FFVII changed the way RPGs are played on consoles, and like the game before, Crisis Core will do the same to handhelds.
Crisis Core features something nearly all PSP games don't, gorgeous visuals that you might see on a high production PS2 and maybe even a PS3 launch title. The CGI is stunning, and the real-time graphics are stunning for a PSP title.
The story of Crisis Core is the true highlight of the game. Everyone who has played Final Fantasy VII knows what will eventually happen to Zack at the end of the game but the story is put together so well, that you begin to doubt yourself and hope that their is a small glimmer of hope that Zack eventually pulls through at the end.
Besides the story, another staple from the Final Fantasy series is the music. Despite Nobuo Uematsu not composing for the game, the soundtrack is far above average. The remixed track of former songs like "Those who Fight" and "Those who Fight Further" are easy to recognize and pretty catchy. If the soundtrack only had remixed tracks it would be a letdown, but the original tracks are the true highlight. Get ready to be wowed when you hear the songs during the major boss fights. And you will feel warm-hearted when you hear the fight music for the VERY last battle, not the final battle.
Terrific voice work brings these characters to life, and you truly start to love them. Zack is a more likable character then Cloud, and other characters like Reeve also take centre stage with brilliant performances. Hardcore FFVII fans (like me) know what happens to Zack at the end, but you come to like him so much that you begin to doubt if that will happen.
A review can't be completed without some negatives, the unskippable cutscenes can be very annoying if you die and have to watch them all over again. A second negative is directed towards the player, just because you completed Final Fantasy VII, leveled Cloud to 100 and managed to aquire the Knights of the Round summon, dont consider yourself and expert and try to play this through on hard mode your first time through because the hard mode in Crisis Core is actually, REALLY HARD! You might find yourself dying over and over again on the hard bosses like Genesis and Sephiroth.
The game does offer some replay value, there is a new game+ mode once you finish, and you can do extra side missions to finish the game 100%. Doing these missions can be time consuming and rewarding, as you can unlock new DMW summons, and DMW special slots, but besides that there really isnt anything rewarding until you get into the really hard missions, which could take a while. Early on the missions only offer useless materia and items that you can buy or get during the main story.
Overall, the positives completely dominate the negatives and Crisis Core is a game you absolutely must play if you have a PSP, even if you aren't a fan of the Final Fantasy series because after you play this, there is a good chance you will become one.
Story: 10
Graphics: 10
Gameplay: 9.5
Sound: 10
Replay Value: 8.5
Overall: 9.5