Arcade Mode

As a bonus feature exclusive to the North American, European, and Australian releases of Dissidia Final Fantasy, the Arcade Mode is a gameplay mode that converts the game into a typical free-flowing action-based fighting game, with all RPG gameplay elements and aspects removed, and all characters' abilities are stripped down to the basics to balance the playing field; characters cannot level up in this gameplay mode, and customization is limited only to switching between normal and alternate costumes. All 20 main characters in the game, including the villains, are playable in the Arcade Mode, although the two extra secret characters, Shantotto and Gabranth, must still be unlocked before they can be used in Arcade Mode.

The Arcade Mode consists of three sub-modes: Normal, Hard, and Time Attack. Normal Mode utilizes Level 10 characters, and puts the player up against a sequence of battles against five randomly-selected CPU-controlled opponents. Hard Mode utilizes level 50 characters, and puts the player up against a sequence of eight randomly-selected CPU-controlled opponents. Time Attack Mode utilizes level 100 characters, and puts the player up against a sequence of ten pre-set CPU-controlled opponents, ending with Chaos, and adds a time trial clock. Beating the Arcade Mode will reward the player with PP and special items that can be used in Story Mode. Only the Normal Mode is available from the beginning; Hard Mode and Time Attack Mode must be unlocked in the PP Catalog.