Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core

Today, 3/25/08, marks the US release of the long-anticipated prequel to Final Fantasy VII. Crisis Core, while PSP-specific, sports amazing graphics and a fantastic soundtrack, as well as quality voice acting and, quite frankly, the best spin-off of the wildly popular original game. Gathering both critical acclaim and popular appeal, FFVII:CC is a milestone in the franchise. As a prequel, it covers the seven years prior to FFVII leading right up to the moments almost immediately before the start of that game. Featuring characters known to FFVII fans that have not previously been given much face time, this is a game both comforting to old hands and accessible to new players, although only the latter will be surprised at the inevitable tragedy.

Zack Fair is a SOLDIER 2nd Class with a burning desire to prove himself. With the guidance of his friend and mentor Angeal, Zack works his way through the war in Wutai and up the ranks. Their relationship takes a hit, though, when they are sent to retrieve a SOLDIER gone AWOL: Genesis, longtime friend of both Angeal and Sephiroth. The genetic experimentation that is revealed in the search will have lasting implications, and also immediate, devestating impact.

Images:

Zack
Angeal
Genesis
Sephiroth
Three friends at play
In-game combat
A familiar scene
A familiar face
The only time you've ever seen Cloud smile
Game trailer

Daxter

It took awhile, but in 2006 the perennial second thought branched out into his own game, appropriately enough on a handheld console. Reverting to something closer to the original feel of Jak and Daxter, the sidekick's solo adventure covers the time missing from Jak II, and the main storyline is interspersed with dream sequences parodying popular movies, such as The Matrix and Raiders of the Lost Ark.

It's been nearly two years since Daxter saw his best buddy Jak get dragged off by the Krimzon Guard, and he's had absolutely no luck in turning up so much as a single greeny-blond hair. That doesn't stop him from relating wild tales of his adventures to disbelieving audiences, however. When Osmo of the Kritter Ridder Extermination Company overhears, he offers Daxter a job in his business. Armed with an oversized, electric flyswatter and a backpack of bug spray, Daxter takes on the legions of Metal Head insects infiltrating Haven City and, along the way, stumbles over his missing friend.

Images:

He's short, he's fuzzy, he's armed and dangerous
This could be a problem
Those are some big bugs...
...but that's a big bug swatter
Intro movie

Final Fantasy

The beginning of an era. This 1987 game, originally for the Nintendo Entertainment System, has generated a large amount of numbered sequels an un-numbered spinoffs. It's been remade and ported onto at least six different platforms (MSX 2, WonderSwan Color, PlayStation, Game Boy Advance, PSP, and a downloadable verson for some mobile phones), and even has a popular webcomic based on it. A game given a tongue-in-cheek name (it was the Final game they'd make, and a Fantasy RPG) by a dying company, it revitalized Square when it became one of the highest-selling games of all time.

The outline of the game is amazingly simple. You create a party of four characters from six available classes. They are the fabled Light Warriors (or Warriors of Light, depending on the translation), and need to quest for Orbs of the four classic elements (earth, fire, water, and air) to reenergize the corresponding crystal, which will in turn allow them to defeat the power of Chaos which has the world trapped in an eternal time loop. Being as close to a true role playing game as a video game can come there's absolutely no character development beyond your imagination, but in a time dominated by arcade-style games FF was a rarity of complex storytelling.

Images:

A random battle from the original NES
A random battle from Final Fantasy Origins for the PSX
Concept art by Yoshitaka Amano
Intro FMV for the PSX