Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion connects original to FFVII Remake trilogy

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion connects original to FFVII Remake trilogy
PHOTO: Geek Culture

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion is set to be a welcome return for fans of the original PlayStation Portable classic, with Square Enix bringing an updated, polished touch to familiar elements.

Described as a HD remaster, and not a reboot, the game will introduce some changes to the Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII formula, including full voiceover scenes, new background music arrangements, and improved camera and character movements.

But what of the main story? The upcoming title is positioned as a side story to Final Fantasy VII Remake, yet there's one glaring issue: Remake presented an alternative interpretation of Zack Fair's fate in the 1997 game.

This surprise ending throws a wrench into Reunion's classification as a remaster, because the overarching narrative, which caps off Zack's story differently, will be the same as that of Crisis Core.

According to creative director and character designer Tetsuya Nomura, however, the game will weave the narrative threads nicely together and address the gap in continuity.

"How the remake trilogy connects to the fate of the original story was the core of this project, so please look forward to it," he shared with Geek Culture over email, adding that it's something that the team would like players "to discover for themselves".

"[The game] is intended to allow more people to get to know the main character, Zack, to further emphasise this core element," said Nomura.

Unlike the mainline Final Fantasy VII, the prequel setting of Crisis Core puts Zack, previous wielder of the Buster Sword before Cloud, in the protagonist role as a happy-go-lucky Shinra Soldier who dreams of making First Class.

It also offers further context about the Shinra Electric Power Company, Sephiroth, Aerith, and the Buster Sword that would later spark the chain of events that unfolded in Final Fantasy VII.

Suffice to say, there won't be any additional elements in Reunion, but one of the more prominent upgrades that fans can expect is the new menu-based battle system.

Alongside the familiar slot machine-like DMW system, it will also boast several UI improvements that are modelled after Remake. The change, Nomura highlighted, is intentional.

"As this title is being released between FFVII Remake and FFVII Rebirth, which is currently planned for release next winter, we have striven to match the style of these games so that it, too, can be enjoyed as part of the collective remake project."

Hopefully, the fusion of both old and new elements will strike a balance between being a welcome homecoming for long-time fans and an appealing prospect for newcomers.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion is launching on Dec 13, with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the second entry in the FFVII Remake trilogy, slated for release in Winter 2023.

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This article was first published in Geek Culture.

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