Then again, for those who just can't get behind Dissidia's hectic blend of button mashing and skillful strikes, it does offer you one major concession: Command mode. Instead of actively participating in the battles, command mode lets you leave character movement up to the computer and focus on inputting commands such as “Fight,” “Defend,” and more complex commands as time goes on. Personally, I didn't like having my hand held, but if you're still trying to wrap your head around what's happening on the battlefield, command mode could be a downright godsend.

While battling is the name of the game, Dissidia has so much content crammed into its tiny UMD that it literally boggles the mind. From arcade modes and pseudo online play, to card collecting, card battling, customization and crafting, you can truly get lost in this game for hours. Even though there's no towns to visit or true dungeons to explore, Dissidia keeps you in the game through its absurdly robust Customization menu that lets you outfit your character, visit the shop, view copious amounts of battle tips, and discover what accessories you've unlocked in your travels. There’s even a Chocobo that accompanies you along your chosen game path (casual, average, or hardcore) and brings you good luck, extra experience, and treasures along the way!

At the end of the day it’s still a fighting game, and RPG purists might not be able to get over the drastically different play style, while JRPG fans will likely lament its loss of towns, dungeons, and other more exotic locales. There's nothing to Dissidia but the grind, and if you're looking for an epic adventure, you won’t find it here after the 20+ hour story mode is finished. But if you’re looking for something engrossing with great characters that’ll keep you playing for weeks, Dissidia: Final Fantasy is one of the top candidates for the PSP. It’s refreshing—and even if you’ve only played a few Final Fantasy titles, it’s worth seeing your favorites come together once again to save the world.

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