Disaster Core: Remaining Fantasy VII Reunion Overview (PS5)

Disaster Core: Remaining Fantasy VII is a PSP unique spinoff from 2007 that is usually remembered fondly via 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 Remaining Fantasy VII: Creation Kids, the animated movie that flanked it, Disaster Core was filled with cool concepts that appealed to followers of the unique Remaining Fantasy VII — however its execution of those concepts was usually misjudged.

For all its points, although, it is simple sufficient to argue that Disaster Core deserves a second probability, particularly now that we dwell in an age the place Remaining Fantasy VII Remake is a actuality. And so right here we’re, with Disaster Core: Remaining Fantasy VII Reunion, an in depth remaster — not remake — of Zack Honest’s angsty adventures via the ranks of Shinra’s elite navy power, SOLDIER.

Now, Sq. Enix has been hit or miss with its remasters in recent times. Remaining Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age might be among the finest 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 consistent with the previous. Total, it is an immaculate graphical improve on the PSP authentic, boasting remade character fashions and environmental belongings — whereas additionally sporting an overhauled consumer interface taken straight from Remaining Fantasy VII Remake.

The change in artwork path would possibly rub some followers the fallacious approach, nonetheless. 2007’s Disaster Core had a personality type paying homage to Kingdom Hearts, with large shiny eyes and cartoonish facial animations. And whereas Reunion reuses most of these goofy (pun not meant) actions, the solid are way more ‘life like’ in look — presumably in an try to make it appear to be 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.

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 instances, it nearly seems to be 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 life like. There’s undoubtedly a noticeable disconnect between the sport’s old-school (and comparatively low-cost trying) in-game cutscenes, and the way good the remaster seems to be as an entire.

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 Remaining 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 continually left at the hours of darkness by his superiors, who simply so occur to like talking in hilariously overwrought riddles. Should you’re not conversant in the unique launch, you are in for a journey.

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 may be. It walks a really fantastic line between being truly crap and being so dangerous 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 principally fan service, however there’s nothing essentially fallacious with that. The sport goes out of its option to present you simply how a lot of a badass Sephiroth and his SOLDIER pals are, whereas additionally offering hints of fascinating backstories for a lot of of Remaining Fantasy VII’s personalities. Even when it is dumb, Disaster Core does, finally, assist flesh out probably the most beloved worlds in gaming.

And there is no query that Reunion is one of the best ways to expertise it. Even in case you’re not on board with the brand new character fashions, or the redone voice appearing (actually, the brand new Zack is questionable at greatest), 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 determine whether or not it was an motion title or a command-based battler. It actually did not come near reaching 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 ft and his assaults are simpler to combo. His dodge roll is extra responsive and extra evasive, and the result’s what appears like an actual motion RPG that rewards correct timing and information of your opponent’s capabilities. It is a huge step up.

It is value noting that you simply solely play as Zack in Disaster Core. There are not any get together members, and so the trademark Materia system performs an necessary position in protecting issues fascinating. By finishing aspect missions, you will purchase a library of stat-boosting and ability-granting orbs, letting you customise Zack’s loadout to go well with the state of affairs. Rewarding stuff, proving as soon as once more that Sq. struck gold with Materia in Remaining Fantasy VII.

However not all programs may 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 almost as irritating because it as soon as was. With Zack able to holding his personal in more durable fights, you needn’t depend on woman luck to offer you a crucial edge, which implies that the DMW is now extra of a enjoyable further — 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 rather a lot higher. Mission areas are simply corridors full of encounters, and relying on how deeply you dive into the aspect quests, you are going to be seeing those self same corridors over and over and over. Disaster Core could be a very repetitive recreation, and its transportable origins turn into more and more clear while you’re churning via bite-sized optionally available content material.