Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy

Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy​, simply known as Dissidia 012, is the prequel to Dissidia Final Fantasy. It is playable on the PlayStation Portable and has been released in Japan. Most of North America, save Canada, which had been delayed due to a shipping error, received the game on March 22, 2011. Australia, Europe, and Canada received the game on March 25, 2011, and it is now available to the rest of the world.

Gameplay
Gameplay of Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy​ are similar to the original's, featuring all of the original gameplay elements, characters and arenas. Fighters will attack to steal Bravery from opponents, which increases their own, as a character lands Bravery attacks. By reducing an opponent's Bravery below zero, they inflict Break status, preventing the opponent from inflicting Bravery or HP damage until their Bravery regenerates to a base amount, while the one who inflicted Break gets a large boost in Bravery from the Map. When an HP attack connects with the opponent, they take damage equal to the attacking player's Bravery. By collecting EX Force, characters can enter EX Mode, boosting their strength, adding exclusive abilities and letting them execute EX Bursts similar to Limit Breaks. New summons, arenas, music tracks and characters have been included.

Despite the similarities, many changes were made and features were added. One of the main new gameplay features is the Assist system, which allows characters to call an ally into battle to attack, allowing new combos to be created by chaining the two characters' moves in different fashions. The Assist system acts as a counterbalance mechanic to the EX Mode system, as landing an Assist attack can deplete the opponent's EX gauge. The EX gauge can also be utilized to execute a new technique titled "EX Revenge," which will slow down the opponent's movement for several seconds at the cost of consuming the EX gauge without entering EX Mode. Several characters have gained new attacks since the original Dissidia, and several returning moves have had their properties changed. Firion, Kefka and Shantotto in particular have been stated to be heavily rebalanced. Several other small tweaks have been implemented as well. A character's HP can now exceed the normal limit of 9999 - characters have been shown to be able to exceed even over 99,999 HP, meaning the new HP Limit could be 999,999; at the start of the game if the player says they're a master they will be put into a battle against a Level 130 Feral Chaos, who has over 120,000 HP.

The extra damage dealt by Wall Rush has been reduced to 25% of the base damage from the original 50%. Chase Sequences are much faster and absorb the EX Force around when entering chase or continuing the chase. Critical Hits now do twice the normal damage instead of quintuple.

Players are given the choice between "Action mode" or "RPG Mode" before starting the game. "RPG Mode" is essentially a renamed version of Command Mode from Dissidia and is aimed at making the game more accessible for players who are not used to action-based games.

"Party" battles are introduced, in which 5 characters from each side face each other. A "Watch" Mode allows players who are not participating in current battles to watch them on their PSP. The characters can be assigned profiles based on the Job System to help them in battle, such as Black Mages receiving a boost to the power of magic attacks.

Dissidia 012 features a story structure similar to the original game's Destiny Odysseys, and includes the ability to play as the warriors of Chaos as well. The story mode utilizes a different method of storyline gameplay than the original Dissidia; a world map is used rather than tiled boards, and players are able to form parties and wander the world freely. However, when the player enters a dungeon, the gameplay is reverted to that of the board of the first Dissidia. The player can use skills in dungeons like straight chain, which sets up in the player's line of sight (specifically a cross around the player) in a chain of battles. Completing the chain earns extra KP or Kupo Points. Kupo Points are used to buy items from moogles on the world map. Before entering a dungeon players have a choice to lower their level. If the player completes a dungeon below the bonus line limit, they'll earn bonuses such as extra KP and items. Player levels can be restored after leaving a dungeon.

The map layout is based on the original Final Fantasy. Depending on the story mode, players can either form their own parties, or they are predetermined by the storyline.

The "Skills" command returns. Treasure chests, enemies, shops and other features can be encountered on the map. The enemy system is similar to Final Fantasy XII or Final Fantasy XIII, where enemies are visible on the map and approaching one initiates battle. Enemies can attack the player while on the world map. If, however, the player attacks the enemy, the enemy's initial Bravery at the start of the subsequent battle will be zero, effectively allowing the player a preemptive strike. Other in-battle mechanics, such as Quickmove, are included on the world map gameplay. Players can also create their own scenarios using creation mode. Tetsuya Nomura has stated it will take around 60 hours to beat the game.

When starting a new game, save data from the original Dissidia can be transferred to Dissidia 012. Players are able to choose between a New Game+ option, which will retain character levels, abilities, accessory slots, AP, Player Icons and bought PP Catalog items, and an option that will retain all of the above except for levels, abilities and PP. Equipment, accessories and summons may not be transferred. As a bonus for transferring save data, the player will receive an "Elixir Pack"; a mix of Dusty Elixirs, Elixirs and a single Hi-Elixir. The storyline of the original Dissidia, adapted to the new story gameplay mechanics, is playable after the new storyline of Dissidia 012 has been completed.

Characters
All twenty-two playable characters in the original Dissidia return. In addition to the original roster, nine new characters have been included: Kain from Final Fantasy IV, Lightning from Final Fantasy XIII, Tifa from Final Fantasy VII, Vaan from Final Fantasy XII, Laguna from Final Fantasy VIII, Yuna from Final Fantasy X, Prishe from Final Fantasy XI, and Gilgamesh from Final Fantasy V, and introducing a new Dissidia-original playable character: Feral Chaos, a form of the game's main antagonist, Chaos. Aerith from Final Fantasy VII is included as an Assist character for people who buy the demo, Dissidia Duodecim Prologus.

The original ten Warriors of Chaos, along with Shantotto, Gabranth, Prishe, Gilgamesh and Feral Chaos have to be purchased in the PP Catalog before they can be used. The ten Chaos warriors, along with Shantotto and Gabranth, are available in the catalog from the start, while the others have to be unlocked at certain parts of Story Mode before they can be purchased.

Equipment
Dissidia 012 features a diverse array of equipment, much of it coming from various Final Fantasy games in the series. Many of the items on the lists below have additional game history linked to them:
 * List of Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy Weapons, see also Shop List (Weapons)
 * List of Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy Armor, see also Shop List (Armor)
 * List of Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy Accessories, see also Shop List (Accessories)
 * List of Dissidia 012 Equipment Combinations

Equpiment is obtained through various means: The in-game shop, Moogle shops on the world map, the battlegen system, treasure chests and drops from enemy encounters. A few items are exclusive to Labyrinth mode, Arcade Mode and Prologus save transfers. Finally, artifacts can also be created during combat vs. online opponents or their friend cards.

Arenas
All arenas present in the original Dissidia are back, with seven new additions: Orphan's Cradle, Sky Fortress Bahamut, the Crystal Tower, the M.S. Prima Vista, Pandaemonium-Top Floor, the Phantom Train and the Empyreal Paradox. It had been stated there would be as many new stages as there would be new characters, and it has since been revealed that the games that did not receive new characters would instead receive new arenas. The M.S. Prima Vista, Pandaemonium-Top Floor, Phantom Train and Crystal Tower stages cannot be purchased in the catalog until after the main scenario of 012 has been completed, but they have no Omega versions.

Music
Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy Original Soundtrack was released on March 2nd, 2011, on three CDs. A Firstcut Limited Edition version was also released (three CDs + DVD). The soundtrack features arranged music from the series, rearranged by Takeharu Ishimoto.

Summons
Eight additional summons have been added to Dissidia 012: Brynhildr, Calcabrina, Syldra, Ultima, Land Worm, Hecatoncheir, Giant of Babil and Zalera.

Main Scenario 012
Main Scenario 012 has nine chapters, all centered around the new characters, except Gilgamesh and Prishe, and their journey to end the conflict. The game begins with the six new characters on their way to the Sanctuary. Cosmos calls upon her warriors and imbues them with her powers in order to stop Chaos and bring an end to the conflict. The Warriors set out on their journey to find their crystals. Lightning separates from the others after Kuja and Kefka appear. On her way to the Sanctuary to catch up with the others she encounters Kain and an injured Bartz. Bartz reveals that Kain has attacked him and Kain turns his lance on Lightning. After a brief battle between the two, Garland and Exdeath appear and Kain escapes with Bartz. Exdeath pursues Kain and Garland informs Lightning of a horde of manikins and tells her to enjoy the time she has left.

While Vaan is traveling alone he comes across Kefka, who is tormenting Terra. Vaan rescues Terra and the two journey together. With inspiration and encouragement from Vaan, Terra decides to fight to protect her friends. Vaan tells her to wait somewhere (apparently at the Rift) until he comes back for her. Laguna meets up with Vaan again but then becomes lost in the World of Darkness and encounters the Cloud of Darkness. Intrigued by Laguna's odd manner, the Cloud of Darkness tells Laguna of a Rift that is the source of all the manikins, saying that she is curious to see how he chooses to die. Laguna sets off to let the others know about the Rift.

At around this time, Terra was attacked by manikins where Vaan said he would come back for her. After her battle with the manikins, she stumbles into the Order's Sanctuary and faints. Cosmos senses her decision to fight for her friends and to end the conflict. She allows Terra to choose for herself which side she wants to join in the next cycle.

Having been journeying with Jecht, Yuna becomes separated from him and encounters Tidus who does not seem to remember her. She follows him and find him at a stand off with Jecht but Yuna intervenes and tries to help Tidus remember his past. The Emperor suddenly appears and tried to attack Yuna but Tidus takes the blow himself, receiving grave injuries. While Yuna fights off the Emperor, Jecht sacrifices himself for Tidus by giving him his power. Yuna promises to stay with Tidus until he remembers who she is.

Meanwhile, Lightning makes it to Order's Sanctuary and tells Cosmos of Kain's betrayal. Lightning believes the Warriors of Cosmos cannot possibly win the war and the Warrior of Light agrees, suddenly turning his blade on Lightning. After their battle, Cosmos tells the Warrior of Light to reveal what he knows. He and Kain have come up with a plan to put the Warriors 'to sleep' and let them rest until the next cycle begins so that they have more time to receive their crystals. With this revealed, Laguna arrives with Vaan and Yuna to inform the group he knows where the manikins are coming from. Lightning, Laguna, Yuna and Vaan decide to find this Rift and close it.

Kain briefly journeys elsewhere with Firion before putting him to sleep as well. Not long after an encounter with Exdeath who has been following him to learn where Kain is taking the warriors, Kain encounters Tifa who is struggling with Ultimecia. Kain saves Tifa and she confronts him over Ultimecia's claims that Kain is a traitor. Even though he refuses to tell her the truth, Tifa tells him that he will go with him anyway. Together, Tifa and Kain head off to join the others and aid in closing the Rift.

Before all that, Sephiroth confronted Tifa to gain his memories and was told by Kefka. He beats her and prepares to cut her down, but Cloud, also a warrior of Chaos, came and protected Tifa and defeated Sephiroth. As Sephiroth leaves, Cloud lied to Tifa about being enemies to make sure Tifa doesn't remember him. Cloud confronts Chaos all by himself some time after Cosmos gave her warriors the crystals, but fails as Chaos overpowers him. As he faded, Cloud sent a plea to Cosmos to protect Tifa. Cosmos then got his message and saved Cloud to be one of her warriors in the next conflict.

On the way to the rift, Golbez and Exdeath appear and tell the party that the horde of manikins are headed towards Cosmos. Leaving Kain behind, they move on to the source of the manikins, but before they can close it, Garland, Kefka, the Cloud of Darkness, the Emperor and Ultimecia interrupted and challenged the Warriors one last time. They were defeated and left the Cosmos Warriors, knowing the manikins will finish them off. The Warriors come to accept their fate and battle to the end.

After a long and tiring battle, Lightning and the party fell and an overwhelming number of manikins remain. Before Lightning completely falls she witnesses the Rift finally closed. Back at Order's Sanctuary, the Warrior of Light continues to fight an overwhelming number of manikins. After he fends off about one wave of manikins he drops his shield and falls to his knees as he sees countless of other manikins charging at him and Cosmos. He is caught off guard as a manikin copy of Garland jumps in the air to finish the Warrior of Light. Fortunately, Cosmos used her power to defend the Warrior of Light. As a manikin jumps to deal the final blow, Cosmos uses her strength and destroys all of the manikins, costing her life. The Warrior of Light woke up to see Lightning and her party fade away and Shinryu starts the cycle of battle over again. The warriors of Cosmos and Chaos call it the "Conflict of the Gods."

Development
Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy was announced in the Japanese magazine Shonen Jump in early September 2010. It had previously been hinted at by the Dissidia development team, who stated they would love to make a sequel, and that the decision would depend on the first installment's success; and JD Cullum, Kuja's English voice actor, who offhandedly stated he had recorded his lines for Dissidia 012 in the Summer 2010. Judging from statements by the other voice actors, it appears the whole English script of Dissidia 012 was recorded at the start of Summer 2010.

According to an interview between Takashi Arakawa and Yoshinori Kitase (director, writer and producer of Dissidia) with a German gaming site, Kitase stated a sequel would be "very interesting", and might even include Kingdom Hearts characters, although it would still have to be discussed with Disney. Tetsuya Nomura has stated that for a potential sequel, he would like to include Kain Highwind, Gilgamesh and Sazh Katzroy, but would not include Kingdom Hearts characters. Nomura had previously expressed a desire to have Kain and Lightning in the first Dissidia, but they were left out.

Dissidia Duodecim Prologus Final Fantasy
On January 18, 2011, Square Enix released Dissidia Duodecim Prologus Final Fantasy over the PlayStation Network, available in Japan for 300 Yen, in North America for $2.99, in Europe for £2.39 or €2.99 and in Australia for $4.95. Prologus features an 8-character arcade mode and a single story scenario following Lightning and the Warrior of Light.

Downloadable Content
Square Enix has released several packs of downloadable content for Dissidia 012, featuring bonus character costumes and music packs usable for battles from several games of the series. This extra content is generally available through download codes distributed through magazines or other games, or open to be acquired at the PlayStation Network.

Merchandise
Similar to the first Dissidia, the Dissidia 012 cast will be made into Trading Arts Figures, posing in their positions as depicted in their Dissidia 012 artwork.

In Europe and Australia, a special limited edition under the title of Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy Legacy Edition was released, which includes a special packaging, a set of lithograph prints of the new characters and a fourth costume for both Tifa and Squall, and the PSN code to get 50% off Final Fantasy on the PSN (also included in the standard edition).

Etymology
Duodecim (normally pronounced with a hard "c", but pronounced with a soft "c" for the purposes of the game) is the Latin word for "twelve", which alludes the number of times the cycle of Dissidia has occurred.

Trivia

 * Prior to the official announcement, two separate hoaxes "revealed" Kain and Lightning would appear in Dissidia Final Fantasy: Universal Tuning. The hoaxes involved elaborate fake magazine pages created in Photoshop and complete with fake Kain artwork and fake Lightning 3D models.
 * Kain, Lightning, Vaan, Yuna and Prishe were all considered to be included in the original Dissidia but were excluded for various reasons.
 * Uniquely among Square Enix's recent releases in Europe, the European versions of Dissidia 012 will only be partially translated; that is, the dialogues and story events will be translated (in French, German, etc.), but the menus, items, locations and battle messages will remain in English. This leads to strange mixed-language sentences when characters refer to a location or item name during dialogue. Furthermore, European fans have called the quality of the translated parts into question (characters use inconsistent registers and some sentences are translated word for word from the English, complete with syntax errors).
 * Final Fantasy XIII is the only title to receive just one character without an extra playable character or villain opposing the main hero.
 * Counting non-playable characters, Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy V and Final Fantasy VII have the most characters, with four each.
 * In the altered Destiny Odysseys, one of the chests each character finds contains an amount of gil equal to the first release year of their game of origin. For example, Terra finds 1994 gil, and Cloud finds 1997 gil.
 * In the Japanese version of Dissidia 012, there was a feature called Mog Web, used to share Quests. In Western releases, this was removed.
 * Despite Final Fantasy Agito XIII being renamed Final Fantasy Type-0, the Player Icon of Ace still lists him as being from Agito XIII.
 * After completion of the game, on start up, a character will read the Square Enix logo and the title. The character is determined by a number of factors:
 * The date based on the Final Fantasy number. However, past the thirteenth of the month the rest of the cast may appear in a random order.
 * Villains will appear on a date (after the thirteenth) that features their number.
 * Cosmos will always appear on the player's Bonus Day.
 * Chaos has a small chance of appearing any time after the player defeats him.
 * Prishe and Gilgamesh might appear on their game's dates after they're unlocked.
 * If the player purchased Prologus, Aerith might appear on any date or time featuring a seven.
 * On random, moogles can appear in the thumbnails of events in the Theater.