Dissidia 012: Duodecim Final Fantasy

Ultimately I can only recommend Dissidia 012 if you really liked the first Dissidia. If that's the case then you should think about selling or trading in the original game, since Dissidia 012 is essentially the same game, only with a new story mode and a character assist mechanic thrown in.

That said, both Dissidia and Dissidia 02 are meh fighting games with truly amazing casts of characters. The zippier fighting will seem ok at first, but once cheap, tougher enemies lead to insane button mashing you'll probably get bored. I did.

Dissidia 012 is technically an improvement on its predecessor. The stylish combat is still a blast and Final Fantasy fans will be as enamored as ever, but a number of the improvements seem half-realized.

This game is mainly for Final Fantasy fans who don't mind something different from their titles or for fans who love the character roster and its crossover possibilities. However, people looking for a deep, rewarding fighting game should most definitely look elsewhere.

DDFF is an interesting take on a lot of well-worn ideas - never exceptional, though usually a lot of fun.

Quotation forthcoming.

It's preaching only to the converted but if you can stomach both the story and learning curve this remains a rewarding and innovative fighter.

For a franchise usually so keen on reinventing itself, this plays it very safe. [Issue#107, p.116]

Square Enix's minimal attempts to address the first game's issues won't win any new fans, but the company knows how to pander to an audience. That's one area where Dissidia 012 is firing on all cylinders. [Apr 2011, p.95]

There's a great deal of technical power and content in this little disc and fans of the original will love it, but the true potential of Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy remains untapped.

Not particularly great. There's fun to be had with its flashy battles and who's-who roster of familiar faces, but if you're looking for depth or longevity, you'll want to start kicking up dirt elsewhere. Make no mistake: this is the best Dissidia's ever been. Problem is, it could still be much better.

Dissidia 012 is a frustrating game. The fundamental parts are quite solid, the graphics and music showcase Square Enix's usual excellent craftsmanship, and the fighting system remains fairly unique even if the game isn't exactly innovative compared to its predecessor. It bungles a lot of the ancillary features though, and some of the flaws seep back into the core of the gameplay.