Ten years after the original PlayStation's Final Fantasy VII debuted to critical acclaim, Sony's handheld receives an exclusive prequel entitled "Crisis Core." The storyline focuses on Zack Fair and his dealings with a young Cloud Strife, an opportunistic Shinra Company, and the troubled Sephiroth. The action is viewed from a third-person perspective as players guide Zack across an assortment of 3D environments while engaging in random battles against multiple enemy types. Combat involves initiating a choice of melee or magic-based attacks as a three-reel slot machine, referred to as a "Digital Mind Wave," spins in the top corner of the screen. Each reel displays a character or a number, with each spin resulting in a potential status upgrade depending on the combination. Players might automatically replenish health or magic, for example, or gain a more powerful attack during the encounter. Throughout Zack's journey, players will interact with characters both new and familiar, gradually learning more about the events leading up to the planet's rapid decline. Scott Alan Marriott.
Controls: CONTROLS L or R Button = rotate camera, select command D-Pad or Analog Stick = select, scroll zone map, move Triangle Button = show main menu, guard Square Button = show zone map, evade Circle Button = cancel, advance text, select attack command X Button = confirm, talk, examine, advance text, save, execute command Home Button = quit game Select Button = delete data Start Button = pause