Me reviewing Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion Switch? Gonaga!

Our Verdict

If you’re a graphics purist, definitely pick Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion up on a next-gen console. However, I believe the Switch version gives you a more authentic PSP experience, the portability allows you to complete side missions while watching something on TV, and it still looks absolutely wonderful. Oh boy, I just really love Final Fantasy VII.

I'd like to start this review by stating that I'm a huge fan of Final Fantasy. My all-time fave game is the original 7. I play 8, 9, and 10 on it at least once a year. I have the Final Fantasy VII remake tattooed on my calf, and I'm a little concerned about where Square Enix is leading it.

I wasn't sure how I felt about the Crisis Core remake because of this concern. Half of me was dying to get my hands on a Crisis Core identical replica, except with an even more attractive Zack. The other half, however, was concerned that Square may drastically alter the plot or perhaps even the very significant conclusion. I promise not to provide any spoilers to you beginners.

So, does Ruby's hopeful assessment of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion hold up, or does she feel let down and want to go back to the PSP version for security? Spoiler alert: she's really pleased and could believe that Reunion is an excellent, faithful-to-original remaster. I apologise; I will now cease referring to myself in the third person.

Let me provide you with a brief overview of Final Fantasy VII for those of you who are unfamiliar with the series. The original game is a turn-based role-playing game that centres on Cloud Strife, an ex-soldier who joins up with a motley crew of misfits to defend the world from Shinra, an evil organisation that is depleting the planet of mako, a vital resource.

In the precursor Crisis Core, Zack Fair, a Shinra soldier with heroic aspirations, is the main character. You only ever control Zack as he battles enemies and traverses Gaia in this action-RPG installment in the series, although you do get to encounter a lot of well-known characters, like Cloud, Aerith, Tifa, Sephiroth, and more.

Playing Crisis Core before finishing OG 7 isn't totally advised, since you could miss out on several amusing side plots, and the conclusion gives away a significant plot element. But because it's a prequel, I'm not totally opposed to the notion, so if you decide to read it, just keep that in mind.

Let's go on to Reunion now. This is a really accurate remaster. Everything that made the original enjoyable is still there, and the enhancements to quality of life only make matters better. The DMW, an odd slot machine-like feature that periodically stops the action to spew forth random attacks whenever it pleases, is a tiresome facet of fighting from the PSP version. Reunion partially addresses this by letting you save the attack and release it whenever it's convenient for you by pressing X. To move things along more quickly, you may also skip the corresponding cut sequences.

Reunion is also entirely voice-acted, however I must admit that as a purist, I find Zack's new voice to be a little off. He irritates me so much that I've gone so far as to switch to the Japanese version. Zack's rather nasal tone is something I simply can't get accustomed to; otherwise, Aerith, Angeal, Genesis, and more all sound fantastic.

Apart from my reservations about my voice acting, I really like all the other adjustments. Both the new music and the stunning images are exquisite. But don't anticipate a next-generation experience—especially not on the Nintendo Switch, please. Reunion is undoubtedly the greatest method to see this narrative right now, and the character models have obviously improved, but there is still a lot of work to be done in terms of the light hitting specific items and the subtle blur over everything.

The way Zack glides in Reunion is another element that screams PSP. It weighs heavily on him. You won't enjoy yourself if you try to take a quick turn in the direction of a treasure box or save location. Sometimes, no matter which way I push, I find that he gets stuck travelling forward. In order to make him to obey my directions, I have to take my thumb off of the Joy-Con entirely.

The hundreds of side tasks in Crisis Core are another contentious feature. For my part, I like these little digressions from the narrative. It feels good to defeat a thousand warriors or destroy enormous robots with my thunder magic, and the benefits make me want to do it again and again. But, I will agree that there is only so much you can do with a little map and a sword, so they may become rather repetitive. Fortunately, you don't have to finish them, although if you want the greatest materials and products, I suggest doing so.

If you do begin to find these assignments monotonous, remember auntie Ruby's advice. I was thrilled to discover that hugging the walls throughout missions prevents you from engaging in battle, exactly as in the original. This may be the reason I like these regions so much—the amount of time you spend slogging about is drastically reduced.

Fortunately for me, however, I only had minimal expectations, and if you follow suit, I'm sure you'll be ecstatic with what you discover. As it was all those years ago when I played as a teenager, the tale is equally heartbreaking and amusing, the heroes are attractive, and the battle is enjoyable.

I could wax lyrical about Final Fantasy for hours on end, but that's not why you're here, so allow me to discuss something crucial that you should take into account while deciding which platform to play Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion on.

I'm playing on the Nintendo Switch, in case you didn't guess from the title, so let me begin with a performance comparison. Reunion now runs at 60 frames per second on the PS5 and Xbox Series X (compared to 30 frames per second on the Switch), which is to be anticipated given the better display quality on the PS5. Therefore, unlike me, the Switch may not be the right platform for you if you're a graphics purist.

Additionally, I saw a little decrease in fps straight away, which alarmed me, but unexpectedly, it appears to improve as the game progresses. That or I'm just enjoying myself too much to notice it. The load time is really fast. Certain role-playing game load screens allow you to get up, get yourself some coffee, and go back to your TV before the game even resumes. Reunion fits into the load screen that says, "Take a deep breath before getting back into the action."

I realise that all of that seems a bit ambiguous, but there are a lot of different types of gamers out there, and sometimes I feel like I'm alone. For those that share my nostalgia for retro gaming, this will satisfy every itch in your collection. The clumsy controls, tedious side missions, and high-quality PSP visuals may not be to everyone's taste if you're a little older.

So, is Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion a game you should buy for the Nintendo Switch? Indeed. You're in for some good ol' fashioned fun with a narrative that's equal parts tragedy and laughter all wrapped up nice and neat if you treat it like the masterpiece it is. As you can see from the picture above, it also has my favourite cut sequence of any game. If for no other reason, I highly suggest playing it only for that one feature.

Check out our guides onCrisis Core characters andCrisis Core materia fusion for more Reunion material.