Dissidia Duodecim: Final Fantasy Message Board

Dissidia Duodecim Prologus Final Fantasy, the most pompously-named demo in history, is available on PSN in North America this week. If you're in Europe and worried about when you'll be able to obtain something called "Prologus" yourself, don't fret. The €2.99 demo will arrive in PAL territories on March 23, Square Enix announced.

That gives you two days to build up lots of in-game potions and other items for use in the full version, at which point you'll get to stop playing "Prologus" and, for the first and last time in your life, think the title of the full PSP game is sensible. At least in comparison.

#squareenix Final Fantasy stars battle once more when Dissidia Duodecim hits the PSP on March 22, but first Final Fantasy XIII's Lightning strikes out on her own in Dissidia Duodecim Prologus, the downloadable prologue that brings Aerith back to life, kinda. More »

Dissidia 012 [duodecim] Final Fantasy brings more Final Fantasy fighting to the PSP on March 22 in North America. Cost? $29.99 USD. The game stars Rachael Leigh Cook as Tifa, Keith David as Chaos and many more vocally talented folks. More »

Square Enix's absurdly named Dissidia 012 [duodecim] Final Fantasy will bring the Final fight to retail on March 22, 2011, with an asking price of $29.99. The North American release of the game comes only a few weeks after the Japanese launch.

The publisher also announced that the PSP fighter will feature voice work by Rachael Leigh Cook as Tifa, Keith David as Chaos, Steve Burton as Cloud Strife and George Newbern as Sephiroth. All those FF characters in one game and not one with the pipes of Nolan North? It's hard to imagine.Dissidia 012 [duodecim] Final Fantasy dated March 22, 2011 [undecim]

Square Enix has announced an interesting promotional initiative for its upcoming PSP fighter, Dissidia 012 [Duodecim] Final Fantasy. As of today, Japanese PSP owners will be able to purchase and download a demo of the game for 300 Yen ($3.64). Dubbed (sigh) Dissidia Duodecim Prologus Final Fantasy, the short scenario will not feature Aerith, but will unlock the ill-fated sweetheart as an assistant character (i.e. not directly controllable) in the full game when it debuts in March.

By the way, that sigh wasn't ours -- it was Square Enix realizing how much money it could have made had it charged us all $3 to bring Aerith back to life in 1997. She was wearing all the good bangles!

In other Dissidia news, Square Enix revealed two more playable fighters during its 1st Production Division event this morning. The game will feature Gilgamesh from Final Fantasy V, as well as Prishe from Final Fantasy XI.

Sony announced details and release dates for three different PSP-3000 bundles in Japan. Most eye-catching among them is the Dissidia 012 "Chaos & Cosmos" pack, including the above Pearl White PSP with what looks like Yoshitaka Amano character art. It will be released March 3 in Japan, bundled with the game, for ¥22,890 ($275). Unlike the game's title, this thing is a pleasure to look at.

Sony also revealed two more Monster Hunter Portable 3rd bundles, this time functionally normal PSP-3000s rather than the special hardware released in December. The New Hunters Pack comes in black/red or white/blue, and includes the game and an exclusive cleaning cloth, for ¥19,800 ($238). It'll be released on February 10.

Finally, the PSP Value Pack For Girls isn't bundled with, or themed for, any particular game. It's just ... "for girls." Which means, of course (sigh) that it's pink. It also includes a carrying case with a little bow on it, a pink cleaning cloth, and pink earbuds. It's also ¥19,800, and will be released on Feb. 17.

Here's the latest trailer out of Japan for the upcoming Dissidia 012 [duodecim] Final Fantasy, featuring lots of Final Fantasy-flavored fighting and fan service. Make sure to turn on captions (not that they'll help), and stay tuned at 4:38 to see some feet that fans claim belong to Yuna.

In an announcement coinciding with the Jump Festa convention in Tokyo, Square Enix announced the Japanese release date for the pompously-named PSP fighter, DISSIDIA 012[duodecim] FINAL FANTASY: March 3, 2011. The North American date has not been announced yet, but we know it's next year.

The game will be released in both UMD and download form, for ¥6,090 ($73) and ¥4,980 ($59), respectively. In addition, it'll be available in Japan as part of a PSP bundle, called the "Chaos&Cosmos Limited" edition, for which no images have yet been released. No, there really aren't any spaces in the name. At least Square is being consistent about making sure every aspect of this game has an irritating name.

Laguna Loire, Final Fantasy VIII's less whiny protagonist, has joined ... that second Dissidia game. Back in his own game, Laguna was part of a separate timeline, but now he's interacting (and fighting) with other Final Fantasy protagonists. Check out his machine-gunnery in these new screens.

Sorry, it's too late. The internet has already taken care of the complaining for you.

In these first screens, Cloud seemingly echoes Square Enix's sentiment in naming its upcoming fighter, Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy -- remember, we're to pronounce "012" as "duodecim." Why the incomprehensible game title? "We felt like it" is perhaps the best answer. It's gets kookier past the break.

#gallery Character art. Screen shot galores. Pre-rendered scenes. If you were feeling wistful about Final Fantasy fighting game Dissidia 012[Duodeicm], fret not. You can see a lot of the 2011 PSP gmae, with new images from the house of Final Fantasy, Square-Enix. More »

#preview Let's start with the name: Dissidia 012[Duodecim]. You don't say the "12. "That's the first thing I recently learned about the new Final Fantasy fighting game. More »

#clips Square Enix's next Final Fantasy drenched fighting game, the painfully titled Dissidia 012[duodecim] Final Fantasy, was shown at this year's Tokyo Game Show in both playable and trailer form. Here is the latter. More »

We were sure Square Enix would localize the sequel to Dissidia Final Fantasy, its PSP fighting-RPG hybrid thing. But we also vainly hoped the company would alter the title for the American version to something that makes even the slightest bit of sense. No such luck.

Square Enix announced that DISSIDIA 012[duodecim] FINAL FANTASY will arrive on PSP in North America sometime next year, bringing new characters (Kain, Tifa, and Lightning, so far), a playable Chaos storyline, and a new, RPG-style mode along with it. We now hope it'll be available on PSN so we don't have to look another human being in the face when we buy something called DISSIDIA 012[duodecim] FINAL FANTASY. Why would you do this to your own game, Square Enix? If you don't want anyone to buy it, just don't release it.

DISSIDIA 012 [duodecim] FINAL FANTASY may have a bizarre, head-scratching title, but its brand new features make a whole lot of sense. The follow-up to 2008's mash-up fighter offers the most obvious addition for a sequel: an expanded roster, including Final Fantasy XIII's Lightning and Final Fantasy VII's Tifa. However, it also includes a number of other features that make the experience more engaging for fans, and more accessible for newcomers to the franchise.

The original Dissidia met a mixed response from fans due to its rather unique combat system. Instead of copying the model of other fighters -- Nintendo's Smash Bros., or Capcom's Vs. series -- Square Enix crafted a battle system inspired by Advent Children, but still rooted in RPG mechanics. If that doesn't make much sense to you, you are not alone.

Arguably the biggest new feature for Duodecim is the addition of an "RPG Mode" that strips down the combat experience into something that might be a bit more familiar to traditional Final Fantasy players. Unlike the traditional "Action Mode," you lose direct control over your character in this mode, relegated to selecting commands. You'll be able to switch between attacking Bravery and HP, or choosing a more defensive role. It may seem like the game is simply controlling itself, and to a certain degree, it is. However, this mode lets you understand the various mechanics that are at play in Dissidia without being overwhelmed.

Square Enix has released the first images of Dissidia: Final Fantasy sequel Dissidia: Duodecim this morning, also announcing the game as playable at this year's Tokyo Game Show. Unfortunately for Dissidia fans, nothing firmer than the already revealed "2011" release window was given.

Acclaimed character designer Tetsuya Nomura will once again lend his talents to the Dissidia franchise, which can be seen in the first four pieces of art from the game in our gallery below. The only two characters revealed thus far are FFIV's Kain and FFXIII's Lightning, but we're sure to hear about more as TGS opens this week.

Lightning pops up in the PSP sequel. Get a first look here.