Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy works better on mobile than I expected

Like many individuals, my intuition each time a cellular entry in a beloved sequence is introduced is to recoil in distaste. That was definitely what I did once I first noticed Dissidia Duellum Last Fantasy. It’s the second cellular offshoot of Last Fantasy‘s Dissidia crossover subseries, following the surprisingly solid turn-based RPG Opera Omnia which was shuttered in 2024.

However getting one other Dissidia recreation that’s a far cry from the unique glorious PSP fighters was admittedly disappointing, and that’s earlier than I even noticed the questionable modern-day clothes apparel for fan-favourite characters who have been, for some motive, in Tokyo of all locations. Having now performed a few of Duellum, I discover my early considerations each unfounded and validated.

When it comes to the positives, I used to be happy to find there may be some inherent enjoyable to the core gameplay, which focuses on a 3v3 battle enviornment expertise. The place the trios-focused skirmishes of the decidedly disappointing Dissidia NT might really feel clunky, the smaller, mobile-friendly scale of Duellum‘s arenas is a marked enchancment. What’s extra, the main focus is now on PvPvE, as it’s important to deal with human opponents whereas trying to tackle a CPU-controlled large boss, like a Behemoth.

To do this, you’ll should battle smaller grunts to smash Crystals, and clearing these areas will reward you with Bravery Factors (BP), the Dissidia sequence’ signature mechanic. After getting sufficient BP, you’ll be able to head to the boss and enter a Bravery Burst mode which, for a restricted time, helps you to use extra highly effective skills to wreck the boss. The staff that defeats the boss first wins.

It’s a easy premise that makes for some frenetic and fast-paced mobile-friendly battles. For one, it encourages teamwork, as you usually received’t get very far when you simply run off as a substitute of creating coordinated efforts to acquire BP. As a pleasant contact, it’s also possible to deplete the HP of opposing gamers to briefly incapacitate them and decrease their BP. Naturally, this could create a fascinating rhythm of teammates alternating between speeding the Crystals or boss and warding off different gamers. All of the whereas, the boss can launch MMO-esque AoE assaults that may wreak havoc on all gamers.

The controls are additionally satisfyingly easy for a cellular recreation, with you steering your character and the digicam whereas tapping the display to extend the velocity of computerized normal assaults when you’re close to and enemy. Your particular skills, in the meantime, are executed by flicking up on their icons.

There’s additionally a little bit of depth within the skills system itself, as you’ll be able to unlock and improve extra of them by utilizing sources you’ll accrue whereas enjoying. (Naturally, that is the place the microtransactions are available in.) Enhancing spells like Fireplace and Thunder, in addition to distinctive skills like Cloud’s Omnislash, Lightning’s Blaze Rush and Zidane’s Swift Strike. These character-specific skills, in addition to the general really feel of every character, make it worthwhile to experiment with them. (I’ll all the time be keen on my boi Cloud, however I particularly appreciated the ranged playstyle of XV‘s Prompto.)

With all of that mentioned, I do have some main gripes thus far. Admittedly, solely ten characters at launch is fairly restricted, though I do recognize getting a bit extra artistic with a few of every recreation’s representatives, like Rinoa for VIII or Gaia from XIV. Sq. Enix has promised six new fighters inside the first two months of launch (together with X‘s Rikku, XII‘s Balthier and XVI‘s Clive), plus extra past that, so the standard and consistency of these new additions stays to be seen. It must also be famous that they’re just about all voiced by their authentic Japanese actors — a pleasant contact, however one I’ve no connection to since I’ve solely ever performed the sport in English.

Duellum additionally has some irritating design selections. For one, I actually don’t take care of the isekai premise that has these icons showing in Tokyo trying like Sizzling Subject rejects. I’m all for alternate outfits, particularly for characters like Cloud who’ve been round for almost 30 years, however he doesn’t even really feel like the identical particular person sporting a saggy t-shirt, loose-fitting tie and ripped denims. And since it is a cellular title, you’ll should hold spending forex on loot packing containers within the hope that you simply’ll unlock further outfits for characters, like their authentic apparel.

With reference to cellular design, the story — which sees the characters working collectively to regain their powers and discover a means residence — is intentionally fragmented. Primarily, you’ll should hold collaborating in common battles to earn Season Factors that may be spent on each essential and facet story content material. In fact, I wasn’t anticipating a top quality narrative on the extent of a mainline FF recreation, however I a minimum of was trying ahead to seeing the little interactions between the characters. Sadly, although, forcing me to grind simply to see yet another essential cutscene or optionally available interactions does the other of encourage me to maintain enjoying.

General, although, the core of Duellum is fairly entertaining, and I can definitely see myself choosing it up right here and there for the occasional match, particularly when new characters are launched. I’m positively curious to see how Sq. Enix builds upon it within the coming months.

Dissidia Duellum Last Fantasy could be downloaded totally free on Android and iOS.

Picture credit score: Sq. Enix