Square Enix isn’t too proud for fan service; this would be less a criticism were it a little more discriminating about quality. Picking the cookie from the stack of toilet cakes in the blind tasting-test that is Final Fantasy is an ever-increasingly difficult task: for every stand-up instalment, such as the recent My Life as a King, there’s a slew of faintly toxic products that aim to be digestible simply by virtue of being briefly dipped in a vat of Final Fantasy flavouring.

Dissidia’s quality in this regard is unknown, but being a beat ’em up which plucks combatants from the franchise’s vast roster of characters, its status as fan service is fairly blatant – we are left to hope that this is not this PSP title’s only attraction.

And perhaps, for once, we can dare to hope. From what has been shown so far, it seems that there is a considered combat system behind the extravagant haircuts and oversized swords. Destroying an opponent comes down to the delicate balance of two systems: hit-points and bravery. Attacks on the square button bring down the enemy’s overall health, but can’t be turned into combos – nor are they powerful, at first. Instead, players must build their Brave gauge (and decrease their opponent’s) through circle button attack combos and special moves. The Brave gauge then determines the power of the square button’s hit point attacks, allowing for more devastating moves that have a much greater effect on the health of the other fighter.

As you’d expect from a fighter, the game comes with all the requisite dodges, blocks and movement-sensitive attacks, and, as is fashionable, the environments, too, come into play during the combat.

Gaming has reached a phase at which, after a lengthy lull, there is a sudden crush of top-form beat ’em ups jostling for contention – it will take more than an iconic manga fringe for a lesser title to gain the audience’s recognition.