Review: Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII

Final Fantasy VII has become one of the most well known games out there and after a few years Square realized this as they had decided to actually release a sequel to the game that sequel was known as Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. Fan of the original Final Fantasy VII may have been a bit disappointed with Dirge of Cerberus due to the fact that it didn't exactly feel like a Final Fantasy game due to the one simple difference between this and every other Final Fantasy game out. That difference is the fact that Dirge of Cerberus was a third person shooter with traces of role playing elements throughout the game.

The main playable character this time around isn't Cloud but instead another returning character from the previous game, Vincent Valentine. Three years have passed since the events at the end of Final Fantasy VII and another dark scheme to destroy the entire planet had risen once again this time from a group known as Deepground and a bunch of super powered humans known as the Tsviets. The Tsviets seem to be looking for Vincent and they're taking out anyone else who gets in the way as thousands of people begin to disappear as mysterious screams echo from the city of Midgar. Of course Vincent won't be the only farmiliar face to appear as many other familiar characters will arrive to lend a hand to Vincent and an army force known as the W.R.O.

For a third person shooter the game plays very well with a few of the characteristics from Final Fantasy added into the mix including the ability to level up your guns as well as the use of potions and other items from the Final Fantasy universe. The guns in the game can also be customized by a number of different upgrades which can give them magic abilities and such but there really aren't too many of these upgrades leaving much to be desired from this feature.

Updated graphics along with the added voice acting almost identical from those that were featured in Advent Children makes for a great addition to the Final Fantasy VII experience. One thing that all the Final Fantasy titles up until X lacked was voice acting and that changes in this addition to the series with an amazing set of voice actors added for a group of characters that were considered some of the most memorable even when they had no voice.

One downside to the game is that it could be considered a bit on the easy side especially considering that anytime you get stuck on a boss or difficult situation you have the ability to use what is know as a Limit Breaker. Limit Breakers are items that will allow Vincent to turn into a beast like form by utilizing the beast, Chaos, that lies within him. This form gives Vincent upgraded attack power when it comes to close range attacks as well as a long ranged attack making it possible to make it past most obstacles with ease. There were also a few other things making the game a little easier including the item, phoenix down, which should sound familiar as in previous Final Fantasy games would allow you to revive fallen party members but this time around you'll be able come back after dying once for every phoenix down you use on yourself before dying. Some boss fights even go ahead and put shops right on the screen where you'll be fighting the boss giving you the ability to continue to buy potions as long as you have enough for them.

Overall the storyline adds on to the memorable storyline of Final Fantasy VII with many returning characters as well as a group of all new unique enemies. The style of the game doesn't exactly fit a Final Fantasy game but it is an average shooter and although it is a little on the easy side it is worth a try especially if Final Fantasy VII left you wanting more as this is the more that you've been waiting for although Crisis Core may fill that void a little better only time will tell.