If you are looking for a great Final Fantasy, keep looking. If you are interested in the prologue to Final Fantasy VII (arguably the best FF game to date) then this is your game. It is nice to watch the story unfold but its is extremely lacking. Controls are aweful. For those who remember materia, they are back but the use is limited. You can acquire hundreds of types but can only use 6.... Monsters are spawned by walking in an area and then fight ensues, after defeating the mobs, half the time you instantly repop them for a second round. Levels are obtained via a random spinning wheel so look to get 2-3 in 30 seconds or none for hours. Basically this is the typical Square Enix game. Awesome overall but it has too many flaws to work properly.

A welcome addition to the Final Fantasy VII Franchise

When the game released back in 2007 I had it on Pre-Order. Released as part of the 10-year anniversary celebration the game certainly stands up to is predecessor Final Fantasy VII not only in graphical terms, but also storyline and battle.Something that I spent hours experimenting with was the Materia Fusion tool. Boosting your levels so high that anything will fall at one blow of the legendary Buster Sword.If there is one thing that I could fault this game on, it's the not being able to freely explore an open world - which I, and I'm sure other fans enjoy.Despite being a prequel to quiet possibly one of the greatest final fantasy games of all time, the game works stand-alone - as my brother who has never played the original played and finished Crisis Core.

An Amazing Final Fantasy Experience!!!

This is one of the best Final Fantasy games I have ever played. The storyline is enduring and unforgettable and the combat system is solid and very action oriented rather than turn based (lots of freedom in battles to do what you want). The game gives a lot of back story about the events before FFVII. This game deserves a HD port to the next-gen consoles or better yet a remake. Overall, this is one of the most magnificent and beautiful hand-held games that I have ever played. A must own, perfect game.

Excellent Game

No matter what words I place here, truly devoted Final Fantasy VII fans will undoubtedly play Crisis Core, the prequel to the original RPG classic. The old PSone title not only heralded the franchise's transition from 2D sprites to 3D, but it has since garnered one of the most passionate followings of any RPG to date. So now that Crisis Core is due to arrive in stores next week, loyal fans may be pondering whether their inevitable purchase will be ultimately fruitful. I'm pleased to say that Crisis Core is a great game and, barring a few minor issues here and there, will not disappoint. So if you were planning on picking up a copy regardless of what I say, rest assured that you'll have a colossal amount of fun. But we have quite a bit of material to cover, so let's ... MoreNo matter what words I place here, truly devoted Final Fantasy VII fans will undoubtedly play Crisis Core, the prequel to the original RPG classic. The old PSone title not only heralded the franchise's transition from 2D sprites to 3D, but it has since garnered one of the most passionate followings of any RPG to date. So now that Crisis Core is due to arrive in stores next week, loyal fans may be pondering whether their inevitable purchase will be ultimately fruitful. I'm pleased to say that Crisis Core is a great game and, barring a few minor issues here and there, will not disappoint. So if you were planning on picking up a copy regardless of what I say, rest assured that you'll have a colossal amount of fun. But we have quite a bit of material to cover, so let's start with the basics. While the original Final Fantasy VII followed Cloud and company as they attempted to stop Sephiroth from undoing the very fabric of the world, Crisis Core puts a much different spin on the canon. For one, you'll only be playing as Zack Fair, Cloud's friend who only had fleeting appearances in the original game.

Final Fantasy VII: CRISIS CORE the game (PSP)

The Good * Incredible and poignant story, starring a likable and complex hero. * Every aspect of the production design, from cut-scenes to voice acting, is utterly amazing. * The DMW is a weird but fun way of leveling up. * Enjoyable and addictive combat. The Bad * Combat is on the easy side. * Player has no control over limit breaks and leveling . Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII achieves a striking balance of old and new, and juggles fan service with pure role-playing satisfaction. It's striking how these elements have been shaped into such an appealing and emotionally affecting prequel. There are some new characters and plenty of fan favorites too, such as Cloud, Tifa, and Aerith. However, the characters you're most likely to empathize with are unlikely ones, ... MoreThe Good * Incredible and poignant story, starring a likable and complex hero. * Every aspect of the production design, from cut-scenes to voice acting, is utterly amazing. * The DMW is a weird but fun way of leveling up. * Enjoyable and addictive combat. The Bad * Combat is on the easy side. * Player has no control over limit breaks and leveling . Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII achieves a striking balance of old and new, and juggles fan service with pure role-playing satisfaction. It's striking how these elements have been shaped into such an appealing and emotionally affecting prequel. There are some new characters and plenty of fan favorites too, such as Cloud, Tifa, and Aerith. However, the characters you're most likely to empathize with are unlikely ones, including protagonist Zack, and Sephiroth, who is complex, troubled, and even sometimes likable. The way their personal stories weave in and out of each other--and set the stage for the events in Final Fantasy VII--makes Crisis Core not just the finest role-playing experience available on the PSP, but also one of the best Japanese RPGs in years. Zack isn't new to the franchise, but he was a mere flashback in Final Fantasy VII, which may not make him seem like the best choice of leading man for a prequel to one of the best RPGs ever created. Yet he's as interesting as any Square Enix star, and transcends the usual spiky-haired heroism and teenage angst with an uncommon maturity that develops as the game continues. Revealing almost any plot point could be a spoiler; the Gaia world is rich with mythology and complex character motivation. What's important is how the characters interact, change, and grow. Scenes between Zack and Cloud are both effortless and poignant, and stem directly out of Zack's most impressive character traits: trust and loyalty. As each plot thread twists together and the game reaches its inevitable conclusion, your heart will soften and you may shed a few tears. Crisis Core tells a memorable and exciting tale, but more importantly, it makes you care about its characters, even if you are new to the lore. The game's final scenes are amazing and heartfelt, and one sequence in particular that brilliantly mingles gameplay with narrative is one of the most incredible and moving moments in role-playing history. The game's stunning cutscenes have an immeasurable effect on the emotionally resonant story. There is a harmonious mix of prerendered cinematics and in-engine cutscenes, and both were created with precision. Dramatic camera angles frame Crisis Core's greatest moments, from earth-shaking soliloquies to the quiet pauses Zack and Aerith share. There is a standout scene in which Sephiroth comes into deep focus using a cinematography technique familiar to Alfred Hitchcock fans. This kind of range is rare in cutscenes, even in RPGs, yet it's never forced or overdone here. The quality is further enhanced by incredible voice acting. Past Final Fantasies have sometimes suffered from awkward English voice-overs, but each actor here delivers the right degree of emotion at the right time, which in turn gives weight to the story. As Zack matures, you can hear the newfound confidence replace his adolescent arrogance; when Angeal tells Zack that he's just a little more important than his sword, you can hear a subtle grin in his deep, commanding baritone.

Great game

Game is fun. I'm a huge Final Fantasy fan as well and it was my first order from here and the copy was in even better condition than I thought it would be will definitely be buying from here again and will be recommending people here for great retro games and consoles

Gripping story, Ah-MAZING!

It's been along time coming for Square Enix to produce another gripping game that leaves you with little choice but to be on the edge of your seat through its entirety.Wtih an amazing storyline and breath taking graphics, Crisis Core gives you Zack Fair and the other side of Final Fantasy VII.Within a short amount of time, they are able to give the player a connection with the game's main protagonist through his struggles and hardship, although this is somewhat lacking with some of the other characters (leaving you thinking that they could have done without some).The actual gameplay itself could have been better, as it felt like you were being spoonfed on where to go next, with no choice to revisit certain areas.Overall, the music is fantastic ("Why" by Ayaka ... MoreIt's been along time coming for Square Enix to produce another gripping game that leaves you with little choice but to be on the edge of your seat through its entirety.Wtih an amazing storyline and breath taking graphics, Crisis Core gives you Zack Fair and the other side of Final Fantasy VII.Within a short amount of time, they are able to give the player a connection with the game's main protagonist through his struggles and hardship, although this is somewhat lacking with some of the other characters (leaving you thinking that they could have done without some).The actual gameplay itself could have been better, as it felt like you were being spoonfed on where to go next, with no choice to revisit certain areas.Overall, the music is fantastic ("Why" by Ayaka fitted the story very well), sharp graphics for a small console, storyline well thought out and brilliant execution on building the suspense of what all Final Fantasy VII fans know of the fate that awaits the hero.Definitely a buy.

Where it all began... In Story. -Crisis Core- Final Fantasy VII.

A worthy Prequel. this game is technically how FFVII Truly began in terms of telling the grand scale story that made Final Fantasy the "Gold Standard" in RPG gaming. Needless to say this game touches more on Zack Fair, the man who played a small but relatively important role in the original FFVII. To make it quick is simple, the game is Good, however it would have seen much greater sales and success if it would have launched on either the PS3 or newly released Very Powerful Sony HD Handheld the PSVita. Still it's an' installment of the "7th Epic" FF franchise, and for that alone makes it worth it as a true FF fan. one of the few games Square got right in recent years of gaming.

great title, the perfect prequel to a legendary game.

One word. Amazing. Gameplay The controls of the Crisis Core are relatively simple, you'll quickly find yourself mastering them especially if you've played a Final Fantasy game before. However the battle system is a little different from the usual turn-based idea, here it's all in real time where you can run around the battle area striking, evading and defending as you please. Personally I like the idea of this but not how it's implemented, once you've worked out an evade/attack strategy it makes battles a little too easy to win. Graphics I'm impressed with the graphics of this game, I wouldn't call them outstanding but they get the job done. FMVs and cutscenes look excellent though and summons look fantastic when they pull off their moves, so overall no complaints ... MoreOne word. Amazing. Gameplay The controls of the Crisis Core are relatively simple, you'll quickly find yourself mastering them especially if you've played a Final Fantasy game before. However the battle system is a little different from the usual turn-based idea, here it's all in real time where you can run around the battle area striking, evading and defending as you please. Personally I like the idea of this but not how it's implemented, once you've worked out an evade/attack strategy it makes battles a little too easy to win. Graphics I'm impressed with the graphics of this game, I wouldn't call them outstanding but they get the job done. FMVs and cutscenes look excellent though and summons look fantastic when they pull off their moves, so overall no complaints can be made in this department. Sound A lot of the familiar music from Final Fantasy VII can be found in Crisis Core, albeit with a slightly more rock sound (the battle themes) or given the acoustic treatment (Aeris' theme). The game also features extensive voice acting which is sublime, it really adds to character development and the overall atmosphere of the game. Value I'm not sure exactly how long this game is as I'm only about 12 hours into it, but even for those 12 hours I felt I've already got my moneys worth. This is one of the best titles the PSP has to offer at the moment and well worth owning if you're a long-term Final Fantasy fan in particular, or even if you're not this is well worth your time.