This is a video highlighting the finer points of EX combat in Dissidia Final Fantasy.  When it comes to tough battles, understanding this system will be integral to success. 

So the video begins by explaining that the gauge next to the HP bar is your EX gauge, and circles it in red.  Obviously it starts at zero.  Squall starts to beat on Ultimicia a bit and some blueish-white orbs come out of her.  This substance is EX Force, and as you gather it from your enemy, the EX gauge rises.  You following so far?

Clobbering the enemy is not the only way to fill your EX gauge, you can also try to acquire these little bell-shaped-gems called EX Cores (pictured above).

When your EX gauge reaches max it glows purple, you can then activate EX Mode by pressing R+□.  In EX mode, your character’s critical hit rate rises and they begin to regen.  If while wailing on your enemy in EX Mode you manage to land a powerful attack, you will be prompted to activate EX Burst.  A square will appear in the middle of the screen (pictured below).

Each character in Dissidia has a unique EX Burst. In the case of characters on the side of Cosmos, EX Bursts are based on Limit Breaks from each character’s respective game.  Executing an EX Burst does require some level of skill.  As you may have noticed with Squall, the player must pull the trigger on his gunblade with each strike, similar to his Lionheart Limit Break from Final Fantasy VIII.

Perfectly executing the EX Burst deals incredible damage.  So far I haven’t seen what happens if you make an error while performing an EX Burst, but I am guessing the damage dealt simply decreases.  Understanding the ins and outs of EX Combat will be a great advantage while playing Dissidia.

The way I see it, this system can be played offensively or defensively.  By scrambling to find EX Cores early in battle, you can make it more difficult for an enemy to enter EX Mode.  Also, since EX Mode is temporary, you could just run away from a character who has activated it until it runs down.

Was it just me or did the battleground for this video look a bit like Hollow Bastion from Kingdom Hearts?  This kind of makes me wonder WHERE the game takes place, the story is still a bit lost on me. 

Did anyone notice when Squall was grinding on that spiral non-staircase (0:48-0:50)?  Final Fantasy XTREME. 

Related Entries:
Dissidia: Final Fantasy
Dissidia Final Fantasy: First High Quality Trailer
OMG Toys: Dissidia Vol. 1

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