Square Enix is set to release its new RPG, *Final Fantasy Resonance* (hereinafter *FF Resonance*), on October 22. This title is a completely new game, rebuilt as a one-time purchase RPG based on the first season of *Final Fantasy Brave Exvius*, which was originally released for smartphones.Based on the concept of “What if *Final Fantasy* (hereinafter *FF*) had evolved while retaining its pixel art style?”, the game features “HD-2D” graphics that blend pixel art with 3DCG.
In this article, I’ll review what kind of game this title has turned out to be.I am an avid fan of the series who has played every mainline title except *Final Fantasy XI*, but I have not played *Final Fantasy Brave Exvius*. Therefore, rather than comparing it to the original, I will focus on the appeal I experienced while playing it as a new *FF* title.
*This article contains spoilers regarding the story from the early to mid-game. Please be aware if you haven’t played the game yet.
*For the purpose of writing this article, I received a PS5 version code from Square Enix.
A Story That Head-On Embodies the Classic “FF” Spirit
The story is set in a world that thrives thanks to the blessings of the Crystals. The protagonist, Rain, who serves as the captain of the airship squadron in the Kingdom of Granshelt, sets out with her childhood friend and partner, the knight Raswell, to investigate the Earth Crystal after receiving a royal decree stating that the magical barrier is weakening.However, awaiting them at the Temple of Earth was a mysterious man in armor who called himself “Verias of Eternal Darkness.” Overwhelmed by his overwhelming power, Rain and Raswell were defeated; the Earth Crystal was destroyed, and the Kingdom of Granshelt was attacked, leaving them in a desperate situation as their sacred artifact was stolen.
The one who saved them was Fina, a girl who had lost all her memories except for her name.Verias of Eternal Darkness is one of the “Six Great Warriors of Paradia,” a group of powerful warriors plotting to destroy crystals across the world. Rain and Raswell set out on a journey with Feena to protect the remaining crystals and thwart the Six Great Warriors’ ambitions.
Along the way, they meet various allies, including Rid, an engineer who dreams of building an airship; Nicol, a military strategist in the City of Water; Jake, the leader of a rebel army; and Sakura, a great sage who has lived for many long years. With their help, Rain and his companions travel from place to place to protect the crystals, engaging in repeated battles against the Six Alliance Heroes.Eventually, these battles become intertwined with their enemies’ histories and the pasts of their allies, evolving into an adventure that will determine the fate of the world.
Motifs Evoking Past Titles and the Pros and Cons of Fan Service
The story of *FF Resonance* boldly showcases a certain “Final Fantasy-ness” through elements such as swords and magic, crystals, airships, summons, and the Empire.While the series has changed its worldview and narrative direction with each installment, this title incorporates elements cultivated over many years—primarily from the early games—and can be said to be faithful to the public image of *FF* that many people have in mind.
Motifs inspired by past titles are scattered throughout the game; elements like the airship “Enterprise” and the “Nobara”—displayed as the symbol of the rebel army—are sure to evoke a reaction from anyone familiar with the series.This kind of fan service stirs the memories of players who have grown up with the series, and fans are sure to find moments that make them think, “That’s it!” and feel a sense of joy. By carefully highlighting these common threads, the game feels like it’s delivering the “Final Fantasy” adventure that players expect.
That said, the emphasis on “FF-ness” presents a somewhat complex aspect when evaluating the story. With familiar motifs appearing one after another, there’s a risk that players’ attention will be drawn more to elements reminiscent of past titles than to Rain and the others’ adventure as a new installment.Some players might get the impression that faithfully recreating the series’ image actually ends up overshadowing the game’s original story. The abundance of nods to past titles does not necessarily equate to the game’s own scenario being compelling.
However, in *FF Resonance*, while protagonists from past titles appear as “Visions,” they do not directly intervene in the story. They are included solely as elements for series fans, and Rain and her companions always remain at the center of the narrative.The fact that the story is driven by original characters rather than characters from past games is an important factor in understanding this title’s positioning.
While the game offers the joy of discovering *FF* motifs, the story itself is structured to stand alone as a complete narrative. In fact, we recommend using characters whose abilities or designs catch your eye in this game as a starting point to explore past titles. However, since summary videos and text from each game are inserted when you acquire a “Vision,” some newcomers might feel that this reveals too many plot details.
A feud spanning 700 years and the story woven by the party
The story of Rain and his companions—which cannot be reduced to mere fan service—is underpinned by the relationships between the characters.Rain is a bright, straightforward young man who speaks with integrity, cares for his companions, and takes positive action. However, his childhood friend Raswell—who was raised alongside Rain by his father, Regen—trusts Rain as a partner but also harbors feelings of inferiority toward him and emotions that cannot be easily resolved.The intimacy and complexity that arise precisely because they know each other so well give depth to their relationship.
During their journey, Rain and his companions encounter various people, learning about their individual circumstances and motives, and the history between them and the Six Alliance Champions is carefully depicted. While the witty banter among the companions conveys the characters’ personalities and relationships, the story does not always take a cheerful turn.The intersecting desires of characters driven by a thirst for revenge and past grudges sometimes put the bonds between companions to the test. It’s also striking how the relatable character portrayals coexist with the harshness of battles that determine the fate of the world.
The central hook of the story is the mystery surrounding Fina, who has lost her memory, and “Demon Fina,” who appears as if to take her place.Fina, who is unfamiliar with Chocobos and bewildered by the world’s norms, asks, “What’s going on?” She discovers the world from the same perspective as the player, and the story is structured so that even those unfamiliar with *Final Fantasy* can easily grasp the series’ foundations through her reactions.On the other hand, the Demon Fina hints at a past connection with Rain—who is she, and what is her relationship with him? The mysteries surrounding Fina’s true identity and their shared past run parallel to the adventure for the Crystals, serving as a driving force that keeps players eager to find out what happens next.
As such, the story of this game is supported by more than just fan service to past titles. There’s Rain’s straightforward personality and his relationship with Raswell, who acknowledges him as a partner yet harbors complex feelings toward him; the hidden past between Rain and Fina, who has lost her memory;The relationships and mysteries surrounding the supporting characters and the Six Alliance Heroes are what make you want to experience what lies beyond the adventure for the Crystal.The theme of “Revenge and Bonds,” featured in the tagline, adds depth to the story by portraying it as a drama centered on human connections—not just about defeating enemies and saving the world. While familiarity with previous titles enhances the experience, Rain and his companions’ story possesses its own charm that makes you eager to follow its continuation.
When discussing these serious plot developments, the pixel-art-based graphics are also worth noting. The visuals in this title not only evoke a sense of nostalgia and familiarity but also alter the impression of certain scenes—even those that might come across as too graphic if rendered in realistic 3D—by presenting them through pixel art.By abstracting the depiction, the visuals avoid conveying the visual pain too directly, while still preserving the cruelty of the world and the weight of the villainous characters.Of course, it would be an oversimplification to claim that the game’s brutal plot developments are only possible because of the pixel art, but the combination of approachable visuals and a harsh narrative is an intriguing expression that successfully balances both the “FF essence” and the “FF Resonance essence.”
Strategy Centered on “Breaks” and the Joy of Experimenting with Combinations
The game’s battles are turn-based command battles where you fight while checking a timeline that shows the order of actions for both allies and enemies.Enemies have a “Break Gauge” separate from their HP gauge; depleting this gauge with attacks puts them into a “Break” state. Enemies in a Break state are unable to act for the remainder of that turn, and their defense is lowered, creating a prime opportunity to deal damage while blocking their attacks.
Furthermore, the character who breaks an enemy can take an additional action during the “Extra Phase” that occurs at the end of the turn.Achieving a “Full Break”—where all enemies are broken—allows all allies to act again and enables the Vision’s special move, “Resonance.” The core of combat in this game revolves around a sequence that not only immobilizes enemies but also uses breaking as a starting point to increase attack opportunities, culminating in a powerful finishing move.
In battles against multiple enemies, you’ll face the decision of whether to use an area-of-effect attack to deplete multiple Break Gauges or to prioritize breaking dangerous enemies with single-target attacks. While area-of-effect attacks can damage multiple enemies at once, single-target attacks may sometimes be more efficient at reducing Break Gauges.Choosing which enemies to neutralize first—based on their turn order and threat level—can determine the outcome of the battle. If you Break an enemy likely to launch a dangerous attack first, you can prevent their action while gaining an opportunity for an additional turn; conversely, aiming to Break all enemies at once allows you to aim for a comeback with a Full Break.It’s not just about reducing enemies’ HP—thinking strategically about the order in which you break them adds to the fun of combat.
Additionally, since the Break Gauge can be depleted without exploiting weaknesses, it’s refreshing that your actions and party composition aren’t restricted by the need to identify elemental weaknesses.Exploiting weaknesses is an effective strategy, but it’s not the only way to trigger a Break. The combat in this title feels closer to *Octopath Traveler*—another HD-2D game—rather than being a direct continuation of the traditional series.The *FF* series has incorporated various combat systems across its titles, starting with ATB (Active Time Battle). This game allows you to manage turn order via a timeline and aim for additional actions through Breaks, letting you enjoy the strategic planning unique to turn-based combat.
Freedom in Character Development and Party Composition Through Vision Combinations
The Vision system, which governs character development and party composition, adds even more depth to combat. Visions are items that, when equipped by a character, allow them to use unique skills and spells; raising their Mastery Rank also enables them to learn new abilities. Once an ability is learned, it can be equipped within the limits of AP cost, even if a different Vision is currently equipped.
In other words, changing a Vision doesn’t reset your character’s development; by combining abilities learned from multiple Visions, you can customize your character’s abilities to suit your playstyle.Of course, you can plan builds focused on boosting attack power or specializing in specific elements, but you can also combine abilities from different Visions to aim for powerful synergies. It’s fun to experiment with different ability combinations and come up with builds that essentially “legally hack” the system.
Furthermore, it’s important to note that the abilities a character learns are separate from the Vision’s inherent performance.Since vision-specific moves can be expanded by awakening them using magic stones and other items, even visions obtained early in the game don’t become obsolete once they’ve learned their abilities. As a fan of the series, I was delighted that visions aren’t just equipment to be swapped out—they also serve as a means of character development for learning abilities and as a way to increase the number of moves available in battle.Furthermore, not only do the abilities and unique skills that can be learned differ for each Vision, but the effects of Resonance—which activates during a Full Break—also vary. Consequently, the joy of comparing performance to find the most efficient setup, combined with the desire to try out Resonance, served as a strong motivation for collecting and leveling up Visions.
Special Move Animations and Fast-Paced Battles
In addition to the Vision-specific “Resonance,” each character also has their own “Limit Burst.” Limit Bursts are special moves that can be activated by consuming the Limit Gauge, which builds up when you Break enemies or take damage from them.While there are abilities that adjust how quickly the gauge fills, it resets after every battle. As a result, the gameplay generally feels like you’re waiting for the gauge to fill during combat and then unleashing the move as soon as it becomes available.
In terms of presentation, both Limit Bursts and Resonance are a sight to behold. Particularly impressive are the Resonance sequences featuring characters from past *FF* titles (though the game also features its own original sequences).In a stark contrast to the pixel-art-based battle screen, 3D sequences unfold, allowing you to enjoy stunning visuals of characters from past games unleashing their special moves. While this stands out slightly from the game’s overall pixel-art aesthetic, for series fans, it’s a delightful moment to see beloved characters shine in such lavish presentations.
I was also impressed by the combat’s responsiveness and good pacing. In many recent RPGs that use command-based battles, players often feel compelled to use the double-speed feature to shorten battle animations and action wait times, but this game was comfortable to play even at normal speed.The rich animations prepared for each special move make a strong impression as highlights of the battles, yet they aren’t so long as to disrupt the pacing.A skip function is also available, so you can choose to watch the cutscenes when you want to enjoy them, or skip them when you want to move through combat quickly. Even when I knew I could skip them, I found myself unable to resist watching the cutscenes—that’s how captivating they were.
While the battles in this game take a different direction from the traditional *FF* series, they still offer the same enjoyment found in the series’ command-based battles and character development systems—such as the strategic depth centered around “Break” and the freedom to build your own combat style by combining acquired abilities.I was particularly impressed by the joy of creating my own strategies—such as deciding which enemy to Break first, linking a Full Break to Resonance, and combining these with Vision abilities to build a unique setup.
Additionally, since the developers deliberately chose not to include an auto-battle feature, manually controlling your character—especially during boss battles where you need to gauge enemy actions—added a strategic layer to the gameplay. On the other hand, there were instances where you had to repeat battles solely to level up your Vision, and in those situations, the actions and decisions required for each battle could sometimes feel burdensome.Given that the combat itself has such a good pace, I feel it would have been nice to have a system that made the repetitive play required for leveling up a bit more accessible.
Exploration That Leaves You Satisfied and Deep-Dive Elements That Expand the World
I was also impressed by how dungeon exploration was designed without disrupting the pace of the adventure. Rarely are dungeons too long or overly convoluted; in my playthrough, they were generally manageable in about 20 to 30 minutes.At the same time, there are mechanisms that allow you to unlock shortcuts along the way, as well as treasure chests placed in spots that are hard to spot just by looking at the map, so even these short exploration sessions offer the joy of discovery. The balance is such that you’re not forced to walk endlessly along long paths; instead, you’re left with a sense of satisfaction from finding detours and earning rewards.
Once you acquire an airship midway through the story, you’ll be able to freely explore the world at your leisure. In addition to the main story, the game features side quests that delve deeper into the world and character relationships, a collection element involving the Twelve Weapons scattered across the land, and battles—such as the showdown with Sephiroth as part of the “Vision” collection—that are sure to delight series fans.Exploring the world with the goal of battling powerful foes and collecting items, while gradually building up your strength to conquer challenges step by step, is a joy unique to RPGs. The sense of freedom—traveling across a vast world and visiting places that pique your interest, rather than simply following a predetermined path—truly captures the expansive spirit of a classic *Final Fantasy* adventure.
"Final Fantasy": A Blend of Nostalgia and Innovation
Based on the concept of “What if *Final Fantasy* had evolved while retaining its pixel art style?”, this title offers both the charm the series has built up over the years and the fresh discoveries unique to a new installment.While familiar elements like crystals, airships, and summons tugged at the heartstrings, the story unfolded in ways that went beyond mere recreations of past titles, and battles offered a unique strategic depth centered around “Breaks.” By incorporating nostalgic elements, the game aimed to create a new adventure rather than simply being a rehash of past entries.
As someone who has played the series for a long time, every time I encounter a familiar motif, it brings back memories of past adventures. However, the appeal of this game isn’t limited to fan service that can only be appreciated by those familiar with previous titles. The world rendered in HD-2D seamlessly blends the approachability unique to pixel art with the richness of graphical expression made possible by modern technology.That sense of nostalgia and freshness intertwining is precisely what makes experiencing this game’s concept so rewarding.
The “Final Fantasy essence” isn’t created simply by inheriting the battle system, graphics, themes, or terminology. While incorporating elements that evoke the series’ traditions, this title weaves a new adventure through its unique story and game system.Based on *Final Fantasy Brave Exvius*, this title has been reborn as a one-time-purchase consumer RPG. For fans familiar with the original, it offers a chance to experience the series in a new form, while for those who haven’t played the original, it stands as a fully-fledged *Final Fantasy* adventure in its own right.
*Final Fantasy Resonance* is scheduled for release on October 22, 2026, for PC (Microsoft Store), Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PS5, and XBOX Series X|S (the Steam version will be released on October 23).
Game*Spark Review: *Final Fantasy Resonance* for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC—releasing October 22, 2026 (Steam version on October 23)
A world of HD-2D that carries on the series’ tradition, combined with the strategic depth born from free-form building. More than just nostalgia—the satisfying challenge of a new adventure
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GOOD
- A world rendered in HD-2D that carries on the series’ traditions, featuring crystals, airships, and mythical beasts
- A story
centered on classic fantasy, where comical banter and serious plot developments intertwine - Highly strategic command-based battles where you plan the order of attacks and actions to break down enemies
- A system that lets you freely customize character development and combat styles by combining “Visions”
BAD
- There is no auto-battle feature, and manual combat is required even when leveling up Visions, which can make the grind of repeated play feel burdensome
- While the 3D cutscenes featuring characters from previous titles are spectacular, they sometimes feel slightly out of place within a world primarily built on HD-2D pixel art
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LOGO ILLUSTRATION: © YOSHITAKA AMANO
