Rank Points and Point Exchange

Upon successful completion of a mission, your character gains Rank Points, or RP. This points allow you to do several useful things. With them, you can access Training Mode, unlock new armor and weapons, and even gain access to new playable characters. RP also is a factor in your character's overall rank. At higher ranks, you can access in-game bonuses and increase the number of Materia slots your character has.

Episode Mode vs. Free Mode

Before Crisis has two basic game modes: Episode Mode and Free Mode. In Episode Mode, you play through a series of interconnected missions to advance the plot of the game. Episode Mode is divided into several individual Episodes, each of which, in turn, is divided into four to five Missions. Depending on how well you do during missions, you receive a rank. Reaching S rank, the highest rank possible, will net you some special items for use in the game. Free Mode, by contrast, allows you to play missions that are not directly related to the storyline of the game. In Free Mode, the objective is primarily to accumulate EXP and items (some of which can only be found in Free Mode), and carry them over to Episode Mode to strengthen your character.

Rescue Missions

When the game first loads, you are given the option of going on a Rescue Mission. Any time that a player's character is KOed in battle, they have two options. They can either give up, which will result in restarting the mission and a loss of Rank Points, or they can allow themself to be imprisoned. The second option will not result in Rank Point loss, but your character will be in prison until another player on your network comes to help you escape. Rescue Mode is something of a double-edged sword. If your rescuer is successful, then your character is freed... but if they fail, then they, too, end up in prison with you and must await rescue themselves.

Materia

Just as in Final Fantasy VII, Materia is your source of magic in Before Crisis. The difference here is how you acquire materia. Rather than finding it or buying it, most of the time, you have to create it using your phone's camera. When using the materia creation system, the dominant color of any photograph you take will create a specific type of materia. During battle, you can use materia to cast spells against opponents. You also have to option of calling for backup, through the use of the Materia Support Guage. When you call for backup, you can combine your allies' materia with your own, and use summon magic. For more detailed information on materia in Before Crisis, see the Materia section.

The Gold Saucer

As an update to the original game, Square Enix added Gold Saucer, FFVII's amusement park. In Before Crisis, the Gold Saucer features many of the same things FFVII's version did, including Chocobo Racing and mini-games. In order to do anything at the Gold Saucer, you must earn GP, the in-house currency of the Gold Saucer. GP is earned by playing certain games, and can also be gained in exchange for RP. Special items can be purchased or unlocked by cashing in your GP.