Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy Preview: Fashionable Factions

The Dissidia Closing Fantasy spin-off sequence is again in a complete new type. Dissidia Duellum Closing Fantasy is a free-to-play sport coming to Android and iOS gadgets on March 24, 2026. DualShockers had an opportunity to preview Dissidia Duerum Closing Fantasy forward of its launch. This meant time to get hands-on with the brand new Closing Fantasy crossover.

Dissidia is a subseries of the Closing Fantasy sequence, the place characters from throughout the sequence face off on the battlefield. Often these are preventing video games, with the mechanics of every hero or villain translated into that style. For instance, Tifa from Closing Fantasy 7 is described as a fast brawler, and Terra from Closing Fantasy 6 is described as a ranged character who blows individuals away with spells.

Dissidia Duellum Closing Fantasy is an motion sport that’s nearer to Ever Disaster than the unique Dissidia Closing Fantasy. Maybe the largest change is the setting, a location that has not often been seen earlier than within the Closing Fantasy sequence.

Dissidia Duerum brings Closing Fantasy characters to the true world

Dissidia Duellum Closing Fantasy begins by asking the participant what their favourite Closing Fantasy is, and is introduced with an enormous record of names. Sadly, this solely appears to find out one of many titles for the character profile.

As soon as the profile is ready up, an intro film begins and, to nobody’s shock, Cloud Strife from Closing Fantasy 7 begins, following Sephiroth by way of a portal. Somewhat than ending up in Kingdom Hearts or Tremendous Smash Bros. Final, the 2 enter the true world, extra particularly trendy Japan.

Within the intro, Cloud faces off in opposition to the Iron Big, one of many elite monsters that recur within the Closing Fantasy sequence. Thus begins an extended tutorial on the fight system. That is defined in additional element beneath. If Cloud wins, he might be joined by Closing Fantasy’s Warrior of Mild (sadly not Jack from Stranger in Paradise), Terra from Closing Fantasy 6, and Lightning from Closing Fantasy 13, who will quickly be added to their group.

Closing Fantasy characters work together with human kids who name them “ghosts.” The story segments consist largely of Messenger sequences, the place the Closing Fantasy solid joins the identical faux WhatsApp group and begins sharing GIFs with one another.

Discord Duel Closing Fantasy Who’s Who

Picture supplied by: Sq. Enix

The preview construct for Dissidia Duellum Closing Fantasy consists of 10 characters, with extra characters confirmed to look sooner or later. These characters are:

Every character has an outfit primarily based on their look within the supply sport, plus a contemporary outfit with a number of shade variations. These trendy costumes are nice and have a shocking emphasis on trend over fan service, however this appears to have fallen by the wayside in Ever Disaster.

Characters are earned by way of character tickets, and costume variations are categorized as separate entities. They’ve 4 distinct fight roles related to them, and whereas they haven’t any outlined gear, they do have sure specialised assaults that may solely be utilized in fight.

Dissidia Duellum pits gamers in opposition to one another (and executives)

Picture supplied by: Sq. Enix

So how does fight work in Dissidia Duellum Closing Fantasy? In every match, two groups of three gamers compete in opposition to one another on a small map. There are a number of crystals on the map, guarded by monsters. As soon as there aren’t any enemies throughout the crystal’s radius, the participant can declare it and earn braveness factors.

Boss monsters resembling Behemoth will seem on the stage. To win the match, the staff should defeat the boss throughout the time restrict. Nevertheless, whereas different groups compete for a similar crystal, they won’t be attacked except the Bravely meter is stuffed. This should be fulfilled by claiming crystals. As soon as the Bravery meter is full, the character can carry out a Bravery Burst, which may harm the boss with that assault. Bosses have separate well being meters for every staff.

Gamers can (and will) assault as a result of they’ll defeat the enemy staff. Nevertheless, that is momentary, as they respawn on the edges of the battlefield, and you’ll have to waste time returning to the battlefield.

Dissidia Duellum Closing Fantasy’s controls are clunky in touchscreen mode. The sport is performed vertically and permits the participant to maneuver the digicam and character by touching totally different components of the display. Fortuitously, there are computerized options that make focusing on simpler, however they take a while to get used to.

The visuals throughout fight are surprisingly attractive for a cell sport, with a extra lifelike Closing Fantasy 7 Remake/Ever Disaster aesthetic modified to the cel-shaded look of the characters. The degrees are primarily based on actual areas of Japan and are applicable for what they’re attempting to painting. The soundtrack is made up of Closing Fantasy hits and a few new remixes, and there is nothing to say about its high quality.

How the defend mechanic works in Dissidia Duellum

Picture supplied by: Sq. Enix

The principle fight gimmick in Dissidia Duellum Closing Fantasy is the power system. Characters can convey 5 skills into battle, some shared by all the identical sort and a few unique. For instance, Terra from Closing Fantasy 6 can use the Fira spell that each one ranged characters share, however Meltdown is unique to her.

Every potential has a cooldown timer when utilized in fight and can’t be spammed. Skills are highly effective instruments that can be utilized in opposition to different gamers, however the harm dealt to bosses as a part of a Bravely Burst is far higher, so gamers should pay shut consideration to once they use them.

Observe that not all skills are assaults. Some are movement-based, resembling Minwu’s teleport, which locations your character subsequent to the closest crystal, whereas others heal or buff allies.

So, how does gacha work? Gamers should not have entry to all skills instantly. Skills are drawn utilizing, you guessed it, a particular forex. Which means extra highly effective strikes are locked up behind random coincidences, or you recognize, paying for the prospect to get them. Skills will also be enhanced utilizing progress eggs, one other useful resource that gamers must maintain observe of.

The flexibility system modifications the conduct of every character a lot that it is unlikely you can play with an opponent of the identical dimension. Every character’s distinctive skills imply there’ll virtually definitely be a tiered record of heroes, particularly if extra heroes are added to the sport sooner or later, however the choices supply all kinds of thrilling choices to your construct.

The ghost of Dissidia NT hangs over Duellam

Picture supplied by: Sq. Enix

After enjoying the Dissidia Duellum Closing Fantasy preview, I used to be left with one burning query in my thoughts. Does it have the identical issues as its non secular predecessor, Dissidia Closing Fantasy NT?

The primary two Dissidia video games had been 1v1 preventing video games the place if a participant misplaced, that they had solely themselves accountable. Dissidia NT modified the format and have become a 3v3 sport. This determination ruined the match. This meant that six gamers with roughly the identical abilities had been wanted to maintain the match balanced and enjoyable.

If one of many gamers is new or quits halfway by way of the match, the opposite two members are outnumbered and it is primarily a loss for the staff. This was Dissidia Closing Fantasy NT’s largest design flaw, and it looks like Dissidia Duellum Closing Fantasy is making the identical mistake, particularly since it is a cell sport.

This brings us to the second massive drawback with previews. I by no means truly killed the boss. Every match led to a loss as a result of every staff was too targeted on killing one another and depleting their skills to outlive. Defeating bosses requires plenty of cooperation, however the timer is your largest enemy as time retains operating out in matches.

Dropping bosses, enemy groups, and all the standard monsters/crystals into such a small enviornment can simply make issues complicated, particularly should you’re attempting to focus on enemies with particular skills.

Dissidia Duellum Closing Fantasy permits you to play in opposition to AI opponents utilizing AI companions, however many of the content material is tied to the aggressive mode. I am apprehensive that individuals attempting to play it like a solo sport will get annoyed in the event that they lose to somebody they’re actively speaking with, which is truthfully an issue with plenty of multiplayer titles.

That mentioned, I performed the Dissidia Duellum Closing Fantasy preview in a brief time period with a small group of individuals. As soon as the aggressive scene grows across the sport, this can develop into much less of a problem. Dissidia Duellum Closing Fantasy is an thrilling multiplayer expertise when six gamers with absolutely optimized builds battle it out. You simply want sure situations to get the place that you must be.