Re: Dissidia: Final Fantasy Opera Omnia - 2016, turn-based for smartphones
I mean, nobody is going to hate you for saying why you don't like it. It'd be pretty welcome.
Personally I dislike the graphics and the clunky UI but I think the idea itself and Nomura's proto-chibi artwork are well suited for a small-scale project like this.
Fair enough.
I enjoy the fact that the title
Dissidia is still being used. Some, including me, assumed that we wouldn't see a game after
Duodecium and Doudecium might have been the last Dissidia game, but I believe Square Enix seems promise in the title. The first game sold remarkably well for a fighting game with RPG elements using the Final Fantasy name. For comparison, Dissidia Final Fantasy sold better than Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII during its first week. [489,100 compared to 487,000 - Media Create]
After Duodecium, it was a little shocking to hear about an announcement for a new Dissidia game. When it was showcased, it was clear that the series would continue to strive to be a fighting game with RPG elements. The game proved that it would cater to fans in a new way. Despite a change in platform, Square Enix delivers a similar experience using arcade machines and I personally think most fans enjoyed that aspect. It's impossible to gauge reception in territories where the arcade version of Dissidia Final Fantasy was not released, but judging by the responses from a dedicated Kingdom Hearts/Final Fantasy website, I noted most responses about the game were positive in terms of the series continuing to be a fighting game.
But now, we have a game using the Dissidia name and breaking away from tradition. Dissidia Final Fantasy: Opera Omina is the next title to continue the series, in my opinion, in a less desirable way. Opera Omina does not focus on being a fighting game, but rather a turn-based game with RPG elements. "Yes, it's a spin-off of a spin-off" -
TouchArcade. A gripe about this next title could be formed because the game is not being recognized as a fighting game. And I personally don't think the platform justifies this change. Judging by the amount of fighting games on iOS/Andriod, 2D and 3D fighting games have been proven possible to develop. Those examples really make you question why Square Enix decided to make it a turn-based game as opposed to a fighting game. [Generically speaking, one could assume the development behind a turn-based game might be considered "easier" than the development of a fighting game. Furthermore, Square Enix has a huge history behind turn-based games involving Final Fantasy games (and Dragon Quest games historically speaking), which could point to the company's decision to change the genre.] Additionally, just to comment on, the art style is for this title was expected. Not all iOS/Andriod devices have the same processing speed to render beautiful 3D poloygons like we've seen in previous Dissidia games. Therefore, it's safe to assume that Chibi style would be best suitable by knowing those differences in processing speeds. [Chibi style has also been exceptionally popular with Square Enix fans. The company has plenty of examples that shows how likable the stlye is; Theatrhythm, The World of Final Fantasy, merchandise etc]
So all in all, the current state of Dissidia is expanding, which is great in my books, but not in the way I was hoping. I would love to see Dissidia games remain only in the fighting genre. That's the only way, as someone who lives in the Western Hemipshere, I would want to see a Dissidia game. That being said, I wouldn't mind trying out the game just to see if it's something I would enjoy even without the game being a fighting game. After all, it's Final Fantasy.
list mode
Pros:
Dissidia continuing as a series
New characters
New RPG elements
Cons:
Fighting game to turn-based game
Expressionless faces/lack of mouth movement
"Clunky" polygons