In the evolving landscape of fighting games, the Dissidia Final Fantasy spin-off series has stood out as being dormant for over 5 years since its last entry. Despite the variance in reception between its entries, this in-franchise crossover of characters and combat mechanics from different titles could have been a formula that was ahead of its time and aligns perfectly with the fighting game trends of the current industry.
The original Dissidia Final Fantasy introduced the concept on the PSP back in 2008, and two main follow-ups have since come to define the name. While Dissidia 012: Duodecim refined the formula by enhancing practically everything about the first game, Dissidia NT would later feel like a simplified step-down from this progression. Especially now that fighting games have come to actively favor more complex designs overall, there’s hardly been a better time for Square Enix to consider revisiting Dissidia.
The Mixed Legacy of Dissidia Final Fantasy
Dissidia 012's Reputation as a Triumph
Better known as simply Duodecim, the sequel still stands out as a high point that set the standard for the series. With layers of strategic depth added through new characters and unique features like EX Mode, it was truly able to establish its own identity as one of Final Fantasy's best spin-off titles. The further introduction of Assists along with refinements to the series' Bravery and HP Attack systems made for what is considered the most tactical entry.
Lessons Need to Be Learned From Dissidia NT's Shortcomings
It seemed to have been aiming to innovate with an emphasis on team battles and streamlined mechanics, but NT’s push in a new direction ultimately resulted in a less compelling experience when compared to its predecessors. The level of fan service that could fit into its three-on-three gameplay earned it recognition at the time, but these kinds of design shifts distracted from the long-term potential of Dissidia Final Fantasy’s core gameplay.
There Have Been Few Better Times for a Final Fantasy Fighting Game Than Now
Bringing Dissidia Back to Form
The revival of FF’s flagship fighting series presents the chance to both integrate modern visual fidelity and characters from newer titles, like Clive and Joshua Rosfield of Final Fantasy 16. When combining this potential with the inherent roster diversity and nostalgic appeal of Dissidia, it might be able to achieve a similar status as other visually striking fighting game franchises of recent years. If Square Enix can build on the mechanically-sound foundation laid by Duodecim, or potentially even opt for an enhanced remake of that title itself, its arena fighter IP could largely set itself apart from the competition.
When it comes to the different areas of Final Fantasy intersecting, however, it can be complex for developer visions to align enough for a crossover to be viable. In a February 2023 interview with Finaland, producer Ichiro Hazama spoke on the challenges associated with bringing characters together:
"We have to check with the staff who are responsible for each of the individual titles... We need to check all that; we just don’t want to do it ourselves."
In a broader sense, Dissidia might be able to become a cornerstone of the brand if it can take advantage of the current spotlight that fighting games have been receiving and function as the crossover title it was intended to be. By complementing ongoing successes like Final Fantasy 14 and the FF7 Remake project through utilizing their casts, there could be more interplay with the more mainline releases than was ever previously possible. After FF has gradually become more fragmented through spin-offs, a timely return to Dissidia could also be perfect for unifying these disparate stories under one umbrella.
Final Fantasy 16
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 91%
- Released
- June 22, 2023
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- Franchise
- Final Fantasy
