Crisis Core

is a 2007 action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation Portable. The game serves as a prequel to the 1997 title ''Final Fantasy VII'', and is part of the metaseries ''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's storyline spans the war between the megacorporation Shinra and the people of Wutai to the events in Nibelheim, ending just before the beginning of ''Final Fantasy VII''.

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 PlayStation Portable 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. A remaster of the game, ''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''.

Gameplay

''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, upon completion, Zack is returned to the save point in the main game.

''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 throughout the game 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.

''Crisis Core'' 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.

Following completion of the game, the player will obtain a New Game Plus option. The North American and European releases of ''Crisis Core'' also have an added difficulty mode, which increases the power and health of enemies.

Plot

Characters

''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

HOME


Content is Copyleft
Website design, code, and AI is Copyrighted (c) 2014-2017 by Stephen Payne


Consider donating to Wikimedia



As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases