Please support Game Informer. Print magazine subscriptions are less than $2 per issue
Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy Review
The original Dissidia pitted an array of classic Final Fantasy characters against each other in fast-paced, haphazard combat. The transformation into a fighting game wasn’t exactly a natural fit for an RPG series that has helped defined video game storytelling for the last 20 years, but fans seemed to enjoy the opportunity to beat up their favorite villains and heroes. This sequel continues to serve those fans – and no one else.
The core concept isn’t all that made the transition from the first game; the sloppy controls are back, too. Basic maneuvers like dashing and dodging are unreliable thanks to a button layout that you can’t re-map (in a fighting game!), and the awful camera is a more formidable foe than some opponents. Most battles are tuned so that you don’t need to perform flawlessly, but a handful of boss fights made me absolutely furious by expecting a level of precision that the game cannot provide.
Most of the single-player mode isn’t bad or frustrating; it’s just dull. You repeatedly fight the same opponents, and the new overworld map is just more of a detour between grid-based levels similar to the last game. The thrill of leveling up, learning new abilities, and unlocking secrets is still here, but the surrounding gameplay is more mechanical than entertaining. The only time I felt the adrenaline pumping is when I was fighting a human opponent, which is easier this time around since multiplayer is no longer local-only.
Despite its faults, the Final Fantasy fan in me had some great times with Dissidia 012. The new characters are solid additions to the roster; I particularly liked the twists that Yuna and Laguna bring to combat. The new assist system is good, too, adding an extra dimension that was missing the first time around. I also can’t argue with the amount of content, since the story mode features three campaigns (though one is basically a re-hash of the original).
If you liked Dissidia, you will like Dissidia 012. 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.
Products In This Article
I’d like to ask you to support Game Informer’s continued coverage of games with a subscription. For less than two dollars per issue, we mail you a full year of 10 print magazines, each with cover stories and preview features filled with exclusive details about the most exciting upcoming games. We profile and interview game creators. We look back on the rich history of gaming, and we celebrate what’s next.
Here on the website, we offer much of our content for free, including game reviews, daily news, videos, event coverage, and more – all with minimal ads.
We do so with a small editorial team, alongside contributing paid writers from around the world – over 65 individuals from 9 countries around the world, just in the last couple of years.
It’s not possible without support.
In a time when game makers and games coverage have faced hard struggles and layoffs, the future of this 30+ year magazine and community is at risk. Our new standalone magazine subscription is the number one way you can keep us alive – and we believe you’ll get a pretty fantastic gaming magazine in your mailbox every few weeks for your trouble.
Thank you.
