Final Fantasy Resonance is shaping up to be a deep dive into the series' history, a departure from the franchise's usual standalone installments. Unlike previous games where each entry offers a new world and cast, Resonance integrates past playable characters directly into its combat system, referencing the series' legacy through locations, enemy designs, and plot points. This approach suggests the game is designed for longtime fans, with enjoyment likely correlating to one's familiarity with the Final Fantasy saga.
A preview session revealed a game that balances exciting, flashy turn-based combat with a bold evolution of Square Enix's HD-2D art style. While the combat system impressed, the narrative potential of the new cast being overshadowed by numerous cameos remains a point of consideration.
The playable demo featured the game's second chapter, introducing protagonist Rain, commander of Grandshelt's airship fleet, alongside his childhood friend Laswell, the white mage Fina, and the inventor Lid. Their journey involves protecting the world's crystals from a mysterious threat, a classic setup for the series.
Players will navigate a vibrant HD-2D world map, encountering battles both on foot and via chocobo. Dungeons are presented with recommended level indicators, offering a familiar structure. The Mobliz Shipyard and the Wind Temple were among the explorable areas, serving as standard early-game dungeons.
Resonance is an expanded console version of the free-to-play mobile game Final Fantasy Brave Exvius. It removes the original's gacha elements while retaining its core combat gimmick: the Vision system. In Resonance, party members can equip a Vision, essentially a tag-team partner with unique skills and spells that can be summoned during battle. While some Visions are original characters, the majority are heroes from across all 16 mainline Final Fantasy games. These Visions are not acquired through randomized drops but by visiting shrines scattered across the world map, where players answer questions related to the character's story.
During the demo, a shrine for Noctis from Final Fantasy XV was accessible, alongside Visions for the Warrior of Light (FFI), Terra (FFVI), Cloud (FFVII), and Zidane (FFIX), indicating that prominent characters are available early in the game. Each Vision can be leveled up to unlock new abilities, ensuring that even powerful characters do not start as fully overpowered.
Crucially, these Vision characters appear to have no narrative role outside of combat, functioning more like assists rather than integrated party members in the story. This design choice positions Resonance closer to games like Fire Emblem Engage, which celebrate existing characters, rather than Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth, which explores character interactions in depth.
Fierce Battles and Nostalgic Mechanics
Beyond the Vision system, Resonance incorporates combat mechanics from across the series. Characters possess Limit Breaks, ultimate attacks charged through combat, often reserved for boss encounters. These are presented with unique pixel-art cutscenes. Additionally, party members can equip Espers, summoned monsters that remain on the battlefield for three turns, featuring recognizable names such as Carbuncle, Odin, Leviathan, and Bahamut.
Enemies feature a stagger gauge below their HP. Exploiting elemental weaknesses and specific abilities can fill this gauge, leading to a staggered state where enemies take significantly more damage. Successfully staggering all enemies on-screen triggers a Resonance attack, allowing players to unleash a Vision character's ultimate ability with a brief, impactful cutscene. The shifting visual styles between classic SNES-era Final Fantasy heroes and modern PS5-era presentation in a single battle is a notable charm.
A lengthy 20-minute boss fight against Aether in the Wind Temple highlighted the game's potential. This encounter showcased an old-school, turn-based slugfest, requiring players to chip away at the boss's health, exploit weaknesses, and manage staggers. The combination of Resonance attacks and Limit Breaks during this intense battle underscored the satisfaction of the combat system.
While the combat has proven compelling, the narrative's reliance on cameos and its potential to feel like a constant stream of "remember this guy?" remains to be seen. Final Fantasy Resonance is scheduled for release on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X on October 22.