• Review: Dissidia: Final Fantasy

    by
    Chris "WildCardCorsair" Garcia
    Published on 02-07-2012 11:46 PM
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    Dissidia: Final Fantasy

    Developer: Square Enix
    Publisher: Square Enix
    Platform: PlayStation Portable
    Genre: Fighting, Action/Role-Playing Game
    Rating: Teen
    Release Date: August 25th, 2009

    Although not the first fighting game by Square/Square Enix, Dissidia is a first in its own right. Dissidia: Final Fantasy not only collects a dream team of fighters from the Final Fantasy franchise, but also dares to wow us with "Advent Children"-like battles. Attempting to create a game no Final Fantasy fan should be without, Square Enix also takes another notable risk opting to put this ambitious title on the PlayStation Portable handheld, rather than a console.

    Presentation
    Dissidia: Final Fantasy does not take place in any world we've yet encountered. In fact, the game takes place in "World B", a mysterious parallel reality. In this world warriors have been snatched from different realms and forced to do battle for the whimsy of two deities... or so it seems. The real truth behind the creation of this sinister world, the two "gods" that rule it, and the mysterious "manikins" that infest it are never truly what they seem. Our favorite Final Fantasy heroes and villains are positioned for the first time to end the cycle of endless war and it's up to you to help them.

    Graphics
    Being a Square Enix title, and a part of the Final Fantasy franchise, graphics are always expected to be high quality and Dissidia does not disappoint. The game’s character design falls to go-to-guy Tetsuya Nomura, best known for his work on The World Ends With You, Kingdom Hearts, and of course many recent Final Fantasy titles. Illustrations for the game were handled by acclaimed artist Yoshitaka Amano and are beautiful traditional Japanese style pencil works mainly seen on the game’s summon characters.

    When it comes to characters and the animations for this game, only one word comes to mind. That word ladies, and gentleman, is beautiful. Character movements are well animated, fast paced, and fluid. Attack animations are grandiose, vibrant, and punishing. From its early conception, Dissidia was meant to include the same feel as Square Enix's Final Fantasy VII CGI movie, Advent Children. Because of this Dissidia battles are easily as exciting and visually impressive. Characters can be seen running up walls, performing quick dodges, deft blocks, and devastatingly powerful looking attacks, even in midair!

    Dissidia treats us to beautiful environments and levels throughout the game as well. Many of the games levels are 3D environments based off the most infamous of Final Fantasy locations. The Planet's Core from Final Fantasy VII, Lunar Subterrain from Final Fantasy IV, and even the Chaos Shrine from Final Fantasy I all make great arenas for battle. Also adding visually to the game, all the levels have destructible elements to the environment and some other elements constantly in motion.

    Cutscenes have also been spared no expense. Very high quality cinematics are available for each character through the various story missions, and a few during the game's last story mission Shade Impulse. Including the utterly gorgeous opening sequence you can rest assured; Dissidia delivers visually in many ways, and on many levels.

    Sound/Music
    Dissidia features many re-orchestrated Final Fantasy classics. Music from every game is in here, at least a few tracks from each game. Hearing some of these iconic tracks like "One-Winged Angel", "Otherworld", and "The Decisive Battle" makes any Final Fantasy fan just want to put the game on loop while you listen. Additionally, original tracks are found throughout the game. These original compositions by Takeharu Ishimoto are great and fit in very well to the game. Themes for Cosmos and Chaos as well as opening movie and menu music are most of the new songs but all are nearly as enjoyable as the classic Final Fantasy music that makes up the soundtrack for this game.

    Gameplay
    As I said before, Dissidia is an RPG trapped in a fighting game’s body. The aspects of an RPG truly define the game’s unique customization elements while still providing an exciting one-on-one struggle. To sum it up, Dissidia has two attack buttons. Attacking with the “circle” button deals damage equal to your attack stat to your opponent’s bravery, and adds it to your own. Attacking with the “square” button unleashes damage equal to your current bravery to your opponent’s HP. Of course, simply attacking won’t get the job done. You also have access to blocks, dodges, air dashes, quick moving on walls, and the ever powerful EX mode. The best part of it all is that all of these elements are customizable. Your move set, stats, equipment, how you attack, and what attacks you want to get the most out of, are all up to you. You get a certain amount of points in which to equip the moves and abilities of your choice. It doesn’t end there either. Accessories and booster items can trigger on certain conditions further enhancing things like attack, defense, or far more specialized parameters. I love this particular aspect of the game. My personal favorite character is Squall from FFVIII. By the end of the game I had him built completely to my play strengths. The level of customization is impressive and almost frightening at times. I can honestly say I didn’t like Dissidia at first, but after learning how to take advantage of all the customization aspects, I adjusted quickly and could no longer put the game down.

    When it comes to the fighting part, the game does not disappoint either. Fights are epic, and controls are fluid. It doesn't take very long to get into the swing of things like learning your attacks, though mastering things like perfectly timed dodges or blocks are more advanced concepts. Those of you worried how the RPG-heavy influence affects the fighting portion of gameplay need not be worried too much. Though higher level enemies will have much higher HP and Bravery, it is possible for a very skilled player to best an opponent several times his own level. Levels themselves are each unique and present certain challenges or advantages based on your play style. The Planet's Core (famously seen at the end of FFVII) is a very vertical based stage, with few platforms to stand on, giving characters with many vertical based attacks or boosted jump capabilities an advantage. Inversely, World of Darkness (seen in FFIII) is a wide open stage with no vertical elements aside from a few columns that can be destroyed. Players with boosted speed or long range horizontal attacks equipped to their fighters can have an advantage on this or similar stages.

    In Dissidia there are actually several modes to choose from. First off, of course, is the main story line. Each Cosmos character has their own "Destiny Odyssey" making 10 in total. As soon as you complete your first Destiny Odyssey you can choose to continue on to the game's final story related missions, Shade Impulse I-IV. Then if you've completed all Odysseys I-X, you can also venture through Distant Glory (Cosmos) and Distant Glory (Chaos). Each of these missions unlock a previously hidden character; Shantotto (from FFXI) and Gabranth (from FFXII). Once those are both completed you have the final mission, a dungeon of horrible proportions, called Inward Chaos. Many of the items needed for the best equipment are here or in the Duel Colosseum, so players wanting the best will have plenty of other missions to wade through before they can get their hands on the epic loot.

    While tackling a mission, the game puts you on a tactics-like board. Scattered along it are fonts representing enemies, goals, treasures, and occasionally new summons. The upper left hand corner has a starting number different for each dungeon called your Destiny Point total. Each move away from your point of origin will subtract one from this total. With every item you pick up, or enemy you engage, your point of origin resets, causing you to lose another point upon moving away from it. This number will affect how many Play Points you rack up at the end of the mission, and also directly correlate to a special bonus item you can receive upon completing the board. Watching carefully how you move across the board, which enemies you fight, and items you pick up become crucial decisions for those wanting certain bonus items. Destiny Points can be added by defeating enemies in "chains" (engaging multiple adjacent enemies) and fulfilling certain in-battle conditions. To be completely honest this particular aspect of the game was more frustrating than anything else. I have no problem planning ahead but the game already requires you to plan out your move list, equipment, accessories, and summons, so planning out each move and battle to the same level of meticulousness was just tedious. Most of the time I didn’t even bother with obtaining the high level treasures due to the over complication it takes to obtain them.

    Other Modes include a survival mode called Arcade, which pits you against a certain number of enemies in a row, with levels depending on which difficulty you select. There is also the Duel Colosseum. In this mode you select a character and are dealt three cards each turn. Cards can represent enemies to fight, loot to collect, or jobs that add enhancing effects to your battles. The farther you go the harder things become, but aside from Inward Chaos, the best items can only be obtained through playing through the Duel Colosseum on the hardest setting. Each run through the Duel Colosseum is different, thus adding new and challenging elements each time you play. Quick Battle is an easy way to fight a character the same level as your chosen fighter in a quick one-on-one fight. Then of course Communications Mode will allow you to battle friends via adhoc, or battle their ghost data via friend cards. Friend cards can also be transmitted through this feature.

    All the fights and bonuses at the end of missions will net you PP or "Play Points". The Play Point Catalog has unlockable items to purchase for nearly every aspect of Dissidia. You can buy harder Arcade modes, higher level preset characters, extra costumes, new stages, and background music to add to the game. Also available for purchase are icons to customize your friend card and special daily bonuses. You see when you first start Dissidia; one option you receive will be to select a bonus day. On your bonus day of the week the amount of gil, experience, PP, and AP (Ability Points) will be increased allowing you to level up your fighter and master his abilities much quicker. Purchasing these daily bonuses from the PP catalog will enhance your bonus day effects, as well as randomize when individual effects will pop up on your calendar even if it isn't your bonus day.

    Lasting Appeal
    With most fighting games, the real appeal is in the player-vs-player fighting action. Since Dissidia is on PSP though, it isn't as easy to simply grabbing two controllers and sitting in front of the TV with a friend. There are, however, plenty of ways to keep the fun going. Besides multiplayer; friend cards can be swapped with friends allowing you to fight their ghost data when they aren't around. Then you have Dissidia's impressive story mode. Once the story is complete, three extra dungeons become available. These are unlocked by completing each character's story mode in addition to the final mission so prepare to sink some time in to unlock them. The Duel Colosseum and Arcade modes also add to the fun. Of course every Final Fantasy fan probably wants to know if there are ultimate weapons in Dissidia. The answer is loud and resounding yes. Expect to spend some hardcore time farming for items in the Duel Colosseum and toughest dungeons if you want to synthesize the best the game has to offer. In fact, many of these items are just as hard to obtain as their Final Fantasy main game counterparts. All-in-all you can expect to have your time mercilessly devoured by Dissidia if you let it. Time that, if you are like me, is thoroughly enjoyable, though masochistically at times.

    Conclusion
    Dissidia: Final Fantasy was a huge risk to take for Square Enix. Taking beloved characters, and making a fighting game with RPG elements is no easy task. Despite the challenge, Square Enix knocked this one out of the park in my opinion. From the complete customization aspect of this unorthodox fighter, to the long and compelling story mode there isn’t much here to complain about. In fact, the only real downside to the rich content in this game is all the rich content in this game. The game's features, customizations, vast equipment list, unlockable characters, and "dungeon themed" single player campaign may turn off the typical fighting game player. I almost fell victim to this myself, simply thinking of this title as just another fighting game when in reality it is so much more. For anyone looking for a unique fighting game experience, or those who are fans of the Final Fantasy franchise, this game delivers a surprising and fresh experience

    Score:
    8.5/10

  • Review Scale

    Score 10- Flawless Victory: A score not handed out to every game. Games earning this rare score sit at the very pinnacle of excellence. These games act as the examples for which all others should be measured with. They are instant classics from the beginning. These games not only deliver what was expected of it, but also exceed the player’s expectations. The game’s features are innovative and original. No game is without its absolute flaws, but the finished product you bring home surpasses the anticipation the game has formed. A day one buy is a must. The game you hold in your hands with this score is a video game jackpot.

    Score 9 - 9.5- Outstanding: Games earning scores such as these absolutely must be played. Games that achieve this high ranking do so because they define the genres that they are in. Flaws are few and barely noticeable. Features seen in the game have been renovated to provide something new and fresh. The story, gameplay, graphics, and lasting appeal are all fantastic and is reason enough to bring the game home and to enjoy with family and friends. Every penny you spend on the game is so worth it.

    Score 8 - 8.5- Great: Any flaw the game may possess is overshadowed by its fun factor. These games would be great for gamers to play. These great games appeal to gamers more and more outside its normal player base because of what it brings to the table.

    Score 7 - 7.5- Good: Flaws do exist in these games, but the positive features of the game can counterbalance the flaws. Additionally, players who are predisposed to liking a game of a particular series or genre with this score should enjoy the game. These are in no way bad games, and much fun can be had with them. An overall good game is worth taking a look at, whether you are willing to buy the game or rent it first. That or you can also wait for the game to reach a good price.

    Score 6 - 6.5- Decent: Games falling into this category may suffer from numerous flaws (for example, graphics or gameplay), but are still worth playing. Granted, the player should be aware that a game with these scores may not guarantee them full satisfaction.

    Score 5 - 5.5- Average: An average game is one in which a game’s features are neither good nor completely terrible. Instead, the finished product is manageable. Little has been done to hold the player’s interest. If anything, rent this game before you consider buying it so that you can at least get a feel for the game’s overall experience.

    Score 4 - 4.5- Poor: Games falling into this category may only keep gamers entertained for a short while. While the game may seem enjoyable for moments at a time, it can quickly grow old and may never be revisited again. The game’s overall function is lacking in quality and may not hold the player’s attention for long. The game leaves little or nothing else to return back to.

    Score 3 - 3.5- Bad: If any positive qualities about a game in this category exist, it is not enough to redeem the game for its shortcomings. Sure you may find yourself playing it, but for how long? You will wind up not giving the game a second glance.

    Score 2 - 2.5- Horrible: Games such as these may not be totally unplayable, they nearly are. Additionally, they may lack, or greatly suffer in, the fundamental functionality of the software as a whole. The game simply does not come close to meeting industry standards at the time of its release.

    Score 1 - 1.5- Appalling: Gamers should avoid this game at all costs. The game was clearly not ready to make its way to store shelves in its status. Save your money and find something else. See it in the bargain bin? No! Stay away! Keep moving and look for something else.