Genre: Action RPG
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix

Taken as a whole, this work is one of the nicest looking on the PSP. The player model faces are expressive and detailed, the FMV sequences are typically Square in their splendor, and the aesthetics are generally eye-pleasing. The negatives involve an appearance that lacks the smooth, almost anti-aliased look of Coded Arms or Chains of Olympus, and grainy environment textures.

The songs from Takeharu Ishimoto's soundtrack fall into two categories: original compositions, and remixed versions of Uematsu's FF7 classics. Aside from a few exceptions, the songs from the former category are gratingly repetetive and feature some sample selections that are painful to the ear. As for the latter category, Ishimoto simply replaced samples from Uematsu's original selections and in the process made the compositions sound worse. The English voice acting is solid but extremely rooted in the typical formulaic anime style.

Crisis Core takes cinematography in gaming to whole new levels, as film-like mechanics pervade even the battle engine; while engaging in some Kingdom of Paradise-esque sword play, the battle will randomly stop, play a cinematic sequence, and activate an automated super ability, such as a devestating attack or a nice healing spell. The rest of the gameplay involves the standard-fare town/dungeon alternation with some occasional puzzles and mediocre mini-games thrown in.

Between the stop-start battles and frequent cut-scenes, the pacing in Crisis Core can be a little erratic. Fortunately, menu-accessible side missions are available while your character is positioned at any save point, and it is these side missions that provide the meat to what otherwise would be a rather superficial experience. In all, Crisis Core is a superior action RPG proposition than Kingdom of Paradise and is very enjoyable, almost inexplicably due to its myriad of flaws.