Crisis Core Final Fantasy 7 Reunion: The More Than One Remaster We Need

What’s more exciting? Using an active combat system to thrash a towering opponent, or maybe keep an eye on the lottery system that is being played out at the same time in the top left corner and hope for a main prize in the form of a fat attack? The answer: both! As part of my trip to London, at the invitation of Square Enix for the Square Enix Plays 2022 event, I had the chance to spend a while with the Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- Reunion gameplay demo and absolutely loved it . Because the remaster of the action role-playing game from 2008, which was then released exclusively for the Playstation Portable, is exactly what the developers say about it: more than just a remaster.

The Look: Awesome!

First things first: Zack Fair still looks like Zack Fair, of course. The jagged look of the hero of the prequel to Final Fantasy 7 is just as successful as the reinterpretations of the locations. Not that Crisis Core ever looked bad. But the game was developed for the limited graphic capacities of its time and a handheld console. Accordingly, the makers of Reunion can now, around 14 years later, draw from the full, because after all, Reunion appears for all common platforms.

Especially since it’s actually the same team that made the original (minus Hajime Tabata maybe). But that also means that in the course of the game you move from one happening to the next; walk a few steps and the next cutscene will unwind. At least that was the case in the Fort Tamblin gameplay demo, and not dissimilar to the original. In that light, it might feel restrictive for modern gamers. But that’s how it was in the original game; you may like it or you may not. At least you are forewarned.

Anyone familiar with Crisis Core knows what will happen in the next moment. Warning, Final Fantasy humor alert!

Source: Square Enix

The lottery: more freedom

As is now common in a Final Fantasy title, you fight in real time and can freely decide at any time whether you want to use fast or heavy attacks, whether you want to escape an attack with a dodge roll or whether you want to block the opponent’s blow. who that Battle system of Final Fantasy 7 Remake has internalized, can handle it just as quickly as a newcomer. If the life points fall into the red area, a healing potion can be thrown in quickly and if you want to exploit the opponent’s elemental weaknesses, then spend MP to unleash magical spells with Materia. For example, Cura is your usual friend when you take a big hit (a healing spell, surprise!). Alternatively, you heat up your enemies with elemental attacks.

What significantly differentiates the combat system from that of Final Fantasy 7 Remake is the Digital Mind Wave (DMW), which most gamers refer to as a slot machine or lottery. In the original, this automaton at the top left of the screen ran automatically during a fight; portraits of characters rattled through the slot machine. Small gains are then of a nature like this: For a certain time you don’t use any MP for the use of Materia, your attributes are increased, your regeneration rushes through the ceiling or something similar. If a “grand prize” was imminent, e.g. twice the portrait of Sephiroth or two agreed digits, then the fighting stopped and the slot machine took up the whole screen to celebrate the possible upcoming win. On the one hand, that’s cool. But on the other hand, it disturbs the flow of combat.

Now, in Reunion, all these things happen on the side. Assuming the slot machine rotates to a triple Sephiroth win, a smaller graphic will indicate that you can use an action button to trigger Sephiroth’s Octoslash attack. But you don’t have to do this immediately, you can also cancel the attack. Among other things… for breaking powerful attacks of opponents.

Pummel an opponent when you see the pink bar and don’t want to be knocked out by an inevitable attack.

Source: Square Enix

It’s all about timing

Charged, quite deadly enemy skills are no longer unavoidable in Reunion, but can be interrupted by you if you deal enough damage to the enemy in a small window of time. And if the damage is not enough, then at least weaken the attack. This is a welcome (and for Heavy Potion users, very nice) relief in combat.

You can recognize the charging of such a potentially deadly ability by the conspicuously pink and large ability power bar. In the best-case scenario, then storm towards the opponent, thrash him, launch both saved slot attacks and materia attacks in order to achieve a break or at least turn a massive blow into just a gentle caress. If you don’t act, there’s a good chance you’ll be rammed into the ground unsharpened. Believe me, I’m speaking from experience – because I didn’t understand the Ability Power story at first. However, if you start the game with tutorial help, unlike me, then you should quickly understand that.

Cool guys don’t look at explosions – Zack still has to learn about that.

Source: Square Enix

Unbeaten: The cheesy humor

A Final Fantasy also includes a load of cringe worthy humor. Sorry, that’s the way it is; take it or leave it. And anyone who knows Crisis Core in the original will remember many scenes in Reunion, because – as far as I can currently estimate – they were taken over 1 to 1. Incidentally, this also applies to the outrageous and completely exaggerated super attacks via the DMV. All you can do is smirk at Angeal’s Rush Assault, which has been drawn three times in the lottery. Because Zack is then shown in an (admittedly rather unexcitingly textured) environment performing his mega box attack…ending with an over-the-top explosion for the gods.