Disaster Core: Last Fantasy VII is a PSP unique spinoff from 2007 that is typically remembered fondly by the tinted goggles of nostalgia. In reality, the unique Disaster Core was a messy sport when it first launched, and it is solely gotten worse with age. Very like Last Fantasy VII: Introduction Kids, the animated movie that flanked it, Disaster Core was filled with cool concepts that appealed to followers of the unique Last Fantasy VII — however its execution of those concepts was typically misjudged.
For all its points, although, it is easy sufficient to argue that Disaster Core deserves a second probability, particularly now that we dwell in an age the place Last Fantasy VII Remake is a actuality. And so right here we’re, with Disaster Core: Last Fantasy VII Reunion, an in depth remaster — not remake — of Zack Truthful’s angsty adventures by the ranks of Shinra’s elite army drive, SOLDIER.
Now, Sq. Enix has been hit or miss with its remasters lately. Last Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age might be the most effective remasters cash should purchase — however you then’ve bought Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Version, which nonetheless runs like canine muck on PS4. Fortunately, Reunion is far more in step with the previous. General, it is an immaculate graphical improve on the PSP authentic, boasting remade character fashions and environmental property — whereas additionally sporting an overhauled person interface taken straight from Last Fantasy VII Remake.
The change in artwork route may rub some followers the unsuitable manner, nevertheless. 2007’s Disaster Core had a personality model paying homage to Kingdom Hearts, with massive shiny eyes and cartoonish facial animations. And whereas Reunion reuses most of these goofy (pun not supposed) actions, the solid are far more ‘life like’ in look — presumably in an try and make it seem like the brand new Remake saga. For us, it really works as supposed, and Disaster Core now feels prefer it’s a part of Remake’s ongoing world. However others might not really feel the identical.
Not less than you may’t argue with the remaster’s efficiency. It is an unwavering 60 frames-per-second at 4K decision on PS5, and at occasions, it nearly appears to be like pretty much as good as Remake — particularly when the sparks are flying throughout fight.
The one factor that lets Reunion down by way of presentation is these aforementioned animations. Within the sport’s extra static dialogue scenes — of which there are various — these comically overdone animations can look downright silly now that the character fashions are a lot extra life like. 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 appears to be like as an entire.
However let’s face it: Disaster Core has at all times been an extremely dumb sport. Even for a 2000s Japanese RPG, even for a Nomura-led Sq. Enix venture, even for Last Fantasy at its most overdramatic, Disaster Core has some really horrific writing. Tiny, tiny bits of the script have been altered in Reunion, however the level nonetheless stands. The storytelling regularly borders on nonsensical, and protagonist Zack is consistently left at the hours of darkness by his superiors, who simply so occur to like talking in hilariously overwrought riddles. In case you’re not aware of the unique launch, you are in for a trip.
Is the sport’s jaw-droppingly awkward method to plot supply a part of its allure, although? We’re tempted to say sure. There is one thing endearing about simply how silly Disaster Core might be. It walks a really effective line between being really 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 pondering “Sephiroth is so cool” each time he appeared on display screen.
A lot of what makes Disaster Core tick is principally fan service, however there’s nothing essentially unsuitable with that. The sport goes out of its approach to present you simply how a lot of a badass Sephiroth and his SOLDIER associates are, whereas additionally offering hints of attention-grabbing backstories for a lot of of Last Fantasy VII’s personalities. Even when it is dumb, Disaster Core does, in the end, assist flesh out one of the beloved worlds in gaming.
And there is not any query that Reunion is one of the simplest ways to expertise it. Even when you’re not on board with the brand new character fashions, or the redone voice appearing (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 authentic have 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 actually 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 information of your opponent’s capabilities. It is a large step up.
It is price noting that you just solely play as Zack in Disaster Core. There are not any social gathering members, and so the trademark Materia system performs an essential position in holding issues attention-grabbing. By finishing facet missions, you will purchase a library of stat-boosting and ability-granting orbs, letting you customise Zack’s loadout to swimsuit the state of affairs. Rewarding stuff, proving as soon as once more that Sq. struck gold with Materia in Last Fantasy VII.
However not all techniques might 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 screen 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 needn’t depend on girl luck to offer you a mandatory edge, which signifies 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 fundamental and boring in 2007, and that hasn’t modified — even when the backdrops do look loads higher. Mission places are simply corridors full of encounters, and relying on how deeply you dive into the facet quests, you are going to be seeing those self same corridors over and again and again. Disaster Core generally is a very repetitive sport, and its moveable origins develop into more and more clear whenever you’re churning by bite-sized non-obligatory content material.
