Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is a video game that consists of 4 releases

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A prequel to fan favorite Final Fantasy VII story focusing on Zack Fair and his adventures as a member of SOLDIER in Shinra Corporation.

Crisis Core is the prequel to the original Square-developed PlayStation title, Final Fantasy VII. Players fill the role of Zack Fair, a member of SHINRA Corporation's SOLDIER military detachment. Throughout the course of the game players meet many of the original Final Fantasy VII characters including Cloud, Aeris, Sephiroth, Tifa, Yuffie, Cait, and others, and travels throughout the back story of Final Fantasy VII, from the war with the Wutai, to the events at Nibelheim village, ending at a point just before Final Fantasy VII begins. Crisis Core is an action-oriented role-playing game, making use of both real-time hack-and-slash combat combined with a battle-driven system of slot machine-style reels in the top left corner of the screen. As the player engages in combat, these reels will snap into place, with a picture of a random character. If all three wheels arrive on the same character portrait, the player is given a power-up, increasing the damage dealt. When players complete the game, they unlock both a hard mode difficulty and a "New Game Plus" option, allowing for a restart of the game while carrying over character attributes from the previous play.

Story

Characters in Crisis Core

Warning possible Spoilers Below

Set 7 years before Final Fantasy VII, the story follows Zack Fair a SOLDIER 2nd Class whom, under the guidance of his mentor (Angeal Hewley SOLDIER 1st Class) aspires to climb the ranks of the Shinra Electric Power Company Organization SOLDIER.

During a mission in Wutai a large number of SOLDIER agents go missing along with Genesis Rhapsodos (SOLDIER 1st Class). Shinra takes the decision to send in more SOLDIER troops to end the war with Wutai and discover the fate of the missing operatives. Zack, Angeal and Sephiroth (SOLDIER 1st Class) are assigned along with the troops, but when Angeal goes missing in action Sephiroth puts it down to betrayal.

After some investigations Zack is sent with Turk leader Tseng to , home of both Genesis and Angeal. Once in Banora they are attacked by 'Genesis Copies' troops turned into lower copies of Genesis by the scientist Hollander. As Zack explores Banora he discovers the graves of Genesis's parents and Angeal's mother Gillian Hewley, they talk briefly and Zack leaves with no more useful information on the turncoats. After some more exploring Zack returns to Gillian and finds her dead under Angeals shadow, finding it hard to believe that Angeal killed his own mother he leaves; only to be confronted by Genesis, who reveals his one black wing this baffles Zack. Zack is then attacked by Genesis's summon 'Bahamut'. After defeating Bahamut Zack escapes to the Turk helicopter with Tseng; before they take off Zack witnesses the bombardment of Banora and the loss of the rare fruit, the 'Banora White' that only grows there.

Midgar

Zack's performance in the Banora mission (and possibly the loss of two SOLDIER 1st class) gets him promoted to SOLDIER 1st class by Lazard, President of the Shinra Company. Almosti mmediately Genesis launches an attack on Midgar and Shinra headquarters. During Zack's flurry through the battles he rescues the Turk Cissnei who promptly takes a shine to him. Teaming up with Sephiroth, Zack heads towards Sector 5 reactor. Genesis has teamed up with Hollander, the scientist who started 'Project G' (project Gillian - Angeals mother); an early variation of the Jenova Project which created both Angeal and Genesis. Genesis is suffering from degradation and is slowly dying because of his unstable life form and DNA. New monsters are discovered by Zack with Angeal's face, Angeal copies. Zack tries to capture Hollander (after a lengthily cut scene) however just as Hollander is cornered Angeal appears. Angeal reveals his one white wing, and challenges Zack he refuses to fight his mentor and is dropped into the Midgar slums.

Zack and Aerith during a cutscene

Zack falls into the Sector 5 Church onto a bed of yellow flowers cared for by Aerith Gainsborough (pronounced AIR-ITH). This scene is in direct parallel to Cloud's first meeting with Aerith in Final Fantasy VII. Zack being the charmer that he is, convinces Aerith to go on a date with him in the slums. After some light merriment Zack is called 'above the plate' (the plate divides the lower and upper halves of Midgar) after another attack lead by Genesis. Once above Angeal switches sides and helps Zack fight back the Genesis army.

Zacks next mission is in the derelict and deserted town of in the frozen Northern Continent. On his journey with Tseng and two Shinra Army Troops during their flight the Helicopter is shot down one of the troops dies and the rest of their journey is to be completed on foot. During the walk through the snow Zack discovers that the remaining Shinra Army officer is Cloud Strife and they instantly hit it off. Both grew up in the countryside and talk about their young lives. Eventually the three come across a Mako warehouse, in which Genesis has formed a base of operations. With the guidance of Tseng, Zack storms the base. During the exploration, Zack discovers that Hollander has failed to stop the degradation and Genesis wants revenge, so Zack attempts to reuse Hollander. A weak Genesis tries to stop Zack but is defeated and falls into an abyss.

Angeal, Sephiroth and Genesis

During the battle between Zack and Genesis, Hollander escapes Modeoheim. As Zack chases Hollander through an old bath house he meets Angeal again. Hollander tells them both of how Angeal was the success of 'Project G', and obtained the Jenova power of 'two-way genetic transfer', which enables him to pass on or take on genes from or to monsters and people. This causes Angeal to have a revelation and he decides to no longer wants to be a monster. Angeal takes on several different monsters and absorbs them turning him into huge armored form: Angeal Penance. Zack defeats Angeal and before Angeal dies he passes on his 'Buster Sword' and his 'honor'. Hollander has been captured at this point and the mission is a success, three major threats to Shinra have been defeated, the war with the Project G is over.

Zack wields an umbrella

Zack has now taken Angeal's responsibility in SOLDIER, training and giving speeches to the new recruits. Shinra gives Zack a well deserved holiday and sends him to the Cosa del Sol on vacation, he is however being watched over by Cissnei. During a relaxing bathe in the sun, Zack is attacked by Genesis copies, which alerts him to the possibility that Genesis and his army are still at large and at war with Shinra. Having no sword Zack is forced to use a large sun umbrella as a weapon, after defeating the copies Zack is sent to Junon where Genesis and his army are attacking with full force. This is alarming because that is where Hollander is being kept captive. During the attack Hollander escapes and Zack attempts to re-capture him in a chase across the city. But Hollander escapes. After the dust has settled it is revealed that a Mole in Shinra allowed for Hollanders escape: Lazard. Lazard is no where to be found. Sephiroth takes over and President and Director of Shinra until a proper candidate can be put into place.

After some time Sephiroth puts a plan into action, observing that Genesis has been attacking Mako reactors all over the world. Zack is assigned to investigate Nibelheim the home and birthplace of Cloud. Before he sets off Zack goes to see Aerith who is being protected by an Angeal copy and helps her build her flower cart.

In Nibelheim; Sephiroth, Zack and Cloud are lead to the the Mako reactor on Mt Nibel by Tifa Lockheart. There they discover monsters warmed and mutated by over exposure to Mako energy. In the reactor Sephiroth discovers a tank with JENOVA engraved on the outside. Jenova was the name of his mother, inside he finds a female like alien form suspended in liquid. Sephiroth is distressed, unsure of his past and his origins he journeys to the basement of the and reads the files and books of the scientist Dr Gast. Here he reads about Project S and the JENOVA project. This knowledge drives him mad and he goes on a rampage and destroys the town in a burning inferno, killing most of the townspeople.

Sephiroth

Zack chases Sephiroth into the Mako reactor, where Sephiroth tries to 'free' his 'mother' (Jenova). During this struggle he has hurt Tifa. Zack them confronts Sephiroth and they have two big battles but Zack ultimately is defeated. Cloud then arrives enraged by both Zack and Tifa's terrible injuries as well as the death of his mother attacks Sephiroth with an unknown power and defeats him throwing him into the lifestream along with Jenova's head. - Here is where Sephiroth is until the events of Final Fantasy VII. Even though Cloud wins he was terribly wounded and falls.

Professor Hojo, the 'genius' behind Project S takes the bodies of Zack and Cloud and begins a new experiment on them. He plans to create Sephiroth clones to test his Jenova reunion theory. Placed in tanks and fused with Sephiroth cells Zack and Cloud are left floating in tanks for several years. Zack is finally woken by what seems to him to be Angeal, and because of his SOLDIER training and genetic manipulation is resistant to Mako energy. This enables him to escape with the comatose Cloud through the rebuilt Nibelheim and waves of Shinra troops. During their escape Zack changes Cloud into a SOLDIER uniform because his old clothes are so soaked in Mako liquid, this he hopes will help Cloud to get better faster.

Zack

Zack, carrying Cloud makes his way across the world in a motorbike until they come across Genesis and some of his clones. During his cutscene Genesis explains that he needs the S cells with them to stop his degradation. A genesis clone consumes some of Zack's hair and is transformed into a monster, which Zack defeats. Zack them travels to his home town, Gongara to see his family. When he arrives he is confronted by Cissnei who warns him that Shinra are waiting for this obvious move, giving him a head start before she informs her superiors that he has been sighted she mentions that 'Cissnei' is not her real name.

As Zack explores he is attacked by Genesis and Hollander, who has infected himself with G cells in order that he could survive a mortal wound. The Angeal from his dream in the tube appears saving Zack and Cloud, and reveals that he is actually Lazard. Hollander is dying of degradation too now and after a brief chase decides to fight Zack, and is defeated.

After a conversation with Lazard, Zack works out that Genesis is hiding in Banora. He is always carrying a 'Banora White' a fruit that only grows in Banora. Zack heads to Banora, but before leaving asks Larard to take care of Cloud. Zack explores the caves beneath the derelict village where he discovers Genesis, cured of the degradation by 'the Godess'. Casting a powerful magic spell Genesis is transformed into a large beast and a battle commences between them. Eventually Genesis is defeated. Zack drags his body back to the camp site.

At the campsite Zack is informed that Lazard and Cloud were attacked but help was found in the Angeal copy that protected Aerith. As the copy finally dies he passes on a message to Zack from Aerith. In this message, the 89th letter she has sent to him, she asks where he has been for four years. Zack is shocked to discover that he was in a Mako induced coma for that long. The four men share a last meal of 'Banora White' fruit and Lazard finally passes. Desperate to see Aerith Zack heads with Comatose Cloud in tow for Midgar. Leaving Genesis behind.

Later, Weiss and Nero the future leaders of the Deepground Group in SOLDIER 1st class uniform take the barely alive genesis away in a Shinra helicopter.

Cloud and the Buster Sword

On Zack's journey back to Midgar he is confronted by a large Shinra Army Force, sent to stop him. Struggling Zack fights with all his strength to return to Aerith. But the numbers are too great and Zack is mortally wounded. As Zack lays dying in the rain staring at the sky, Cloud finally wakes from his coma and crawls to Zacks side. After a conversation Zack gives his Buster Sword to Cloud. "You live on for the both of us" are Zacks last words. A confused Cloud effected by the Hojo experiments, dressed in a SOLDIER 1st class uniform, carrying the buster sword and vague memories of Zack's conversations during his comatose state; wanders into Midgar believing to be SOLDIER 1st class. The game ends with a cutscene recreation of the opening cinematic of Final Fantasy VII ending with the words: "Continued in Final Fantasy VII".

Soundtrack

Disc 1

Crisis Core Soundtrack

01 - Fragment of Memory -D.M.W-
02 - Theme of CRISIS CORE "Inheritance"
03 - Mission Start
04 - First Mission (from FF VII "Opening ~ Bombing Mission")
05 - The Mako City
06 - Patriotism on a Moonlit Night
07 - Encount
08 - Theme of CRISIS CORE "Dream and Pride"
09 - Last Order - Crisis Mix (from "LAST ORDER FF VII")
10 - Importance of Truth
11 - Wandering in a Sunny Afternoon
12 - Conflict
13 - Operated Iron Beast
14 - Theme of CRISIS CORE "Under an Apple Tree"
15 - Summoned Being (from FF VII "Fight On")
16 - The Burdened One
17 - On the Verge of Assault (from FF VII "Fight On")
18 - Dark Suits' Secret Schemes (from FF VII "Turks' Theme")
19 - The Building Made of Tubes and Iron (from "LAST ORDER FF VII")
20 - Combat
21 - Theme of CRISIS CORE "Scar of Friendship"
22 - Flowers Blooming in the Slums (from FF VII "Aerith's Theme")
23 - The Azure Pupil
24 - Theme of CRISIS CORE "Sharing Pride"
25 - Melody of Suffering
26 - Marching in a Remote Land (from "LAST ORDER FF VII")
27 - Exchange of Courtesies
28 - A Flapping Black Wing
29 - Theme of CRISIS CORE "The True Plan"
30 - The One Who Loses Pride
31 - Why (CC FF VII Mix)

Disc 2

01 - Town Closed from Sunlight
02 - The Situation Begins to Change
03 - The Organization That Controls Mako (from FF VII "Shinra Company")
04 - Theme of CRISIS CORE "To a New Appointment"
05 - Closed Village (from FF VII "Anxious Heart")
06 - Melody of Farewell
07 - Gloomy Mansion
08 - Momentary Rest
09 - Prelude to Decay
10 - The Enemy of the World is Created (from FF VII "One-Winged Angel")
11 - Night of Seclusion
12 - Duty and Friendship
13 - Theme of CRISIS CORE "Frantic Battlefield"
14 - Deserted Wasteland
15 - Melody of Resolution
16 - Moonlight Wandering
17 - Reciting Old Poetry by the Waterside
18 - The Roar of Strange Beings Gathering
19 - The One Who Receives Divine Protection
20 - SOLDIER Battle
21 - Compensation for Freedom
22 - Why / Ayaka
23 - Fulfilled Desire
24 - to be continued (from FFVII "Opening ~ Bombing Mission")

General Information Edit

Game Name	Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
Platform(s)	PSP
Publisher(s)	Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
Developer(s)	Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
Genres	Add a new genre Action Role-Playing (RPG)
Themes	Add a new theme Fantasy Sci-Fi
Original US Release	March 25, 2008 need a fuzzy date?
Original US Release	know the real date?
Aliases	FFVII: CC Crisis Core CC
CERO	CERO: B
ESRB	ESRB: T
PEGI	PEGI: 16+