20 Years of Dirge of Cerberus: Celebrating the Compilation’s Most Misguided Experiment

The Bottom Line: Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII officially turns 20 today, marking two decades since Square Enix attempted to pivot its most legendary RPG into a third-person shooter. While the official Final Fantasy VII social media channels are celebrating the milestone, we remain skeptical. Despite its cult status among Vincent Valentine stans, Dirge remains a mechanical mess that serves as a cautionary tale for the "Compilation" era of the mid-2000s.

We remember the 2006 launch clearly. It was a time when Japanese publishers were desperate to break into the Western-dominated shooter market, often with disastrous results. Dirge of Cerberus wasn’t just a bad shooter; it was a fundamental misunderstanding of what made Final Fantasy VII work. By trading tactical Materia usage for clunky, unresponsive gunplay and a camera that felt like it was fighting the player, Square Enix delivered a title that even the most hardcore fans struggled to defend.

A Case Study in "Edgy" Mid-2000s Design

Set three years after the events of the original game, Dirge followed the eternally brooding Vincent Valentine as he squared off against Deepground. This was the peak of Square Enix’s "Kingdom Hearts era" aesthetic—heavy on the leather, belts, and melodramatic dialogue that hasn’t aged particularly well. While the CGI cutscenes were impressive for the PS2, the actual moment-to-moment gameplay was a slog of poorly implemented RPG systems and corridor-based shooting.

Our analysis suggests that the game’s reputation hasn't improved with age. In fact, modern audiences are even less forgiving of the "floaty" controls that defined the experience. Even with the nostalgia goggles on, it’s hard to ignore that Dirge sits at the bottom of the barrel in terms of critical and user reception.

Final Fantasy Rankings: The Bottom Tier

According to historical user data and current rankings, Dirge of Cerberus consistently struggles to stay relevant. It currently holds a dismal 5.6/10 user rating, narrowly avoiding the absolute last place only because of even more controversial releases.

The "Reunion" Question: Does it Deserve a Remake?

Square Enix acknowledged the anniversary in an official post on the @finalfantasyvii X (formerly Twitter) account, stating: "Three years after Final Fantasy VII, the past locked away awakens a future leading to the end. Celebrating 20 years of Dirge of Cerberus today!"

Predictably, the comments are flooded with fans asking for a "Reunion" style remaster similar to what Crisis Core received. We believe this is a dangerous "be careful what you wish for" scenario. Unlike Crisis Core, which had a solid mechanical foundation that just needed a QoL pass, Dirge of Cerberus would require a ground-up rework of its entire combat loop to be playable by modern standards.

However, we can’t ignore the writing on the wall. With the REMAKE trilogy already pulling in Deepground characters like Nero and Weiss for the INTERmission DLC, it’s clear Square Enix isn't ready to let this lore die. If they do decide to bring Dirge back, they shouldn't just buff the textures—they need to nerf the melodrama and completely overhaul the gunplay meta.

Our Take: Dirge of Cerberus is a fascinating relic of an era where Square Enix was still finding its footing in a post-Sakaguchi world. It's worth remembering for its ambition, but as a game? It’s a hard pass unless you’re a completionist who absolutely needs to see every piece of the FFVII puzzle.