Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion feels like Remake’s B-sides collection

digitaltrends.com:

Final Fantasy VII Remake plays like a perfect album. Each chapter is its own catchy song complete with memorable hooks that I can still recall with clarity two years later — moments like the musical Honeybee Inn sequence, my encounter with Hell House, or the climactic final battle with destiny. But every good record has its B-side: the sometimes less polished song that didn’t make the cut, for better or worse.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion is Remake’s B-side collection.

When I went into my 25-minute demo of the upcoming remake, I was expecting something pretty close to Final Fantasy VII Remake’s over-the-top symphony. I figured it would map that game’s assets onto the PSP title while modernizing its combat to bring it a little more in line with where the series is currently. While it does all that, it’s a bit more modest than I expected. While it does feel less grand and polished, it still looks to deliver those deep-cut moments that make both a video game spinoff and a B-sides album a fun experience for fans who just want more of the art they love.

Though Crisis Core is a visual upgrade over the original 2007 release, its PSP DNA is pretty clear. It feels like a portable game, with pacing that’s more digestible in bite-sized chunks and cinematics that are less high-budget. During my 25 minutes, I’d trek through a linear level, fight a few battles, and meet a few NPCs via minimally animated introductions. That would all culminate in a boss battle against Ifrit in a small arena.

Like Final Fantasy VII Remake, Crisis Core is an action RPG featuring real-time battles. Zack takes center stage here and his fighting style isn’t too far off from Cloud’s. I could press the square button to perform a slash with his