FF VII: Crisis Core or How to deliver a lot of goods in a small package

[Letho]

I seldom make OOC threads about games or pretty much anything else save perhaps about leaving and coming back. But this weekend I've beaten Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core for the first time and the game simply stunned me. I'll be honest. There were two reasons I finally decided to buy PlayStation Portable (and take an impact to my already limited budget). One of the was, of course, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops because Snake > everybody. The other was Crisis Core because I'm a big fan of Final Fantasy. And now that I've played through it, I can say that if I never play a game on a PSP again, I won't be sorry for buying it.

The game has everything. The story is... Well, it's Final Fantasy, so you know it's got to be good. Especially since it's connected to the story of one of the best Final Fantasy games ever (not for me though, as VIII and X are still better then VII for me). WARNING: The ending will leave you speechless. Well, at least that happened to me. The gameplay I was suspicious about. I'm a big fan of turn-based RPGs, and if not turn-based, then at least active turn based. Crisis Core plays more like Kingdom Hearts, where battles require both reflexes and tactics. And yet, despite my affinities, I loved it. The soundtrack is also awesome. It's actually playing as I type this. I honestly can't find a bad side to this game.

I don't know. Maybe I'm still under the influence of the game completion. I get this melancholic feeling every time I finish a good game. But I haven't felt this good (and bad) after finishing a game in a while. And I play a lot.

So what was the point of making this thread? I don't know. Maybe to tell people who haven't played this game that they should. Maybe to ask people who have played it their opinion. Maybe because I don't have anyone else to share this with. So, anyone here played the game?

[Canen Darkflight]

No, not yet.

But I tell you something: it's a dying wish.

[Raelyse]

Crisis Core is an amazing game. I played it for a while but I haven't yet finished it because I lost interest for some reason. I still think it's awesome though.

[Letho]

No, not yet.

But I tell you something: it's a dying wish.It's a good dying wish.

Crisis Core is an amazing game. I played it for a while but I haven't yet finished it because I lost interest for some reason. I still think it's awesome though.Maybe the missions made you lose interest? I know that almost happened to me. I mean, there are 300 of them, and though you don't have to do all of them or even most of them, of course one wants to COMPLETE a FF game, not just finish it. However, some are quite tiresome. There was one where you have to beat 1000 (yes, one thousand) soldiers. It took me like half an hour to beat that one. Then I realized that I can do others when I replay the game with the New Game+ option.


Anyways, seeing as not a lot of people played Crisis Core, let's broaden the topic a little bit, but stick to Final Fantasy. Do any of you think that a FF VII remake will happen? There was some talk in SquareEnix that they want to do it, but nothing definite. Also, A MINOR SPOILER, BUT NOT ABOUT THE STORY OF CRISIS CORE: at the end of credits, there's a "to be continued in Final Fantasy VII" note. Now, this could just mean that you can continue it in FF VII for PSX. However, I found the choice of words quite interesting. It's not "continued in Final Fantasy VII", but "to be continued". Maybe this means that we could soon see a remake. Or maybe it's just words.

Furthermore, what other Final Fantasy game could use a sequel/prequel/whatever? I think it's a shame that FF VIII never got one. And there's a great opportunity for it too. They could make a game that would follow Laguna and his crew, since his story was told only through dreams/flashbacks.

[Calx Vir]

If I'm mistaken, didn't Laguna's story have a resolution? He gave birth to Squall, and that in my case would be the end of his and the beginning of Squall's (which they did in the first place). But yeah, definitely liked FFVIII a lot more than people gave it credit for.

I actually have played Crisis Core, but not as extensively as any of you. I played it briefly, yet in that brief moment I fell in love with it. I'm not a good source though, since FFVII is my all-time favorite RPG, with my all-time favorite RPG character, Sephiroth, in it. More to come here, but I'm running low on time.

[Kupo!]

Moogles > Snake. Sorry dude. You know it's true...

[A Nony Mouse]

What other Final Fantasy game could use a sequel/prequel/whatever?
FFX could use a less lame sequel :)

Seriously though, I would love to see something simple based in the FFXI world for a single player.

[Calx Vir]

I did always love moogles, they're so awesome. I wish they had a bigger part in a lot of the FF games, like maybe even one based around them with moogle main characters. *light bulb* FFXIV TIMEZ!!!

[BlackAndBlueEyes]

I've seen reports that FFIV is getting a sequel for cell phones in Japan, which I think is pretty sweet.

Also, I'd like to see the game centered around the Turks to come over to the States. I'd actually play it.

I know what you mean about the post-game blues, though. I just recently beat Bioshock, and haven't been the same since.

[Canen Darkflight]

I think that FFVII: CC owns, but there is one other Final Fantasy so overlooked it frustrates me.

Final Fantasy VI.

I've spent the past month doing my first playthrough of it, and I adore this game. Firstly, and foremost, best villian ever in Kefka. Best set of characters. Best plot. Love it.

[Winterhair]

I loved the plot of FFVI, and the antagonist was genius: Kefka basically set up the whole theme for "villains who are clownish". I mean, think about it? Pennywise the Dancing Clown(Stephen King's IT), Whatshisface from HunterxHunter, Jester from Devil May Cry 3? All can be related to the original clown badass of all time, Kefka.

[Letho]

If I'm mistaken, didn't Laguna's story have a resolution? He gave birth to Squall, and that in my case would be the end of his and the beginning of Squall's (which they did in the first place). But yeah, definitely liked FFVIII a lot more than people gave it credit for.Yes, Laguna's story did have a resolution, but our knowledge of it is very limited. I mean, you get to play with him, Kyros and Ward for like two times throughout the game and the story is told through sporadic flashes. Given how funny and cool of a character Laguna is, I figure it would be nice to see some sort of a spin-off involving him and his crew. And I agree. I also liked FF VIII a lot more than people give it credit.

Moogles > Snake. Sorry dude. You know it's true...BLASPHEMY! Nothing beats Snake.

FFX could use a less lame sequelWhat do you mean "lame"?! You get to play with three hot chicks and change their wardrobes and follow the main story in between ogling. That's awesome!

Also, I'd like to see the game centered around the Turks to come over to the States. I'd actually play it.

I know what you mean about the post-game blues, though. I just recently beat Bioshock, and haven't been the same since.Turks kick ass. I have no idea why Square made a cell phone game about them instead of a nice full game that would bring them even more money.

And post-good-game blues are the best. And worst. You're proud that you've beaten the game, but you're also sorry it's over.

I think that FFVII: CC owns, but there is one other Final Fantasy so overlooked it frustrates me.

Final Fantasy VI.

I've spent the past month doing my first playthrough of it, and I adore this game. Firstly, and foremost, best villian ever in Kefka. Best set of characters. Best plot. Love it.VI came a bit late in my hands. I mean, I never owned a SNES and I started playing the games for it via an emulator a couple of years ago. So, that means after VII, VIII, even X. And it's hard to get into it after all the goodies you've already witnessed in the worlds of Final Fantasy.

Another question. Is it just me or does XII sucks a little bit? I found it dreadfully long and demanding endless level-uping just so you remain on a decent level when you reach the bosses. Nice story, though, and pretty awesome graphics given the outdated system it's on.

[MetalDrago]

Another question. Is it just me or does XII sucks a little bit? I found it dreadfully long and demanding endless level-uping just so you remain on a decent level when you reach the bosses. Nice story, though, and pretty awesome graphics given the outdated system it's on.

Actually, I thought tha game was good, and I never level up much in Final Fantasy... Only enough to beat the bosses, and it doesn't seem to be much for me. Then again, I play off their weaknesses more than anything else.

But the story, though amazing, was too damned short. I spent the same amount of time playing as I did on my first run-through of VII, but the story just felt so incomplete... Besides that, the Espers were too damn hard to get. Ultima and Zodiark were so powerful that it almost made me cry to even attempt to fight them.

[Canen Darkflight]

VI came a bit late in my hands. I mean, I never owned a SNES and I started playing the games for it via an emulator a couple of years ago. So, that means after VII, VIII, even X. And it's hard to get into it after all the goodies you've already witnessed in the worlds of Final Fantasy.


I agree it's not easy to get into. I started playing it, I think, three months ago, after mastering VII, VIII and XI (for reasons only those who know me can understand, I refuse outright to accept X-2 as a Final Fantasy game, and don't hold much love for the next gen of FF. Deal with it.) but when I got into it full force, I realised how much that game owned. And it does. You have to be patient with it though.

[A Nony Mouse]

Another question. Is it just me or does XII sucks a little bit? I found it dreadfully long and demanding endless level-uping just so you remain on a decent level when you reach the bosses. Nice story, though, and pretty awesome graphics given the outdated system it's on.

XII is prolly my favorite.

[Soldier of Fortune]

I found XII quite enjoyable. Even though you did have to level up a lot (though it felt the same like any FF RPG), fighting was improved a lot so it could be more enjoyable rather than just monotonous "running around getting into random battles" stuff. I enjoyed running around like I owned the place, doing 5-hit combos constantly with my all-powerful ninja sword.

I liked the story as well, because it took a more realistic and political turn. Rather than an all-powerful being coming from nowhere, it was a tale about command and conquer, even though that's what you had to fight at the end, an "all-powerful being." Who reminded me too much of Sephy.

[Destrudo]

I think the best part of any final fantasy game though is the expert and masterful composing of Mr. Nobuo Uematsu. I loved the dungeon Via Purifico, even though it was a short and lame dungeon without any degree of difficutly whatsoever simply because the theme music for it was so good. The music for the city of Esthar itself, Silence and Motion was perfect for a futurisitc city like Esthar. And Those Chosen by The Planet, Sephiroth's main theme throughout the game, totally made of win, and One winged Angel was even better. J-E-N-O-V-A was also very good, and it's even better when remixed by his group "The Black Mages"
I just can't say enough good things about him.

[Letho]

In response to everybody mentioning XII:

The thing is, I like to play it very safe when I play my Final Fantasy game. VERY safe. And that means that I want to beat the bosses without too much difficulty. I mean, there has to be some challenge to it, but I'd rather beat the boss because I came well prepared and at a high level then by some streak of luck that leaves me with 2 HP points at the end of the battle. With XII it was very hard to achieve that safety. I played the game for some sixty hours of game time (twice) and there were still optional bosses that literally wiped the floor with me (especially the higher ranked hunts).

I'm not saying that XII sucks big time, though. Just a little bit for me. I liked the more realistic story a lot and I even liked the combat system (which is, when you look at it, just a masked type of ATB with the addition that you can move around during the battle). It just takes too long to explore the entire game or even the most of it.

I agree it's not easy to get into. I started playing it, I think, three months ago, after mastering VII, VIII and XI (for reasons only those who know me can understand, I refuse outright to accept X-2 as a Final Fantasy game, and don't hold much love for the next gen of FF. Deal with it.) but when I got into it full force, I realised how much that game owned. And it does. You have to be patient with it though.I'll probably get back to it sooner or later. Every once in a while, a retro feeling takes over me and I start playing the oldies. I still have the ROM and the emulator somewhere in the mess on my hard drive.

And really, there are no next gen FFs that appeal to you? X is probably my favorite. I found the turn based battles enjoyable and relaxing, and the story quite interesting. Obtaining the ultimate weapons, though, was a real drag, but then again you don't really need them, not even for beating Ultima.

I think the best part of any final fantasy game though is the expert and masterful composing of Mr. Nobuo Uematsu. I loved the dungeon Via Purifico, even though it was a short and lame dungeon without any degree of difficutly whatsoever simply because the theme music for it was so good. The music for the city of Esthar itself, Silence and Motion was perfect for a futurisitc city like Esthar. And Those Chosen by The Planet, Sephiroth's main theme throughout the game, totally made of win, and One winged Angel was even better. J-E-N-O-V-A was also very good, and it's even better when remixed by his group "The Black Mages"
I just can't say enough good things about him.I couldn't agree more. The soundtrack makes a very important part of the game and I find it that it's best when you don't really hear it get in the way of what's going on the screen, but rather completes the experience for you. It's like, you don't really hear it when you're playing, but then you catch yourself humming the theme from some battle or scene.

However, Uematsu didn't compose for Crisis Core, but given the fact that the themes there were mostly remixed from other FF VII stuff (the game, Advent Children, Last Order), it still has the same FF feeling. There are some nifty new themes in CC as well, and I think that Takeharu Ishimoto did a good job. Then again, that's not much of a surprise since he did work on quite a few Square games already.

[Winterhair]

In response to everybody mentioning XII:

The thing is, I like to play it very safe when I play my Final Fantasy game. VERY safe. And that means that I want to beat the bosses without too much difficulty. I mean, there has to be some challenge to it, but I'd rather beat the boss because I came well prepared and at a high level then by some streak of luck that leaves me with 2 HP points at the end of the battle. With XII it was very hard to achieve that safety. I played the game for some sixty hours of game time (twice) and there were still optional bosses that literally wiped the floor with me (especially the higher ranked hunts).


That optional boss, starts with an X...*shudders* That fucking guy is insane. 50 million hit points? No fucking thank you.
I'm waiting for the FF13's myself. Versus looks freakin' insane. Guy who teleports, can conjure swords at whim and move like Cloud Strife on his worse day? Gimme. And Lightning from FF13 looks pretty badass her self. The game sort of looks like a Devil May Cry game crossed with the Final Fantasy series, but thats coming from someone whom has played WAY too much of both.
In any case, I look forward to both games.

[MetalDrago]

It wasn't an 'X'... Believe me, I have played against that monster myself... Yiazmat... Some spinoff of Tiamat, I assume. Of course, I have no excuse for complaining, as one of my main characters is named Terramat...

However, yes... Yiazmat was a tough fight, but it's not impossible to walk away from him to restock on good and magic every once in awhile... It takes a bit for his health to restore to full. Hell Wyrm, though he had an insane amount of health, was not so hard... I beat him very quickly. It only took me three days!

[A Nony Mouse]

yeah, the higher hunts are ridiculous... there are a few i have left to do.
i didn't think the espers were that hard; it's all about the gambits.

[Letho]

I don't really remember what hunt I ran into back when I played the game, but it was some sort of a wyrm, it was huge and it constantly replenished its own HP. It pissed me off. I hate enemies that heal themselves. :P

Another thing that I found very disappointing in XII were the quickenings. In all of the FFs I played so far, the limit breaks were a fine balance between cool and character-related. Squall smacked people with Lionheart, Wakka threw his blitzball with the reels, etc. But in XII they practically threw in a bunch of cool-looking special moves (which aren't even that cool-looking) that have little to do with the character that executes him. Vaan throws a pair of energy balls, Balthier smacks air with fists until the screen breaks... I can honestly say that XII has the worst limit breaks of all Final Fantasy games.

I'm waiting for the FF13's myself. Versus looks freakin' insane. Guy who teleports, can conjure swords at whim and move like Cloud Strife on his worse day? Gimme. And Lightning from FF13 looks pretty badass her self. The game sort of looks like a Devil May Cry game crossed with the Final Fantasy series, but thats coming from someone whom has played WAY too much of both.
In any case, I look forward to both games.I'm pretty intrigued by XIII as well. I saw just a single trailer, but it still kicked ass. The only thing that I hate about it is that it'll be a PS3 exclusive, and PS3 is still way too expensive for my budget.

[A Nony Mouse]

The only thing that I hate about it is that it'll be a PS3 exclusive, and PS3 is still way too expensive for my budget.

I hear ya man... it's gonna be awhile before I get to play it.

[Winterhair]

My friend's boyfriend has a PS3, so thats how I'm hoping I'll be able to play it is because he is a FF fanatic. But I also hear you on that.

[Canen Darkflight]

And really, there are no next gen FFs that appeal to you? X is probably my favorite. I found the turn based battles enjoyable and relaxing, and the story quite interesting. Obtaining the ultimate weapons, though, was a real drag, but then again you don't really need them, not even for beating Ultima.

I enjoyed X, but for me it was too linear, and a lack of trawling around the world map old school style confined it a bit, I thought. Still, good game, good plot, just not of my taste for a Final Fantasy game. VI or IX is old school FF.

[Letho]

I guess it depends the way you look at the linearity. It enables the game to be more story-driven, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I personally found tons of stuff to play around in X. Then again, I'm the kind of a person that spent three consecutive days playing blitzball and another two pussyfooting around Omega Dungeons until I got my characters to a level high enough to tackle all the freakish monsters in there.

I hope you won't be disappointed to know that there is no map in Crisis Core either, Canen. But trust me, once you play it, you won't miss.



<--- Badass Zack Fair avy, by the way.



Also, I'm surprised that nobody mentioned FF Tactics in this thread yet. I was certain that Cyrus would jump in, screaming: "TACTICS RULE, BITCHES!!!". Well, something along those lines anyways.

[Winterhair]

TACTICS RULES, BITCHES!!!

I said it for him.
But it does.
And Letho, I'm glad to see you at least around OOC'ly. When I heard you left, I thought it meant totally. As long as your here, there's still a chance...mwahahahaha.
I didn't enjoy X myself, honestly. I liked XII, and loved VII and IX, but X I never enjoyed. And the sequel just squelched any fun I did have out of me.

But, as long as I said what Cyrus should have said, what about FF Tactics Advance? I personally LOVED that game. The storyline had me gripped. Plus the assassin class...*drools* Anyways, I am not looking forward to the sequel though. Sounds alot more light hearted that TA, and after Advance, anything that isn't as on par isn't worth my time. I'll try TA2, but if it doesn't satisfy my needs like the first did (and yes, in the dirty ways too for all that did/didn't care to know. :D ), I won't hesitate in giving a child a chainsaw and telling to run fast with it straight at the game.

[A Nony Mouse]

I loved Tactics Advance and I am looking forward to the sequel. However, I see what you mean about being lighter than the first one. I liked how you could set the icons around the map to unlock different things... sometimes it made the game so much harder depending on where you put things. I should play that game again...

[DT!]

For some odd reason while every game mentioned so far was great and fun I feel that we don't need another game of a rag-tag team of adventurers out to save the world. Rather I think that they should focus a game on one of the most enigmatic people in FF history. Gilgamesh, the dimension traveler. He's been in many games and sometimes he even had an important role, but then again I'm just being nuts and saying that an enemy/neutral/ally would be fun dimension hopping game in search for legendary swords...>.>

[Letho]

TACTICS RULES, BITCHES!!!

I said it for him.
But it does.
And Letho, I'm glad to see you at least around OOC'ly. When I heard you left, I thought it meant totally. As long as your here, there's still a chance...mwahahahaha.
I didn't enjoy X myself, honestly. I liked XII, and loved VII and IX, but X I never enjoyed. And the sequel just squelched any fun I did have out of me.

But, as long as I said what Cyrus should have said, what about FF Tactics Advance? I personally LOVED that game. The storyline had me gripped. Plus the assassin class...*drools* Anyways, I am not looking forward to the sequel though. Sounds alot more light hearted that TA, and after Advance, anything that isn't as on par isn't worth my time. I'll try TA2, but if it doesn't satisfy my needs like the first did (and yes, in the dirty ways too for all that did/didn't care to know. :D ), I won't hesitate in giving a child a chainsaw and telling to run fast with it straight at the game.Yeah, I guess there's no way to leave this place one you really get into it. It's like prison, only more chicks.

Tactics never really qualified as a FF game for me. While other FFs are a fine blend of action, tactics and story, Tactics are pretty much a chess game with an RPG element. There is no "cool" stuff, so to say, no nifty FMWs, no uber cool limit breaks. It's basically just maps and figurines and story told through lines and lines of text. I don't know. Personally, I could never truly get into it. And I've certainly tried. I'm trying it again now with the War of the Lions version for the PSP, but I don't see myself finishing it. I guess it's one of those games you either love or hate.

For some odd reason while every game mentioned so far was great and fun I feel that we don't need another game of a rag-tag team of adventurers out to save the world. Rather I think that they should focus a game on one of the most enigmatic people in FF history. Gilgamesh, the dimension traveler. He's been in many games and sometimes he even had an important role, but then again I'm just being nuts and saying that an enemy/neutral/ally would be fun dimension hopping game in search for legendary swords...>.>That's a rather nifty idea. It would certainly be a change from the usual. But then again, we all love a rag-tag team of adventurers out to save the world, especially if there are hot chicks. And there always are. Except maybe in IX.

[Calx Vir]

First off I must say, loving the avatar of Zach. Zach is the own.

Secondly, yeah I love Tactics as well, especially the first one. Never liked the second one for Game Boy as much, but definitely loved the PS version. I still have it today, and it's the game that I can just put in and play whenever I'm bored and still have fun. Sure it isn't the usual FF theme, but it was cool in its own way. But Letho is right, it's probably more or less like one of those "love or hate" games.

Yeah I always liked Gilgamesh, even spun off the name to make a character I used to use a long time ago named Gigamesh (on another site). The name is awesome, for one, and he was cool wielding every cool sword from the FF series. In 12 he has a variant of the Buster Sword and Masamune, which was awesome. But I don't know if there'd be enough substance to make a good game from it, maybe a cool action-packed game, but not a good story-oriented one, which is a quality I admire Square-Enix for. Honestly I think they should try to expand on existing games, like 8 or 9, I think both of those left room for more storyline.

[Letho]

The name is awesome, for one, and he was cool wielding every cool sword from the FF series.In eight where he was an optional GF (well, semi-GF like Odin, who appeared randomly) he had four swords, one of which was named something like Excalipoor. It did 1 damage. Yes, the other two made decent damage and he had the Zantetsuken, but you had no control which one he uses when he shows up. And chances were that when you were in a tight spot and he showed up, he'd use the crappy sword. He's still a cool character, but not as cool as Odin who's probably my favorite GF/summon/aeon/whatever.

[DT!]

Odin's death was really strange to me in 8. I'm not sure why Gilgamesh killed him.

[Letho]

I don't think Gilgamesh killed him. What happens (if I remember correctly) is you start the fight with Seifer, Odin appears and does his Zantetsuken, but instead of Seifer getting cut in half, it's Odin that is cut in half by Seifer's gunblade. Seifer even says something along the lines: "You didn't think it would be that easy." And then you fight Seifer with your characters. Then, when you deplete his HP (again, if I remember correctly; I haven't played the game in a while), Gilgamesh appears, retrieves Zantetsuken and finishes Seifer off.

[Veatrix]

I don't think Gilgamesh killed him. What happens (if I remember correctly) is you start the fight with Seifer, Odin appears and does his Zantetsuken, but instead of Seifer getting cut in half, it's Odin that is cut in half by Seifer's gunblade. Seifer even says something along the lines: "You didn't think it would be that easy." And then you fight Seifer with your characters. Then, when you deplete his HP (again, if I remember correctly; I haven't played the game in a while), Gilgamesh appears, retrieves Zantetsuken and finishes Seifer off.

Which was sad, because Odin (FFVIII version) was so much cooler than Gilgamesh.

[MetalDrago]

The attack, if you translate the symbols that appear when Odin attacks Seifer and dies, is called Zantetsuken Reverse. Seifer turns Odin's own technique against him.