Before Crisis is the prequel to the 1997 Sony PlayStation video game Final Fantasy VII, taking place during the six years prior to the events of that game. It involves the adventures of the Turks, a group of supporting characters featured in Final Fantasy VII, and was the second installment in the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII series.

Before Crisis's story begins shortly after the ending of the war between the Shin-Ra Electric Power Company and the Wutai tribe, Shin-Ra finds itself the dominant economic, military and political power in the world.

Before Crisis focuses on this conflict between Shin-Ra and the original AVALANCHE group, which began six years before the events portrayed in Final Fantasy VII, and lasted up to the time immediately preceding the events that took place in that game.

Before Crisis centers around the Shin-Ra Company's Turks, with AVALANCHE serving as the game's main enemies.