The prayers of fans all around the world have been answered, and in a few more months, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion will be playable again, adding to an already hefty list of Final Fantasy titles leading into 2023.

Just last week during Tokyo Game Show 2022, Square Enix graciously invited us out to try the game through a private session that, because it would have been shameful to the public if I somehow died and looked like a fool.

Thankfully, my PSP memories have served me well, and I’m glad to say that fans and newcomers will want to keep a close eye on the game when it comes out on December 13, 2022.

SOLDIER 2nd Class Zack, Victorious Again

The Crisis Core demo I got to play lasted around 25 minutes, and while brief, it was more than enough to give me an idea of what to expect in a few months.

Players will get to control Zack Fair, and immediately, the glow-up is undeniable. Despite being tagged as a remaster, everything looks almost as good as the FFVII Remake, and you can probably mistake the two if you weren’t looking close enough.

The demo served as a tutorial of sorts, which very closely resembles combat from FF7 Remake, focusing on real-time movements and attacks instead of a turn-based affair.

My first challenge was to take care of 2 hulking monsters, and it proved to be quite busy, managing camera angles and getting acquainted with the action.

If you’ve recently played Final Fantasy VII Remake, you’ll be very familiar with how the combat all plays out. Whereas in the remake, things would slow down when choosing abilities, Crisis Core Reunion keeps the action flowing. I didn’t get time to fiddle around with the options, so I can’t say if there are toggles to adjust any combat settings.

Of course, one familiar aspect from the original release that makes a return in Crisis Core Reunion is the DMW, which sits nicely in the upper-left-hand corner of the screen. Veterans will welcome the return of the system, and newcomers will want to know, for now, that it can provide you with buffs throughout the battle depending on the combination shown.

Throughout the demo, I encountered around 3 (or was it 4?) battles, and everything played out so smoothly using a PS5. Crisis Core Reunion looked and played like a dream, which is more than enough for fans that have been patiently waiting for the game to be released once again.

The highlight of the demo was a boss battle with Ifrit, and given the level and equipment I had on, the battle was intense but fair. Of course, I had obtained an equipment piece that lessened fire damage, and I got to take a quick look at how much of Zack’s abilities I can customize. It was a very brief look, especially since I wanted to finish the playthrough, but I can say that there’s enough to fulfill the appetite of fans.

Overall, Crisis Core Reunion is shaping up to be another smashing release from Square Enix. There’s enough here to modernize the game with current sensibilities but also be faithful enough to the source material that longtime fans will be happy about.

The visuals look superb, and while I can’t say how well it performs on a PS4 or a Switch, PS5 owners can expect a silky-smooth affair with graphics that pop off the screen.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion is launching on December 13, 2022, for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC.