Disaster Core: Closing Fantasy VII is a PSP unique spinoff from 2007 that is usually remembered fondly by means of the tinted goggles of nostalgia. In reality, the unique Disaster Core was a messy recreation when it first launched, and it is solely gotten worse with age. Very like Closing Fantasy VII: Introduction Youngsters, the animated movie that flanked it, Disaster Core was filled with cool concepts that appealed to followers of the unique Closing Fantasy VII — however its execution of those concepts was usually misjudged.
For all its points, although, it is easy sufficient to argue that Disaster Core deserves a second likelihood, particularly now that we reside in an age the place Closing Fantasy VII Remake is a actuality. And so right here we’re, with Disaster Core: Closing Fantasy VII Reunion, an intensive remaster — not remake — of Zack Truthful’s angsty adventures by means of the ranks of Shinra’s elite army power, SOLDIER.
Now, Sq. Enix has been hit or miss with its remasters in recent times. Closing Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age might be probably the greatest remasters cash should buy — however then you definitely’ve received Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Version, which nonetheless runs like canine muck on PS4. Fortunately, Reunion is way more in step with the previous. General, it is an immaculate graphical improve on the PSP unique, boasting remade character fashions and environmental belongings — whereas additionally sporting an overhauled consumer interface taken straight from Closing Fantasy VII Remake.
The change in artwork route may rub some followers the incorrect means, nonetheless. 2007’s Disaster Core had a personality type paying homage to Kingdom Hearts, with huge shiny eyes and cartoonish facial animations. And whereas Reunion reuses most of these goofy (pun not meant) actions, the solid are way more ‘lifelike’ in look — presumably in an try and make it seem like the brand new Remake saga. For us, it really works as meant, and Disaster Core now feels prefer it’s a part of Remake’s ongoing world. However others might not really feel the identical.
At the least you possibly can’t argue with the remaster’s efficiency. It is an unwavering 60 frames-per-second at 4K decision on PS5, and at occasions, it virtually seems nearly as good as Remake — particularly when the sparks are flying throughout fight.
The one factor that lets Reunion down when it comes to presentation is these aforementioned animations. Within the recreation’s extra static dialogue scenes — of which there are a lot of — these comically overdone animations can look downright silly now that the character fashions are a lot extra lifelike. There’s undoubtedly a noticeable disconnect between the sport’s old-school (and comparatively low cost wanting) in-game cutscenes, and the way good the remaster seems as a complete.
However let’s face it: Disaster Core has at all times been an extremely dumb recreation. Even for a 2000s Japanese RPG, even for a Nomura-led Sq. Enix mission, even for Closing Fantasy at its most overdramatic, Disaster Core has some actually horrific writing. Tiny, tiny bits of the script have been altered in Reunion, however the level nonetheless stands. The storytelling incessantly borders on nonsensical, and protagonist Zack is consistently left in the dead of night by his superiors, who simply so occur to like talking in hilariously overwrought riddles. For those who’re not acquainted with the unique launch, you are in for a experience.
Is the sport’s jaw-droppingly awkward method to plot supply a part of its attraction, although? We’re tempted to say sure. There is one thing endearing about simply how silly Disaster Core could be. It walks a really wonderful line between being truly crap and being so unhealthy that it is entertaining. We have performed this earlier than and we all know the way it ends, however we nonetheless caught ourselves shopping for into Zack’s struggles, and considering “Sephiroth is so cool” each time he appeared on display.
A lot of what makes Disaster Core tick is mainly fan service, however there’s nothing essentially incorrect with that. The sport goes out of its method to present you simply how a lot of a badass Sephiroth and his SOLDIER buddies are, whereas additionally offering hints of attention-grabbing backstories for a lot of of Closing Fantasy VII’s personalities. Even when it is dumb, Disaster Core does, in the end, assist flesh out one of the vital beloved worlds in gaming.
And there isn’t any query that Reunion is one of the simplest ways to expertise it. Even should you’re not on board with the brand new character fashions, or the redone voice performing (truthfully, the brand new Zack is questionable at finest), the quite a few gameplay changes tip the scales past doubt.
By far the most important enhancements lie within the remaster’s fight. Fights within the unique had been decidedly wonky affairs the place the sport could not fairly resolve whether or not it was an motion title or a command-based battler. It definitely did not come near attaining the hybrid heaven of Remake’s system, and so Reunion takes a lot wanted cues from Cloud’s most up-to-date outing.
Zack is quicker on his toes and his assaults are simpler to combo. His dodge roll is extra responsive and extra evasive, and the result’s what looks like an actual motion RPG that rewards correct timing and data of your opponent’s capabilities. It is a large step up.
It is value noting that you simply solely play as Zack in Disaster Core. There are not any occasion members, and so the trademark Materia system performs an necessary function in maintaining issues attention-grabbing. By finishing aspect missions, you may purchase a library of stat-boosting and ability-granting orbs, letting you customise Zack’s loadout to go well with the scenario. Rewarding stuff, proving as soon as once more that Sq. struck gold with Materia in Closing Fantasy VII.
However not all techniques could be universally praised. Disaster Core’s most divisive mechanic is the so-called Digital Thoughts Wave — or DMW for brief. Basically, it is a slot machine that sits within the prime left nook of the display throughout battles. It is at all times spinning, and when it hits fortunate, you get entry to buffs, particular assaults, and summons. It is a bizarre factor, however now that fight has been overhauled for the higher, the DMW is not practically as irritating because it as soon as was. With Zack able to holding his personal in harder fights, you need not depend on girl luck to offer you a obligatory edge, which implies that the DMW is now extra of a enjoyable additional — because it at all times ought to have been.
All of those fight enhancements are key, as a result of different areas of the expertise are missing to say the least. The sport’s environmental design was primary and boring in 2007, and that hasn’t modified — even when the backdrops do look lots higher. Mission places are simply corridors crammed with encounters, and relying on how deeply you dive into the aspect quests, you are going to be seeing those self same corridors over and time and again. Disaster Core generally is a very repetitive recreation, and its transportable origins develop into more and more clear while you’re churning by means of bite-sized non-compulsory content material.
