the ethical implications of these actions are a major theme of the story.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Core Gameplay Loops

Crisis Core is an action role-playing game in which the player controls Zack Fair through and between open areas, allowing him to talk with non-player characters, interact with the environment, and engage monsters in battle. At save points, the player may opt to take one of the available side missions, and if so, Zack is moved to a special area to complete the mission, which usually involves defeating one or more monsters. If the mission is successfully completed, the player is rewarded with beneficial items, and often new missions become available. Whether the player is successful in the side mission or not, Zack is returned to the save point in the main game upon completion.

Combat

Crisis Core uses a real-time combat system in which the player can move Zack around, initiate attacks, special abilities and spells, use items, and block or dodge attacks. Zack’s abilities in battle are set by his currently equipped materia. Up to six Materia can be equipped at any one time, which can impart special attacks, magic spells, or passive bonuses, such as health increases or the ability to display the statistics of the current foe in combat. Materia is gained through exploration, as rewards from side missions, as spoils of battle, or from shops. Materia can be fused together to make more powerful versions with improved bonuses; for example, fusing an attack Materia with an elemental magic Materia can create a new attack skill Materia that inflicts elemental magic damage in addition to physical damage. Special items collected in the game can also be used in Materia fusion to further increase the Materia’s power.

The game uses a slot machine-like mechanic to affect the combat system. The “Digital Mind Wave” (DMW) features two sets of three spinning wheels; one set with numbers one through seven, and another with pictures of characters that Zack befriends during the game. The DMW automatically spins as long as Zack has at least 10 “Soldier Points”, which are awarded to the player by defeating foes. If the DMW stops with the same three pictures lined up, Zack will then perform an appropriate Limit Break attack that can greatly harm an enemy or significantly heal Zack. Additionally, in this case, if the number slots give two or more of the same number, the Materia in that slot will power up. Should the numbers line up as “777”, Zack will gain an experience level, increasing his health, soldier points, and ability points. As a result, leveling up is no longer determined by experience points and is instead based on luck. If there is no match in the pictures, matching numbers on the slots will grant temporary bonuses, such as limited invincibility or zero-cost use of skills and abilities. The chance of matching pictures is tied to the current Limit level, which is raised by taking damage in battle and reduced upon successful battles, and after certain storyline events. After collecting certain items in the game, the pictures on the DMW may also randomly change to summonable creatures, which have more destructive and beneficial Limit Breaks should the pictures match up.

Character Progression

Character progression in Crisis Core is handled through the use of Materia and the DMW system. Materia can be equipped to Zack to grant him new abilities and bonuses, and the DMW system allows for random power-ups and Limit Breaks. The game also features a New Game Plus option, allowing players to carry over their Materia and equipment from a previous playthrough to start a new game with a head start.

UI

The user interface in Crisis Core Reunion has been significantly improved over the original PSP version. The menus and UI reworks are based on Final Fantasy VII Remake, bringing along the style and function that the game’s UI offers. Equipment and Materia menus are organized, and the Missions menus are just as organized and have a great sort function to help you see which missions you haven’t completed or missions you missed treasure in. You can even register multiple sets of equipment so that you can easily swap between 5 different loadouts quickly. The main menus for this game are well-organized and easy to use.

The UI during exploration and combat is also top-notch. The game gives you all the tools you need to achieve 100% completion. Getting back on topic, your exploration and map UI is top-notch. All extra content and side objectives are clearly marked with orange objective markers. Starkly contrasting with your blue map and UI. This even applies to your confirmation button prompt that shows up when you talk to people or examine things. That normally blue X-button or what have you changed to orange. These great design choices communicate to you effectively what you can do. Do you chase your light-blue Main Objective or do some extra orange stuff? Not to mention, the objective compass on the top of the screen can help focus you toward your Main, light-blue, Objective.

Innovative or Flawed Systems

The DMW system is a unique and innovative mechanic that adds an element of luck and unpredictability to the combat system. However, it can also be frustrating for players who prefer a more skill-based approach to combat. The system can sometimes feel unfair, as it relies heavily on random chance rather than player skill. Additionally, the game’s focus on solo combat can make it feel repetitive at times, as Zack is the only playable character throughout the game.

World-Building, Art & Sound

Setting & Atmosphere

Crisis Core takes place in the same world as Final Fantasy VII, with many familiar locations and characters appearing throughout the game. The game’s setting is a blend of science fiction and fantasy, with advanced technology coexisting with magical elements. The world of Crisis Core is richly detailed, with each location having its own unique atmosphere and visual style.

Visual Direction

The visual direction of Crisis Core Reunion is stunning. The game features high-fidelity graphics, with new models and lighting that bring the world of Final Fantasy VII to life in a new way. The character models have been redesigned to match their Final Fantasy VII Remake counterparts, and the environments have been reskinned to bring an extra layer of lived-in detail. The game’s visuals are a significant improvement over the original PSP version, and it rivals the high-definition visuals of Final Fantasy VII Remake at times.

Sound Design

The sound design in Crisis Core Reunion is top-notch. The game features a remastered soundtrack, with enhanced versions of classic tracks from the original game. The music is orchestrated beautifully, and the sound effects are crisp and immersive. The voice acting is also excellent, with the characters reprising their roles from Final Fantasy VII Remake. The sound design contributes significantly to the overall atmosphere and immersion of the game.

Reception & Legacy

Critical & Commercial Reception

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII – Reunion has received generally positive reviews from critics. The game’s story, visuals, and combat system have been praised, with many reviewers noting the improvements made over the original PSP version. The game has also been a commercial success, selling over 150,000 units upon release in Japan and debuting at eighth place in the boxed charts in the United Kingdom. The game has been nominated for several awards, including the Freedom Tower Award for Best Remake at the New York Game Awards and an Award for Excellence at the Japan Game Awards.

Influence on Subsequent Games & the Industry

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII – Reunion has had a significant influence on subsequent games and the industry as a whole. The game’s remastering process has set a new standard for how classic games can be updated for modern audiences, with its high-fidelity graphics, improved combat system, and quality-of-life features. The game has also expanded on the lore of the Final Fantasy VII universe, providing new insights into the characters and events of the original game. The success of Crisis Core Reunion has paved the way for other remasters and remakes, and it has shown that there is a demand for updated versions of classic games.

Conclusion

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII – Reunion is a masterful remaster that brings Zack’s story to a new generation of consoles. The game’s stunning visuals, improved combat system, and quality-of-life features make it a must-play for fans of Final Fantasy VII. The game’s narrative and thematic depth provide a rich and engaging experience, and its influence on subsequent games and the industry as a whole is undeniable. Crisis Core Reunion is a testament to the enduring legacy of Final Fantasy VII and a shining example of how to remaster a classic game. It is a definitive addition to the Final Fantasy VII universe and a must-have for any fan of the series.