Dissidia 012 is the prequel to Square Enix's 2009 title Dissidia: Final Fantasy and features a remade version of the original's story, with new gameplay mechanics. The game follows the twelfth cycle of the War of the Gods, where heroes are summoned to battle. Players can choose to defeat individual opponents or complete dungeons in story mode. The gameplay is similar to its predecessor but introduces the Assist system, allowing players to call another character for help in attacks or defense. The game also adds a free-roam world while maintaining a tile-based system for dungeon exploration. Character customization, including leveling up and equipment, is still present. The roster now includes characters from Final Fantasy I to Final Fantasy XIII.