IGN gave Crisis Core a 8.5

[Darc Requiem]

slacker164 said:

With the possible exception of some dedicated RPG sites like RPGamer, I've given up reading reviews of JRPGs. The majority of western game reviewers just don't seem to get JRPGs. The FF series has faired pretty well with reviewers, but even then, as illustrated here, they tend to complain about the same things over and over when what they are complaining about is often a core element of the genre and/or what attracts people to the game(s) in the first place.

Too much grinding, too linear, battle system isn't "innovative" enough, cliche graphics, too many cut scenes, cut scenes are too long, battles are too long/slow... reviewers pull out the same tired complaints all the time, or just randomly give low scores when it's clear they simply just aren't fans of the genre. It's like reviewing an FPS and saying there's too much violence and the first person view is disorienting--it's just stupid.

Anyway, I say just ignore reviews of JRPGs till people start hiring reviewers that actually like JRPGs.

I've reached this conclusion as well. Reviews are basically useless to me. Be thankful this is a Final Fantasy title because if its not titled Final Fantasy, western reviewers will penalize it.