Disaster Core: Ultimate Fantasy 7 Reunion takes the PSP prequel to Ultimate Fantasy 7 and updates it for a contemporary viewers. Sq. Enix actually had no different selection, because it seems like Zack Truthful, the star of Disaster Core, might be a giant participant within the Ultimate Fantasy 7 remake trilogy. Sadly, there’s no helpful method for brand spanking new followers to play via his story.
The unique recreation by no means bought a digital model for no matter purpose. So there was by no means an official method to receive it on PS3 or Vita. So the one avenue to play it now could be to discover a UMD and a PSP (however not a PSP Go) or resort to piracy.
Fortuitously, Sq. Enix did an excellent job on Reunion. Not like a few of its latest retro initiatives (Chrono Cross), this recreation skirts the road between a remaster and a complete remake. Whereas it’s virtually 1:1 with the unique relating to the story and stage design, the graphics, fashions, and fight have been considerably upgraded.
Zack assault
The plot is carried over in its entirety from the unique Disaster Core. It tells the story of Zack Truthful, how he offers with a riot within the ranks of SOLDIER, and covers the 5 years earlier than Ultimate Fantasy 7.
I like Disaster Core as a standalone recreation, however it provides a whole lot of confusion to the general Compilation of Ultimate Fantasy 7 metaseries. The weather that increase on occasions we heard about in FF7, just like the Wutai Struggle, are a lot appreciated. Nonetheless, Genesis and Angeal aren’t compelling characters to me and simply serve to muddy Sepiroth’s backstory.
Regardless, I didn’t discover something lacking in Reunion. Quite the opposite, the sport now options full voice performing, which is a superb improve over the unique. There are additionally some slight edits to cutscenes that add or subtract a second right here and there. After all, all the unique aspect quests and different content material is accessible as effectively. I seen the script was given a as soon as over, and contours are modified right here and there however don’t depend on a bunch of latest stuff showing or a full script rewrite.
Remaster or remake?
In distinction, the visible replace that Disaster Core: Ultimate Fantasy 7 Reunion brings is substantial. Disaster Core was spectacular on the PSP however hasn’t aged the best. Even when upscaling on an emulator, it’s not a recreation that appears nice on a bigger display.
I’d wish to be taught precisely how Sq. Enix went about designing the visuals for Reunion. There are sufficient variations between it and the unique that it’s apparent most of the backgrounds are comprised of scratch (versus upscaling the previous ones). Many particulars come out that weren’t there on the PSP, and the lighting is far improved as effectively.
Nonetheless, the environmental geometry looks like it comes straight from the PSP. The sport nonetheless has a really linear, corridor-based structure, and from a short comparability, the loading transitions are in the very same places. You’d assume one of many massive benefits of bringing Disaster Core to fashionable platforms can be the elimination of at the very least some loading factors. Sadly, for no matter purpose, that’s not the case right here. In consequence this recreation masses greater than FF7 Remake regardless of the environments being extra compact.
Sadly, the mannequin high quality varies at occasions. Particularly, the character fashions look a bit odd. Some, like Sephiroth (who I assume is reusing his FF7 Remake belongings), look effective. Then again, Angael jogs my memory of Scott Stapp in his prime. That’s to not say any of the fashions are horrible. Nonetheless, I anticipated them to be extra uniform in high quality.
The cutscenes are one other space the place Reunion is a combined again. The unique FMVs had been produced in HD, and it seems like Sq. Enix did a fast upres and threw them in as is. In consequence, they’ve a little bit of a blurry, gentle really feel that doesn’t distinction effectively with the sharp new visuals. The in-game graphics are continuously sharper and better high quality than the FMVs, which isn’t an enormous deal, however once more, there’s a scarcity of uniformity between the 2.
Spin the wheel
Fight in Disaster Core: Ultimate Fantasy 7 Reunion is principally FF7 Remake lite. It’s a a lot smoother expertise, and digicam management being on the best stick may be very welcome.
The Digital Thoughts Wave (DMW) slots return, however they’re much less intrusive this time round. The problem has been scaled to the place I didn’t really feel like some fights relied on getting good rolls. Additionally they are typically extra beneficiant, and it appeared like I bought restrict breaks and summons extra recurrently than within the unique.
I’ve combined emotions concerning the DMW, and I wouldn’t have minded it being eradicated utterly. It limits your skill to strategize, and I believe a full implementation of the system from Ultimate Fantasy 7 Remake would have spiced issues up for followers of the unique.
Disaster Core: Ultimate Fantasy 7 Reunion: The Ultimate Verdict
Disaster Core Reunion just isn’t fairly a remaster and never fairly a remake. The upgraded visuals breathe new life into the sport, however there are little reminders right here and there of its PSP origins. Nonetheless, with a $50 worth level, Sq. Enix is at the very least considerably acknowledging that it’s not rebuilt from the bottom up.
Ultimate Fantasy 7 Rebirth will virtually actually reference occasions from Disaster Core. So, a playthrough is virtually required for these wanting ahead to the following installment of the FF7 Remake collection. Contemplating the situation of a few of Sq. Enix’s previous remasters, Disaster Core Reunion impresses. I hope that is an indicator we will count on the corporate to take extra care with this type of title sooner or later.
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8.5  |
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