Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII

The original Final Fantasy VII was one of the primary reasons why I purchased a PlayStation back in 1999 — I'd been introduced to console RPGs a year prior with Chrono Trigger on the SNES and couldn't wait to see what 32 bits and multimedia brought to the table. As you might imagine, I wasn't at all disappointed by Cloud and company.
However, the FFVII spin-offs which have been trickling out over the last year in celebration of the original's tenth anniversary have been, at best, mediocre. Though gamers had the highest of hopes for the recent PSP release, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, most weren't holding their breath.
Half action, half RPG, all Final
Fantasy.It's hard to put a label on Crisis Core's gameplay — although (graciously) not an attempt at action like last year's Dirge of Cerberus, this title's near real-time combat makes it difficult to label it a traditional role-playing game either. Players take control of Zack Fair as he rises through the ranks, beginning as a mere Soldier Second Class and eventually becoming a "hero." Although Crisis Core won't be remembered as one of the greats in the Final Fantasy franchise, it does introduce some interesting new play mechanics and features a structure that's perfect for portable play.
Much like the game on which it's based, customization in Crisis Core arrives in the form of Materia. These crystal baubles come in every color under the rainbow, and possession grants their holder everything from access to spells and abilities to stat increases. As Zack levels up with experience, so to do the Materia he carries. There's no set formula for equipping your character, and the options are numerous indeed — specializing can be powerful, but a lot can also be said for a balance of abilities. Certain enemies are more susceptible to physical attacks, whereas others are highly vulnerable to a particular magical element. Only through trial and error will one discover these weaknesses — don't be afraid to experiment with a variety of different Materia.