Introduction

There are few games in the thirty-plus years of video gaming history that are as popular or well-respected as the PlayStation RPG Final Fantasy VII. Released in 1997, Final Fantasy VII exposed mainstream gamers to RPGs for the first time, and was a favorite of the hardcore as well. Final Fantasy VII continues to be, to this day, a primary example of how to perfectly meld accessibility with depth. Subsequently, few games (if any) have developed the following the seventh installment in the primary Final Fantasy series has, and Crisis Core marks the second time Square has gone back to revisit the game.

Unlike 2006's Dirge of Cerberus, which revisited the Final Fantasy VII universe through the eyes of the mysterious Vincent Valentine, Crisis Core revisits things through the eyes of a character we barely get to see in the original game, a SOLDIER operative named Zack Fair. It is a bona fide prequel to Final Fantasy VII, with appearances from familiar characters such as Aerith (Aeris) and Sephiroth. And unlike Dirge of Cerberus, Crisis Core plays, at least moderately, like an RPG. An action-RPG, to be sure, but an RPG nonetheless.

Crisis Core is sure to be a hit with gamers, and luckily, those gamers have a place to come for help. IGN Guides has your back -- as always -- with our complete guide to Crisis Core. Our complete Basics section will get you up to speed on all of the nuances of the game, while our Walkthrough and Missions section will get you through the toughest spots anywhere in the game. Our massive Appendices section outlines each item, accessory, piece of materia and more. Basically, we have an incredibly useful resource for all you PSP-wielding gamers.

So read on. It's time to take on the role of Zack Fair and make some sense out of Final Fantasy VII's convoluted backstory.

In this Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core strategy guide, you'll find:

• BASICS // Master the action-RPG madness of Crisis Core.
• WALKTHROUGH // Every detail of each chapter covered.
• MISSIONS // The game has hundreds of missions, and we have a say on all of 'em.
• APPENDICES // Items, accessories, materia, and e-mails.

Guide by: Colin Moriarty