9) Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
A fondly remembered PSP classic, Crisis Core was lapped up by fans of Final Fantasy VII. The game’s story delves into the iconic Nibelheim incident that binds together the fate of Cloud, Sephiroth, and Zack. The familiarity of the characters was wonderful nostalgia, but Crisis Core differed from the original by introducing a slick, pacey turn-based combat system that hybridizes Kingdom Hearts-esque combat with Final Fantasy menus and materia.
The big boo-hoo is that this spin-off has never been remastered for current generation, or even ported to PlayStation’s subsequent handheld, Vita. Crisis Core remains a gem tucked away on PSP. If you’ve never had the pleasure and you’re a Final Fantasy VII fan, you’ll be amazed at just how brilliant this near ten-year-old title is. The story explores relationships between characters new and old, the visuals still impress (especially the HD cut-scenes), and the gameplay is bags of fun.
