Dissidia 012[duodecim] Final Fantasy Review

Few portables titles have come close to surrendering the quantity of content found within Dissidia: Final Fantasy. From delivering an elaborate combat system which continued to reveal nuances even after a dozen hours of play to supplying a cornucopia of unlockable content, the game broke the cardinal rule of any budding franchise: always leave players hungry for more. Yet two years later, the mavens at Square-Enix has accomplished the implausible by shoehorning even more substance onto a modest UMD. With the release of prequel Dissidia 012[duodecim] Final Fantasy, enthusiasts are advised to clear a month from their recreational schedules to drench themselves in the title’s combination of returning content and original material.

Much like its predecessor, Deodecim‘s conflict between the Goddess of Harmony and the deity of disorder offer a flimsy impetus for the fisticuffs. In assembling a roster of twenty-two heroes and villains from the Final Fantasy franchise, some creative liberties were required. Here, the game’s protagonists are afflicted with a furtive form of amnesia, which allows characters to recall specific events as long as they reference pivotal points in the series history. Needlessly heavy on monologue and exposition, the title’s best allusions are either direct musical passages or the fleeting appearance of an assistant character.

Despite the need for frequent trips to Deodecim‘s gorgeous menu screens, players will spend the bulk of their time in heated battle. Although the mechanics remains similar- players still need to whittle away at bravery points before seizing an enemy’s HP,  there are a handful of new facets. Gamers can call upon assist characters to unleash brawny strikes or stop imminent combos. Charging your EX Gauge for a devastating attack is no longer the customary match clincher, as the meter fills much slower in Deodecim. One interesting new addition automates many of the complexities of battle, allowing gamers to coach their characters ala Final Fantasy XIII‘s paradigm system.

Much like the first game, Dissidia 012 can often be a visual stunner. From crystal-clear CGI cinematics, detailed, richly animated characters, and a gorgeous interface, there’s a persistent amount of polish which permeates the title. While the game’s twenty-two returning characters don’t look radically different from the last iteration, the inclusion of nine impeccably rendered Final Fantasy luminaries is enough to silence any quibbles. Sonically, returning composer Takeharu Ishimoto’s rearrangements are faultless, giving a number of beloved chiptunes a satisfying aural makeover.