Six Reasons Fans Shouldn't Miss Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- Reunion

FINAL FANTASY VII is essentially a household name in most gaming circles in 2022, 25 years after release. Now, withFinal Fantasy VII Remake being behind them and its sequel, FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH, slated for Winter 2023, Square Enix has finally decided to revisit the prequel, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7.  Originally released in 2007 for the PlayStation Portable (PSP), the game contrasted greatly with Final Fantasy VII, featuring a different protagonist in Zack Fair, action oriented combat, and a completely new story. Now, fifteen years after the original release, the title has finally been remade as CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- REUNION. For fans of the Final Fantasy series, particularly Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VII Remake, the game is worth checking out for a few major reasons.

1. Zack Fair is a much different protagonist.

While Cloud Strife is the famous and beloved spiky haired lead in Final Fantasy VII, Crisis Core features a different spiky head. Zack Fair, only a minor character seen in flashbacks in Final Fantasy VII, runs the show this time. Zack, being much more upbeat and outgoing, brings a much different vibe compared to Cloud, who is typically closed and guarded. This allows the player to see the rich world of Final Fantasy VII through a different lens. 

2. Exisiting characters are more fleshed out.

As the story is a prequel, players will get to experience the entire story of Zack Fair, as well as expanded backgrounds on fan favourites such as Sephiroth, Cloud, Aerith, and even the iconic Buster Sword. Particularly, seeing Sephiroth before he becomes evil and unhinged adds much needed context to the overall story of Final Fantasy VII.

3. The new characters contribute a lot to the story of the series.

Being set in a different time, Crisis Core introduces multiple new characters to the Final Fantasy VII series. Genesis Rhapsodos serves as an excellent red-haired foil to Sephiroth, even wielding an over-the-top giant sword to match Masamune. His somewhat tragic story is a heavy focal point throughout the game; fans won’t want to miss out. 

Likewise, Cissnei appears as a member of the Turks, a sort of CIA adjacent group within Shinra. She serves as a supporting character that the player will interact with throughout. Like Reeve in Final Fantasy VII, Cissnei shows players that not all employees of the evil Shinra corporation lack humanity. 

4. The world of Final Fantasy VII grows even bigger.

Final Fantasy VII, like many games in the series, has a unique setting. From the modern steampunk metropolis of Midgar to the feudal Japan inspired nation of Wutai, to the sun-bleached sands of Costa Del Sol, the world of Final Fantasy VII does not disappoint. Crisis Core offers a new look at these locations and more. 

5. The story may have major implications for the upcoming sequel Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.

If you played through Final Fantasy VII Remake, then you know what I’m talking about here. I won’t spoil that game here, but it seems to be clear that the events of Crisis Core could have larger implications on the story of the Remake trilogy. Did Square Enix choose to remake Crisis Core now simply to capitalize on popularity, or is there another reason? We can only speculate…

6. This is the best way to experience Crisis Core.

If you experienced Crisis Core on the PSP, you likely would agree that the title was quite impressive on a handheld. That being said, 15-year-old handheld graphics do not translate well to modern televisions and consoles. While not a remake in the same calibre as Final Fantasy VII Remake, it is clear that Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- Reunion moves significantly beyond simple remaster territory, featuring several enhancements, such as:

• Overhauled visuals rendered in Unreal Engine 4 (to match Final Fantasy VII Remake)
• 4K resolution and 60 frames per second on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X
• Rearranged soundtrack
• Fully voiced and re-recorded English and Japanese dialogue
• Revamped combat system

With these enhancements, it is clear this should be the best version of Crisis Core by a long shot.

 And there you have it. Six reasons fans of Final Fantasy shouldn’t skip Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- Reunion. Whether you are playing the game for the first time or returning after 15 years, this game looks to be a real treat for Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VII Remake fans. 

Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- Reunion released on 13th December, 2022 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.