Developer and publisher Square Enix has revived a classic PSP title previously unavailable in North America with the new remake Final Fantasy Type-0 HD. The game makes changes to the original PSP title including new high definition graphics and some other tweaks from its predecessor. The game shows its age in a few regards, but impressive combat and a compelling storyline make this action RPG well worth picking up for fans of the series. Final Fantasy Type-0 HD isn't the typical Square Enix RPG, but the dark, gritty storyline feels right at home in the Final Fantasy universe, and the innovative release could represent changes coming to the future of one of the video game's most beloved franchises.
From the game's opening cutscene, it's clear that Final Fantasy Type-0 HD is unlike any other Final Fantasy game Square Enix has ever released. The narrative focuses on a group of young cadets known as Class Zero that battle against an invading Milites force. While this isn't a completely uncommon plot for the franchise, the dark tones and displayed horrors of war is. The game quickly proves that no character is safe in this fantasy setting, and the brooding atmosphere extend into character development and combat to make the game's protagonists feel like more than powerful emo kids.
Final Fantasy Type-0 HD follows the more recent trend of the series to action RPG based combat. Fights are fast paced and rarely slowed for anything outside of an Eidolon summon. The system utilizes fully cutomizable three character parties with the player taking control of one central character and AI controlling the other two. The war based narrative extends into combat with plenty of military based enemies to battle, while characters are equipped with magic imbued bullets and missiles to fire at their adversaries. Each of the game's main characters specialize in a certain type of combat and carry a different main weapon from a katana to duel-wielding machine guns to a deck of cards. Despite sharing some similarities, the cast of characters quickly diversify themselves and offer players a nice choice of options to take into battles.
While the main battle system is highly enjoyable and doesn't waste players' time, the other combat missions and mini-games carried over in the remake aren't nearly as enticing. Players will find turn-based strategy combat accessible from the world map. These missions have players completing objectives such as liberating citizens from a Milites takeover or battling to prevent an invasion. Combat here is slowed down and not nearly as well developed as the game's main combat system. The game also features some aerial combat sections where airships battle with dragons and other flying enemies, and these segments don't stand up as well either. Most players will enjoy the chocobo breeding segments of the game though. Searching for rare items to breed rare chocobos and training the steeds for battle is highly addictive and a rewarding experience that will occupy a lot of time for players looking to see all the game has to offer.
Many segments featured in Final Fantasy Type-0 HD are time based and force players to rush through missions to complete objectives before it is too late. The Final Fantasy franchise has typically rewarded players for playing the game at a slower pace and seeking out all of the secret items and side missions available in a single playthrough. Final Fantasy Type-0 HD does include a New Game + mode that is unlocked after completing the game for the first time that allows players to carry over unlocked levels and gear to give players more time to explore the world and get the full narrative experience available in the game. It's just a shame that players can spend 40+ hours completing the game for the first time only to have to go right back through many of the same story missions to get the full story.
The new HD presentation seen in Final Fantasy Type-0 HD makes some definitive improvements over the original PSP game. Character models and animations have improved in the new release. This couples nicely with the fast paced combat to make battles run smoothly and keep players immersed in the constantly evolving storyline. The environments presented in the game are a bit blander and feature plenty of repeating scenery though. Lighting is done well in the game though, and it really helps the often grim atmosphere created by the game feel even more dark and foreboding throughout the game's lengthy campaign. The game's camera can be troublesome and seems to be carried over from portable days when the zoomed in view would not have been such an issue.
The rest of the presentation in Final Fantasy Type-0 HD is top notch. The game controls fine despite being a largely imported game from a handheld system. Control in combat is comparable with the Kingdom Hearts series, as players will typically perform a ton of melee attacks and dodges to defeat enemies all while magic spells and summons are easy to access when necessary. The game's soundtrack is possibly one of the best features of the new release. So many of the themes feature fully orchestrated instruments mixed with an amazing choir effect that really helps to evoke certain emotions from gamers during missions throughout the game.
Final Fantasy Type-0 HD isn't the Final Fantasy most gamers would expect, but it's a special release that manages to stand apart from the franchise while still retaining several elements that will feel familiar for longtime fans. Final Fantasy Type-0 HD's exciting combat, deep customization options and mostly excellent presentation will have most gamers hooked for the length of the campaign, but the dark and compelling storyline will be what fans will remember the release for. Final Fantasy Type-0 HD is out now for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Final Fantasy Type-0 HD is now available from most major retailers for the MSRP of $59.99 and can be purchased for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Final Fantasy Type-0 HD is rated M by the ESRB for Blood, Drug Reference, Suggestive Themes & Violence. For more information on the game, check out the official Final Fantasy Type-0 HD website.
Game Features:
- Single Player
- Improved HD Presentation
- 14 Playable Characters and Plethora of Customization Options
- DLC Support
- Trophy/Achievement Support
Game Information:
Developer & Publisher: Square Enix
Platforms: PlayStation 4 & Xbox One (reviewed)
Release Date: March 17, 2015