Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core (PSP version) was the first video game (handheld or otherwise) I ever played and I remember having a hard time beating some of the mission bosses (cos I had no idea about accessories and boosts). Over a decade later, the title has been ported over to the Switch and I knew I had to play it again.
But I didn't get into it right away. The overall graphics/ presentation definitely received a makeover -- but I was disappointed by how some of the characters (I'm looking at you Angeal) still look so I left the game on the shelves for a few months.
After all the hype surrounding the Rebirth release though, and with Zack Fair putting in a guest appearance, I decided to give it another go (and in doing so I have to take a break from Final Fantasy XV). And within a couple of weeks I'm already on Chapter 7, where I should be completing more than half the 300 missions.
One thing that really stuck in my mind re the original Crisis Core is how grindy it was to max out Zack's stats: getting HP + 999% x 2 (yup, I fused Costly Punch) and 255 VIT and SPR for the Minerva (big optional boss) fight. I remember after maxing all his stats I said I would never replay the game again. It got just too tedious.
Luckily with Reunion, the game is less grindy, partly because there are now more than one way to break damage limit (so, not just Costly Punch in the original); with the new Buster Sword battle stance limit break skill, Zack can do 99,999 damage with any other command abilities (like, High Jump and Darkness). All I need to focus on is getting the +100 ATK. I don't even need to worry about boosting HP cos I am not using Costly Punch in this play through. And getting +100 ATK definitely is less grindy and was actually quite fun. Though that has invariably pushed Zack's level to 40+. I am hoping to end the game at around level 60 (90 in the original game, which I still have on my Final Fantasy VII PSP special edition !!
I should be able to complete 50%+ mission by end of this week and then will jump back into the story -- there is ONE mini game that I am not looking forward to and that is to save someone from a burning house, like, blind... it's such a ridiculous side quest I wish they had gotten rid of that...
