as a vital part Final Fantasy 7 The story and the universe, it always seemed inevitable that Square Enix would somehow re-release the game. CrisisCore, a prequel to FF7 that first came out for the PSP in 2007. The release, which FF7 manager Tetsuya Nomura says sparked an internal debate about whether it should be considered a remake or a remaster, defies classification - but now that I've played it myself, I'll give it a try anyway.
crisis core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunions this is a remaster. It may not quite be "more than a remaster" as Square Enix suggests, but it's a damn impressive attempt to clean up and improve a game that came out on a handheld console that was ultimately less powerful than the PS2.
From the pictures, Crisis Core definitely looks like more than a remaster. Here are low quality PS4 character models that wouldn't be out of place in FF7 Remake, transferred to the PSP game. In many cases, it feels like Square Enix cleverly took advantage of assets from FF7 Remake - directly using some of the models and textures from that game and simply carrying them over into the 2007 game. In pictures and even sometimes in action during a fight, everything looks damn perfect.
However, the nature of the PSP makes itself felt when the characters move. These are higher quality character models overlaid on the same animation setups as on the PSP, which sometimes results in some supernatural effects when these incredibly accurate characters are animated in a rudimentary way that feels 15 years out of date. Because that's the way it is. The characters stand with dead eyes and straightened eyes, their mouths popping as the re-recorded voice acting plays.
Interestingly, this shows how much of FF7 Remake's magic lies in its animation - voice work of similar quality, and in many cases from the same actors - but without the animation nuance to sell the characters, the performances don't land as well.
Otherwise, however, this is one of the best and smartest remasters I've ever seen. I'm particularly delighted that the development team decided to bring everything "in line" with FF7 Remake - which sounds like a simple proposition on paper, but must have been quite a challenge in reality.
This doesn't mean the gameplay has changed (it's definitely the same Crisis Core), but it does mean that every element of the UI has been tweaked and warped to make it the same or deeply similar to FF7 Remake. Some things, like the post-battle script that reads out enemies defeated and items received, are literally identical. This makes the game feel like it's part of the same universe - which, of course, it is. Thanks to this and the seemingly borrowed artwork and models, this much older game fits in nicely with the FF7 Remake.
As for the game itself? She's still good! It's a more shabby action RPG, but you can see how Crisis Core was a defining step in the evolution of the systems and ideas that would later be so brilliantly embodied in FF7 Remake.
While some systems have been tweaked to make the game a little more controllable and more console-like, it doesn't appear, at least from this short hands-on review, that encounters in Crisis Core have been significantly altered - meaning you can expect a bit more stilted , less extensive action than in FF7 Remake. But that's okay - it's a remaster. For more of a remake, we'll have to wait for Rebirth. And this is quite fair.
Crisis Core has a story worth living through. Of all the FF7 extensions released in the 2000s, this is the only one that is really worth your time.
This remaster re-releases it in a crisp, good looking way. As I said, this is one of the most beautiful and impressive remasters I have ever seen. However, that doesn't mean the game is still a PSP game. If you understand this, then most likely you will have a lot of fun.
crisis core: Final Fantasy 7 - Reunion will be released on December 13, 2022 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and PC (via Steam).
