Sunday, March 27, 2011

Gaming Sunday: Dissidia 012 [duodecim]: Final Fantasy


Introduction
Best Game Ever for the PSP. So far. I don't really know what attracts me so much about Dissidia. Maybe seeing all those cool Final Fantasy Heroes and Villains face off? Or maybe it is the way the game is played, after all the only Final Fantasy game I played prior to the first Dissidia was Crisis Core, so to put it in a way, I was not much "learned of the lore" of Final Fantasy. Hack, I used to think Final Fantasy I-XII were part of a long storyline. Or maybe, it was the "drawn to a world by gods to fight a war" sounding like Warriors Orochi, that I decided to play it. But either way, I wholly enjoyed the first Dissidia, and Duodecim was no different.


Story

Duodecim first story mode deals with the 12th Cycle of the Conflict. Cosmos gives to each warrior the power to gain crystals so that they can defeat Chaos. The crystals are formed by the experience of the warriors. The more they fight, the more complete the crystal is. At the other end of the conflict, Chaos's warriors summons forth manikins. Using the manikins, that wreck havoc across the ranks of Cosmos's Warrior.

Kain and the Warrior of Light devise a plan, a fruit of Golbez's plot, to end the War in the next cycle. Kain goes off putting to sleep his allies. By which I would think that they are not entire killed, but neither are they alive. Sort of a limbo, I guess. Doing this ensures that they will survive this round of conflict. Manikins are ruthless and merciless, when they kill they are thorough, killing until not a spark of life remain in their opponents, which is why the 6 newcomers do not appear in the 13th cycle.

Duodecim second story mode deals with the 13th Cycle, basically, the first Dissidia. The only difference is gameplay is played in Duodecim style. The third story mode deals with the aftermath of the 20th Cycle. I believe this to be a what-if scenario. Basically, an Inward Chaos of Duodecim. Perhaps even the continuation of Inward Chaos. I think it is so due to the fact that other materials in the game suggest that the conflict ended in the 13th Cycle.

The last story mode is basically reports. In look into the beginnings of the conflict. The battles or scenes there however, tell of stories of the 12th, 13th and some earlier cycles. A key phrase that relates to both the report and the battle or scene links them together.


Gameplay
I was seriously disappointed with the World Map system. It was basically just there for players to interact with some moggles and allies, and then approach a dungeon to continue the game. The dungeon is basically a revamp of the previous Chessboard system. I really felt the World Map system did not live up to its potential.

The assist system, however, is seriously likeable. The possibilities of it are endless. Distract an opponent, blocking a Brave-to-HP chain, ambush an opponent, there are many uses to it. I find that I like to use assist as a tool to help me Break opponents which are otherwise to far away. Blocking attacks are also a nice way to use them.

The Ex Revenge totally out wins the tone downed Ex Burst. Ex Revenge is activated when you enter Ex Mode just after getting hit. However, instead of going into Ex Mode, you get Ex Revenge. It drains the Ex Meter, and slows time down for the opponent. You get to do your worst for several seconds. Break them, HP attack them, whatever you want.

New characters and new moves are also a welcome addition. However, one thing gets to me though. Square Enix promised a Chaos story mode for us. Where is it? I would take that over playing the 13th Cycle again any other day.

Graphics
CG scenes are intense. The newer ones are much, much more pleasing to the eye than the older ones. Except that Cloud shot in the intro. I liked Prishe and Gilgamesh's the best, oh oh oh, that Shinryu in the 012 ending was really awesome. In game graphics remain much the same. Which is probably the highest tier of graphics level the PSP can reach. Not complaining though, since it is very good.

Conclusion
Must buy for all Final Fantasy lovers and PSP owners. A person with a PSP without this game is not a person with a PSP at all. Call me bias, call me whatever, the PSP is incomplete without Dissidia. Duodecim or otherwise.

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