Recently, Square Enix released their mindblowing CRISIS CORE –FINAL FANTASY VII– REUNION trailer. And similarly to other Square Enix franchises, this title is a remaster that brings forth several significant changes.
It’s based on Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, an action RPG initially released on September 13, 2007, for the PlayStation Portable. The story revolves around Zack Fair and his ordeals seven years before Final Fantasy VII.
Zack’s a 1st class SOLDIER that works under Director Lazard, the son of the president of the dubious organization — the Shinra Corporation. His position and circumstances cause him to befriend alliances with characters such as Cloud Strife, Sephiroth, the Turks, and even Aerith Gainsborough. With Aerith, it’s more than just a friendship, as Zack’s her first love interest.
But things go downhill fast after Zack, Cloud, and Sephiroth head to Nibelheim to examine a Mako reactor. Here, they encounter Genesis, and Sephiroth discovers that he’s actually an experiment implanted with Jenova’s cells. Overcome by this revelation, Sephiroth sets Nibelheim ablaze, and Shinra covers up the incident. Subsequently, Shinra hunt down both Zack and Cloud — and Cloud in particular since he has Sephiroth’s genes.
Things come to a head when they reach Midgar, as Zack and Cloud fight for their lives and the planet. Will they succeed, or will it result in a tragic end? Many fans may already know the answer, but those new to the series may want to check out the upcoming HD remaster.
CRISIS CORE –FINAL FANTASY VII– REUNION will hit the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S, and PC (via Steam) on December 13, 2022.
Why is CRISIS CORE –FINAL FANTASY VII– REUNION more than a remaster?
Square Enix claims that the upcoming Crisis Core is no mere remaster — but a whole lot more! So, what can fans expect that will make this latest entry worth the investment? Here’s a brief rundown of all the notable changes:
- Drastic visual improvements boasting more detailed and expressive character models and natural-looking environments
- A faster and more fluid battle system that remains fun
- A reworked DMW (Digital Mind Wave) that allows battles to move faster, and users can skip cutscenes triggered by DMW
- Enhanced summons are more dramatic and impressive than before
- Better enemy manageability that signals when bosses will unleash devastating attacks
- Full voice acting throughout the game in English and Japanese
- Newly arranged soundtrack composed by Takeharu Ishimoto
Should existing fans bother with this entry?
The improvements that will make their way to the latest Crisis Core remaster more than justify its existence. Finally, those that played the game on the PlayStation Portable can soon play it on the big screen and on more powerful hardware.
The visual improvements are more than apparent from what we’ve seen in the trailer. And if Square Enix can present a gripping story and phenomenal characters in a fresh way, then that’s an added bonus. Here’s hoping that the final product will meet and surpass expectations. Stay tuned!