Final Fantasy VII is essentially one of, if not the most, spoken of RPG of all time, and has spawned spin-offs, movies, countless debates and conversations. There was even another game, Dirge of Cerberus, which attempted to expand the story, but it was far too simplistic and different than what most fans had expected. So now, after eleven years and subsequent releases, Final Fantasy diehards have a game far beyond anyone's expectations. Crisis Core ends up becoming what one might consider a prototype game from SquareEnix, with some completely new features and ideas that might have normally been left out of a traditional Final Fantasy game. Yet because of these things, and one of the best stories in an RPG in years, Crisis Core stands both above and apart from other RPG's on the market and up to Final Fantasy VII itself.

Final Fantasy VII is probably best known for having one of the most immersive and engaging stories ever featured in an RPG. Each character had a reason to exist and nothing felt out of place or strange. With such a rich cast of characters, it may seem strange that none of them is the main character of Crisis Core, at least until the game gets underway. Zack, featured in a flashback in VII, takes the lead and may stand as one of the best protagonists of the entire Final Fantasy series, possibly past Cloud himself. Zack is a character unlike any seen in a Fantasy game before. He's dynamic: his maturity and character grows as the game moves forward, as do all the game's characters. The story can not be discussed without giving away far too much, so suffice to say it's one of the most intricately woven, expertly crafted, and beautiful story-driven games to ever be released. From its opening to the dramatic and incredible, if not heart wrenching, close, this is what video gaming and interactive media is about, at least from a storytelling perspective.

The action-based combat has a definite Final Fantasy feel.

The biggest departure from previous installments or the original game itself lies in an entirely different battle system. As opposed to VII, Crisis Core is an action RPG and although materia, limit breaks, and many other conventions remain, the gameplay could not be further from Final Fantasy VII's turn-based combat. This may easily draw the ire of diehard fans of the original game, but does not mean they should ignore Crisis Core simply for that reason. Battles are randomized, and once they start, players have a set amount of space to move around in. From there, a character must simply face an enemy and press X for an attack to begin. There is some time in between attacks for items or spells to be cast, and this can be done instantly using the shoulder buttons.

The first half of the game is fairly easy as a result, with the X button being the only thing really necessary to defeat most enemies and even some bosses. Players have additional options, in that they can also block against or evade attacks, but both use action points. Action points are an essential part of the experience, as they control nearly every combat action. Therefore, each point must be used wisely, especially as the game progresses. There are also magic points, and in conjunction with equipped materia, players can use these to perform any number of magical spells and attacks. Materia is limited though, and must be chosen wisely before battle. Players can also fuse materia's to make more powerful attacks. However, the simplicity of the early goings coupled with the sheer amount of money and potions to be found removes much need for a lot of fusing until far later into the game. Yet, no matter what, there is one feature that completely alters the way Crisis Core is played: the Digital Mind Wave or DMW.

Essentially, the DMW is a slot machine players use to level up, perform limit breaks, and other functions. There are six slots, with three filled with character portraits and the rest with numbers. As players defeat enemies, they earn soldier points, generates a running counter in the upper left corner of the screen. When the outside boxes consist of player portraits, a separate slot machine game appears. From here, if you match all of the portrait slots, a limit break is unfurled. If digits or another combination lines up, players can raise their levels, or the strength of the materia. For control freaks, this can be a difficult and somewhat annoying idea, because quite simply, players lose control of performing their actual limit breaks. Additionally, it's not impossible to go quite some time without leveling only to suddenly level four or five levels in a row. No matter what, it's a gutsy and very different style of play that is both fun and interesting. Although there are some negatives to it, for a Final Fantasy game to take a chance like this is surprising; for it to successfully work is even more so.

The biggest complaint with Crisis Core, past the DMW system, is probably its length. Clocking in at about twenty hours, it's far shorter than other entries in the franchise. There are additional side missions that can add a few hours, but no matter what, the game is somewhat on the short side. Yet, the experience strikes the perfect cord, truly ending when it should and not overstaying its welcome.

The presentational aspects of Crisis Core are top notch.

Visually, this game is stunning for the PSP hardware. After years of being told what the PSP can do, it's refreshing to begin seeing not only technically sound games but great looking ones. The story is told through both FMV cutscenes and the in-game engine, with each looking tremendous in their own right. The fact that even after all these years SquareEnix can still pump out some of the best looking visuals around is something players have come to expect at this point. Crisis Core's graphics are above and beyond any competition to be found on a handheld, or even on some consoles. There's so much variety and subtle beauty to the entire package that it easily makes you forget about the typical technical limitations of the PSP handheld.

The soundtrack remains breathtaking throughout, as even the battle-tested standards of the series get fresh and innovative updates. This is a franchise known for epic scores that truly drive players through the game, and Crisis Core is no exception. It features softly woven undercurrents perfectly throughout, while battles feature much more dynamic music than one may expect from a Final Fantasy game. What might stand as the most surprising feat is the incredible voice work. Although the surprisingly deep writing makes saying the lines easier, the sheer quality of the voice actors is exquisite. There are no strange mistranslations or poorly stated lines; each moment, much like the cutscenes they are attached to, fits perfectly.

Crisis Core stops being a simple Final Fantasy spin-off immediately and may stand as one of the best releases for the series on a handheld. Although somewhat short in comparison to other RPGs on the market, the game's length is perfectly timed to tell the amazing story Crisis Core represents. The flaws that exist are minimal, and the only reason they are noticeable is because of how incredible so many other aspects of the game tend to be. Crisis Core is what every Final Fantasy VII fan has been clamoring for, but most importantly, what any fan of great RPG's should be interested in. From opening to close, every note in this game plays well, and anyone that owns a PSP, even if not a fan of RPGs or Final Fantasy, should give Crisis Core a chance.