'Crisis Core' a great prequel
OK, I've admitted this before, but it's relevant, so I'll say it again: I've never played ''Final Fantasy VII.''
Although I've meant to play it for years now, I never have, so everything I know about it is second-hand.
Keep this in mind as I talk about ''Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII'' for the PSP. I won't be able to compare it to ''Final Fantasy VII,'' the PlayStation game for which ''Crisis Core'' is a prequel. I will, however, be able to judge it on its own merits.
''Crisis Core'' follows Zack, a member of SOLDIER who sets out to find a missing colleague (saying any more might be considered a spoiler).
Along his journey, Zack runs into Aerith and Cloud and works alongside Sephiroth, the big bad in ''Final Fantasy VII.'' I know enough about ''FFVII'' to be familiar with the characters and the major points of the storyline, and it's fun to see these characters in lesser roles in ''Crisis Core.''
The world of Gaia is portrayed beautifully in cutscenes (as is Square Enix's way), and even the in-game graphics are good. The voice acting does well, even if the dialogue sometimes seems a bit stilted.
What's really interesting about ''Crisis Core'' is its battle system. Rather than the typical turn-based system of most role-playing games, ''Crisis Core'' uses an active system. Upon entering the battle, button presses and enemy attacks happen in real-time.
Zack can equip a number of commands using items called materia, which can be physical attacks or magic. In battle, the left and right bumper buttons toggle between the equipped materia. Hitting the X button queues the action.
As you're battling enemies, a wheel spins in the corner, similar to a slot machine. There are six slots on the wheel, three that are pictures of characters and three that are numbers.
If three pictures of the same character line up, that triggers the character's special move. For example, three Sephiroths trigger a damaging attack, while three Aerith's heal you.
Matching three numbers lets you level up whatever materia you have equipped in the slot with that number. Matching three sevens levels up Zack himself. Sometimes numbers can trigger status changes.
It's a bit more complex than that, but trying to explain it in-depth would take this whole column. Suffice it to say, it's all random; you have zero control over what that wheel does.
Even without knowing all the specifics about ''FFVII,'' I still enjoyed ''Crisis Core.'' I'm not too happy that my chances of leveling up depend on a randomly spinning wheel, but it didn't break the game for me. At least it was something different.
The storyline is engaging, the characters both likeable and familiar. The combat system isn't the best, but it works, and it's worth playing through to see the fantastic cutscenes. A wealth of side quests will have you exploring the world for a good while.
After playing ''Crisis Core,'' I really want to finally dig into ''Final Fantasy VII.''
Reach Aimee Green at (402) 473-7326 or Aimee.Green@lee.net.
CRISIS CORE: FINAL FANTASY VII
Square Enix, for PSP
Rated: Teen
Cost: $39.99
Score: 8/10
Scores based on an evaluation of gameplay (4 points), visuals (2), sound (2) and replayability/value (2).