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Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII | HearLore
Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII
Vincent Valentine, a character who spent most of the original Final Fantasy VII as a silent, optional party member, suddenly became the central figure of a third-person shooter three years after the planet nearly died. This shift in focus was not merely a change of genre but a desperate attempt to expand the lore of a franchise that had already stretched its narrative to its breaking point. The game, released in 2006, placed Vincent at the center of a conflict involving Deepground, a shadowy organization dedicated to awakening Omega, a creature capable of destroying the Planet. Vincent, who had been in a state of suspended animation for decades, was now forced to confront the consequences of his past, specifically the Protomateria that linked him to the Chaos gene. The story began not with a grand battle, but with the evacuation of Midgar, where Vincent found the body of Professor Hojo, only for the scientist to vanish in a flash of lightning before the Sister Ray cannon exploded. This event set the stage for a narrative that would weave together the past, present, and future of the Final Fantasy VII universe, introducing new characters like the Tsviets and the Restrictors while exploring the complex relationship between Chaos and Omega.
The Tsviets and The Restrictors
The antagonists of Dirge of Cerberus were not the typical monsters of the Final Fantasy series but a highly organized military group known as Deepground. At the top of this hierarchy were the Tsviets, a group of four elite soldiers led by Weiss the Immaculate and his brother Nero the Sable. Rosso the Crimson, Shelke the Transparent, and Azul the Cerulean were the other members, each with their own unique abilities and tragic backstories. The Tsviets were not merely soldiers; they were genetically enhanced super soldiers created through a covert Shinra operation. Their leader, Weiss, was actually possessed by the consciousness of Professor Hojo, who had uploaded his mind into the Worldwide Network before his death. This possession allowed Hojo to manipulate events from the shadows, using Weiss as a puppet to further his own agenda. The Restrictors, the former leaders of Deepground, had implanted microchips into the brainstems of all Deepground soldiers to ensure their loyalty, but Weiss had managed to overcome this control. However, the leader of the Restrictors had managed to implant a virus into Weiss' bloodstream, creating a complex web of betrayal and manipulation. The conflict between the Tsviets and the Restrictors added layers of intrigue to the story, revealing the dark history of Deepground and the lengths to which the organization would go to achieve its goals.
Who is the main character in Dirge of Cerberus Final Fantasy VII?
Vincent Valentine is the main character in Dirge of Cerberus Final Fantasy VII. He was a silent optional party member in the original Final Fantasy VII and became the central figure of this third-person shooter released in 2006.
What is the role of Deepground in Dirge of Cerberus Final Fantasy VII?
Deepground is a shadowy organization dedicated to awakening Omega, a creature capable of destroying the Planet. The group consists of genetically enhanced super soldiers known as the Tsviets and was originally controlled by microchips implanted in their brainstems.
When was Dirge of Cerberus Final Fantasy VII released in Japan?
Dirge of Cerberus Final Fantasy VII was released in Japan on the 11th of September 2008. The game was part of Square's Ultimate Hits lineup after being postponed from its initial 2005 schedule.
Who composed the soundtrack for Dirge of Cerberus Final Fantasy VII?
Masashi Hamauzu composed the soundtrack for Dirge of Cerberus Final Fantasy VII. The theme songs were written and performed by Japanese singer and actor Gackt, who also voiced the character G in the Japanese-language version.
How many units of Dirge of Cerberus Final Fantasy VII were sold in Japan?
Over 513,000 copies of Dirge of Cerberus Final Fantasy VII were sold in Japan alone. This figure was recorded three months after the game's release in August 2008.
At the heart of the story was the mysterious relationship between Chaos and Omega, two entities that were described as being deeply connected. Chaos, a gene injected into Vincent over thirty years ago by Lucrecia Crescent, was said to be Omega's squire to the lofty heavens. Omega, on the other hand, was a WEAPON that activated when the Planet sensed it was in mortal danger. Its function was to absorb the Lifestream from the Planet and then move to another planet, leaving the inhabitants behind to die. Deepground's plan was to slaughter a huge number of people at once to trick the Planet into activating Omega prematurely. This plan was not just a simple act of destruction but a calculated attempt to manipulate the Planet's defenses. The story explored the idea that Chaos and Omega were not just enemies but two sides of the same coin, with Chaos serving as a counterbalance to Omega. The narrative delved into the scientific and spiritual aspects of the Final Fantasy VII universe, revealing the complex interplay between technology and the Planet's natural defenses. The story also highlighted the personal stakes for Vincent, who had to confront the Chaos gene within him and the legacy of Lucrecia Crescent, the woman he had loved and who had injected him with the gene.
The Development of a Shooter
The development of Dirge of Cerberus was a challenging process for the Square Enix staff, who were accustomed to creating role-playing games rather than shooters. Producer Yoshinori Kitase decided to make the title a shooting game based on his love for first-person shooters and the challenge it provided for the developers. The team added role-playing elements to make the game more entertaining for traditional fans of the main series, as pure action games were less appealing to the developers. The game was first announced in September 2004, and was scheduled for release in Japan in 2005. However, the development process was fraught with difficulties, with the beta test program being postponed indefinitely. The North American and European releases received a major overhaul, with the developers removing Online Multiplayer support and reworking Missions from the Multiplayer Mode into unlockable secret missions. The Easy Mode, which was originally featured in the Japanese version, was also removed. The game was eventually released in Japan on the 11th of September 2008, as part of Square's Ultimate Hits lineup. The development process was a testament to the team's dedication to creating a unique experience, even if it meant deviating from the traditional Final Fantasy formula.
The Sound of Redemption
The soundtrack for Dirge of Cerberus was composed by Masashi Hamauzu, but the game's theme songs were written and performed by Japanese singer and actor Gackt. Gackt not only provided the music but also voiced the character G in the Japanese-language version of the game. The staff originally planned for the ending theme, Redemption, to be a ballad, but Gackt decided to make it a rock song instead. Upon hearing Gackt's ideas, the staff were pleased with the direction in which he had gone. The CD soundtrack, Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII Original Soundtrack, was released on the 15th of February 2006 in Japan, consisting of two CDs and spanning 53 tracks. A limited edition of the soundtrack included a Cerberus Complete Case deluxe box designed to hold the soundtrack along with the game and a limited edition of Gackt's single for the game, Redemption. The soundtrack was a significant part of the game's identity, with the music enhancing the emotional impact of the story and the action sequences. The soundtrack also included a supplemental album, Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII Multiplayer Mode Original Sound Collections, which featured 27 tracks, including several songs from the single player game which were not included in the official soundtrack, as well as all of the original music composed for the multiplayer mode, and two new songs composed by Ryo Yamazaki for the North American release of the game.
A Mixed Legacy
Dirge of Cerberus received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its strong story and occasionally engaging rifle blasting, while others criticized its weak scenarios and poor level design. At GameRankings, the game holds a score of 60%, and the combined score from Metacritic is 57 out of 100 based on 51 reviews. GameSpot stated that the game does have a few interesting and even entertaining moments, but will ultimately leave action game fans and Final Fantasy fans feeling unfulfilled. IGN called it a decent game with a strong story and occasionally-engaging rifle blasting, while 1UP.com criticized the enemies' artificial intelligence and weak scenarios, and labeling the story boring. Reviewer from Electronic Gaming Monthly Shane Bettenhausen opined that he found all of the titles in the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII to be unappealing. Eurogamer found that Dirge of Cerberus was a risky gamble by Square Enix, as their first shooter, and he criticized the fact that most of the main characters in the game were either optional in Final Fantasy VII or had only small roles. Despite the mixed reception, the game sold well, with 392,000 units shipped in its first week. As of August 2008, 460,000 units were sold in North America and 270,000 units in Europe. Three months later, over 513,000 copies of the game have been sold in Japan alone. In July 2006, Dirge of Cerberus was in Sony's Gold category of top-selling video games, which includes games which have sold anything from 500,000 units to 1 million. The game's legacy remains a subject of debate among fans and critics, with some praising its ambitious scope and others criticizing its execution.