I’ve been asked by a few people to divulge more information regarding a few games I played during the Tokyo Game Show… One of the games that have repeatedly recurred is Dissidia Final Fantasy. I guess it’s only fair that I preview one of the biggest games to land on handheld consoles since their inception, right?

Before I start going into various stuff in depth, I can’t see much of a reason for people to not have preordered this game already. It’s definitely the best game on the PSP right now, no upcoming game can seemingly match it aside from Level 5′s offerings (like that’s new, eh?), and it outshines anything on the DS too. I’m obviously biased due to the heavy amount of fanservice in the game but, even when putting my bias aside, I can’t really can’t think of anything out on the PSP or DS that holds a candle to this game. It really is that good. I’d even go as far as saying any Final Fantasy fan who didn’t buy a PSP when Crisis Core or War of the Lions came out needs to hurry up and get themselves one.

 

Squall, once again showing us how great he is at making friends.

Visuals

I should probably point out that everything you’ve seen so far is identical to what you’ll see in-game. It’s every bit as vibrant and fluid as you’ve seen, and it’s definitely just as fast-paced. Beautifully so. The sprites are easily on par with those seen in Crisis Core, possibly even better (although I guess you wouldn’t really get to see that much, given how you’ll be spending most of the time running around). The health bars at the bottom of the screen are unobtrusive and well-designed, fitting nicely next to the heads of characters that we’ve seen from the promotional art. Each character definitely looks younger than they did in the games they were in, and their clothing has changed too… Everything is generally more stylish and has more attention to detail than we’ve previously seen. 

The actual level designs are genius. My favourite is an arena akin to an ancient temple, littered with broken columns and crumbling walls. The textures are great for a PSP game, again easily matching those seen in Crisis Core. Actually evident damage to the walls also adds a whole new level of beauty to the game. The arenas are nicely sized, allowing for a lot of movement within each and none are too similar… Attacks are fluid, with the QTEs being quite stylish by themselves. General attacks and combos are also very nice looking, with weapon trails similar to Soul Calibur being very stylised, with everything moving fluidly. Overall, the game is very beautiful and is definitely the best looking game released on the console so far.

 

"Don't laugh at my tail!"

Gameplay

The controls are very simple and easy to get used to. Triangle deals with various interesting movements – like walking along walls and jumping to other areas of the arena – while X obviously handles jumping. By using R and the analogue slider, you can dodge in various directions. Using R on its own is the block mechanic, although using it is rather pointless… Constantly moving is a better method, dodging your opponent’s attacks rather than staying in one spot. L handles Locking, and you will presumably be able to choose between toggle and hold for that feature. Circle is the main attack button, and the one you’ll be using most. Square initiates a special attack that deals damage depending on the relative amounts of your and your opponent’s Bravery.

 

The EX Mode is a great addition, serving to replicate the Limit Breaks that the characters used in their respective games. Each character has an EX Gauge, which fills up as you attack your opponent. Once it is filled, holding R and pressing the Square button initiates what is known as the EX Burst – Dissidia’s name for Limit Breaks. Each one is beautifully cinematic, mirroring their game’s counterpart perfectly: Tidus’s one even has the same sliding bar as he had in FFX. Combos are easily performed, and there’s a nice amount of them for each character. None of them are the same as the others, offering a nice variety to use. Attacks are influenced by whether you’re standing on the ground or in mid-air, as well as what direction you have the slider pointing at at the time. The game, as I said before, implements Quick Time Events. Anyone who knows me well knows how badly I hate them. But thankfully, they’re not completely intrusive nor do they exactly rule the gameplay. They’re also confined to one button and merely ascertain whether you hit or miss so you can even ignore them completely. They can be used strategically, however, to slow your opponent down and leave an opening for a heavily damaging combo. If used properly, you won’t need to use them for much more than an extra push against your opponent.

 

Admit it, the Warrior of Light is screwed...

Audio

The title menu music is exactly the same as we remember it, albeit updated and more full a tune. It’s quite nice to be greeted by that music, and it tells you that you’re still playing a Final Fantasy game regardless of it’s genre. Each arena has it’s own music, and each track is wildly different from any other. They perfectly suit the arenas they’re appointed to, representing the style of the battlefield well, and the boss music (if it is boss music) is just pure genius – Jecht, for example, has heavy metal music with strong lyrics accompanying it. I don’t think they could have picked better tunes than those used. Attacks have a meaty sound to them, and the voice acting inside and outside of battle is perfect. Even the EX Bursts are beautifully orchestrated for a PSP game.

Credit to IGN for the screens.

Wintrale Games, Preview