Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII

 PlayStation 2
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 294 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 195 out of 294
  2. Mixed: 65 out of 294
  3. Negative: 34 out of 294
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  1. M1sfiT
    Sep 3, 2023
    8
    Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaameeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees! ffvii
  2. AJCk19
    Apr 30, 2023
    9
    tldr: Square Enix and Gackt, please allow us to get a remake of this masterpiece. If you are a turned based jrpg fan, you might want to avoid this.

    Control scheme can be a little clunky, sometimes it is lacking enough of enemies, and has no proper cover system. However, everything else is amazing. Story is great, and you can even get into it if you don't have enough knowledge about the    tldr: Square Enix and Gackt, please allow us to get a remake of this masterpiece. If you are a turned based jrpg fan, you might want to avoid this.

    Control scheme can be a little clunky, sometimes it is lacking enough of enemies, and has no proper cover system. However, everything else is amazing. Story is great, and you can even get into it if you don't have enough knowledge about the series as a whole. Graphics and aesthetics wise, it reminds me a lot of GunGrave.

    Lastly, I know melee shouldn't be a priority, I just wish it had more of a role in this, but still taking a back seat.    … Expand
  3. LastResource
    Jan 14, 2023
    10
    worth it and glad to play this game again. so much memories and nostalgia within this seventh game in the series.
  4. ltlit
    Dec 6, 2022
    6
    This is an average spin off that is worth to play by the fans some might like it more
  5. 39BAKA
    Jun 22, 2022
    7
    Dirge of Cerberus: Final Final Fantasy VII is a sequel of the original Final Fantasy VII, the story follows Vincent Valentine and the fight between him and Underground. While it is a sequel you'll get more enjoyment from Vincent and his past rather than the main story of the game itself. While the main story is passable it is definitely one of the weakest part of the Final Fantasy VIIDirge of Cerberus: Final Final Fantasy VII is a sequel of the original Final Fantasy VII, the story follows Vincent Valentine and the fight between him and Underground. While it is a sequel you'll get more enjoyment from Vincent and his past rather than the main story of the game itself. While the main story is passable it is definitely one of the weakest part of the Final Fantasy VII compilation. The gameplay is okay nothing amazing, it deviates heavily from turn-based JRPGs into a shooter game. The combat features Vincent shooting away at enemies as he moves around avoiding attacks and position himself in a position where he can shoot away in safety. The game still features elements of of JRPGs as you can customize your guns into whatever fits you style. The OST while great is not as strong as other games in the compilation and may come unmemorable to others. Overall Dirge of Cerberus is a game for fans of Final Fantasy VII but keep expectation at a moderate level since the game is not nearly as well made as them.… Expand
  6. Piquerix
    May 29, 2022
    9
    A very nice story near the FF universe. If you are a FF fan maybe you cannot like this game because it's not like the other titles of the brand: it's more action and hack and slash
  7. DarkwingSchmuck
    Mar 3, 2022
    3
    The first game in the ill-conceived "Compilation of Final Fantasy VII" is a well below average third-person shooter with a brief campaign, pointless story, and a completely forgettable cast of characters.
  8. RadicalRachel
    Jul 29, 2021
    8
    Is it as good as Final Fantasy 7 or Crisis Core? NO! Is it a fun and engaging shooter with a lot of great rpg elements? YES! Totally worth the play if you're on the edge about it and you just want to vibe with a 2006 goth time capsule
  9. Dom007
    Mar 22, 2021
    7
    Seriously if this game wasn't based in the FF7 universe I would have rated it much lower. It has its merits such as the music (albeit massively inferior to the other FF7 games), cutscenes and atmosphere but it's storyline is just not executed well. It could have been great but it just needed more work. I didn't like how insignificant the main characters from FF7 where.

    The gameplay is    Seriously if this game wasn't based in the FF7 universe I would have rated it much lower. It has its merits such as the music (albeit massively inferior to the other FF7 games), cutscenes and atmosphere but it's storyline is just not executed well. It could have been great but it just needed more work. I didn't like how insignificant the main characters from FF7 where.

    The gameplay is the biggest issue and it's just bad. It really should not have gone in the direction it did, it should have been different.
    And after you finish it you literally want more. The game ends with too many loose ends.    … Expand
  10. SuperClaudio64
    Feb 28, 2021
    4
    Possiedo questo gioco, l'ho finito e non mi ricordo quasi nulla di cosa succede nella storia, immagino sia una cosa negativa.
  11. Satrasa
    Nov 14, 2020
    10
    A must have one of the best Final Fantasy games ever made. SO TRUE!!! This game is reallygood!!!
  12. Kai82
    Sep 27, 2020
    7
    It is a game for fans and players of FF7. For others it is a decent / slightly good for its time third person shooter with RPG elements and a confusing story because it requires previous knowledge of FF7. Three years have passed since the events of FF7. Our protagonist and former hidden character Vincent Valentine visits the town of Kalm when it is attacked by a group of well armed andIt is a game for fans and players of FF7. For others it is a decent / slightly good for its time third person shooter with RPG elements and a confusing story because it requires previous knowledge of FF7. Three years have passed since the events of FF7. Our protagonist and former hidden character Vincent Valentine visits the town of Kalm when it is attacked by a group of well armed and capable soldiers that seemingly randomly capture some citizens while outright killing others. He is drawn into a new conflict that has more impact than he had imagined and has connections to his past. To spell it out directly I like the story and characters for the most part but don't enjoyed the game play that much. Why is a follow up to a RPG a third person shooter (with RPG elements)? For the story: It has some very good ideas, twists and rounds up some open questions and stories from FF7 (It rounds up some loose ends). There are some moments I consider as pure awesomeness. The new characters are good, have relatable motives and development. However I must point out again that knowledge of the story of FF7 is needed to get most out of it because the game does not make a good job explaining some things. For the gameplay: The shooter mechanics need some time to get used to it but are O.K. Nothing great or awful here. You earn experience points throughout the levels and can after finishing it use them to level up or convert them to money. There are of cause different equitable items and materia for you to use. Vincent has also his Limit Break from FF7. The graphics were solid for its time and the soundtrack was mixed for me. Gackt made some songs for it but I am neither a fan or hater. Of cause some FF7 characters return and made cameos and (!small spoiler!) sadly you have to play as Caith Sith for one level. I hate this character and I am not alone (Most disliked character of FF7 and many have even forgotten he existed). Overall I enjoyed is as fan or former player of FF7 but must admit that without that I would have not finished the game or maybe have even bought it. Because of this it is a mixed bag and I can give you a solid advice here except test it before purchase.… Expand
  13. XV_
    May 25, 2020
    5
    Dirge of Cerberus have certain fame about being a bad game because is a TPS, I don't mind that kind of comments a lot but just after a few minutes of playing it was easy to see why is not good.

    Is not that this game is terrible bad, it is playable (somehow) and it has a few pretty good moments from a fan-service or story point of view but, it feels unpolished on every way, from the    Dirge of Cerberus have certain fame about being a bad game because is a TPS, I don't mind that kind of comments a lot but just after a few minutes of playing it was easy to see why is not good.

    Is not that this game is terrible bad, it is playable (somehow) and it has a few pretty good moments from a fan-service or story point of view but, it feels unpolished on every way, from the combat to the story, every thing has some serviceable but interesting ideas that lack too much in its execution, its like this game is trying to hard to be a mix between, DMC, MGS and RE4 but more on that later.

    Starting with the combat system, your main attacks are ranged, you can choose between a fairly simple and customizable set of weapons, the main problem with it is that the targeting system doesn't work, your targets move too randomly and fast while your reticule isn't that precise and stiff, the game starts with an auto-aim stat, which I turned off for most of the game aside from a couple of boss battles were they moved ridiculously fast and it wasn't challenging but annoying, so I strongly recommend that you maintain the auto-aim turned on, the hassle is not worth it. You can also attack with melee attacks and transform with consumable items into a powered version of Vincent ala DMC, this as the targeting system feels underdeveloped, your hit-boxes are pretty reduced and you can only hit your enemies while they're in front on you and a lot of more nuisances. Lastly at the end of every stage, your killing points and several other stuff can transform into experience points to level up your stats or into money, I recommend that you don't bother with the EXP and go full money to upgrade your equipment, since your stats grows too slow.

    Being an action game one would expect that this will have a nice balance between story and gameplay, focusing more on the later to keep things moving forward, the problem is that there are a lot of chunks where the game decides to throw exposition and 10-15 minutes long uninteresting cutscenes, this hurts a lot the experience that is not good to begin with.

    As far as the story goes and maybe the reason a lot of people is playing this game, it's for the most part boring, it has certain throwbacks and nods to the original, it has some things that I really liked specially towards the end which I don't spoil, the cast is OK, the villains has some charm and they seem too inspired in MGS for their own good they're quirky and its motivations feel like Dead Cell or Cobra Unit but barebones and generic, Vincent wasn't one of my favorites in FF VII and he still isn't, there are some cameos but the game focuses more in a couple of characters of the original, which adds some lore, although the worst part is the voice acting, like almost every JRPG it is too cartoony and goofy and breaks a lot the original intention.

    Overall I don't think this game is unplayable but it is certainly a fans-only, since it depends a lot of previous knowledge of the lore and builds on it, don't recommend it even for fans, since is boring and soul-less, but if you want to expand your FF VII lore if only a little, maybe you can try it.    … Expand
  14. hokido
    May 25, 2020
    4
    Good character design and music but let down by everything else. combat is repetitive, clunky and at times feels broken. dialogue in the game is abysmal, stale, disjointed, confusing and with a story that makes no sense. this game having Final Fantasy VII in the title is an insult.
  15. Omnislasher420
    Apr 28, 2020
    7
    Basically, it’s anime bat man with a pistol going around and shooting people. The gameplay is pretty good but had a really confusing story and it didn’t flow. The graphics were amazing for the time and still hold up alright today. If you like shooters and FFVII, this is for you.
  16. iKen
    Apr 13, 2020
    7
    Played on PlayStation 2.
    Gameplay: GOOD.
    Story: GOOD.
    Graphic: GREAT.
    Music/Sound: GOOD.
    Dialogue: GOOD.
  17. MrSabatelau
    Oct 17, 2019
    5
    This game is interesting, the gameplay is not the best, but it's fun to play, the game makes me like Vincent Valentine, he's one of the strongest characters I've ever played.
  18. shootingstars99
    Aug 29, 2019
    0
    Have you ever sat and wondered, "Hey, you know that game Hatred? I'd love a Japanese anime version of that!"? That's what this game is, edgy protagonist, gun play, half-baked action; all set in the worst post-SNES FInal Fantasy storyline. It'll probably be a hit with the kids in your high school anime club.
  19. xmrmeow
    Apr 5, 2019
    10
    While this game is nothing like a normal Final Fantasy game, it definitely delivers a unique and fun experience. With the 3 main guns you have at your disposal, the game is very replayable as I find it's best to pick one and upgrade only that throughout the game. The cutscenes are skippable and the game is not too long if you've beaten it before, so that combined with the significantlyWhile this game is nothing like a normal Final Fantasy game, it definitely delivers a unique and fun experience. With the 3 main guns you have at your disposal, the game is very replayable as I find it's best to pick one and upgrade only that throughout the game. The cutscenes are skippable and the game is not too long if you've beaten it before, so that combined with the significantly different gameplay you get with the different guns extended the gameplay quite a bit. I also loved the story and seeing more of the side characters in FF7 like Vincent, Yuffie, and Cait Sith getting fleshed out more in this game.… Expand
  20. GamecubeLover
    Aug 3, 2016
    7
    This game I thought I would give an 8 but no it is a 7. The game is mixed but fine with me. The game is fun but repetitive and bland as well as unoriginal but everything else ranges from okay to great.
  21. DeeZNuTzDestiny
    May 29, 2015
    10
    It wasn't anything groundbreaking, and was lackluster when compared to miracles like FFVII which it descended from, but overall it has nice immersion, a story that's better than many other games, and it was very accommodating for new players. The EX mission were great challenges and good for advanced players. Of course it could've been better, but overall it was the only game I playedIt wasn't anything groundbreaking, and was lackluster when compared to miracles like FFVII which it descended from, but overall it has nice immersion, a story that's better than many other games, and it was very accommodating for new players. The EX mission were great challenges and good for advanced players. Of course it could've been better, but overall it was the only game I played for several months because I had lots of fun with it!… Expand
  22. Noin007
    Jan 4, 2015
    3
    It has good graphics. I have nothing else good to say about this flaming turd of a game. I would like to not apologize to all the flaming turds for needing to use them in comparison to this "game". This is what happens when you take a really cool character and then let a bunch of retards make a Devil May Cry style game with him. Square should have issued a formal apology and promised toIt has good graphics. I have nothing else good to say about this flaming turd of a game. I would like to not apologize to all the flaming turds for needing to use them in comparison to this "game". This is what happens when you take a really cool character and then let a bunch of retards make a Devil May Cry style game with him. Square should have issued a formal apology and promised to hire Platinum to remake it and do it right.… Expand
  23. cjmoore
    May 11, 2014
    8
    I know what you're all thinking: "What was Square Enix on when they decided to turn Final Fantasy 7 into a shooter?" Well I can't say for certain; but with that idea turning out to be as awesome as this, I want some.
    Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII is a very unique game among Squenix's other titles, in that despite having Final Fantasy in the title, the thing plays next to nothing    I know what you're all thinking: "What was Square Enix on when they decided to turn Final Fantasy 7 into a shooter?" Well I can't say for certain; but with that idea turning out to be as awesome as this, I want some.
    Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII is a very unique game among Squenix's other titles, in that despite having Final Fantasy in the title, the thing plays next to nothing like a FF game. Why is that? Because it's a third-person-shooter. Yes, you read that right.
    So right off the bat, you'll be able to tell that this is going to be a terrible FF game; but does it work as a simple shooter game? The answer, surprisingly, is yes. The gameplay is very smooth, it controls pretty dang well, you get a variety of guns that you can upgrade to increase damage, and it really does feel satisfying to play.
    That is to say that doesn't mean that FF7 fans can't enjoy it too, as the game still has a few FF mechanics fans will be familiar with. For instance, one can also fire different types of magic at enemies instead of bullets, picking up potions and ether regains your lost health and mako points, and a special 'limit breaker' item that turns you into a large beast, refills your health bar, and fires limitless magical homing-projectiles. Presentation-wise, it still has that Square Enix feel to it. That being said, there are still a few issues that I feel should be addressed with the positives. First of all: The traditional Square Enix cinematics; they're all there, and they are gorgeous. They look absolutely incredible, as can be expected from this company. Even the cutscenes with the in-game character models are pretty well done, never once do the characters look unalive or completely devoid of emotion (well, one is, but that's the point of her character). However, you're probably gonna want to get used to those cutscenes as there are a LOT of them. They really do come in abundance, and there will be times when you just want to move on to the next stage. Not to mention the really annoying part of the cutscenes where every single time the scene cuts to a different location, you have to go through a load-time. They only last 3-5 seconds, but there are a LOT of them.
    Luckily for this game, the story is pretty good; it's not as great as the original FF7, but it still has plenty of emotion and strong narrative in it. The story focuses on the game's protagonist, Vincent Valentine; who many FF7 fans will remember as the cool-looking dark, broody guy with the long red cape, golden claw-gauntlet and triple-barreled gun. The plot revolves around Vincent learning the truth about his past, of the chaotic power stored within him, and how he must tame and use it to save the world when an evil organization arises to awaken an all-powerful being to purge the planet of all life. Several other popular characters make a return in this game, namely the over-confident and perky Yuffie Kisaragi, the wacky cat-puppet Cait Sith, and the loud-mouthed cigar-chompin' Cid Highwind, who aide Vincent on his adventure. Cloud, Tifa and Barret are there too, but they really don't show up that much; but honestly, I was okay with that because Cloud's story has already been told. This is Vincent's story, it's his time to shine and his turn to be the hero. And lord almighty does he make a badass hero!
    Back on subject, another staple of FF games are the beautiful locales, which are sadly absent in this game. Lovely sunny fields, bright neon theme parks and pretty crystal caves, all gone in favor of dark canyons, warehouses and sewers. Typical generic FPS locations. So yeah, that's kind of a downer. Another thing worth noting is that the stages are all pretty linear. Personally I don't mind this as linearity in games never really bothered me, but this is Final Fantasy, a series well-known for its open-world environments; so I can perfectly understand why that would turn a lot of people off. The length of the game isn't very spectacular; it's undeniably short for a FF game. Now that I think about it, it was pretty short for a shooter as well. The music ranges from really awesome to just okay; and the difficulty is hardly impressive. For the most part, DoC: FF7 is very easy. I only remember dying once on average difficulty, during the second-to-last boss. You're probably going to find more satisfying challenge on the harder setting.
    But other than that, Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII is still worth a try. The gameplay is fun, the story is told well, and the final stage is just so damn epic. If you compare it to the original FF7, you're not going to have much fun. But if you treat it like its own thing, want a continuation of the FF7 storyline, or are just in the mood for a fun little shooter, I highly recommend picking this up if you can find it, you may be pleasantly surprised.    … Expand
  24. AlienSpaceBats
    Nov 2, 2013
    5
    A chore, for the most part. excessive FMV (which is welcome, thanks to the uneven gameplay) Repetitive, dark and gloomy levels populated by a very small pool of annoying enemy types with some very nasty AI scripting many simply spam knockdown attacks at the player (get up, knock down ad infinitum). Controls are poor but serviceable but the main problem is the camera and auto lock-onA chore, for the most part. excessive FMV (which is welcome, thanks to the uneven gameplay) Repetitive, dark and gloomy levels populated by a very small pool of annoying enemy types with some very nasty AI scripting many simply spam knockdown attacks at the player (get up, knock down ad infinitum). Controls are poor but serviceable but the main problem is the camera and auto lock-on system, which the player needs to fight as well as enemies. Only of interest to the FFVII fanatic, Dirge of Cerberus is both an unnecessary extension of Vincent's backstory from FFVII and a wrecking ball that ruins some core characters of that game (Hojo is reduced to a two-dimensional cackling lunatic), and the less said about the new characters the better. Though it is nice to see the gang again, with exception to Yuffie, Reeve (Cait Sith) and Cid, their screen time is very small, the FMV is the game's greatest asset, and is of equal quality to the animation in Advent Children. In fact there are so many cutscenes and pointlessly easy sections Square Enix probably should have just made an OVA instead. Satisfying conclusion, though, but not a keeper.… Expand
  25. Rox22
    Sep 11, 2013
    5
    An OK spin-off title that is altogether completely forgettable. If it wasn't for the FF 7 affiliation I doubt this game would have seen any sales.

    At it's core it is a generic third person action shooter. The combat is bland, the gameplay is bland, the story is uninteresting. Overall: It isn't a bad game as it technically delivers a functioning game. But it is so unbelievably bland    An OK spin-off title that is altogether completely forgettable. If it wasn't for the FF 7 affiliation I doubt this game would have seen any sales.

    At it's core it is a generic third person action shooter. The combat is bland, the gameplay is bland, the story is uninteresting.

    Overall:
    It isn't a bad game as it technically delivers a functioning game. But it is so unbelievably bland I get sleepy just thinking about it. But, at the very least, Vincent is still cool and it's always a pleasure to see him on screen.    … Expand
  26. Sumguy
    Aug 24, 2013
    2
    Perhaps the single worst example of cutscence and gameplay segregation in history. Vincent in cutscenes can jump six stories and take down an attack helicopter without needing to reload. Vincent in game plinks away at footsoldiers and needs keycards to bypass a tall fence. Playing through it, you'll encounter more boring cliches than you can shake a stick at: waves and waves of enemies,Perhaps the single worst example of cutscence and gameplay segregation in history. Vincent in cutscenes can jump six stories and take down an attack helicopter without needing to reload. Vincent in game plinks away at footsoldiers and needs keycards to bypass a tall fence. Playing through it, you'll encounter more boring cliches than you can shake a stick at: waves and waves of enemies, shamelessly-recycled boss fights, exploding barrels, moronic AI, forced turret sections, forced stealth sections, the works. It's slow, boring, and not worth your time.
    How about that story, then? Well, it's hardly better. It's heavily connected to the plot of Final Fantasy VII, but at the same time, it has very little to do with it. Hojo's alive now, there's a whole bunch of stuff about Deepground and the Tsvets that was never even implied in the original, and while most of the cast shows up at some point, they're generally just there for fanservice. The ones who get focus, primarily, are Vincent, Yuffie, Cait Sith, and Cid. Cid is generally okay, but Yuffie and Cait Sith were terrible in the first game, and have only gotten more annoying with time. Vincent himself... well, you know how people claim to hate Cloud because 'all he does is mope,' but it's not true because the guy actually did go through some pretty meaty development in the original game? Vincent really does do nothing but mope. He has no goals, no agency, no likes or dislikes, most of his dialogue is ellipses. At times, he has flickers of a romance, but he approaches it with the same monotone dullardry that he approaches everything else. He's basically a brick that shoots things. You could replace him with a gun turret on wheels and keep most of the plot intact. Well, you'd lose the bits where he turns into hilarious-looking monsters, but that's not a bug, it's a feature.
    About the nicest thing I can say about this game is that the FMV cutscenes look very good, and the soundtrack is quite nice. Watch them on YouTube if that piques your interest. If you must own every single appearance by the FFVII characters and have Vincent Valentine tattooed on your chest, then I'd say you might be able to enjoy yourself. Otherwise... no.    … Expand
  27. ERB
    Jul 30, 2013
    8
    This game is one of the best Final Fantasy Games I have ever played.
  28. Seryin
    Mar 29, 2013
    5
    Gameplay and features are mediocre. However, if you were a huge FF7 fan, this game expands greatly on the FF7 universe. It takes place after the events of the movie. The story picks up almost painfully slow, but once the twist hits, you will find yourself flung back into an extremely in depth conspiracy with an excellent story. It is unfortunate that this amazing story of the FF7 world wasGameplay and features are mediocre. However, if you were a huge FF7 fan, this game expands greatly on the FF7 universe. It takes place after the events of the movie. The story picks up almost painfully slow, but once the twist hits, you will find yourself flung back into an extremely in depth conspiracy with an excellent story. It is unfortunate that this amazing story of the FF7 world was delivered in a game that fails to deliver. This game receives a bad score from me for the actual gameplay, however if you liked FF7 and if you liked Vincent, you may want to try to experience this story before the gamplay becomes to outdated and unbearable.… Expand
  29. Rayman225
    Mar 23, 2013
    10
    This game is an realy brilliant game.
    This game is about Vincent Valentine and that's why it's look's soo different as FF game.
    I hope Square-Enix will release the HD version of Dirge of Cerberus for ps3, Xbox360,WiiU and PC.
  30. Caestus
    Mar 11, 2013
    5
    SE nowadays struggles to make good RPGs, let alone good action games. The game has horrible controls and a ridiculous story.
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Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2006
15
#15 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2006

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
57

Mixed or average reviews - based on 51 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 51
  2. Mixed: 37 out of 51
  3. Negative: 10 out of 51
  1. Deeko
    65
    For those not as blinded by fandom, this game proves to be just a ploy for money and a demonstration of slow degradation of the Final Fantasy series.
    Read full review
  2. GameBrink
    76
    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]
    Read full review
  3. Siliconera
    80
    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]
    Read full review
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