Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII

About Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII arrived on the PlayStation Portable in September 2007 as a prequel to the original game. Square Enix developed this action role-playing title where you play as Zack Fair, a young SOLDIER member working for the mega-corporation Shinra. The story unfolds seven years before the events of FFVII and focuses on the decline of the military unit known as SOLDIER. You follow Zack as he trains under Angeal and interacts with legends like Sephiroth while uncovering dark secrets about the company's mako energy experiments. This handheld adventure offers a complete narrative experience on one device with voice acting and widescreen cutscenes that defined portable gaming at the time.

Gameplay

You control Zack in real-time battles using an action-oriented combat system rather than traditional turn-based mechanics. Your main attacks involve sword slashes and magic spells, but the Digital Mind Wave system adds a layer of strategy by connecting your status to three slots on the screen. Filling these meters allows you to trigger special Limit Breaks or summon iconic Final Fantasy characters like Bahamut during fights. Between battles, you manage equipment and materia to customize Zack's stats for different scenarios. The game features a straightforward mission structure where you complete objectives, explore towns, and watch CG cutscenes that advance the plot. Controls are responsive on the PSP, letting you switch between attacking and casting magic without pausing the action flow.

What Players Think

The data shows this title holds strong favor with players who played it during its era. IGDB lists a score of 85.7 out of 100 based on 170 ratings, indicating consistent quality approval. Community moods often reflect nostalgia mixed with sadness given the story's tragic direction. Players frequently mention high completion rates, suggesting that once you start the campaign, most finish it despite the difficulty spikes in later chapters. Average playtime hovers around 25 hours for a standard run, though speedrunners and achievement hunters push that number higher by chasing all secret materia combinations. Review snippets highlight the emotional weight of the narrative as the primary reason people return to this specific entry in the franchise.

PlayPile's Take

This game is worth playing if you want to understand the lore behind Cloud Strife without needing the original Final Fantasy VII first. The price point on secondary markets varies, but the single-player campaign delivers a tight 25-hour story with no filler missions. You will earn roughly 30 achievements by collecting all materia types and defeating every boss without taking damage. The combat system remains engaging even years later, though the graphics show their age compared to modern remakes. Don't expect a perfect balance of difficulty, as some battles feel cheap against bosses like Weiss. Start this game if you want a character-driven story with solid action mechanics on a handheld device.

Storyline

Set seven years prior to the events of the first Final Fantasy VII, the Shinra Company is rapidly increasing its influence through its monopoly on mako energy and military might. With the burgeoning city of Midgar as its base and symbol of prosperity, Shinra is on the verge of establishing absolute dominance over the world. SOLDIER is a group of skilled combat operatives within Shinra. The elite within the group — those strong enough to be deemed SOLDIER 1st Class — are respected and idolized by the citizenry. Zack is a young SOLDIER 2nd Class who aspires to become a 1st. He spends his days carrying out assignments under the guidance of his 1st Class mentor, Angeal. During an operation in Wutai, a large number of SOLDIER member, led by 1st Class operative Genesis, go missing. The severity of the situation prompts Shinra executives to deploy even more SOLDIER operatives in hopes of bringing an end to the war with Wutai—and conducting an investigation into the mass desertion. The ones assigned to the mission are Zack, Angeal, and the 1st Class hero who is known the world over as Sephiroth... What truths lie behind Genesis's disappearance? What secrets bind the three SOLDIER 1st Class operatives? For Zack, a cruel and fateful struggle awaits...