DESCRIPTION

Dirge of Cerberus is a third-person shooter starring the sullen, enigmatic Vincent Valentine from Square's Final Fantasy VII role-playing game, which debuted on the original PlayStation in 1997. Taking place three years after the PlayStation hit, Dirge of Cerberus focuses on Valentine's vendetta against an underground assault team known as the Deep Ground Soldiers, who have been terrorizing the recovering city of Midgar from its darkest depths. The title refers to Valentine's weapon, a handgun with carvings of the mythological creature Cerberus on its three barrels — one for each of the hell beast's heads. Players will use this firearm and more to shoot down armies of robotic troops while trying to rescue Midgar's imprisoned citizens along the way. Each defeated enemy offers a varying amount of experience points, allowing Valentine to increase in level and become more powerful as the game progresses.

Valentine can perform a number of acrobatic moves, from rolls and crouches to jumps and melee attacks, while battling his enemies. Targeting foes is simplified with an automated lock-on feature, but players are free to execute more precise shots by holding down the shoulder button to access a targeting reticule. Staying true to the Final Fantasy VII legacy, players can acquire potions to restore lost health, new weapons to battle enemies, and material to perform magic-based attacks, one of which allows Valentine to transform into a powerful beast. The game also includes cameos from a number of Final Fantasy VII characters, including Yuffie, Cait Sith, and the indomitable Cid Highwind, and features a cinematic storyline that delves deeper into Vincent Valentine's murky past. After completing the solo campaign, players can continue the action online in team deathmatch, survival, and cooperative modes. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide