Alright, so I figured I’d talk a bit about my dive into Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII. It’s one of those older titles, you know, the one that supposedly sets the stage for a lot of the stuff that came later. I’m a sucker for lore, so I thought, “heck, let’s give this a go.”
Getting Started – The Real First Mission
First off, actually playing this thing was an adventure in itself. It wasn’t like just buying a game on a modern console or PC. Nope. This was originally a mobile game, and a Japanese one at that, from way back. So, my first step was figuring out how to even get it running on something I owned. This involved a bit of digging around, finding the right tools, you know, the kind of stuff that lets you play old phone games on your computer. It took a while, a bit of trial and error, downloading this and that, configuring settings. Honestly, I spent a good evening just on this part, making sure it wouldn’t crash every five minutes.
Then there was the language barrier. My Japanese is, uh, non-existent. Luckily, some dedicated fans out there had already tackled this. Finding a version with an English patch was key. Without that, I would’ve just been staring at menus I couldn’t understand.
What It’s Actually Like to Play
Once I finally got it up and running, it was… interesting. You’re playing as one of the Turks, which is cool. Not the big heroes, but the guys in suits doing Shinra’s dirty work. The game is structured in episodes, kind of like a TV show. Each episode is a mission you gotta complete.
- Picking your Turk: You don’t just play one character. You get to choose from a roster of Turks, some new, some you might recognize if you’re deep into FF7. Each has slightly different feels, which was a nice touch.
- The Gameplay Loop: It’s pretty straightforward. You get a briefing, go into a small area, fight some enemies, maybe a boss, and complete an objective. It felt very much like a game designed for quick play sessions on a phone from that era.
- Materia: Of course, there’s Materia! It was a simpler system than in the main FF7, but it was there. You equip Materia to use magic and abilities. Finding and upgrading it was a big part of making your Turk stronger.
The graphics are what you’d expect from an old mobile game – pixelated, but with a certain charm. The music, though, that was classic Final Fantasy goodness, even in its more retro form.
The Story and Its Place
Story-wise, this game tries to fill in the blanks about what the Turks were doing before and during the events leading up to Crisis Core and the original FF7. You see younger versions of characters like Tseng, Reno, and Rude. It’s all about their clashes with AVALANCHE – the original AVALANCHE, not Barret’s group. It was kinda neat seeing those earlier conflicts and how Shinra was operating back then.
Now, do you need to play this to understand other FF7 games? Absolutely not. Like most Final Fantasy titles, they pretty much stand on their own. If you’re new to FF7, something like Final Fantasy VII Remake is a fantastic starting point. I hear that FF7 Ever Crisis thing is free to play too, and that covers a bunch of the storyline, probably in a more modern package. So, you’ve got easier options if you just want the story beats.
The Rough Edges and Why I Bothered
It wasn’t all smooth sailing. Playing a game designed for old phone keypads on a computer keyboard or controller sometimes felt clunky. The missions, while short, could sometimes get a bit repetitive. And, you know, it’s an old game. It doesn’t have all the quality-of-life features we’re used to now.
So, why did I go through the hassle? Well, I’m a bit of a completionist when it comes to series I love. I wanted to see this missing piece for myself. There’s something satisfying about unearthing these almost-forgotten parts of a big universe. It’s like finding a rare B-side track from your favorite band. It might be a bit rough, not as polished as the main albums, but it’s got a unique vibe and adds to the overall picture.
Ultimately, playing Before Crisis was a bit like an archaeological dig. It took effort to uncover and piece together, but seeing that part of the FF7 history firsthand was rewarding in its own quirky way. It’s definitely for the hardcore fans, the ones who want to experience every little bit. For everyone else, there are more accessible ways to get the story, but I’m glad I took the plunge.