Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunionis now available, and it puts players just a few more steps closer to experiencing the next part of theFF7 Remaketrilogy,Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. The prequel PSP title released back in 2007 has always played an important part in the overall lore of the series, but now it’s been updated tobetter match theFF7 Remakeprojectin many ways. These changes weren’t done lightly, as it was most likely done so that fans understood Zack’s story before the next part of the project.
All the changes made toCrisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunionare minor or cosmetic changes, leaving the story completely intact as a result. While this may seem disappointing at first, especially due to how the developers claimedReunionwas “more than just a remaster,” it makes sense asCCFF7R’sstory works as the prelude to both the originalFF7andRemakeas is. However, considering theRemaketrilogy is being made withCrisis Core, as well as the rest of theCompilation of FF7in mind, there are plenty of plot threads that were alluded to inCrisis Corethat have made their way intoRemakeand evenRebirth.
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How Crisis Core’s Plot Points Matter in Final Fantasy 7 Remake
Final Fantasy 7fans likely know about Zack Fair and his connections to Cloud and his past. The ending ofCrisis Coreis important to the plot ofFF7,but to truly understand the ending ofFinal Fantasy 7 Remake, knowing that Zack was originally meant to die in battle is something fans need to experience. Not only will the ending mean more to players if theyexperienceCrisis Corefirst, but the knowledge will likely matter even more when playingRebirthas the story will likely explain how Zack is now alive.
Crisis Corehas already changed theRemakeproject as oftheFF7 RemakeIntermissionDLC. Just before fans finish the game, they’re treated to a cutscene where a few peculiar “SOLDIERs” take Genesis away on a Shinra helicopter. The culprits are none other than Nero and Weiss, characters who originally appeared inDirge of Cerberus, but were part ofFF7R Intermission. Considering that Square Enix has no plans to remake Vincent Valentine’s solo game, it makes sense as to why Nero and Weiss appeared much earlier in theRemakeproject. Players can also find Vincent in the caverns underneath Shinra Manor, teasing fans about his involvement in future games.
In terms of Shinra’s secrets, the inclusion of Professor Hojo inFF7 Remakeis much more fleshed out compared to his original portrayal in the PS1 game. Where Hojo somehow failed to recognize Cloud inFF7, one ofHojo’s old Project S test subjects,Remakefixes that and has the scientist notice Cloud right away. Cloud also has unkind words towards the man who experimented on him, with or without the correct memories. Cloud was Hojo’s test subject inCrisis Core, which helps tie the two games even closer together than before.
There are other, smaller pieces of the gigantic puzzle that tends to beFinal Fantasy 7lore that are scattered throughout bothCrisis Core Reunionand theRemakeproject. Fans who are new to the series as ofFF7Rcan now understand the weight behindAerith saying she has a boyfriendto Cloud, only for him to get a headache afterwards once they playCrisis Core Reunion. Players can also meet Yuffie as a child ahead ofIntermission, and one small detail inCrisis Core’s emails is corporate emails that points to what Rufus Shinra is up to.
There are larger plot points inCrisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunionthat’ll definitely be explored in later entries of the trilogy as well. One prominent example is how Cloud has yet toretell the Nibelheim incidentto the party, which was what began Sephiroth’s tyranny and Cloud’s entire story. As the Nibelheim flashback is usually playable, fans have an exciting second – or even fourth – revisit to Cloud’s hometown to look forward to inRebirth.
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunionis available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
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