Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII

« This game should not disappoint fans, it is different for sure, but it is also an excellent, very well executed shooter, which still retains the elements of FF we all love - the complex plot, upgrades, EXP, and even a chance to discuss chocobos if you just find the right girl to chat with! »

« It's a unique take on the FPS, RPG and action genres, but at the same time Dirge of Cerberus doesn’t execute either of these genres extremely well. If you’re willing to be patient with the game’s controls Dirge of Cerberus offers a new experience and more background on the Final Fantasy VII universe. [JPN Import] »

« Mediocre at best gameplay coupled with graphical bliss and a lengthy story guarantee huge sales, but you’d be much better off waiting a month and getting FF XII as this is no RPG and it’s no picnic. [JPN Import] »

« Very beautiful. How disappointing, then, to learn that the entertainment factor is only mild. [Sept 2006, p.54] »

« None of the bland gameplay is helped by the fact that the controls feel sluggish overall. »

« Neither fantastic nor terrible, instead landing somewhere in between. Final Fantasy fans might find the addition of an action game to their favorite series to be odd, while shooter aficionados will wonder why it's so easy. »

« The story is interesting and fairly epic, but told in such large chunks at a time, that sometimes the pacing is thrown off. »

« Is Dirge of Cerberus the best use of the Final Fantasy VII universe? Definitely not. Is it a decent game with a strong story and occasionally-engaging rifle blasting? Absolutely. »

« For a new fan into the series, the gameplay was fun even tho some elements were repetitive. The shooter style and the limit breaks are fun to play. The story was decent, a bit complicated but eventually I understand it. The lore behind Vincent was cool and seeing other FF7 characters like Yuffie or Cid really makes the story more vibrant, not only focusing on Vincent all the time. All and all, a good way to start the FF VII compilation. »

« Shooter torpe disfrazado de lore. Un intento desesperado de convertir a Vincent en protagonista a base de ruido, pasillos y fanservice oscuro. Ni dispara bien, ni narra mejor. FFVII no necesitaba esto. »

« un gioco sottovalutato ma con una bella idea e una bella storia peccato sia troppo lineare,comandi pessimi e difficoltà sbilanciata »

« Remember playing this game as a kid, loved it even though i dont like Final Fantasy, but thisone was really good. »

« Vincent Valentine is a cool character, but this attempt to expand his lore and story is hit-or-miss. There are some cool nods to FF VII, but for non-fans this is a tough one to engage with. Combat is fine, if a bit slow and uneven. »

« The story of this game has potential but Square is not strong in shooters, it is very noticeable, the music is not bad, decent graphics for ps2, but it has mediocre rythm, you will enjoy this game only if you are a fan of Vincent Valentine. »

« Whenever something in life prospers, there's always something waiting to capitalize on it before the opportunity is gone. In some cases, it makes things better and in some cases it makes things worse but in every case the decision is forever a part of it's legacy. This is the story of Vincent Valentine who happens to be a vampire from a prosperous game, FFVII. And lets just say that in more ways than one, that game lived forever. FFVII had many memorable characters and trust me I know, dissecting that entire game from front to back was basically my day job but up until this point Vincent was only a side character in FFVII until the fans loved him so much they thought he deserved his own game... and this is that game. They say "You only live once" but in Vincent's case... he's a vampire destined to live forever. Vampires on their own aren't that interesting until you start adding guns that is. The aiming system in this game isn't exactly what you'd expect but for a game that isn't COD, it controls pretty well. I wouldn't consider this an FPS personally but there's plenty of room for disagreement. Visually, this game is in a class of it's own with it's shiny, almost glowing aesthetic that's very pleasant to look at. It works in the game's favor by placing you in an environment contrary to the dark depressing and flat-colored world of FFVII. Although, the game-play could've been improved quite a bit, it didn't control badly but the mechanics felt very surface-level. And If it wasn't FFVII related, I probably wouldn't have played through all of it but looking back at it, It's surprising that Square Enix even gave so much backstory to a side character. I don't know many companies that dedicate entire games to characters like that. The characters, music and story were enjoyable enough to make it worth the play-through. However, I would never say that I regret playing this game because it helps me fully appreciate the true story depth of FFVII. There are a few redeeming qualities though, the first being how amazing the menu is front to back. Another being the way it looks and all the stats for each weapon. Every time you're customizing you can see exactly what you're changing along with detailed descriptions for each upgrade. The menu itself also has descriptions for each of the options and you can configure the camera in a variety of ways to fit your needs. There are so many stats for everything, it's insane. Items are also fun to use and never get in the way but help you during really tough times. It also has very smooth movement animations during cutscenes and fights making it nice to look at. And finally, the map is crystal clear to understand and easy to use whenever you might get lost. There's much to be said about a game as controversial as Dirge of Cerberus. I see people on both sides of the spectrum every time. With the backing of a company like Square Enix it's very hard to fail and in this case they succeeded in terms of creating a great addition to an already wonderful story. The events that appear in this game also had a notable effect years later in FFVII Remake Intergrade and FFVII Rebirth once again, proving its worth. This game isn't meant to appeal to mainstream audiences but rather the die-hard FFVII fans. Square Enix made a risky move in trying a different genre of game for the same title and at the very least I have to respect their boldness in doing so. But sometimes we as the players also have to take risks in the games we play allowing our perspectives to widen and allow new information albeit good or bad. In my opinion, the potential positives outweighed the negatives so I took that risk and can say I came out more fulfilled on the other side. My advice is to look back at these specific characters that are present in Dirge of Cerberus only if you've already played FFVII and ask yourself if you need more... not want but need and if the answer is yes, than this game does not want but needs you as well. »

« Final Fantasy is known for pushing the boundaries of the JRPG franchise through risk-taking, and 'Dirge of Cerberus' attempts to follow this philosophy. While the concept of having everyone's favorite emo-ish vampire, Vincent, shoot his way through Edge to confront a new antagonist makes sense, the execution falls short, leaving players increasingly disconnected as the story progresses. The return of fan-favorite characters from the original Final Fantasy VII cast, like Yuffie, adds a touch of fan service to the 12-15 hour journey. However, the portrayal of Vincent as a nearly silent protagonist is a puzzling choice. While he wasn't overly vocal in the original game, this installment focuses on his backstory, and it's disappointing to see him participate in lengthy dialogues without contributing much. The Tsviets, the antagonists from Deepground, stand out as the highlight, but the lack of character development leaves much to be desired. Characters like Rosso, who could have been intriguing, are overshadowed, and the ultimate twist fails to evoke a significant reaction. Addressing gameplay, considering the era when 'Dirge of Cerberus' was released, the dual thumbstick controls for shooters were relatively new. The game manages these controls reasonably well, offering semi-auto aiming. However, the absence of a radar or minimap leaves players often disoriented, struggling to locate enemies. The enemies with shields, requiring specific damage types, prove frustrating, particularly on higher difficulties The item and materia systems are disappointingly basic, contrasting with the potential for more depth, especially in gun customization. Unfortunately, the limited setup results in a uniform experience, missing an opportunity for varied gameplay. Cannot help but wonder how a system similar to Parasite Eve would have enhanced the overall presentation of combat. Sadly, will never know. The soundtrack lacks standout tracks and motifs, departing from the rich musical tradition of the Final Fantasy VII compilation. The absence of memorable music is particularly felt in an action shooter, where fast-paced music could have enhanced the gaming experience. While not a completely horrible experience, 'Dirge of Cerberus' oscillates between moments of frustration and boredom. Boss battles are uneven in difficulty, with only a couple posing a real challenge. The game's potential is overshadowed by its failures, making it difficult to recommend unless you specifically seek more Final Fantasy VII compilation action. »