What, Final Fantasy VII-2

re: –Crisis Core– Final Fantasy VII
        PSP • USA RELEASE
        play time: 7:19

The first thing to be said about Crisis Core is that... I remember back (several years ago) when rumors about a Final Fantasy 7 remake were floating around. I think Advent Children was continuously being delayed at that time, and a rumor about Final Fantasy VII-2 was being circulated also. I think it was an IGN article, but basically it said there might be a Final Fantasy 7 sequel being made, and that it would be about Sephiroth's brother (or half-brother) and he'd be another one-winged-angel, and oh yeah by the way it'd be Gackt. And I remember going, "WHAT!!!" with all my friends at the news, and just raging at HOW BAD IT SOUNDS AND PLEASE DON'T DO IT SQUARESOFT!!!!"

In any case, soon after, Advent Children came out (which... could have been better), and with it, Lost Order was released and with THAT, a 1 minute teaser trailer using mostly Lost Order and Advent Children scenes called "Crisis Core". Wow, that was a long time ago. So basically, I've been anticipating this game since that time. I even pre-ordered the Crisis Core limited edition PSP when it was released last year (and went to great lengths in order to do so).

SO, THE GAME: of course, Genesis is Gackt, and Genesis is ALSO a one-winged angel, yeah, yeah, whatever, BUT! This game is about ZACK, who is the most adorable, sweetest, kindest FFVII character you will ever meet. God, I love this guy to pieces. And to be quite honest, he is a MUCH better hero than Cloud.

I do have a few issues though. Like, for one, I'm not sure if I like the slot machine system. Or rather, I do like it, but what I'm not sure I like is the fact I level up using the slot machines. This, at first glance, seems to negate the need to grind, but then my brother informed me that the slot machine (DMW) runs on Soldier Points (SP), and that the more SP you have, the more chance you'll have of leveling up. SO, now I fight every fight I come across (I think you HAVE to, I've yet to find a way to get out of them), and I go searching for more. Also, I might mention that the missions are remarkably addicting.

The graphics though; my main beef is the not-quite-CG/not-quite-in-game graphics that they throw at you occasionally. As if they're too lazy to actually CG the scene, but it's too important to leave as just an in-game graphics cut scene, and so they...blur the in game graphics? And in the end it turns out a bunch of DO NOT WANT, and I'm going "urgh" whenever it comes out. HOWEVER, the in-game graphics are really quite nice for PSP level, and the CG scenes are absolutely gorgeous. Like, Advent Children gorgeous.

As for the battle system, I really like it. I'm a turn-based type of player and am not all that particularly fond of real-time action battle systems; but this one is actually a lot of fun to use and I, as the offense-based whore I am, spam the attack button and have no idea how to use the guard skill. HOWEVER, I have gotten the dodge skill down to an art, and I am wildly good at evading attacks.

...I would have more to say, but my PSP ran out of batteries. Talk of the story, characters, and etc., will come later on.