For RPG enthusiasts, the names Hironobu Sakaguchi and Nobuo Uematsu resonate deeply, with any collaboration between them capturing immediate interest. Even if you’re unfamiliar with their names, their creations are iconic, as they are the mastermind behind the Final Fantasy franchise and its legendary score. Initially, when Fantasian launched in 2021, it was exclusive to Apple Arcade, limiting access to many potential players. The arrival of Fantasian Neo Dimension—an expanded console iteration boasting additional features beyond a mere port—feels like a fantasy realized. Let’s dive into whether the game delivers on its promises or merely prolongs a quest.
Fantasian narrates the tale of Leo, a young man grappling with amnesia after a harrowing encounter in the Machine Realm. After escaping a fatal fate, he crosses paths with Kina, a woman shrouded in her own enigmatic history. Together, they embark on a quest to unearth Leo’s erased memories, directly intertwined with the looming threat posed by Vam the Malevolent, an enigmatic force that seems to have taken an unsettling interest in their journey. The narrative unfolds gradually following an intense opening, as Leo and his companions traverse the expansive land in what often feels like a meandering quest, assembling pieces of his past with a sense that, while flowing naturally, lacks the urgency and tension one might expect given the dire circumstances created by the mechteria’s threat.
While it may take a moment for the storyline to fully engage you, Fantasian succeeds remarkably well in maintaining your investment. A significant contributor to this engagement is the Memories system—short visual-novel-inspired snippets that act as flashbacks, elaborating on the background of the supporting characters and the prelude to their fateful meeting. The absence of cutscenes is a reminder of the game’s mobile origins, yet this is mitigated thanks to an extensive amount of new voice acting. All narrative segments and Memories feature full voice acting in both English and Japanese, vibrant enough to breathe life into the dialogue, even though the cast occasionally feels somewhat subdued, save for moments of humor that brighten their exchanges.
The battle mechanics of Fantasian are rooted in traditional turn-based combat, yet they introduce a more strategic approach compared to many RPGs in the current trend. The standout feature of its combat system is the concept of Skill Trajectories; standard attacks travel straight, while magic can be curved and various abilities deliver effects over a wider area. Players can define the trajectory of their strike before executing it, allowing for efficient targeting of multiple adversaries or evading ones that might withstand those attacks. Each party member wields unique skills, and players may initially find themselves sticking to predetermined characters for the first half of the narrative. However, later on, tactical choices become essential, particularly on Hard mode where specific strategies are imperative to conquer boss battles successfully.
Adding an innovative twist to the gameplay is the Dimengeon Machine, which allows players to capture foes and store them for future skirmishes. You can either opt to accumulate enemies until the machine is full, leading to random encounters until they are cleared, or decide to engage them prematurely for a substantial challenge. This feature fundamentally alters gameplay flow, enabling players to circumvent random encounters for the most part (though you must initially battle a new enemy before capturing them), which helps accelerate the leveling process. It’s essential to remain aware of how many adversaries you can tackle simultaneously; while you won’t face every captured enemy at once, new foes appear quickly to fill any gaps. This system, while not entirely erasing random encounters—especially when compared to options in the Bravely Default series—is a commendable solution that alleviates the interruption of frequent battles yielding minimal experience, and also minimizes abrupt game-over scenarios when resources are low after a difficult encounter.
Beyond the combat, Fantasian offers numerous smaller sidequests, primarily involving simple fetch tasks, yet they can result in some beneficial rewards. These quests are clearly displayed on the map which simplifies tracking them. The initial phases of the game are relatively linear, but the narrative expands in its latter half, granting players greater autonomy. While the difficulty does adjust slightly, it remains very manageable on Normal difficulty, rendering it accessible for newcomers to the RPG genre, while still providing a fair challenge for those experienced players opting for Hard mode.
Visually, Fantasian stands out with its unique style, featuring diorama-inspired locales that evoke nostalgia for the PS1-era Final Fantasy aesthetic. Some areas appear upscaled from the original mobile version, which can result in a slight blur—particularly with foliage—but the overall detail is truly impressive. Although backgrounds remain static, the exploration experience is rich, with dynamic camera angles that add depth and numerous hidden treasures to discover.
While the diorama aesthetics are stunning, navigating them can occasionally prove frustrating. The transitioning camera angles may not align with the control stick’s directional requirements for forward movement, leading to disorientation and instances of getting snagged on the environment. This creates a disruptive, stop-and-start momentum that can feel unnatural. Fortunately, the Dimengeon Machine alleviates some of this by reducing the frequency of random battles, but the issue remains a minor hindrance.
Additionally, the user interface carries forward some characteristics from the mobile version, which may appear somewhat unattractive when docked, but it works well for portable gameplay. The larger text and straightforward menus enhance readability and ease of navigation. Several shortcuts for battle menus enable quick access to skills at the start of your turn. Furthermore, players can adjust playing music even during combat, which includes a selection of tracks from various Final Fantasy games. While specific song selection isn’t available, the flexibility to swap between them adds a pleasant touch. The original score, crafted by Nobuo Uematsu, matches the high standards you’d expect, featuring an impressive blend of orchestral and synthetic compositions that perfectly complement each environment.
Fantasian stands its ground against the top contenders in the Switch RPG landscape through inventive and enjoyable gameplay mechanics that invigorate traditional grinding. Its diorama visuals are a delightful nod to nostalgia, particularly for fans of earlier Final Fantasy games. While it may not introduce an entirely new dimension of enjoyment, Fantasian offers a refreshing experience well worth exploring.
8/10
A copy of Fantasian Neo Dimension was provided by Square Enix for the purpose of this review.