Square Enix
Square Enix is finally porting one of its recent arcade hits to the PS4.
And by the looks of it, that home release will also resonate with plenty of fans around the world. In years past, Final Fantasy’s Dissidia spinoff series threw several popular characters into a unique fighting game. Team Ninja was commissioned to improve upon the foundation set by previous releases and produce a bigger version of the bombastic brawler. Dissidia Final Fantasy NT is the fruit of their labor and now it’s set to launch worldwide on January 30. Along with all the features seen in the arcade version, new characters and further improvements will come along with the PS4 version.
You probably participated in the beta and checked out all the character trailers. If you want to know everything there is to know about NT, you’ve come to the right place.
1. Dissidia Final Fantasy NT Focuses on 3-on-3 Arena Battles
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What makes this Final Fantasy spinoff’s console debut so exciting is its move from 1v1 fights to 3v3 battles. When choosing a character, your decision will determine what class you’ll specialize in: power-based Vanguards, speedy Assassins, ranged Marksman and Specialists that rely on unique abilities. Your main offensive options are Bravery and HP Attacks. When landed, Bravery Attacks help increase a player’s Bravery level based on their damage output. If you pull off a Bravery Attack on a character who’s Bravery is 0, a Bravery Break will activate and provide you with a huge Bravery boost.
As for the HP Attack, this maneuver deals direct damage to an opponent based on their Bravery level. Doing so will also reset a character’s Bravery level to 0, which means you’ll need to build it up once again by landing Bravery Attacks. The “EX Mode” mechanic has been altered this time around, which now allows your character to equip one HP Attack and two EX Skills. A character’s EX Skill has the power to buff themselves or debuff their foes. And just like before, characters are extremely mobile and are able to glide around massive arenas at their leisure.
So the rules towards victory have changed: a team wins once they clear out the entire Party HP meter of their opponents. Getting to that goal means you’ll need to defeat a character on your rival team by emptying their sole HP meter, which knocks off a segment of their Party HP meter. One of the newer battle mechanics is the implementation of Summons. When called upon, legendary creatures such as Ifrit, Shiva, Odin and more aid you and your team by landing widespread arena attacks on your rivals.
2. The Plot Will Be Told Through Assorted Cutscenes Instead of a Centered Story Mode
Dissidia NT expectedly takes place after the events of the first two games in the series. Instead of revisiting the conflict between Cosmos and Chaos, players will throw themselves into the war between Materia, the Goddess of Protection, and Spiritus, the God of Destruction. Each of the game’s characters will align themselves with either Materia or Spiritus and thankfully be able to retain the memories of their own worlds. While there won’t be a central story mode campaign, new plot cinematics will play out as players progress through the game.
3. A Host of Returning Characters From the Last Two Games Will be Joined by Newcomers
This entry’s launch roster is already massive. By the end of its run, Dissidia NT is expected to feature a total of 50 characters and everyone from the last two games. Check out the list posted below to see the entire lineup of characters featured in the game and which Final Fantasy they originate from:
– Final Fantasy: Warrior of Light & Garland
– Final Fantasy II: Firion & The Emperor
– Final Fantasy III: Onion Knight & Cloud of Darkness
– Final Fantasy IV: Cecil Harvey, Kain Highwind & Golbez
– Final Fantasy V: Bartz Klauser & Exdeath
– Final Fantasy VI: Terra Branford & Kefka Palazzo
– Final Fantasy VII: Cloud Strife & Sephiroth
– Final Fantasy VIII: Squall Leonhart & Ultimecia
– Final Fantasy IX: Zidane Tribal & Kuja
– Final Fantasy X: Tidus & Jecht
– Final Fantasy XI: Shantotto
– Final Fantasy XII: Vaan
– Final Fantasy XIII: Lightning
– Final Fantasy XIV: Y’shtola
– Final Fantasy XV: Noctis Lucis Caelum
– Final Fantasy Tactics: Ramza Beoulve
– Final Fantasy Type-0: Ace
Along with familiar characters, this entry will also include a number of arenas based on locales from past Final Fantasy games. There’s now a lack of stage hazards to watch out for, plus they’re far more spacious for the game’s epic 3v3 battles. These arenas happen to change color whenever a summoned creature enters the battle. The stages you can look forward to playing on are:
– Cornelia (Final Fantasy)
– Pandemonium (Final Fantasy II)
– The Floating Continent (Final Fantasy III)
– Lunar Subterrane (Final Fantasy IV)
– Interdimensional Rift – Top Floor (Final Fantasy V)
– Narshe Outskirts (Final Fantasy VI)
– Midgar (Final Fantasy VII)
– Promised Place (Final Fantasy VIII)
– Alexandria (Final Fantasy IX)
– Besaid Island (Final Fantasy X)
– Stellar Fulcrum (Final Fantasy XI)
– Royal City of Rabanastre (Final Fantasy XII)
– Eden (Final Fantasy XIII)
– Porta Decumana (Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn)
4. Pre-Ordering the Day One or Digital Deluxe Edition Gets You Access to a Host of Bonus DLC Items
Square Enix
Dissidia NT is available through several special editions. Pre-ordering either the Day One or Digital Deluxe Edition will get you Cloud Strife’s Nail Bat weapon from Final Fantasy VII. And more specifically, the Digital Deluxe Edition also comes with the game’s Season Pass (which is detailed in the next fact) and the “Nameless Warrior” costume for Final Fantasy’s Warrior of Light. Both editions also offer up access to a digital mini-soundtrack of the game.
Buy Dissidia Final Fantasy NT here.
Buy the Digital Deluxe Edition of Dissidia Final Fantasy NT here.
5. There’s Also a “Steelbook Brawler” & Ultimate Collector’s Edition Up for Grabs
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Along with the two aforementioned special editions of Dissidia NT, there are two more you need to be aware of. The Steelbook Brawler Edition comes in one of three specially marked steel case designs. You’ll also gain access to Cloud Strife’s Nail Bat weapon if you choose to pre-order this edition. As for everything that comes packaged in the Ultimate Collector’s Edition, refer to the pic and list posed below:
Buy the Steelbook Brawler Edition of Dissidia Final Fantasy NT here.
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– Collector’s Box featuring legendary Final Fantasy characters
– 8.25-inch Warrior of Light bust
– Hardcover 84-page art book including sketches and artwork from Dissidia Final Fantasy NT
– Official soundtrack with 15 tracks selected from the Dissidia series and newly recorded music
– Dissidia Final Fantasy NT PS4 game disc
– Exclusive Ultimate Collector’s Steelbook
– Season Pass (Digital Content): six additional playable characters (includes standard costume and weapon), color variations of the costumes for those six characters (two each) & additional weapons for those six characters (two each)