Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII (2006) (VG)

Director:

Takayoshi Nakazato

Writer:

Hiroki Chiba (scenario & event planning director)

Release Date:

22 August 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Fantasy | Mystery | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Set a few years after Final Fantasy VII : Advent Children, this PS2 game tells the tale of Vincent Valentine.

Plot Keywords:

Metamorphosis | Third Person Camera | Third Person | Third Person Shooter | Final Fantasy

Cast

Steve Blum	...	Vincent Valentine (voice: English version)
Kari Wahlgren	...	Shelke Rui (voice: English version)
Kim Mai Guest	...	Shalua Rui (voice: English version)
Jamieson Price	...	Reeve Tuesti (voice: English version)
Greg Ellis	...	Cait Sith (voice: English version)
David Boat	...	Weiss (voice: English version) (as Dave Boat)
Mike Rock	...	Nero (voice: English version)
Brad Abrell	...	Azul (voice: English version)
Mary Elizabeth McGlynn	...	Rosso (voice: English version)
Mae Whitman	...	Yuffie Kisaragi (voice: English version)
Chris Edgerly	...	Cid Highwind (voice: English version)
Steve Burton	...	Cloud Strife (voice: English version)
Rachael Leigh Cook	...	Tifa Lockhart (voice: English version)
Beau Billingslea	...	Barret Wallace (voice: English version)
Bob Joles	...	Grimoire Valentine (voice: English version)

Country:

Japan

Language:

English | Japanese

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:T

Company:

Square Enix Company

Trivia:

Although this is the second true sequel to a Final Fantasy video game series since Final Fantasy X-2, this is actually the first Final Fantasy true sequel video game series for Final Fantasy VII, where the game play is a 3rd-person action-shooter with some RPG elements instead of its traditional turn-base RPG genre.

Quotes:

Yuffie Kisaragi: Imagine that: me saving the great Vincent Valentine! Do I get any thanks?
[laughs]
Vincent Valentine: Thanks, Yuffie.
Yuffie Kisaragi: No, no, whoa. I didn't mean for you to take me so seriously. Anyway, Reeve wanted us to contact him as soon as you woke up.

Movie Connections:

References Short Circuit (1986)

Soundtrack:

Longing

Overall, pretty good

Final Fantasy VII was one of the best selling RPGs of all time. So it's no big surprise that Square has made a couple of prequels and sequels to it. SE's latest, Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII, is a hybrid third person shooter/RPG. As such, on top of running and gunning, you'll be buying upgrades for your gun and leveling up the game's main character, Vincent.

The game is fun to play, but the levels feel too linear and simple. Furthermore, you won't be pulling off any of the awesome stunts that Vincent did in Advent Children. Your athletics is limited to a double jump and some punching and kicking. The gunning is usually fun, and DoC's weapon customization system makes it even better. Unfortunately, you'll often feel like your in a shooting gallery, because your enemies are so darn stupid. They will sometimes run up to you and just sit there, waiting to be shot. Also, the game is somewhat short; I completed the game in only three days.

Graphics are pretty good; the character models are great, but the environments tend to look a little bland. It's OK, though, because each level looks very different from the last.

DoC's sound is very good, because of great voice acting, crisp sound, and brilliantly composed music.

The storyline is top notch. While I don't want to spoil anything for you, I will say this: This game may make you cry, especially if you cried during "that" one scene in Final Fantasy VII. You'll also see many classic locations, including Shinra Manor and Kalm.

Overall, DoC is a fun game, but if you're looking for the next great Final Fantasy game, this isn't it.