Final Fantasy Dissidia Duodecim is one of the few games that I did not want to review, and it’s quite possibly the first Square Enix game I did not want to review. I did not enjoy the first game, and I assumed that this game would be more of the original. But when you’re assigned a game to review, you’re assigned to it. Within minutes of turning it on, I realized that my assumptions were a little right.
FFDD continues its tradition of incorporating the Bravery and HP attack system, which to be honest, you will either love or hate. There is nothing with the way it works; I just hate it. This was their method of making the fighting game more unique than your typical button mashing combos, and they definitely accomplished that goal, but it’s not for everyone.
There were some nice new changes brought into the prequel. For example, the ability to call in other characters for assist attacks is so incredibly useful, especially when the AI is just pummeling you into a corner. Actually having an overworld to run around in breaks up the monotony of having game board after game board after game board. I personally would have preferred that they ditch the whole game board idea altogether, but at least that’s not all I’m looking at in between menus and cut scenes.
The new character additions offer more unique stylings of fighting from your typical sword-toting brawlers throughout the game, especially with Lightning, Yuna, and Laguna. Yuna attacks exactly how she did in FFX: summoning aeons. Laguna’s heavy gun arsenal is immensely satisfying for players who prefer long range attacks and never really getting up close, and Lightning’s ability to actually Paradigm Shift is more than just a nod at the unusual battle system in FFXIII; it provides numerous options for players to customize how she attacks to their style.
Overall, FFDD is not a bad game. It does what it does very well, but it has carved out a very specific niche for its fans. Basically, you must be both a fan of Final Fantasy games and of the fighting game genre. I do not fit into this audience, so it was most definitely not for me. If you liked the first Dissidia game, you will more than likely love this one as well.
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