Dissidia: Final Fantasy
PSP, Square Enix, 4/5

Melding Final Fantasy’s turn-based combat heritage with the fighting genre that gave us Tekken and Street Fighter sounds like a disaster waiting to happen, however Square Enix has proved it can work. Far from its epic RPG roots, Dissidia’s fast-paced combat experience successfully integrates RPG elements – such as leveling, gear and summons – that action, fantasy and even the series’ stat lovers will equally enjoy.

The arenas take the form of interactive 3D environments, sadly often visually uninspiring. The familiar goal – to knock out opponents by getting Health Points to zero – remains the same, but the introduction of Bravery Points (BP) mixes the experience up. The higher your BP figure the harder you hit, so you must combine BP stealing and health diminishing attacks to bring down foes.

Special features add a further element to the gameplay, including the ability to ‘break’ opponents. This is when an adversary’s BP goes into minus figures, and all your attacks become critical hitters. Button mashing can get you so far, but advancement requires tactical skill.

Aside from the mainstay quickplay, arcade and multiplayer modes, there’s a story mode aimed at satisfying fans’ lust for familiar faces and FF lore. Cosmos and Chaos are waging war and the heroes and villains choose sides for one final showdown. With more than ten stories to play through, they star classic villains and heroes, united at the battle to end all battles.

Stories are played out through multiple board-styled levels, interspersed with – often long-winded – FMV cutscenes and culminating in obligatory boss fights. Battles reward you experience, equipment and money etc, and here’s where you find the game’s depth. You can casually play through Dissidia, but delving deeper reveals multiple layers – from unlocking accomplishments and specifying abilities, to ‘buying’ new playable characters and modes, and upgrading your equipment and accessories.

Easily accessible to quick play fighting fans but still offering substance, Dissidia creates a balance between RPG and fighter than many may not think possible. The more you put into the game, the more you’ll get in return.