Gaming

Crisis Core Reunion made me crave for more FFVII

FFVII Rebirth can’t come soon enough

Published

January 10, 2023

Rodneil Quiteles

Playing Crisis Core – Final Fantasy VII — Reunion just made me crave for more Final Fantasy VII (FFVII/ FF7).

This wasn’t the feeling I expected to get. After all, Square Enix has had an intense focus on the FF7, milking it for all it’s worth. I really thought I’d be sick of it. But one of the things that makes the franchise great is its story and characters. And that takes centerstage in this modernization of a game that only used to be available on the PlayStation Portable (PSP).

Right after finishing my first ever playthrough of Crisis Core (I never got to play the PSP version), I immediately watched Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. It was the most accessible piece of media related to FFVII that didn’t require dozens of hours of my time.

I just wanted more. This was the general feeling I got after finishing the game. And it’s a good way to entice fans to anticipate the upcoming mobile game FFVII Ever Crisis and the continuation of the FFVII Remake which is titled Rebirth.

Ever Crisis is a mobile game that will re-tell the entire FFVII story. This could include the prequel games Crisis Core, Before Crisis, as well as the main FFVII game. The latest trailer even teased a look at a much younger version of main villain Sephiroth.

Meanwhile, FFVII Rebirth is the second installment of FFVII Remake which Square Enix has announced will be a Trilogy retelling of the iconic game.

So, there’s definitely plenty of FFVII things coming on the horizon. But what is it about Crisis Core Reunion that made me want more?

Stepping into Zack Fair’s shoes

If you’re a Final Fantasy VII fan, you would have some knowledge of Zack Fair and how important he is to the FFVII story. However, it’s one thing to be told about Zack and a whole other thing to experience his story.

Through Crisis Core Reunion, you’ll get a better understanding of his character, his motivations, and his relationships with key figures in the FFVII universe. As a gamer, it’s incredibly more rewarding to go through all 10 (11 if you count the prologue) chapters of Crisis Core than watch a YouTube video telling you about it.

Zack is a prototypical protagonist in that he is steadfast in his beliefs and disposition. He matures, yes, but he remains true to himself and everything he values. And that’s making sure he keeps his honor and leaves a strong legacy as a member of SOLDIER and a hero

Sephiroth before he loses his marbles

Sephiroth has always been portrayed as this towering, larger-than-life figure. And while that is still mostly true here, we get real, “human” moments with him. His relationship with fellow SOLDIER 1st Class members Angeal and Genesis showed that there’s a more playful, almost vulnerable side to him.

His interactions with Zack, other members of SOLDIER, and the rest of the Shinra infantry men were also fun to see. Him being shown as the leader and hero he is revered to be, is a stark contrast to the looming grand threat he is in both the original game and the remake.

The Summons, monsters, and more

One of my favorite things about any Final Fantasy game are the summons. They always look a little different, but still familiar, in every game. I was very happy that in Crisis Core, you actually get to square off against Bahamut. This Megaflare-breathing dragon is my favorite and I was ecstatic that there’s an option to get him pretty early on in the game.

The other summons, monsters, and creatures you encounter in Final Fantasy are all the same. Ifrit, Tonberry Sahagin, Marlboro, and even the Chocobos all make an appearance here and they really put the ‘Fantasy’ in Final Fantasy.

Missions and combat

I gotta admit, the missions would have been unbearable if the combat didn’t feel good. It’s not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but there’s enough here to keep someone engaged while going through hundreds of side missions.

Again, I never played the PSP version of the game, but from what I gather from both YouTube videos and accounts of other players, there’s plenty of quality of life improvements here to make it more enjoyable.

For one, the Digital Mind Wave or DMW (the slot-machine-like thing that keeps rolling as you fight) stays on the upper-left corner of the screen instead of it getting in the way in the PSP version.

Getting to your commands is much faster too as it adopted a system similar to Kingdom Hearts where you hold a shoulder button to activate any materia commands with the face buttons. In contrast, you had to cycle through so much using only the shoulder buttons in the original game.

The missions offer the most punishing foes and the grandest rewards. But they’re not a requirement to complete the game. If you want a more detailed bit on it, this video by The Completionist is one I recommend you watch.

Aerith, Tifa, and… Cissnei??

I was ready for more doses of FFVII waifus Aerith and Tifa. But what I was not expecting was Cissnei. She was barely mentioned in the recap and retrospective videos I’ve seen. And while she ultimately doesn’t do much for the FFVII story as a whole, her inclusion in Crisis Core is a welcome addition. It adds another layer to Zack’s characterization and you know, you can never have too many notable female characters in a game.

Aerith and Tifa were exactly what I expected. And it’s always nice to see more of them in any version of FFVII.

Replay FFVII?

Playing Crisis Core – Final Fantasy VII — Reunion just made me crave for more Final Fantasy VII (FFVII/ FF7). And while Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children quenched my thirst, I’m also slowly entertaining thoughts of replaying the remastered version of the original game.

I probably won’t given my rather hectic schedule, but I certainly can’t wait to sink my senses into more Final Fantasy VII.

Gaming

CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- REUNION physical edition now available for Switch 2

Zack Fair’s story comes to Switch 2.

Published

September 24, 2026

GadgetMatch

Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia and SQUARE ENIX have released the physical edition of CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- REUNION for Nintendo Switch 2 in Southeast Asia.

Players can also purchase the game digitally on the platform. Availability may vary by region and retailer.

Zack Fair’s story returns

Set in the mako-powered metropolis of Midgar, CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- REUNION follows Zack Fair, a young operative in Shinra’s elite SOLDIER unit.

Zack investigates the mysterious disappearance of SOLDIER operatives alongside his mentor, Angeal, and the legendary Sephiroth. His journey reveals the events that shaped the world of FINAL FANTASY VII and his connection to Cloud Strife.

The game revisits Zack’s story with an HD graphical overhaul of its character models, user interface, and environments. It also features fully voiced dialogue in English and Japanese, alongside an updated action-combat system.

Players can trigger Limit Breaks and Summons as they battle their way through the story. The game also supports handheld and docked play on Nintendo Switch 2.

A look back at Zack’s legacy

Originally released as a remaster of the PSP classic, CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- REUNION offers a refreshed take on one of the franchise’s most significant prequel stories.

In our GadgetMatch review, we explored how the remaster brings Zack Fair’s journey to modern platforms while preserving the emotional core of his story.

The release also gives players another way to experience the events leading into FINAL FANTASY VII, ahead of the upcoming FINAL FANTASY VII REVELATION, the third and final entry in the FINAL FANTASY VII Remake series.

For more information about CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- REUNION and other Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia titles, visit the official website.

Gaming

Dune: Awakening makes it way to the PS5 and Xbox Series X

Surviving the harsh land of Arrakis one sandstorm and bloodlust at a time

Published

September 22, 2026

Gab Orlina

Back in June of 2025, Funcom released its multi-nominated open world survival game, Dune: Awakening. Inspired by the renowned movie franchise, the game takes place within the deserts of Arrakis as players survive and thrive through intense combat and strategic decision making. Now, in the big 2026, Funcom is finally bringing that experience to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S players as Dune: Awakening officially launches on console!

For the newbies finally getting it on console, here’s all you need to know:

Take the lead or do it together

Dune: Awakening takes you into the desolate land of Arrakis, and gives you the option to do it on Single Player or Multiplayer upfront. Through your own bidding in strategy, combat, and resource management, your goals are simple: survive the terrain, make more allies than enemies, and conquer the land through your affiliation to the powers that be.

This version of the game is as exact and as one-to-one as it possibly could with the PC version released last year, down to the story arcs, quests, and PvE/PvP areas you take on. Since launch, Funcom has introduced new weapons, areas, and cosmetics through DLCs that will be available to console players, as well. Also, several key features in story and mission progression that have changed on the PC version will take into effect.

If you want to engage with multiplayer, it is still a viable option when you want to gather more resources and reinforce your bases against other players and the natural elements. However, you still won’t be able to host your own server on a console just yet, as it is more stable to do so on the PC version.

Become whoever and whatever to survive

Character customization became the game’s bread and butter through its extensively library of features and unique take on story progression. As you begin your journey, Lady Jessica welcomes you in and asks you on your origin story, mentorship, and initial skill set — all of which are to your choosing based on your play style. Honestly, none of these completely influence the difficulty in progressing the story too much but it will give you full control of the experience.

As you progress further into the game, you will unlock more skills and abilities to aid you in your quest for power and survival. These will help you earn XP, along with accomplishing tasks, gathering resources and researching newer technologies, plus engaging in combat both within the PvE and PvP areas. Ultimately, you and, potentially, other players must build enough rapport and influence to shape the world of Arrakis to your liking.

Consistent visual expectations

For most players on the PC version, graphical fidelity relied heavily on the hardware of choice. When transitioning the game into a console-friendly environment, Funcom worked out the details seamlessly by adding a Performance and Quality mode. In this fashion, you can opt for crystal-clear graphics at a decent 30 FPS or go for a constant 60 FPS to keep up with the action.

Left: Performance | Right: Quality

No matter which mode you choose, the overall visual identity of the game doesn’t change drastically. Environments look rich and vibrant, while the tiniest of details within character models are preserved. Although, given frame rate differences, rendering of background elements also reflects that but it won’t ruin the gaming experience.

Dune: Awakening will be available on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on September 22. For Xbox Game Pass owners, this will also be a Day One release with Play Anywhere support and cross-play within Xbox and PC players upon launch.

Funcom has also planned an exciting map update later this year plus potential DLC tie-ins to the upcoming Dune: Part Three theatrical release in December.

Gaming

Valve unveils price of the Steam Frame

The VR headset starts at US$ 1,059.

Published

September 15, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

The trifecta is complete. Almost a year after announcing their new hardware, Valve has finally unveiled the price tag of the Steam Frame, complementing the Steam Machine and Steam Controller revealed a few months ago.

Whereas the Steam Machine is a console of its own, the Steam Frame is a traditional VR headset with a pair of controllers for both hands. Unfortunately, despite being in a different segment, the headset is not immune to the rising prices of technology. The Steam Frame will start at US$ 1,059 for a 256GB model and can go up to US$ 1,299 for the 1TB model. On the plus side, each box will come Half-Life: Alyx packaged along with the headset.

Here’s a more detailed rundown of what you’re getting. The Steam Frame will ship with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, paired with 16GB of RAM. Each eye comes with a 2160 x 2160 LCD screen, putting out images at up t0 a 144Hz experimental refresh rate. As mentioned above, the headset will start with 256GB of storage but can go up to 2TB. It will come packaged with SteamOS 3 and a rechargeable 21.6Wh battery.

This might be a hard buy for some. The industry currently has more affordable options, for one. Also, virtual reality isn’t the most thriving segment of gaming today.

If you’re still decided on buying one, however, Valve is using its lottery system. Interested customers can sign up from now until September 17. The company will then randomize the purchasing order. Those who draw the first ones in the lottery can get a purchase email as soon as September 18. Meanwhile, anyone who registers after September 17 will automatically be put at the back of the queue.