More news about Square Enix's three VII spin-offs today, as the first, the keitai version 'Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII', launched today in Japan. No international release details have been mentioned, however; presumably because of the ultra-slick nature of the game's utilization of sophisticated in-phone cameras in battle mode, and in Britain, at least, we're still drawing pictures in the sand with our phones.

Not much was said about the second spin-off, the (shudder) straight-to-DVD adventure 'Final Fantasy VII Advent Children', but did make mention of the fact that it's cutting edge technology and creativity was praised at the Venice International Film Festival, which is nice to hear. The real excitement comes courtesy of the unveilment of plot details about the third and arguably most exciting new product of the 'Compilation of Final Fantasy VII' series - 'Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII'. In this new adventure, we are reunited with our hero Vincent Valentine, who appears as a mysterious figure connected to a number of group raids enacted by a pack of underground warriors called, appropriately, the Deep Ground Soldiers. Vincent, and, teasingly, OTHER characters from FFVII, must clear up this confusion.

Ooo-Er.

By Keri Webster