Final Fantasy: Dissidia PSP Details

[Fuzz]

Some of you may already know about the upcoming Final Fantasy game for the PSP, which was named Final Fantasy: Dissidia, but now more substantial details are starting to trinkle through the cracks. The game will not only feature heroes and villains from all the Final Fantasys but will also include new looks or popular characters (Tidus and Jecht). The game will be action oriented and have 2 basic types of attacks at all times.


Full article below:
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GameGuru:
Final Fantasy: Dissidia PSP Details Revealed by Square Enix

[The Matrix CBC]

So, I'm really not sure what the POINT of the game is going to be, even after having read the article. Is it another dreadful fighting game a la Mortal Combat, only with Final Fantasy Characters? Is it another abyssmal First-Person Shooter like Dirge of Cerebus? What's the gist of the game? Or IS there one?

[Ralz]

If it's an action game, you can expect a lot of beat-up-your-opponent elements. Or, if it's not THAT kind of action game, well, I guess all we can do for now is make up our own theories...

[Rocky]

I have a strong feeling that this game may not turn out to be very good, kinda like an Erghriez of some sorts, but maybe I am wrong. Hopefully it will have a really challenging RPG mode for the game as well to add to the replay value of the game!

Also, I wonder how much "skill" this game is going to require, and what kind of skill exactly will it take to become good at it. Will it require the same finger dexterity as a game of Guilty Gear X2 or SF3, or will it be more of a beat-em-up arcadey type game similar to Power Stone?

[V_Translanka]

Dirge of Cerberus isn't a FPS...>_>

Anyways, from what they say in that article, it sounds like it'll be more like Powerstone...I think it'll just be like one of the bones they throw to PSP owners.

[Andromeda]

This is pretty much being called Final Fantasy Smash Bros. So that is probably a good way of thinking about it. It is meant to bring all of the "All-Stars" of Final Fantasy together for a big brawl. From what I have read and seen about the game it is going to have a lot of 3D movement akin to the fighting seen in Advent Children. So you will be doing a lot of bouncing off walls and striking people in mid-air. I wonder how many people it will support in a field of battle.

[Doc Rocco]

Seeing as though this is a Dissidia details thread, perhaps we should list all known details?

Villains
-Garland - Image here
-Emperor Mateus Palamecia - Image here
-Cloud of Darkness
-Golbez
-Exdeath
-Kefka
-Sephiroth
-Ultimecia - Image here
-Kuja - Image here
-Jecht - Image here

Heroes
-Warrior of Light - Image here
-Firion - Image here
-Squall Leonhart - Image here
-Zidane Tribal - Image here
-Tidus - Image here

Storyline
Chaos, the god of darkness, has summoned the greatest villains of all time to take control of the ten crystals. If they obtain these crystals, they will have the power to change their fates and plunge their worlds into darkness. The goddess of Light, Cosmos, has summoned ten warriors to protect these crystals and defeat their evil counterpart.

Dissidia has been described as "dramatic progressive action."

Anything else to add anyone?

[The Matrix CBC]

Fan-TAS-tic...which means I'm going to get vertigo and motion sickness from playing it. Isn't this kind of game what the President of Square-Enix was talking about when he chastised the employees?

What is it with Street Fighter-esque games taking over the RPG market? I guess by trying to be everything to everyone, SE believes that it will be picking up some missing target demographic. I guess owning the rights to one of the most (if not THE most) successful RPG gaming franchises in video game history just isn't enough, huh? Not to mention that most of their loyal fanbase will follow them from game to game to see what they do next. That's how I found Secret of Mana and Chrono Trigger, and those two games were staples of my adolescence. Too bad they could never quite figure out how to attract my teenage archnemises, who were all too busy blowing up buildings, disemboweling their opponents, trying to figure out how to get their characters to strip off their clothes as a finishing move, or getting swept up in the pro-American propaganda nonsense that is the very essence of the Call of Duty games (they think if they hide it behind storylines that paint Americans to be the saviours and saints, we'll fail to spot it).

At this point, it's yet ANOTHER SE game that I shall pass up because it's not what makes Square "Square." Maybe when they figure out how to get back to their roots, they'll get back to making games that will actually increase their fanbase and make them some REAL money.

As far as Dirge not being a FPS, I stand corrected. It's a poor excuse for a Hitman ripoff with a Final Fantasy VII theme. Though it WAS very aptly named. Whenever I started to play the game, I often felt like I was a musician in the midst of playing a funeral dirge at 50 bpm while my mind and body were longing to go 160.

[_Cloud_]

wow thats awesome is it both the crystals of light and darkness but really that cant be all the hero's in the game they should really put more in

[Ralz]

I'm worried for Square Enix. What happens if they pull off a string of bad games that plunges them into bankruptcy AGAIN? I think they should replay the first six games of the series, it's roots, and rediscover what made their "fantasy" anything but final.

[Doc Rocco]

Somehow, I don't think too many people will not buy this game. People I have talked to are really excited at the concept of playing as so many characters. I am too! I can be all my favourite villains! >=D

Remakes are all well and good, but they have to be the right games at the right time, and remade in the right way. If they don't make new games, and don't introduce new concepts to their customers, Square will fall into bankruptcy.

EDIT
I just found images of the new designs of Tidus and Jecht.

Link here.

[V_Translanka]

Oh, please, DQIX is coming out later on this year, right? Square-Enix is going to be FINE...They're still the leading RPG developer/producer last I checked. To me, the essence of Square is and always has been trying something new (i.e. constant innovation, for good or ill), especially in the case of the FF series. Each game is decidedly different from the last and that's a good thing. If they weren't, then you'd still have people bitching, only they'd be saying how they're pulling a Capcom. Some people will always bitch & moan; you can't please 'em all.

And it looks like they're using dual wielding daggers Zidane instead of stupid theif blade Zidane!? Awesome.

[The Matrix CBC]

I guess I can't argue with a few points made in response to my vitriole.

Yes, the cornerstone of the Square image has always been innovation and trying something different. But, that's exactly my point. Since when is reinventing Street Fighter or Mortal Combat with Final Fantasy characters innovation? Why do we call it innovation when someone revamps Hitman with Vincent as the main character?

That isn't innovation...that's pandering.

Have I ever wanted to play as the villain? Yes, of COURSE!!! But, all that would really entail is a few minor changes in the storyline. Yes, Final Fantasy has always been about the forces of good overcoming the forces of evil, but a REALLY cool game would be to take the game that we knew, and retell the story from the perspective of the bad guy. Why play the villain in a rock 'em sock 'em robot way, when you could just alter the storyline and play from the villain's vantage point?

Imagine playing through Final Fantasy VI from the perspective of Kefka, or Final Fantasy IV from the perspective of Golbez. Imagine how little work that would ACTUALLY take to just change the perspective and flip it to the other side of the coin, versus reinventing the wheel just to churn out a new game.

On the point of Dragon Quest IX, I am ABSOLUTELY excited about it. The one the about the Dragon Quest series that, for me, makes it better than the Final Fantasy series is that they've never lost sight of what appeals to their audience. Yes, Squaresoft ended up buying out Enix...but, they got the OTHER most successful franchise in RPG history. Yeah, the graphics are better, but what connects players to the DQ series are the familiar themes...the familiar monsters that reappear from game to game (kind of like the Bombs from FF II to the present series. A great character that keeps coming back. Same with the Marlboro since FF IV). It doesn't matter what the story line is, the basic game structure still exists. You fight in a turn-based manner, which allows you the time to strategise (not that I dislike ATB battling. I was actually VERY happy with FF XII's battle system. A great innovation for the series, and much needed); you know that you're going to find weapon and armour upgrades at each new town (because the whole "weapon enhancement" idea from FF VIII was a little cumbersom, while the weapon tempering in Secret of Mana was a cool idea).

Another great company who knew how to keep a series true to its roots is Konami. The Castlevania series, though it has become increasingly diluted, has always come out with a fresh storyline, but the basic gameplay is exactly the same. Players know HOW to play the game, and don't have to learn a whole new style of gameplay to enjoy the game. Can anyone deny that the Castlevania series has continued to innovate while maintaining its basic appeal?

All of this really came to a head when I was watching FF VII AC with a friend of mine, Cami, who'd never been introduced to the series. I just purchased her a copy of FF III DS, and she's getting into it, slowly, but as we were watching, at one point during the main action sequence that takes nearly 45-minutes to start and end, she said, "I really can't remember or focus on what the actual PLOT is because I've been distracted by all this fighting and fast motion. Why are they fighting this creature, again?"

Sometimes, when Square releases a new game, they get so caught up in the process of revamping the battle system and asking the game to meet those specifications, that they forget that there is, in fact, a plot to follow. If the players are so distracted by the game play that they forget to actually move forward in the game because they're trying to get every rare drop, every rare item, and fight every rare enemy, then, eventually, they'll just lose interest in finishing the game.

I totally understand where the new president of SE is coming from when he tells them to stop releasing games that only THEY want to play. I enjoy fighting enemies just as much as the next RPG gamer, and you better believe I want to completely everything in a game to 100%. But, I understand that it's best to see the game to its fruition, the first time through, so that you can absorb the plot and gist of the game. Then, after you've finished your first go through, you restart the game, either with New Game + or from scratch and use your second play-through to go for 100% completion. That's what makes for good replay value. That's why Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross featured different endings based upon what paths you took during the game. It makes a game WORTH playing again if you have something new to achieve or a higher goal to reach.

So...please...don't misunderstand me when I say that I won't be purchasing Dissidia. It's not that I think SE is an awful company who should close its doors. But, if it really listened to its fan base (i.e. - the people who actually go on to purchase the action figures, replicas of Sephiroth's katana, Tidus' necklace, and all that other FF "memorabilia") I think they would find that their revenues would increase exponentially. Instead, they continue to try to lure people by putting our beloved characters in very well designed and highly animated "covers" of other video games.

In summation, if people want to buy Dissidia, I won't stop them. I'm just expressing what I see from the vantage point that being a loyal Square consumer for nearly twenty-years has afforded me. I DO apologise if my opinion has offended anyone, and hope that it does not sour anyone else's experience with the game (which I'm sure it won't), but I always take the time to read everyone else's point of view and take the time to think about and absorb what they've said before I jump to disagree.

[1WingedRonin]

Additional Interview released here:
Square Insider - Dissidia: Final Fantasy Interview

along with the explanation of why Tidus and Jecht and not Seymour. Now they have me interested..

[V_Translanka]

Originally Posted by The Matrix CBC

Yes, the cornerstone of the Square image has always been innovation and trying something different. But, that's exactly my point. Since when is reinventing Street Fighter or Mortal Combat with Final Fantasy characters innovation?

Oh, you're right, I totally forgot the specifics of the game's battle system had already been released...OH WAIT A MINUTE...! Let's not prejudge too harshly, shant we? We're gamers, not some kind of nazi regime! (note: I'm TOTALLY not calling you a nazi! I'm mostly just kidding anyways...>_>)...But anyways, though w/e system they use may or may not be strictly 'innovative'...it's certainly trying something new for SE. How are they (or we, for that matter) gonna know if they're any good at it if they don't try it out? But perhaps it would be better if they stuck to one genre & just let everyone complain about stagnation...>_<

Ha, nice to see someone else goes to SI, 1WingedRonin! ^_^

idk if it's been mentioned yet, but I also found out via SI that SE's official Dissidia (jp, duh) site is opened...

[Cain Highwind]

HAI GUYZ! NEW TRAILER YO!
YouTube - [PSP] Final Fantasy Dissidia New Trailer

Ultimecia is Sexy and Awesome!

[AxeluteZero]

Wow.

Zat trailer is sexy.

[1WingedRonin]

must have more of Sephiroth vs Squall...that looks like a interesting fight.

Is it just me or did anyone else want to go BEEP BEEP when watching Tidus do his best RoadRunner impression?

[1WingedRonin]

More News from PSPFanboy and PSPHyper..

Earlier in the month, Tidus and Jecht were revealed via Famitsu to be part of the roster of Dissidia: Final Fantasy. PSPHyper now has more details from that same issue of Famitsu. A battle system with HP and Brave points, which is the determinant of your character's power, is elaborated upon. Brave points are used to make HP Attacks, depleting your opponent's HP. Special moves can also be used this way and are earned by leveling up and they are unique to each character. An indicator that helps the player time each press of the button will appear during these special moves.

When your EX gauge becomes full, you enter EX mode, which is a Limit Break-esque state that will power up your character and perform up to four types of transformations. Gil, the currency of the Final Fantasy world, has also been revealed as part of the game but what it does is currently unknown. Gilding has also been shown as a means of movement. Despite its RPG roots, Dissdia's RPG elements are limited to leveling up and choices regarding treasure chests and enemies.

Nomura also assures us the reason the game is taking so long simply because each character has many moves and transformations, and their team wants to make them look perfect. As reported before, there will be 20 characters in the final cast and currently 50% of the game is done.

[T.G. Oskar]

50% complete? Well, that'll be enough to say it'll not come for 2008. Expect a 2009 release.

So, I was wondering...given that the game seems to focus on the first 10 Final Fantasy games, scratching the MMO, the Matsuno venture, and the upcoming game, will the poster boys of each games will be present, or will there be sudden surprises?

As of now, we know the following: there'll be at least (emphasis on the "at least") 20 main characters, which will probably make the core cast of the game. Given the actual limits of the casts of many fighting games, we can expect something around 25-32 as an entire cast, unless they keep it on 20 mains alone. Since it's taking from all previous 10 FFs, that means they take one villain (to make justice to the rendering of the Qliphoth with the villains), and hence by definition we end up with 10 heroes. Now, there has been some surprises along the way, given that being a final boss does not necessarily imply being the star of the game, although that may be the case. Most people seemed to expect Seymour, and finding Jecht caused a bit of surprise, given that he's the final boss. However, instead of the summoned Necron (which I still say is a final addition, despite what few may have made some sense to it), they added Kuja, given the role he payed upon it. So, that gives us something to work with.

Apparently, each pair of hero-villain characters has an internal struggle which defines their choosing. Chaos chose 10 of the worst (speaking in their actions) villains, hence Cosmos had to choose carefully 10 heroes to balance their vile actions. Here's what's in so far. This is basically a rewrite of what's so far on the Final Fantasy Wikia, which has a wonderful idea of why the people were paired.

Final Fantasy 1:
Hero: Warrior of Light
This was an odd choice. In the game, few people would know of a single Warrior of Light, given that they were four. Some sources imply that the "Crystals" that the Warriors of Light possessed were mainly drops of the Original Crystal, worn by the original Warrior of Light that first defeated the Fiends. Hence, why there's only one. As per the game it was released, he can change into a Knight, which means perhaps some use of White Magic, as an EX attack.

Villain: Garland
Basically the one that caused the entire problem, Garland is shown as a dark knight of sorts, using Black Magic and having a sword not unlike the Four Tsurugi. Since Chaos is the one that summoned all of the villains into the fray, his EX attack should be rather different than just turning into Chaos (as most of the villain EX attacks suggest). Perhaps, he might summon the Fiends into combat.

Conflict: Ending the Cycle
The WoL and Garland fight for one single reason. Garland seeks to taunt the Warrior into ending the cycle that began in the first game, where the paradox of time sent Garland into the past, and the Fiends into the future, where unopposed they would rule over the world. This gave Garland immortality, and rearranged the world so that the loop would effectively make him immortal. The Warrior is tasked with ending the cycle at the moment Garland is sent into the past.

Final Fantasy 2:
Hero: Firion/Frioniel
There were 3 original heroes, and a cycling 4th hero, but the poster boy for FF2 was Firion. Rendered as the original Amano artwork does, Firion supposedly can change between weapons in mid-battle, from the trusty sword to even bows and arrows (making Firion the one sole guy that may have ranged attacks since the beginning). Little is known about his EX attack, perhaps a combination of the weapons.

Villain: Mateus, Emperor of Paramecia
Definite, despite the Dark Knight being a recurring villain, this is definitely the major antagonist. Unlike other villains, that often seek to destroy the world or seek destructive power to enforce a rule, he already has the power, he already has the rule, but his methods are mostly of control through fear. He adopts the form originally rendered by Amano. His EX attack seems to draw upon his power as Emperor of Hell.

Conflict: Chaotic Good vs. Lawful Evil
Hunh? Suddenly, Dungeons and Dragons? And alignments no longer in use (since 4th Edition of course). Well, here's the deal: Firion represents the liberation from oppresion, rebellion of the just, hence, why he represents Chaotic Good (his attire hints of it as well). Mateus is the entire opposite, a ruler that enforces his rule by means of negotiation, sabotage, and fear: tools of a tyrant. And a tyrant that rules with an iron fist its land, fearing to show weakness, is the highlight of a Lawful Evil character.

Final Fantasy 3:
Not so much has been confirmed about this, so given by circumstance, this is what should be.

Hero: Luneth
When you begin the new game of Final Fantasy 3 for the DS, the main character is definitely Luneth. He adopts the mantle of leadership, and he's the only one that has definite first contact with the Wind Crystal, hence, he's called to lead upon the rest. And probably, he'll be the one called to fight. Against the trend, he'll be portrayed as per the newer incarnation, perhaps one change or two to represent the cosmetic changes. It's either him or...Onion Knight. Not much of a choice there, eh?

Though, as things go...Onion Knight may be the eventual hero.

Villain: Xande
Alright, alright, so the Cloud of Darkness is the final boss, so the Cloud of Darkness is the one in the Qliphoth poster, so...why should Famfreet be the final boss, when s/he appears right at the end? Otherwise, they'd have added Necron. The one character that seeks to draw power out of fear is Xande, whom seeks to unbalance the balance to halt time, and hence live eternally (in a frozen world)

Possible Conflict: Darkness and Starlight
Alright, so why the gratuitous Black Mages reference to FFVI? Let's say Flair: it's the iconic battle of balance, where Luneth/Onion Knight seeks to restore the balance of Light into the world, while Xande/Famfreet seeks to unbalance into Darkness. However, were Luneth/Onion to exceed, Xande would become the balancer.

Final Fantasy 4:
Again, nothing confirmed exactly, so this is mostly opinion and making sense of the choices.

Hero: Cecil Harvey, Paladin
The title of "Paladin" should be essential in here. As a Paladin, he's the quintessential hero and warrior of Light. Cecil and WoL will not supersede each other, as both are distinctively different (the classic example lies in that Cecil uses the Cover command, and the Knight is basically a step towards reaching Paladinhood) As well, he's the definite main character, and given the choice of semi-confirmed villain, it makes no sense that Cecil isn't chosen. However, there is no idea of what would his EX Attack may be. And NO, his EX Attack won't involve turning into the Dark Knight. I'll explain why later on.

Villain: Ceodore "Golbez" Harvey
Alright, if you either haven't seen the Wikia, or never played it and are expecting the new DS game, this will be a big spoiler, but the game was released ages ago!! This should not be a spoiler anymore (much like Aeris dies isn't a spoiler anymore) The links of brotherhood and the duality between light and darkness, as well as the fact that Golbez is the acting main villain, and semi-confirmed as one of the villains, makes more than enough sense. EX attack? How about the legendary version of Meteor itself, or summoning the Shadow Dragon? He has quite a lot of weapons at his disposal.

Conflict: Torn Destinies
This could serve as yet another "good vs. evil", or even "light vs. darkness", but the theme here is much darker. These guys are brothers, BLOOD brothers, choosing vastly different paths. Cecil was once a master of the Dark Sword, his heart swallowed by darkness until the day he faced Mt. Ordeals and became a Paladin. Golbez, on the other hand, is never shown to possess true light, and represents what Cecil could become if he was completely engulfed by the Dark Sword. Hence, both brothers face themselves, both born of light and darkness. Unlike in the other conflicts, this is more a battle of redemption vs. condemnation.

Final Fantasy 5
Again, nothing said. Refer to the last two.

Hero: Bartz, descendant of the four Warriors
Why does this have to make sense again? It shouldn't be that difficult: it is Bartz's own adventure which propels the entire quest. He's much like Luneth, in which he is the one person that gathers the light of all Crystals, although he's not "chosen" to lead them. Plus...well, you have the anime sequel which states the importance of Bartz in the story. Again, no info on any EX attacks. Honestly, it could be either him or Galuf, as this and FF3 are the most ambiguous in terms of leadership and what they can do. Makes sense that these games, as well as FF1, have class systems.

Villain: Exdeath
Semi-confirmed for introduction, Exdeath is more of a hands-down villain. You know he wears heavy armor, you know he's the highest-level Black Mage, you know he uses a wicked sword, and you know he sucked the power of the Void for himself. His EX attack is rather simple: he'll use the power of the Void for some transformation, and expect Grand Cross to emerge as part of it.

Conflict: ?
Alright, the story leaves little for conflict. Two once-separate worlds get reunited, and Bartz represents the union between the torn worlds, while Exdeath not only represents the one that separated them, but also the one that seeks to destroy it. So it would be a conflict of separation versus annexation. It's the closest thing.

Final Fantasy 6
This has little for confirmation, once again, but it should be pretty evident who's going to enter and what the conflict is. From the games that have little info about themselves, this one has a plethora of conflict. Be advised: I am severely prejudiced in my choice.

Hero: Terra Branford
Now tell me she's not the actual choice. She has a plethora of reasons why she must be there, with Celes being the closest thing to a replacement. Let's go with the most obvious: if they chose a male, Ultimecia will be the ONLY female in the game. There must be a female hero to replace her, and Lightning will not be there on time. Tidus was confirmed, so that ditches Yuna. So, who remains? Aeris is dead, Tifa will gladly allow Cloud to enter, and pretty much no one else but Terra and Celes are capable of being the strongest female competitor for sole female heroine. Second, if you played the game, almost after the very beginning, a very important character gives pretty much the sole reason why she must be there (I'll explain at the conflict area). If she is still debated, you have both Riot Blade and the Morph/Trance move to overwhelm any competitor. Her condition as a Half-Esper, which makes her unique to all except Cecil and Zidane (and even then she surpasses them), represents one vote to add her. Honestly, the only way she cannot enter, as I've stated as an opinion, is if Nomura whines her way out. (Terra's way out, I'm not qualifying Nomura as gay, mind you)

Villain: Kefka Palazzo
Quiz time: after Sephiroth, who's the most popular villain of Final Fantasy? Aside from being semi-confirmed, Kefka is almost pre-approved to enter the fray as a villain. Although teamwork is definitely never his trademark (betrayal is), he's easily enough the most vile of all the villains. Cutting him out will be a severe disillusion, given that he's the only rival in popularity to Nomura's poster boy. Plus, that laugh should be wicked on a PSP, let alone his flamboyant clothing and combat style (again, who uses a mace in battle?), coupled with insane magic casting. And...his EX attack may finally reveal what was the Light of Judgment. AKA, this means they'll finally confirm Forsaken/Goner as the LoJ.

Conflict: Hope vs. Nothing
This is a form of conflict of good vs. evil at its core. Terra, the one and only scion of magic, represents the hope of a surviving world. She's the champion of Creation, so to speak, as she defends with all of her power the right of people to exist. Kefka, in his insanity (which could actually be a limiter release of his own secret desires), seeks to end this once and for all. The main conflict between these two are the duality of Creation and Destruction.

Final Fantasy 7
I won't even say this is personal opinion. You know they'll be there. It's inhumane to think otherwise. The conflict, however, is personal opinion though.

Hero: Cloud Strife
Ooooook...who honestly didn't expected that? Cloud is Nomura's pride, cosplayed and nearly-worshipped by multitudes of fans, as the one and only that can take Sephy. With his wild hair, his brain-dead attitude superseded by an arrogant and loner attitude, his humongous blade, and his antics in many games, he's not only pre-confirmed, but also the symbol that the game is produced by Nomura. Expect to see the Advent Children Cloud, perhaps with Four Tsurugi, superseding the old Cloud. And as for the EX, definitely he'll pull off Omnislash. Again, why bother thinking in another?

Villain: Sephiroth
Confirmed from the very beginning, pulling his ever-known pose (honestly, does he ever gets tired of it?), comes Nomura's greatest pride. Sephy is already confirmed to have a slight alteration to the original costume, but still showing the abs that send fangirls and fanmoms crazy. He still uses the Masamune that makes fanboys drool. And he still uses Meteor and his Safer form as EX attacks. Once more: why do you...?

Conflict: Ecology
What was, if few of you realize, the true conflict of Final Fantasy VII, after taking Cloud and Sephy? Gee whiz, FFVII is an ecological game!! You fight to save the resources from the evil power corporation!! And in the end, you fight to save the world's souls from being used as fuel, leaving a rotting world. (Tough luck Sephy, Kefka beat you to that) So, aside from the fanboy-driven simple conflict of a Cloud vs. Sephy, the big picture is Sephy aligning to destroy the world in search of his promised land, while Cloud protects the world he could not care about.

Final Fantasy 8
Hero: Squall Leonhart
A return to the roots, Squall has his original character concept clothes, his trademark lone wolf attitude, and pretty much everything upon which people know and...well, they don't seem to love him that much as they do love Cloud, right? Squall claims his unique swordsmanship skill, the Renzokuken, and can call at will the Lionheart gunblade for greater damage. Heck, he readies Blasting Zone in the very second trailer!! So, for all of those drooling fanboys, you can now have the chance of knowing which is the strongest move: Omnislash, or Lionheart?

Villain: Ultimecia, the Last Sorceress
Again, a final villain with very little to no intervention, a manipulator as much as Zemus does. But, she actually has a physical form, and few would dare try to use Edea after she goes completely good, so why choose her as a villain, when the true villain can be used? Ultimecia brings with her the signature specialty that characterizes her: control of time and space. Honestly, look at the Wikia. They portray her as a goddess, making GFs and stopping time and whatnot. Oh, and manipulating people. Did I mention at any moment Ultimecia is a she? Well, I know it sounds redundant (I did, quite a lot), but this makes her so far the only confirmed female character, and also the only female villain.

Conflict: Personal
Yep, a more of a personal conflict. Squall is at the moment where he cared little to be a hero, and Ultimecia taunts him to abandon what little sparks of heroism exist before he awakens them. Hence, this makes it for a personal conflict. Little is spoken of this, but this will make the conspirationists' theories flare out: is Ultimecia really the future Rinoa, trying to pull off a Xande? Which would take Xande and make Famfreet the true villain representative of FF3? Conjectures, conjectures...

Final Fantasy 9
Hero: Zidane Tribal
Confirmed, we have here the spunky little rascal, the one only Genome with a soul. There's little to explain in here: he's the main character of the game, he's the one that has the closest conflict with the main antagonist, he's the poster boy of the game. 'Nuff said.

Villain: Kuja
Surprised? You may be. Kuja stole the spotlight from the completely unrelated Necron (I mean, you know what they did to explain Necron's existence? Necron is the Soulcage's spiritual form, and the party members actually died!! How screwed is that!?!??!) But he deserves it. Right with Kefka, he's one of the most flamboyant villains, obsessed with art and beauty to an extreme. Seeking a reason to exists, once he finds the power to enable Trance, he becomes a force to be reckoned. He also shows tidbits of Kefka Syndrome, which would make both of them great pals. Using Trance means Kuja is one of the two only villains to use the character's own weapons against them (the other being Jecht)

Conflict: Sibling Rivalry
So, in FF9's Garland's eyes, who's the best sibling? Kuja, the one deemed as a failure yet again and again showing his resilience, or Zidane, whom never even got to make his mission before defecting? Similarly themed guys, similar races, similar powers...honestly, nothing aside a sibling rivalry could explain this better.

Final Fantasy 10
Hero: Tidus
A last minute comer, Tidus reveals his presence in the game. Given as how the last minute FFX villain came, it only made more sense that Tidus was there, although, in a sense, the true protagonist is Yuna. My opinion, at least. He brings his combination of Swordplay and Blitzball as both attacks and EX skills, and brings his trusty Brotherhood sword in the fray.

Villain: Jecht, Braska's Final Aeon
J-J-J-J-Jecht?!?!?!??!!? I know, to most of you guys, this was a huge OMFGsplosion, so let's digest this calmly, shall we? Jecht is not that much of a villain than a tortured soul, whose only enemy was Tidus. He was kind to Yuna, he gave his life to protect a world that wasn't his...why he is the villain again? Oh, that little thing about Yu Yevon being dead... So, he needs a physical body, and which better body than the athletic, good-looking Jecht? I mean, I believe Yevon was xenophobic, and getting in Seymour's body was going to be...uggh... Jecht brings his Aeon form into the fray as an EX skill, making him the only villain that transforms into a summon, instead of summoning one (Ulti's EX skill is summoning and junctioning into Griever, so there) Look a bit up...need another more reason why I believe Terra will be there? An Esper versus an Aeon...that'll be awesome.

Conflict: What If...?
So, during the game, Tidus and Jecht meet just once, where the father asks his son to kill him before he succumbs to the will of Yevon. But, aside from that, nothing more is explained. So...why Tidus and Jecht are on opposing sides, again? Hence, why a what if... What if, Tidus and Jecht met as equally powered people, before the encounter inside Sin? Jecht has years of verbally and mentally oppresing Tidus, and the son has years of a repressed anger. Recipe for conflict? I dunno you, but to me, a mutual massacre is more than expected.

Hidden Character Cast: So, once I finished the possible full cast, whom may squeeze their way in? Let's see...let's leave it at 5 entries, 5 that may be rather reasonable:

Dark Knight Cecil: people are going to ask for him even after the game's released. Expect Cecil to have the same skills as a Paladin, but with his Dark Knight armor. He can double as a villain, as well.

Auron: Wait, what? Well, he's a popular character, he's with the good guys, he's basically a living dead, so why wouldn't he be summoned? He's probably the heroes' mentor.

Shadow: I know, I have this eerie belief that Nomura wants this guy to be the FF6 hero ticket. If he does not make it to the main list, he'll make it to the supplementary one. I mean, he's an assassin, and a paid one at that, right? He can work for either side, easily as changing a regular person's undies.

Yuna: so little female acting. She may appear as her original Summoner clothing, or her Gunner clothing. Dressphere changing will probably be her specialty, and her EX will mostly consist of summoning the other Aeons.

Rinoa: remember the Ultimecia rumor, where people insist she's the future Rinoa? Well...if Ulti's here, why doesn't she? More female faces, I say!! Plus, she's as much of a protagonist as Squall is, just not more than him.

Possible choosing lot: Aeris (for the fanboy in you), Celes (for those who feel cheated by Terra being chosen), Kain (the original Dragoon. Respect!!), Gilgamesh (seriously, he's almost as popular as Cid or the moogles), Mog (the only true Moogle main character), Cid (a Cid whose main skill is changing his class by changing his surname: Pollendina, Highwind, Orlandeau...Randell?)