Sq. Enix’s Disaster Core remake is simply pretty much as good as you bear in mind it as a result of in case you, like me, have very fond however inaccurate reminiscences of blasting by Midgar with Zack on the PSP again in 2007, going again to that authentic recreation now will probably be a little bit of a shock. Jagged hair ends, barely pixelated edges on our major characters’ garments, and people lifeless lifeless eyes (positively not mako-infused, these)… The unique Disaster Core was lauded for its stunning graphics when it first launched, however I’d be mendacity if I mentioned they nonetheless held up properly in the present day.
Booting up Disaster Core: Ultimate Fantasy VII Reunion this previous week, it was like being transported again to 2007. The long-lasting prepare opening sequence, Zack’s flippant “Oh yeah!” as he somersaults out of the chopper, it’s all there. Beat for beat. My rose-colored reminiscences of Disaster Core on the PSP got here flooding again after I gained management of Zack for the primary time; it felt like lastly going dwelling after being away for years. Your fondest reminiscences of, properly, something will all the time appear excellent in your head, and Sq. Enix has captured that feeling splendidly with Reunion.
Disaster Core serves as a prequel to the legendary Ultimate Fantasy VII. It takes place years earlier than Cloud turns into the chilly mercenary we all know him as, and the story focuses on SOLDIER 2nd Class, Zack Honest. Not like Cloud, Zack is heat with a sunny disposition. He’s the kinda man you all the time need round as a result of he’s simply that enjoyable and goofy, although he isn’t afraid to indicate some severe emotional development over the course of the story as properly.
This recreation affords us a take a look at iconic characters by a distinct lens; you’ll get to see Sephiroth earlier than he went utterly nuts, and even the lovable Yuffie makes a cameo look right here and there. I can’t dive too deep into the particulars of the story as a result of embargo restrictions, however suffice to say that even when it may be a large number at occasions, it’s properly value seeing by if you’d like the total FFVII image.
Graphically, Disaster Core Reunion seems to be beautiful. It’s not fairly on the extent of the FFVII Remake in fact, nevertheless it comes fairly shut. The character fashions have been polished to a shine, and the tough edges are gone. I ought to level out that there’s nonetheless a sure robotic high quality to the way in which the characters transfer, significantly within the much less essential cutscenes, however eh, I can forgive that, given how good the remainder of the sport seems to be.
It’s within the fight transitions the place Disaster Core actually begins to indicate its age. The sport options real-time battles, however the transition from exploration to fight isn’t precisely easy. You’d be working down a pathway with Zack, solely to succeed in a barely extra open space earlier than the feminine AI voice pipes up, “Activating fight mode”. Hack and slash your approach by your foes and when the battle ends, the AI voice goes, “Battle resolved”. It doesn’t sound so dangerous on paper, however repeat that about eight to 10 occasions in a single stage, and it will get outdated rapidly.
The transitions have been even worse on PSP, sure, however bringing them again to current-gen consoles definitely felt like an odd, and really dated alternative. 15-year-old me may’ve been capable of put up with it because it was the one recreation I performed for months, however 28-year-old me is crankier and extra impatient with these types of issues. I positively want Sq. Enix had completed away with the transitions, and allowed for a extra seamless movement between exploration and fight.
The excellent news is that fight itself nonetheless feels improbable in Disaster Core Reunion. The controls are pretty primary, the place you press sq. to assault, X to dodge, and circle to make use of an merchandise. Issues get attention-grabbing once you begin mixing magic and particular assaults into your combos, and swiftly, combating feels rather more dynamic and thrilling.
Reunion additionally introduces a brand new mechanic known as the Capacity Gauge, the place a pinkish crimson bar will seem on the boss when it’s charging up a strong transfer. You’ll have a brief time frame to deplete that gauge by dealing as a lot injury as you possibly can, and in case you handle to deplete it solely, the boss’s transfer will get canceled. Even in case you don’t handle to interrupt the bar, you’ll nonetheless cut back the injury that Zack takes, which is a really good concession that I’d’ve cherished within the authentic recreation. Disaster Core might be fairly unforgiving on the PSP, the place bosses had insanely highly effective strikes that might virtually one-shot you with no warning in any respect. The Capacity Gauge offers Zack extra of a combating probability, and the sport feels much less irritating because of this.
And sure, the DMW is again too. This was simply my favourite a part of Disaster Core, because it was the sport’s most original characteristic. For the uninitiated, the Digital Thoughts Wave is a slot reel-style restrict break system that’s displayed within the prime left nook of the display screen. Zack features SP as he defeats enemies, and SP is in flip expended to spin the reels. Every time the pictures and numbers line up, you may get particular buffs like no AP or MP value for a restricted time frame, in addition to highly effective restrict break strikes related to whichever photographs get lined up.
The DMW’s photographs are principally character portraits of the individuals Zack meets alongside his journey, and his feelings will have an effect on which characters pop up extra continuously as properly. So, for instance, in chapter 2, Zack’s mentor Angeal weighs closely on his thoughts, thus inflicting Angeal to indicate up extra continuously on the reels. Sometimes, when the reels match up, you may get to look at a really fast scene of a flashback that Zack had with that specific character.
If there’s one factor I really like about video video games, it’s once they use in-game mechanics to inform a narrative that may’t be completed in some other medium. The DMW serves a really practical function for Disaster Core’s fight, nevertheless it additionally lets us know in refined methods how Zack is feeling or what he’s fascinated with at any explicit second. It’s been left largely untouched in Reunion, although there are a lot fewer fight interruptions because the recreation not involves a brief halt every time the DMW hits one of many recreation’s many lesser results.
Disaster Core: Ultimate Fantasy VII Reunion is a worthy remake of among the finest PSP video games ever made, and even from the transient period of time I’ve spent with it, it’s simple to inform that longtime followers of the unique aren’t gonna wanna miss out on this. A phrase of warning to the newer gamers, although, particularly those who jumped on with FFVII Remake: this gained’t look fairly pretty much as good or as polished as Remake, and a few design choices left in right here can really feel painfully outdated. With that mentioned, in case you’re in any respect invested within the FFVII saga, Disaster Core is a must-play.
