Everything I could have hoped for and more.
This is it. The game I bought my PSP for, and I was not left wanting. The game delivered on every level.
The graphics are astounding, the character models are admirably emotive and detailed, and not once have I experienced any sort of slow-down for any reason. Excellent artistic design and wonderful technical proficiency truly shine here.
The music is excellent, as one would expect from a Final Fantasy title. Though I found certain tunes more likable than others, overall I was very pleased, as the melody (or lack of it) most always excellently compliments whatever is happening in-game. I even liked the voice acting, which, for me, is a truly rare thing.
The gameplay is probably the biggest surprise. Opting for a rapid turn-based system with one character instead of the typical Final Fantasy team set-up, the game might throw you for a loop at first, I was skeptical, to be honest, but I grew to like the battle engine. It's simple, quick and easy to use. The leveling system is unusual as well, but the Digital Mind Wave adds a fun layer of unpredictability to character growth.
If I had to name a drawback for the game, it would be the limited exploration one does. As Zack, you are often confined by fairly narrow passageways and there isn't really ever an option to go out in the world and explore, but I guess that's all a part of being SOLDIER.
For a Final Fantasy (sort of) game, it's rather short, but the New Game+ feature lets you return with your stats and materia to the beginning of the game and play through again, maybe on Hard mode if you feel up to the challenge, so it has some replayability going for it, as long as you don't tire of the same scenes and plot being replayed with no alteration.
The plot... ahh, the plot. I can honestly tell you this, I have never ever gotten as emotionally attached to the characters as much as in this game, and there were a number of times when I held my breath or had to hold back from shedding a tear, while riding on the train to or fro university. One really does come to care for Zack, the people he works and interacts with, even the fearsome Sephiroth.
[SPOILER] When seeing the story up to the Nibelheim incident, I started growing reluctant. Not only had I discovered a friendship for Sephiroth (I was already a long-time fan of his ultimate bad-assitude), which made his snapping a truly tragic event, but I found myself intentionally slowing when it came to the end of the game, because I really fretted Zack's death. It's the oddest sensation ever, honest.[/SPOILER]
It might be confusing for people who aren't familiar with Final Fantasy 7 already (heck, might be confusing for those who are), but I think that, besides all of the philosophical ideas for whoever is interested in that, the game presents at its core a very simple, truthful and powerful story of a man who dares to embrace his dreams and lives to make the world a better place.
But maybe that's just me.
I hope my first review wasn't a flaming failure. Thanks :P