Common Sense Media Review
By David Chapman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Final Fantasy prequel is epic in scope, but small in scale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion
What's It About?
See the beginnings of the Final Fantasy VII saga once again in CRISIS CORE: FINAL FANTASY VII REUNION. A remake of 2007's original Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII on the PlayStation Portable, Reunion has been updated from the ground up with high definition graphics, a new soundtrack, and full voice acting, all coming together to retell the events leading up to the epic odyssey of Final Fantasy VII. Crisis Core follows SOLDIER operative Zack Fair, sent on a mission to track down his former mentor. During this mission, Zack uncovers a massive conspiracy that threatens not only the city of Midgar, but the fate of the entire planet. Along the way, he'll cross paths with familiar faces from throughout the Final Fantasy VII saga, setting the stage for their adventures yet to come.
Is It Any Good?
They say that everything old is new again, and Square Enix's Final Fantasy VII games are no exception. Now, roughly fifteen years after the original's PlayStation Portable release, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion finally brings the FFVII prequel to consoles and PCs. Making the leap to a new generation isn't easy, but for the most part, Reunion sticks the landing. The game looks phenomenal, standing right alongside Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade in terms of production quality, which makes sense due to the games being tied together. There's a new life injected into the game too, thanks to some stellar voice acting being added in for the first time. Best of all, the controls have been updated to take advantage of options that weren't originally available on the PlayStation Portable's hardware. Console players in particular will benefit from the additional thumbsticks and buttons/triggers, which make the game's action oriented combat system more fluid and responsive than ever. From a strictly technical standpoint, this is a prime example of how a remake should be done.
As faithful as Reunion is to the original, that's also a bit of a double edged Buster Sword as well. Remember, the game was originally developed for a portable game system with specific limitations. It was designed to be played on the go, with more compact story chapters and missions able to be completed in easily digestible bite-sized chunks. Reunion is built on this same foundation, so the gameplay feels a lot smaller. That doesn't take anything away from the awe and spectacle of the game while you're playing. And it's understandable that Square Enix couldn't add too much more to the story without potentially rewriting the entirety of the Final Fantasy VII saga. But it winds up being a bit like watching a TV show in a movie theatre. Sure, it looks and sounds infinitely better than you'd ever experience watching it on the small screen, but it's also something that's over before you know it.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in video games. Is the impact of the violence in Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion affected by the fact that you're attacking enemies without blood or gore shown? How does the splashy fantasy violence in games like the Final Fantasy series compare to games with more gritty and realistic depictions of violence? Is there a noticeable difference in the impact of that violence to younger audiences?
What is the appeal of revisiting and updating games from the past? What are some games you think deserve to be revisited for a new generation of gamers?
Game Details
- Platforms : Nintendo Switch , Xbox One , Xbox Series X/S , PlayStation 5 , PlayStation 4 , Windows
- Pricing structure : Paid ($49.99)
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Square Enix
- Release date : December 13, 2022
- Genre : Role-Playing
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Friendship , Robots , STEM
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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