Crisis Core: FF7

Anyone else getting Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII next week? Or have the Japanese version? I'm a fan of FF7, so it's a must have for me. It will be released in North America on Tuesday, the 25th.

Depending on where you pre-order, you can get a special item. GameStop/EBGames, Game Crazy and Amazon are providing a Shinra UMD case with preorders (limited quantities, looks like Amazon is already sold out). Best Buy is selling preorders with the limited edition foil cover (similar to the Japanese limited edition).

The European release is expected in June and they get a special edition package with their preorders. The preorder package comes in a special slipcase with a hardcover artbook. [Amazon.co.uk]

I don't know if I can wait for the European release though XD
I could have bought the Japanese version when it came out but I wouldn't understand the dialogue, which is important in an RPG.

I'm European (French btw) so i didn't have this game yet (and psp). But maybe i will buy it when this came in france

Nice Avi btw... ;)

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I have preordered Crisis Core, hopefully it's not as much of a disappointment as God of War: Chains of Olympus was. Not that GoW wasn't a good game (it was), but a four-hour game with little practical replay value for $40? Pass...

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Quote: PanStyle
I'm European (French btw) so i didn't have this game yet (and psp). But maybe i will buy it when this came in france Nice Avi btw... ;)

You have a nice avatar too
I didn't have enough money to preorder a copy when I went to GameStop last week I had to buy a gift for a relative. I'll see if they still accept preorders on Monday, just to see if I can get the UMD case. Where did you preorder your copy, killer_roach?

I preordered from GameStop, although I haven't gotten a UMD case. Granted, that GameStop is pretty bad about that stuff at times, and they'll probably give it to me with the game (only reason I got the bonus Patapon demo prior to that game's launch was I happened to be in there earlier in the week).

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I hate to be the bad guy, but I think the game will fail. It's just using the FF7 name for sales, just like Dirge of Cerberus did.

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I concur with Pandemonium.

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I Just want the strategy guide...thats the big draw for me...considering I don't have a PSP and the game will most likely be cheap when I decide to get one.

Quote: Pandemonium X
I hate to be the bad guy, but I think the game will fail. It's just using the FF7 name for sales, just like Dirge of Cerberus did.

That.

Since Advent Children, I've had nothing but hatred for Cloud and Sephiroth while Dirge of Cerberus killed Vincent in my eyes. Not sure what this game will do

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It's gotten pretty good reviews, although one that I read said it's not a particularly skill-intensive game. No worries, that's what I have Patapon and Valkyrie Profile Lenneth for, methinks

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I think Dirge of Cerberus got good reviews as well before it came out. We have fell for this FF7 trick before, why fall for it again?

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Quote: FELMDemon
Quote: Pandemonium X I hate to be the bad guy, but I think the game will fail. It's just using the FF7 name for sales, just like Dirge of Cerberus did. That. Since Advent Children, I've had nothing but hatred for Cloud and Sephiroth while Dirge of Cerberus killed Vincent in my eyes. Not sure what this game will do

i mean i know its your opinion and your entitled to it but why would you hate cloud and seph. that is like the most awesome fight ever and seph is just the man.

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Pandemonium X: You also realize that it has been out in Japan almost forever now, right?

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I don't think I can hate those two without offending the FF7 fans.

I will say this:

Quote: Someone
And lo, for Spike-Headed Cloud did then reach for his holy Instrument, the Nail Bat, and thus did he Smote his foes into Submission, and from each divine Thrust did he rend their Flesh most Cruelly and Malevolently.

(Not why I hate him but I LOL'ed for a good 10 minutes. XD)

Seph is "the man", especially when a 15 year old boy with an unhealthy obsession with his best friend crushes him and his ridiculously long sword with a Candy cane he picked up from Christmas Town...

At lv 33 with a pair of elixirs and Hi-potions.

Sure I dislike said boy more than Cloud and Seph and he isn't in FF7 but doing this makes me feel better.

Anyway, don't mind me. One of the (minor) reasons why I dislike them is because I see nothing "awesome" or "cool" about them while millions of people swoon over them like they were the best thing since sliced bread.

Their fight, I admit, was pretty thrilling.

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Not THAT long, like a few months.

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Long enough for a huge review trail to follow ahead of it, including several American gaming sites that have taken a look at the Japanese version of the game...

(Was too lazy to go over to GameStop to pick up my copy today, will do that tomorrow)

About four hours into the game now...

Combat is relatively simple, very similar to the Tales games, to be honest, although somewhat reliant on luck. The ability system, while confusing at first, is pretty slick once you get the hang of it.

Dear God, there's a lot of cutscenes. I mean, a lot of cutscenes, some of them being quite long. Definitely not a "quick pick up and play" sort of title... you won't be doing much combat the first hour or so.

Storyline is engaging, and plentiful (as the cutscenes would indicate), and there are literally scores of side missions. Plenty of things to do if one were to go that route (which, obviously, I am).

Not 100% sure it's worth running out and getting immediately, but definitely look out for it.

(Yes, I did get the UMD case when I redeemed my pre-order)

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I got sick on Sunday night and wasn't able to pre-order the game on Monday. I did buy the game when it was released on Tuesday and have enjoyed the 9 hours I've played so far.

killer_roach pretty much covered all the important aspects of the game but I'll elaborate a bit.

Most of the cutscenes are long and can't be skipped but I like the fact that you can pause the game at anytime, even during a cutscene. So if you have to stop playing for some reason, you can just press Start and come back later. The cutscenes look great and do a good job of conveying the game's story.

The side missions are usually short and can be done in about 5 minutes (or less). So if you don't have much time to play, you can just breeze through one of them. They're also good for leveling up Zack and his abilities (materia/summons).

The graphics and music are really nice as well. The graphics do a good job of pushing the PSP's graphics capabilities and the pre-rendered cutscenes look really nice (similar to Advent Children). The soundtrack is comprised of remixed music from Final Fantasy VII and Before Crisis.

The only thing I don't like so far is the wonky gameplay camera. Sometimes (rarely) it doesn't give the right viewing angle.

For the most part, it's worth buying. Final Fantasy VII fans will enjoy learning more about the backstory of the original game. Like other games though, it's not for everyone. I'm sure most people will like it but there's always someone who won't. Just depends on your tastes in video games.

Yeah, the camera is an issue... the L/R buttons help a bit, but it's not a full 360 degree camera control like, say, Tales of the World is (which is probably the closest comparison I can think of for Crisis Core).

Materia Fusion is vital to later success in the game... was able to get the "-aga" spells rather quickly, and allowed me to breeze through a lot of the missions (to the point where the main storyline is pretty easy anymore). The missions do also allow you to get access to some rather impressive materia as well, like the Hell elemental spells (Hell Thundaga is great crowd control, hehe).

One gripe... some of the later side missions heavily involve creatures that have spells/abilities that can impart Death, which just isn't fun at all. (No way to prevent it as of yet... haven't been able to find a Materia Fusion that creates Death so I can combine it with Status Ward)

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I heard this game was crap. Oh yeah, from the original FF7, that game was crap.

Btw, I played it, it was bad.

Quote: AnChanXD
I heard this game was crap. Oh yeah, from the original FF7, that game was crap. Btw, I played it, it was bad.

FF7 is easy one of the most over rated games ever. It's still good but it's not THAT good. I think FF9 is the best on the PS1. I've never played any Final Fantasy on PS2.

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