this is the article I wrote for my newspaper classes for my school
enjoy my review of Final Fantasy 7: Cirisis Core


Ah ..look at that, giant mechs and Sephiroth. Add a dash of summons, and a pinch of materia and you have Square Enix’s new game for the PSP.

Anyone familiar with the story will be shocked to find out that, for once, the arch nemesis of Cloud, Sephiroth, once hailed as a hero, isn’t the main villain. However, he makes many appearances throughout the game, including the legendary Nibelheim mako reactor core scene where the one-time hero of Midgar, the city were SOILDER is based, turns into the enemy of man and Sephiroth’s destructive legacy begins and does battle with Zack.

Fans will also be surprised to know that the usually hero of Final Fantasy 7, Cloud Strife, isn’t the main hero in this story.

That job belongs to his Buster Sword predecessor Zack Fair, a SOLDIER 2nd Class at the beginning.

Anyone whose played Final Fantasy 7 will know Zack as the man Cloud believed himself to be after being attacked and watching Zack’s death at the hands of members of his own employer. Taking his spare SOLDIER uniform and the Buster Sword that Zack passed on before he died, Cloud left Zack’s body on the hill but not much more was known about Zack.

Now the events that led to Zack’s betrayal are unfolded as well as other events that we’re never explained in Final Fantasy 7 and Final Fantasy 7: Advent Children. Crisis Core also offers a deeper look into the backgrounds of Zack, Aeirth, Sephiroth, and Cloud.

The storyline for Crisis Core explains how Zack got the Buster Sword, his relationship with Aeirth and Cloud, and who he was right until his death. In short, Crisis Core is the game made to explain the ill blood between the Shinra Power Company, and SOLDIER’s employer’s, and the resistance group Avalanche.

Game play is much like the latest Final Fantasy 7: Dirge of Cerberus, controlling only Zack instead of the typical three characters. Level ups for both Zack and his materia, spells and actions, are relatively the same with the exception of the DMW; a shot machine-like wheel that triggers limit breaks as well.

The DMV spins itself off Zack’s soldier points, which he obtains through defeating enemies. When two of the same character line up on the two sides he enters Limit Verge, which makes the DMV larger and then goes for the middle shot. Sometimes during limit verge Zack’s memories trigger of the character that’s on the outer shots in the form of video or memories of the game are displayed in pictures. After the shots are lined up, no matter if you hit the third slot or not, numbers will appear in the bottom left corner. Triple 7’s will level Zack up, while doubles of numbers will increase materia level by one and triples of numbers, other than 7, will raise it by two.

A featured called Mission Mode makes this game much easier, especially in hard mode. Zack can access mission mode through his menu when you hit the triangle button, you have to be near a save point otherwise mission mode is unavailable. During mission mode, Zack completes various tasks and fights a boss at to end the mission (sometimes something as simple as a normal enemy or as hard as a replica of a boss from the game) to gain items such as accessories or materia.

Fans will be shocked to know that Square’s toughest villain has competition with an optional boss in mission mode called Minerva. Almost completed maxed out on her status, Minerva is sure to put up a fight for even the most hardcore gamer but even if you’re not be prepared for a twenty to thirty minute battle.

Even though Crisis Core is a prequel, its storyline is written so that even if you haven’t played Final Fantasy 7 you’ll understand the game. In addition, at its current price of $39.99, Crisis Core is a must for anyone looking for a great PSP game. It’s your average Final Fantasy game fused with mako, awesome cut scenes, and a well-constructed plot hole cover.