Gaming Age: Crisis Core stands out as not only a fantastic Final Fantasy title, but one of the best games on the PSP to date. That's saying something in light in the pretty stellar year the system saw in '07, so hopefully you system owners out there will take my word for it and pick this one up. Great action in small bursts, and a fairly level headed storyline that won't leave you scratching your head. Even if your memory of Final Fantasy VII isn't as fond as others, Crisis Core still manages to be a fantastic game worthy of your attention. A-

IGN: Crisis Core is a great PSP game -- no question. It honors Final Fantasy VII's legacy. Even the game's music, while not composed by Nobuo Uematsu, is charming and fits the overall style of the world (though some of Uematsu's pieces do make a return and to absolutely stunning effect). I was sincerely moved by certain portions of the title and I suspect many others will feel the same. I wouldn't dream of spoiling anything for eager players, but I will say that Crisis Core's ending moments are a must see. I'd go so far as to call them brilliant. The power and emotion of the game is heightened by the raw inevitability of Zack's fate, which is fully explored in the original. I really enjoyed my time with this title, despite the gameplay problems, and I think this is yet another fantastic reason to own a PSP. Enjoy it. 8.5/10

RPG Fan: While Crisis Core will not be giving any competition in regards to game of the year, it definitely pushes the envelope as far as visual and aural aesthetics go, displaying graphics and sound the quality which have never before been witnessed in a PSP game. The excellently crafted aesthetics combine with an entertaining and user-friendly gameplay system making it one of the best original PSP games. Hopefully, in the future, other developers will follow Square Enix's example and push the PSP to its technical limits. 82%

1up: It's a game designed to feed on your nostalgic memories of Final Fantasy VII, and in that regard, it never falters. From the faithful 3D reconstruction of Midgar's slums to the fateful standoff in the Mako reactor, Crisis Core does a better job of putting players in FFVII's world than even the original game did. And it manages to be a worthy experience in its own right rather than an empty bit of filler riding on a classic's coattails. It's a flawed, but nevertheless impressive, prelude to one of the most influential games of the past decade. B+

FF7 Citadel: Crisis Core is the title that put Final Fantasy VII back on its feet, and made it soar. It succeeds on so many levels, and could be enjoyed (although slightly less understood) even by gamers who've never played the original game. 9/10