Square Enix's distinctive HD-2D art style, first seen in 2018's Octopath Traveler, makes its debut in the Final Fantasy franchise with Final Fantasy Resonance. The game adapts elements from the Final Fantasy Brave Exvius mobile game, which concluded its run in 2025. Resonance removes the gacha and microtransaction mechanics of its predecessor, introducing a 16-bit-inspired overworld map and turn-based combat reminiscent of the series' earlier entries.
In contrast to The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, Square Enix's recent retro-style RPG which garnered a Metacritic score of 78, Final Fantasy Resonance has received a warmer critical reception. The PlayStation 5 version currently holds a Metacritic score of 85 based on 30 reviews, while the Nintendo Switch 2 version averages 82 from 24 reviews.
A Visually Striking Presentation
Reviewers have widely lauded Resonance's visual presentation. Game Informer's Nadia Oxford noted that the game confidently employs the HD-2D aesthetic, suggesting that Square Enix has addressed prior criticisms. Oxford highlighted the detailed character sprites and the visually impressive pixel-based cutscenes, distinguishing Resonance from other HD-2D titles like the Octopath Traveler series and Dragon Quest remakes.
IGN's Michael Higham also praised the blend of 2D and 3D art styles. He observed that while spectacle alone doesn't always impress him, Resonance proved an exception, particularly highlighting its cutscenes which effectively use camera movement in a 3D plane to complement character sprites and special effects, conveying emotion beyond dialogue.
However, the game's fixed camera has drawn criticism, particularly regarding exploration. Shacknews's Ozzie Mejia pointed out that the static camera angles in towns can obscure pathways and make finding hidden items difficult, calling the navigation of towns a low point in the game.
Narrative Shortcomings
Despite the near-universal praise for its visuals, the narrative of Final Fantasy Resonance has been met with less enthusiasm. Eurogamer's Dom Peppiatt described Resonance as a compilation of series highlights that doesn't fully grasp the appeal of its source material, resulting in a "grab-bag of nonsense."
VGC's Dave Aubrey observed that new characters are often overshadowed by longtime franchise figures, even within their own story arcs. He noted that most party members serve primarily as functional combat options rather than fully developed characters.
Willa Rowe of Polygon echoed these sentiments, stating that while Resonance's narrative occasionally achieves emotional resonance, particularly in a storyline featuring a priestess balancing duty and personal desire, the frequent callbacks to other Final Fantasy games lead to unfavorable comparisons.