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My experience with Final Fantasy had always been rather cursory in nature.  I knew of the franchise, and had played through a few of the later entries in the franchise, but none of it ever made much sense.  Adding to the confusion were the ancillary entries to the Final Fantasy series that took the stories in different gameplay directions.  Dissidia 012[duodecim] Final Fantasy is one of those offshoots in the Final Fantasy universe, eschewing turn based team combat for frantic one on one duels.  Dissidia 012 can be confusing, boasting a steep learning curve, but it will reward the determined player with a rich fighting experience, and endless hours of entertainment.

Dissidia 012 is a prequel to the events that take place in the original Dissidia Final Fantasy title from 2009.  As with that title, the good and evil characters of the Final Fantasy universe have been summoned to wage war between the sides of Cosmos and Chaos, with the winner deciding the fate of the universe.  The story is probably the weak point of the game, leaving most players confused with every turn.  Really though, the story only serves as a framework to give reason for the collection of heroes and villains from the Final Fantasy universe.  Tifa, Cloud, Laguna, Yuna and more are here to do battle with one another, crossing the boundaries of each entry in the series.  Even Final Fantasy XIII poster girl Lightning, shows up to do battle for the side of Cosmos.

While the story may be contrived and weak, the combat is where Dissidia 012 truly shines.  As you start a chapter with a hero, you will work your way through a world map, unlocking gates that have been tainted by the side of Chaos.  Upon entering a gate, your view will turn to a tactical map with enemies laid out on a grid.  Moving on to an occupied square will open up a combat window.  Combat happens in real time, with your character pulling off a plethora of different moves.  Your goal is to use Bravery attacks, building up an attack meter, with the goal of using a Finisher, or HP attack on the enemy.  It sounds simple, but there is a ton of stuff going on, to the point of leaving the beginning user completely confused.  Several times during the initial chapters, I had a glassy eyed look as I tried to understand the mountains of information that was being thrown at me.  But after a few hours of trial and error, I started to understand the mechanics of the game.  At that eureka moment, the game had me hooked, learning when to defend, when to use Bravery attacks and of course, when to drop the hammer with a devastating Finisher move.

Adding to the main combat are all sorts of extra items and moves that can assist you on the battlefield.  New to this series is the Battle Assist.  During several missions, you can earn the ability to summon assists from a backup character.  Assists become a necessary and strategic component of combat, allowing for counters from enemies that are getting the upper hand in battle.  Other items include weapons, armor, single and multiple use buffs that can be equipped before each battle to beef up your attacks.  There are so many different items that can be unlocked at any point in time, and it became very easy to get lost in the minutia of every item.  After a while, I did get the hang of inventory management, but it can be a daunting task.

While the PSP is starting to get long in the tooth, the programmers over at Square Enix continue to find new ways to squeeze performance out of the platform.  Dissidia 012 looks absolutely fantastic with exquisite character models, detailed worlds, and top notch CGI cut scenes.  It would have been nice if some of that detail worked its way into the main world map, as these environments seem rather sterile and repetitive.

As if there was not enough with the main story, and the reports that unlock extra battles and cut scenes, you end up unlocking the original campaign from the first Dissidia title, complete with updated graphics from the new title.  Who can argue with getting two games packed in the same package, all for one low price?  Kudos to Square for the added bonus and it does give extra incentive for those that might waffle on finishing the game.

Dissidia 012 also includes a multiplayer combat system that will allow you to do battle with up to three other friends in many different stages.  While the standard combat system will be in play here, enterprising folks will be able to use the scenario creator to make new missions complete with dialog for added cut scenes.  It is a very robust construction system for those that are willing to take the time to learn it.  Sure, most will probably never touch the editor, but it is another solid feature packed into this title.

If there was a main fault to Dissidia 012, it would be that it tends to be a rather steep learning experience for the entering newcomer to the series.  I had never played the first Dissidia, and the first few hours were a challenge to get through.  Yes, there is a lot there for a player once they pick up the basics, but I have to wonder how many will actually get to that point in the game without quitting.  The multiplayer is a nice touch, but it can be a stutter fest when things get really hectic on the battlefield.  It is not an all the time problem, but it can get a bit annoying when everyone is trying to drop huge Finisher attacks.

Even with its faults, Dissidia 012[duodecim] Final Fantasy had me returning day after day to play.  The battle system provides a wealth of depth for those that take the time to understand all the different nuisances.  A lengthy campaign that revisits the favorite characters of the Final Fantasy series helps the rather muddled story move along from one chapter to the next.  Throw in another full campaign from the first title upon finishing the prequel and you have a boatload of content that will entertain you for hours on end.   Dissidia 012 surprised me with its combat and feature set, and for its price, it is a great pickup for anyone that owns a PSP.  Dissidia 012[duodecim] Final Fantasy gets 4 out of 5 Aeropausonauts.

Check out Dissidia 012[duodecim] Final Fantasy and other PSP reviews at Test Freaks.