Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII preview for Sony PSP

We've gone hands-on this month with major new addition to the Final Fantasy stable, Crisis Core. This is a brand new spin off for the RPG series and it's presented as a prequel to the action we've seen so far. It's been out in Japan for a while, but doesn't hit the UK shelves until later this spring. We've got a full run-down of what you can expect from this major new game, from plot to gameplay, and we introduce you to the characters you'll meet. Find our all about Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII in our hands-on preview now.

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Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII preview for Sony PSP
It can't be easy making a prequel to the most popular game in one of the most famous series of all time. The pressure's on, not only to create something that lives up to such an incredible heritage, but which can also bring in a host of new fans to the universe of FFVII. Amazingly, it's looking like Square-Enix has managed to create a game that somehow manages to do justice to its predecessor – and our hands-on time with the Japanese version reveals it to be a little different from the traditional RPG template.

Set seven years before the PlayStation classic, Crisis Core tells the story of Zack, a Second Class combat operative in an elite group named SOLDIER (they worked out the name before the convoluted acronym, clearly). After a number of fellow operatives under the command of a First Class officer go missing – along with the man himself – Zack is sent to investigate the situation, tagging along with a certain First Class soldier named – yep – Sephiroth.

The history of such an iconic character is bound to excite those who battled through the original, and indeed this is one of the driving forces behind the story. But this is no turnbased, menu-driven role-player, as Square has given FFVII a modern spin with an intriguing combat system. Though initially it seems a little simplistic – not to mention awkward – Zack's attacks are less immediate than a traditional third-person fighter, yet the game appears to reward buttonmashing – so on you'll be taking on enemies who require a lot more thought.