Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII

[Snipe[LAN]]

I just re-read my post in the general forum under my "games you're playing a lot lately" thread, and realized that this should have been put here as a thread on its own.  Sorry, I got a little too excited about Crisis Core!
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I was playing GTA IV, but since spring semester let out, I've picked up Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, and I'm totally absorbed in it.  I haven't played a Final Fantasy game since IX, and it's very refreshing to play a game that reminds me a lot of FF7 and FF8.  I'd almost forgotten how much I am a huge RPG fan!  I used to say that I couldn't play them anymore because of the time investment, and the bordome with the hack/slash/explore/micro-manage formula, but I have to admit that even after all these years it still works well in a game.

   I know a lot of people are saying the gameplay is mediocre unless you're a fan of FF7, but I will go ahead and say that although not perfect, I highly admire the more free-flowing combat.  Aside from the Digital Mind Wave (not sure what to make of that just yet), it's a fun way to slash down the badguys.  I don't think anyone actually joins your party to fight with you, which is probably the biggest bummer in the game, but controlling Zack is enough work alone.  One thing that's less of a bummer is the lack of a world map to explore.  In these kinds of games, the world map can be tedious, but using the MGS: Portable Ops method of restricting your movements to tightly defined zones takes a bit away from the sense of being on the world from FF7.  I know it was most likely due to technical restraints, but it still would have been cool to be able to walk on the same continents, and town maps from the original.  However...

   Coming from someone who was about to enter high school when the 32-bit era was born, and playing FF7 and FF8 when they were new games, I have to say that it is a highly nostalgic experience.   It's very cool to see the Shinra building looking pretty much like it did in FF7, and meeting all the characters you now have a memory of that goes back to 1997!

All I'm saying is that if you're a Final Fantasy VII fan, definitely you should be playing this now if you haven't.  Now, somebody start a petition with Sony to get their shit together and do a slightly enhanced PSP port of FF7, and a full remake on PS3!  If they were to do that, I would go out right now, and slap my Best Buy card on the counter for a PS3!

[Cthulhu]

Ah,Crisis Core,that's the first great RpG for PSP(not ported).
Since playing CC,i didn't know the story of FF 7,but now,after having finished CC,i've purchased on eBay Final Fantasy 7...playing it on PSP,lol!

[Snipe[LAN]]

FF7 feels like an enhanced FF6 game engine with an enhanced 2D/3D graphics engine fleshing it out.  It plays great, even today.  My minor personal gripes today are the now extremely low poly-count character models on the main game field, lack of any voiceovers, and rarity of being able to play the game on its intended hardware.  I'm still hoping for a re-make someday on some system.  The music, the characters, and the story made that game what it is today.  To see it reborn in HD would be a dream come true.

[Boone]

Square-Enix are really seeing to their FF7 fans but I really want a follow up game to FF8 with a sound track by the Black Mages.  I must say that FF7:CC is will well priced here in the UK at £20 and with Dissidea(Squal vrs Ultimecia and Griever!) on the horizen I might just snap up a PSP...

Just unsure how the PSP operates batterywise - the DS has its own internal rechargeable battery but if the PSP requires a shitload of AAs then I'll have to pass...

[Snipe[LAN]]

Square-Enix are really seeing to their FF7 fans but I really want a follow up game to FF8 with a sound track by the Black Mages.  I must say that FF7:CC is will well priced here in the UK at £20 and with Dissidea(Squal vrs Ultimecia and Griever!) on the horizen I might just snap up a PSP...

Just unsure how the PSP operates batterywise - the DS has its own internal rechargeable battery but if the PSP requires a shitload of AAs then I'll have to pass...

The PSP has a lithium-ion rechargeable, which for the older models (which I have one) lasts a pretty good amount of time (~4-6 hours continuous).  FF8 had enough closure that I don't think it needs a follow-up or even a prequel, really.  Also, the graphics were (in my opinion) good enough to not warrant a remake ... yet.

Now, one other thing that Square-Enix needs to address is Chrono Trigger.  A remake would be dangerous to attempt, but almost certainly welcomed and profitable.  As with FF7, just leave the story and gameplay elements roughly unchanged, and bring the audio/visual experience up to date.  The music score, however, can remain untouched.

[Cthulhu]

they're making Chrono Trigger for DS....
....with no differences.
They could keep it...
A time someone was doing a remake of Chrono Trigger(in 3d,with a recent graphic)but SE stopped them with their lawyers

[Snipe[LAN]]

The problem with most big game companies is that they aren't run by real gamers.  They're run by business people.  To a lot of extent, you need business management to keep a company afloat and profitable, but so many obvious opportunities are missed by not paying enough attention to the gamers.  We are the market after all.

[Rizimar]

The problem with most big game companies is that they aren't run by real gamers.  They're run by business people.  To a lot of extent, you need business management to keep a company afloat and profitable, but so many obvious opportunities are missed by not paying enough attention to the gamers.  We are the market after all.

They must be doing something right if they're big companies

[Snipe[LAN]]

True, but whether it's a million dollar game company or a 500 million dollar game company, the performance can be relative.  There are plenty of examples of small fish eating the big fish because the big fish was focused on quantity, safe bets and maintaining its huge budget while the small fish focused on quality, innovation and growth. 

[Rizimar]

Got any specific examples?

[Snipe[LAN]]

Got any specific examples?

By eating the big fish, I don't mean buying them or putting them out of business.  I mean cutting significantly into the market kind of like Worldcom did when it was aquiring all those telecoms companies like MCI.  It almost grew bigger than AT&T at the time!

Nobody saw id coming did they?  What about Valve? Little guys not being taken seriously is how they sneak into the industry and rake in huge profit margins, where big companies throw the same games out again and again.  You're right, they're making serious money.  I'm just saying as far as the game industry goes, it looks like the people who start out by making games they think would be a cool idea or that people would want to play usually end up bringing out some of the best stuff.  SquareEnix is a great company, but I think they are waiting around too long to produce some obvious hits.  I do like that they started remaking and re-releasing FF games.  Just waiting for something to be done with Chrono Trigger while it's still fresh in the minds of us old-school gamers (Yes, I know there is an even older school of gamers. I did have an Atari 2600/Apple II/Commodore VIC20 and 64...)

[Rizimar]

Ah, I misunderstood what you were saying earlier.

Commenting on the example of id Software, there really wasn't much of a gaming industry when they emerged.

But you're right. There really ought to be more bigger games being designed by developers who know what makes a good game (Warren Spector, where are you?)

[Snipe[LAN]]

Spore was supposed to be awesome ... Well, I've been playing a bit of Spore, and I'm not all that impressed yet to be honest.  Part of the reason is my school/work schedule + girlfriend which doesn't afford much time to sit around playing video games anymore, but for the amount of time I have played, it's been pretty dry.  I am planning to pick up Lost Odyssey because I'm back in my RPG craving mood.  Hope I'll have time to finish it.  I MADE time for Crisis Core.  It was that good, and that easy to get into and out of.