A recent trailer for Final Fantasy: Resonance offers a thought-provoking glimpse into an alternate gaming history, proposing a world where Square Enix's seminal 1997 title, Final Fantasy VII, never made the leap to 3D.
The trailer, which accompanies the mobile gacha game's transition to PC and console platforms, suggests viewers imagine a timeline where Final Fantasy remained committed to its 2D pixel-art roots. Such a path might have seen the adoption of an HD-2D aesthetic much earlier in the series' history. While the trailer does not explicitly state this premise, its imagery strongly implies contemplation of a reality devoid of Final Fantasy VII's groundbreaking 3D graphics.
Final Fantasy VII was a pivotal release, marking the series' first foray into three-dimensional graphics during a nascent stage of their development. For Square, prior to its merger with Enix, this was a high-stakes gamble. The project necessitated a shift to CD-ROM technology to accommodate pre-rendered backgrounds and high-fidelity audio, demanding an immense budget. The company essentially wagered its future on this single endeavor, tasking developers with rapidly acquiring 3D development skills and scaling their efforts to meet the game's ambitious scope. The risk paid off, with Final Fantasy VII becoming a best-seller and leaving a legacy that continues to be felt today, most recently through its ongoing remake trilogy.
Characters from Final Fantasy VII have previously appeared in Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, though their inclusion was dependent on the luck of the player in summoning them. These high-tier summons were often accompanied by impressive CG-rendered Limit Break attack cutscenes, notably featuring Cloud and Sephiroth.
However, Final Fantasy Resonance itself will not feature characters from the broader Final Fantasy franchise, as its free-to-play mechanics have been removed. The game will instead focus on its original cast, including Rain, Lasswell, Fina, Lid, Nichol, and Jake, as they defend the world's Crystals from the antagonistic Sworn Eight of Paladia. The game is slated for release on PC and console on October 22. Players planning for a Nintendo Switch version should consider their handheld choice carefully, given Square Enix's past practice of not offering upgrade paths for its HD-2D titles across different Switch models.
This is not the first time Square Enix has brought a mobile title to new platforms. The company has previously revived other defunct mobile projects, and there is a desire to see more of these dormant titles resurrected.