The unique Disaster Core Closing Fantasy VII is a sport I bear in mind most fondly. Not solely due to my love for Closing Fantasy VII and its world as an entire, however as a result of it represented a turning level of types in the best way that I consumed video games. Disaster Core was one of many first I used to be in a position to import from Japan thanks partly to the delay between the Western launch, and the emergence of simpler methods to acquire stated titles abroad.
In fact, occasions have modified since then and the period of simultaneous worldwide releases is eternally upon us, however that wasn’t all the time the case. So armed with my copy of Disaster Core in Japanese, my PSP would grow to be its unique dwelling for a very long time as I performed and performed and performed by means of it some extra. By the point the English model did roll round, I’d accomplished Disaster Core a number of occasions over and there actually wasn’t any particular want for me to dive again in once more. There wasn’t something particularly completely different concerning the sport that warranted a sixth or seventh go at it. Till now.
Quick ahead 15 years (sure, that’s fifteen entire years) for the reason that unique PSP launch and Sq. Enix has lastly deemed it match to shed the constraints of that handheld platform and be revitalized for the fashionable period. The appropriately titled Disaster Core Closing Fantasy VII Reunion is headlining the December launch slate throughout a number of platforms because it guarantees to be “greater than a remaster.” And it actually needs to be as a result of Disaster Core isn’t some “straightforward” upscale venture. This sport was developed for PSP and people visuals actually don’t maintain up too nicely right this moment even when they had been spectacular for his or her time.
The excellent news is, Disaster Core Reunion actually doesn’t appear like it got here from the PSP. The truth is it is perhaps essentially the most spectacular remaster venture up to now.
Spectacular although it might be, let’s get one factor straight: Disaster Core Reunion is just not a remake. I’ve seen this sort of discourse floating round from individuals who might have seen our preview protection, and whereas sure, the sport appears wonderful contemplating it’s roots, it’s not a remake within the conventional sense. It’s a prettied-up remaster that also depends closely on its origins. That’s to say, the unique bones largely stay, and you’ll see this instantly in issues like the extent layouts, the character animations and copious quantities of cutscenes that had been put in place to seemingly assist with the loading on PSP. It’s not a nasty factor in any respect although, don’t get me flawed. Disaster Core Reunion appears nice, however to name it a remake simply isn’t fairly proper. It’s nonetheless the identical Disaster Core we bear in mind, simply with what quantities to a contemporary coat of paint.
As for what stated “fashionable coat of paint” means, nicely, there’s loads. The modeling has seen an enormous overhaul from the characters to enemies and the environments and different objects – no stone stays unturned in relation to revamping these visuals, which is necessitated by the transition to the high-definition period. On high of that, we’ve received excessive decision textures throughout and a brand new lighting system that places Disaster Core Reunion alongside the identical vibes as different fashionable titles similar to Closing Fantasy VII Remake. There gave the impression to be a big, concentrated effort to homogenize the look of Closing Fantasy VII within the modern atmosphere.
Regardless of these enhancements, there’s a little bit of a caveat, and this ties again to what I stated about Disaster Core Reunion not being a remake. Its standing as a remaster exhibits by means of in a number of smaller areas – for instance, the character animations. Don’t go in anticipating one thing like FFVII Remake since you’re not going to get that. As a substitute, it does really feel just like the builders have leaned a bit on the unique skeletons created for the PSP model. The result’s excessive poly fashions usually trying stiff or considerably janky once they’re shifting round or speaking. They’ve additionally made use of numerous the unique CGI cinematics, simply upscaled – although there are a pair new ones for the summons. You’ll get used to it however it’s clear the main target was on making Disaster Core Reunion look the half greater than the rest.
Whereas the foundations of Disaster Core Reunion stay the identical, that additionally extends to the narrative. It’s nonetheless the identical story pre-FFVII about an excessively keen SOLDIER named Zack who you might or might not bear in mind from different media. You’ll take management of him as he ranges as much as SOLDIER 1st Class and discovers the world isn’t all sunshine and rainbows as he as soon as perceived it to be. He has a good friend named Angeal, who has a good friend named Genesis and Sephiroth is concerned someplace in there too. Issues occur and Zack will get pulled into their dramatic battle. I gained’t spoil any extra for individuals who haven’t skilled Disaster Core in any type however the lengthy and wanting it’s, it stays a positive manner for followers to dip their ft into the world of Midgar earlier than taking over the larger, meatier video games like FFVII or Remake.
Now, there’s really an excellent variety of adjustments to Disaster Core Reunion from the unique and it’s this half that makes it “greater than a remaster” for my part. The most important change is current within the battle system. This can be a good factor as a result of the unique on PSP was considerably clunky and it was arduous to regulate at occasions. Now although, issues have been streamlined to really feel smoother and strung collectively in a manner that echoes FFVII Remake. For instance, Zack can string collectively regular assaults after which make use of an Capacity Materia to strike a stronger blow. That is evident on display screen when the injury numbers gentle up in orange. There’s additionally a number of quality-of-life additions within the consumer interface that exhibit your spoils put up battle and the like, and the addition of a dash button that will help you get round sooner. They’ve additionally performed up all of the dialogue with voice over the place the unique was solely choose scenes, which is one thing that helps the world really feel extra alive. Simply little issues that elevate the general expertise. In fact, facet content material like the person missions you possibly can tackle stay largely as they’re, and you’ll nonetheless fiddle with materia within the materia fusion system. There’s an excellent mixture of these new gameplay components together with the previous.
The previous mechanics that stay do stand out, nonetheless. As soon as particular occasion that felt grating is a stealth section the place Zack should crouch round and infiltrate a snowy space. For those who’re noticed, you get booted out and must combat some enemies earlier than making an attempt to make your manner again by means of once more. It’s the sort of design philosophy that’s straight out of the PSP period and hasn’t precisely aged nicely. The identical goes for lots of the missions you are able to do that happen in a small space constrained to those self same limitations. If something it says as soon as once more that Disaster Core Reunion could be very a lot chained to these previous designs.
Regardless of these shortcomings, Disaster Core Reunion serves to remind me that Disaster Core was all the time an awesome sport and now it’s even higher. It feels good to revisit it after so a few years, on a platform that I don’t must dig out of the closet to play once more. The PlayStation 5 model runs buttery easy and appears sharp at 4K and 60 frames per second. The addition of HDR and a remastered soundtrack put their mark on what’s little doubt the definitive launch and an additional feather within the cap that’s the Closing Fantasy VII universe. With loads extra on the best way, there’s by no means been a greater time to dig in.
Disclaimer: PlayStation 5 overview code supplied by the writer Sq. Enix.