Originally Posted by
Skyblade
Final Fantasy Type-0
I picked up a Japanese copy of this game, in anticipation of the upcoming fan translation. And, oh-my-gosh, it is amazing. It is one of the most fun FF games I've played in a long time, and I don't even understand most of the dialogue or systems.
It's not perfect. While the graphics are pushing the PSP to its breaking point, if it were ported to the Vita, PS3, or PS4, it would be absolutely breathtaking, because its aesthetics are great. The camera controls are also a little frustrating, since the PSP only has one Analog stick, but the ability to lock on to foes does help it a ton, and keep it from being too frustrating (a lock-on toggle would be nice, but for all I know, the game actually has one, and I just can't read enough Japanese to find the option).
Apart from those points, however, the game is great. The combat is incredibly fun, and I don't even know all the details. I've figured out most of the basics, and even Countering, but I don't know any of the customization details, and I can't be sure I even know all the commands. Ace is probably the easiest of the characters that I've seen so far to play, as his basic attack is ranged (very helpful, especially since enemies can be on ledges or other places you can't reach, and he doesn't have to rely on Magic to get them).
The story (what I can understand of it) is really, really interesting. The game starts in the middle of an invasion of the country of Suzaku by the Milites Empire (there are four major countries in the game). Each country has its own crystal which can be used to draw special powers. Suzaku's crystal is the crystal of magic, so its armies are more traditional medieval warriors and such, wielding magic and riding war chocobos. Milites has the weapon crystal, so its armies carry firearms and use mechs. The crystals can also create l'Cie (they work somewhat differently from the way they did in XIII, but the basics are familiar). These l'Cie are bound to the will of their Crystal, being given a Focus and a lot of incredible power. It was an attack by Milites's l'Cie which broke into Suzaku and kicked off the plot. Among other powers (like animating an army of mechs), the Milites l'Cie seem to be able to power an anti-magic field generator, which is responsible for Bahamut's ignoble defeat in the trailer.
The story follows "Class Zero", a class of military cadets from Suzaku who carry some strange powers. They possess, among other things, the ability to tear MP from the bodies of their fallen foes, and a seeming immunity to the anti-magic field, which allows them to drive off the opening invasion.
So I'm really enjoying it so far, and I am really flabbergasted by the fact that it started as a cell phone game. This game is too ambitious for the PSP, it's way too much for a cell phone. This really is one of the best games that I've seen from Square Enix in quite a while. You could port this game to a full console easily (though I'm hoping for a translated Vita port, if we ever get an official localization), and, if promoted, this probably would have been one of the most beloved Square titles since the Playstation days.
If you can get a copy, do so. It's well worth it. And I cannot wait for the translation.