Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Member Review for the PSP

The Good: Insane production values, real time random battles are better, materia system is good, the DMW is odd but works

The Bad: Pretty short for FF standards, lame side missions, combat is too simple

If you've been holding out on a PSP (I don't know why you have), but here is another reason to buy one. CC offers and original game experience and, well, here's how. First off, people who HATE turned based RPGs can relax.

                We get a whole new real time combat engine and no it's not like FF12's. When you engage in combat you can select attack, your materia (more on that later), and your items with the L or R buttons. You attack with X (combat is VERY simple and pretty easy). Now for the new original hate-it-or-like-it idea: The DMW. It looks like a slot machine up in the corner and this is how you choose your power attacks (overdrives), level up, and your Aeon. This is also random so it mixes up gameplay, yet for micro-managing freaks they will hate this. Each character's face is on the wheel and as you meet them they are unlocked. Each character has a special move either offensive or defensive and they are pretty neat. You also have numbers as well and for example if you get three 7's you level up. If you get two of the same number you level up your materia. Another thing, you don't have magic and all that anymore. Materia are things like Fire, Thunder, Vital Slash, and even Graviga. You also have AP now which is for materia like Vital Slash, Jump Attack etc. You can also fuse materia together to make different materia. This is really fun to do and there's TONS of combos and different materia too collect. There are plenty of enemy types so don't worry.

                Now for the story is picks up after the movie where you play as Zack (yes just one character through the whole game...yeah so...deal with it). You have to save the world from the evil Projects that people are doing and stop Genesis from taking over the world. While the graphics are AMAZING and the voice acting (first time in a FF game) is great you also get beautiful pre-rendered FMV's.

                Now for the issues. The DMW wheel is great and it's very fair on leveling you up (I finished at level 38) and balances your character very well for you. The combat is very simple with just a one button hit, block, and dodge. This could have been revamped more. The game is pretty short for FF standards. I beat the game in 17 hours and I did 15% of the side missions as well. Speaking of that the side missions get dull real fast. You access them through save points and it's just a "kill every enemy in the room" type thing and it's for getting more items. You can't get new weapons either...you're stuck with what you got. You also access shops through the menu at any time which is convenient but makes the game even more easy. Overall if you love FF you'll absolutely LOVE this. If you hate FF then try the game and I'm sure you'll like it now.