Translations

Scanlation of DC’s Official Complete Guide Now Available!

by cold_spirit July 12, 2023 0 comments

It’s not every day we get to write about Dirge of Cerberus here at TLS. Correction: It’s not even every decade. Yet here we are, the drought having momentarily passed. Excuse me for a moment as I seize this opportunity to praise the Compilation’s most ill-remembered title.

Dirge of Cerberus released to universal disdain in 2006. Players were not receptive to the series’ first (but not last) outing with the shooter genre, made evident by the game’s 57 Metacritic score. For context, Dreamworks Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts for the PlayStation Portable managed to scrape together a 58 that year. Vincent’s career was over before it even began.

However, perception has shifted in recent years. Both here and in other circles, fans are beginning to appreciate and even revere Dirge’s experimental mechanics. It’s a game that tested the waters 8 years before RPG shooters like Destiny and The Division would standardize the genre. As a speedrunning fan, I’m happy to report that Dirge enjoys an active community. The game’s interesting skips and rock solid control continues to draw new players. Finally, I’d be remiss not to mention the exceptional soundtrack by Masashi Hamauzu, who would later work on Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy VII Remake, the latter of which won Best Score and Music at The Game Awards in 2020. Perhaps Dirge of Cerberus was simply ahead of its time…

And with all that out of my system, back to the headline. Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII – Official Complete Guide has been officially scanlated by the Shinra Archaeology Department. Within its pages fans will uncover concept art, character profiles, and an extensive interview with the game’s developers.

Did you know that Nomura consulted strategy guide screenshots and even fanart to form Lucrecia’s appearance? Or that Deepground’s Pegasus bikes were designed with FFVII’s low-tech, handmade mechas (e.g., Sweepers) in mind? That and much more awaits within.

I’ll take every opportunity I can to shout about Dirge of Cerberus. I genuinely feel that the developers approached the game with a “fighter’s spirit”, hoping to once again challenge the definition of what Final Fantasy can be. Not unlike their approach to mainline titles. To me, that spirit is conveyed through this guidebook. Thanks to the Shinra Archaeology Department for their great work as always.

For more scanlations and other tidbits, follow the Shinra Archaeology Department on Twitter!