At a time when fans are impatiently awaiting FF7 Remake 2, Square Enix will put FF7 Crisis Core Reunion under their tree. A prequel which already promises to be essential for the rest of the updated trilogy. Here are our first impressions.
15 years ago, Final Fantasy 7 Crisis Core established itself as the killer app of the PSP. A title that was a real lesson in the exploitation of the license, serving as a rich and interesting prequel. Today, it’s a port between the remaster and the remake that is preparing to be released on all platforms: FF7 Crisis Core Reunion. We were able to play it for almost thirty minutes during the Square Enix Festival 2022. We are already won over.
FF7 Crisis Core Reunion, rather remake or remaster?
At a time when recycling, remakes and remasters are commonplace, FF7 Crisis Core Reunion plays the in-between card. The classic of the PSP narrates the events taking place some time before Final Fantasy 7 first of the name. A prequel that is already shaping up to be a must-have for playing FF7 Rebirth, at a time when Nomura seems to have other plans for Zack, Cloud’s mentor and friend of Sephiroth, in this replay that will span the time of a trilogy. The title begins as he tries to become a first class SOLDIER by all means. For our demo, we find the endearing and jovial hero during his first big mission in Wutai, at war with Shinra. The opportunity to already rub shoulders with a few enemies, one of which is very epic.
The observation is quickly made: FF7 Crisis Core Reunion is very beautiful. We find Yuffie, Zack and Sephiroth with their models from FF7 Remake and the environments have been completely reworked in terms of aesthetics. On the graphic part, impossible to find the stigmata of the era of the PSP. It’s very clean, on the same level as the remake, and fully dubbed in English with a performance by Zack who still seems to be blowing hot and cold. On the other hand, all the level design is vintage.
It will be necessary to expect a fairly linear game, the areas of this demo being content to be a simple tangle of empty corridors. Cutscene and dialogue animations are also mostly intact. A rather surprising contrast with the graphic overhaul which gives way to stiff and robotic movements. The most nostalgic will see a little old-school aspect there, those who discovered the license with FF7 Remake may however be a little disconcerted with this outdated aspect.
Updated gameplay
Time for a brief, cute encounter with Yuffie and we were finally able to get to grips with the combat system, which benefits from several welcome corrections. We keep the intuitive sidebar of the original even if FF7 Crisis Core Reunion inherits a more refined HUD in the vein of Final Fantasy 7 Remake and its guard and dodge mechanics. Carried by new shortcuts, targeting on the right stick and the sacrosanct 60 fps, the fights gain in flexibility, but above all in dynamism.
At the time, the PSP exclusive was distinguished by its DMW (Digital Mind Wave)a kind of slot machine roulette that can randomly unlock several buffs (no cost in MP, AP etc.) or powerful attacks. Where the original opus imposed flashbacks or animations of the equivalents of Limit Break, it is now possible to skip these sequences entirely. It doesn’t look like much, but the fights are clearly gaining momentum.
The big difference is that you can choose when to activate random special techniques using the triangle button in order to use them more strategically, rather than having them imposed on you when the moment is not right. not appropriate. The other addition that spice things up is the ability to reduce the strength of enemy special attacks. This is materialized by a gauge divided into three grades that should be emptied while the enemy charges his devastating blow. This involves exposing yourself to a minimum to chain attacks during the incantation.
It doesn’t look like much on paper, but against boss fights like Ifrit, all of these changes and updates work wonders. We can’t wait to see what FF7 Crisis Core Reunion has in store for us, especially in terms of missions, inaccessible during our grip, and during the devious fights which should promise even more enjoyable games.
We are waiting for it … with haste
Brighter than a remaster but keeping some traces of the PSP version for being a remake, FF7 Crisis Core Reunion seems to have everything it takes to be a must for fans of the license. The title is already an essential appetizer while waiting for FF7 Rebirth next winter, but it should suffer from more outdated aspects such as the structure of its quests, its animations and its level design.