First Impression #1: Wait what's going on?
Where did I find this game? This isn't English. Everything's in Japanese! Ack! What do I do?

First Impression #2: I seem to be having fun anyway!
This game is very very very fun despite the fact that I can't read anything. What I need to know is in English (like HP, MP, Cloud Strife, and LOSE). There are a ton of websites out there for those like me who couldn't wait for a US release.

First Impression #3: This game is HARD!
I spent an hour getting my ass handed to me by Terra until I finally turned the tables and beat her....Cloud gained two levels in the process. Then I found the Japanese word for "CPU Difficulty" and I was good to go (The Japanese word for "CPU Difficulty" is "CPU" and a bunch of characters....powers of deduction for the win...alternatively...the Japanese word for "Map" is "MAP" and a bunch of Japanese characters.

First Impression #4: Zidane fighting Kefka? Squall fighting Sephiroth? Terra vs. Ultimecia? Cloud going toe to toe against Garland? What's going on here???!!! How awesome!!! The heck with that Ergheiz thing back in the 90s! This trumps all.

First Impression #5: The characters are JUST like their counterparts in their respective Final Fantasy games!
This is like Final Fantasy Smash Bros!!!!

Import review to follow....