1. List 2-3 key factors and pointers that would affect your decision in purchasing Crisis Core for the PSP (battle modes, gameplay, character development, etc)?
A) First would be the game's replayability. In respects to other PSP games that are simply fun to play over and over (Lumines, E3, Pirates, Loco Roco, etc... games that lack the depth, but are just damned fun).. how much does Crisis Core stand up to that? One of the successful aspects of the handheld market is the growth of simplistic & fun "pick up and play" games. WarioWare set a precedent that has brought us some good "ole fashioned" enjoyable games.. portable fun in a sense, that you can put down and pick back up at a moment's notice. A second point would be game storyline, if the user's interest is captured and retained
2. There is a possible rumor that the original Final Fantasy VII for PS One will be remade for the PS3. What is your opinion on this and would you support it?
I would only support it if it received a major combat system overhaul. SquareEnix has become one heck of an egotistical corporation in their software development. Look at games that have obvious demand, such as a true Chrono Trigger sequel. They're sitting on money. However, the company believes they can sell whatever crap they sling our way. For every Dragon Warrior or FF, there are a few mounds of crap that rarely exceed mediocrity as they experiment too deeply with their IP's. I mean.. a Mana game with a vine whip? The diversification idea worked well with Einhander/Vagrant Story, Brave Fencer, Parasite Eve, etc.. now they have gotten lazy.
Random battles, limitless inventories, and completing the game (remember.. originally 4 discs, with a revivable broad in a pink dress casting a Holy Summer's Eve spell to stop a meteor). They cut alot of the intended game out to get it out to retail ASAP.. so a complete remake would be necessary. However, a complete ground up remake of FF VI, a virtual console release of Seiken Densetsu III, etc.. I'd be more open to that.
3. If you could make any suggestions to improve the Final Fantasy series, what would it be?
Lose the numbering of each title. If they are kept, they should use version #'s at the most.. example, Final Fantaxy v. 13.0
Time for a character design overhaul. The effeminate character thing is getting overdone.
Remember a good story. FFVI was written well. Chrono Trigger (not a technical FF game, but close enough) was written well. XII seemed half assed.
Lose the traditional genre mainstays.. never use random battles again, actually innovate in something more than CGI (God of War innovated gameplay. Katamari added something new. Portal turned the FPS upside down. Playing RPG's can get very exhaustive if the theme of each game stays the same).
Support online media distribution through the consoles of older titles, instead of milking the same game 5 times on different platforms for high MSRP