There’s no need for remakes of classic Final Fantasy. We’re already there.
The whiplash I felt between the initial reveal of Final Fantasy Resonance and eventually playing both the eShop demo and PAX West demo still makes my neck tingle before bedtime. You’ll find fewer fans more nostalgic for classic, turn-based Final Fantasy from the NES and SNES days than I am. I’ve yearned for Square Enix to bring this franchise back to its 8 and 16-bit roots, and I’ve happily made do with Octopath Traveler and Bravely Default, among others. However, my longing for more titles like Final Fantasy 1, 4, and 6, has also been made worse by things like the Pixel Remasters. Little did I know that an experience born from mobile game Final Fantasy Brave Exvius would not just slake this mighty thirst; Final Fantasy Resonance would make a Dragoon-like leap to the top of my game of the year list.
Following the journey of Rain, a knight of the kingdom of Grandshelt, and his friend and confidant Lasswell, Resonance sees the world embroiled in a battle against The Sworn Six, a group of armored warriors who seek to destroy the elemental crystals belonging to each realm. At first, the faceless villains seem to be defined only by their pursuit of revenge and destruction, but as the story plays out, you learn about their individual backgrounds and convictions. These aren’t Kefka-esque knaves who would see the world burn only for pleasure; there’s a depth to them and a connection between them and the party of friends and allies you accrue along the way. As great as it is to see how Rain’s relationship with his companions grows, with Lasswell and Fina in particular, there are numerous side characters, including a Final Fantasy stalwart, whose appearances and story beats are incredibly memorable.
Normally, I might leave the art and visuals of a review closer to the end, especially for an RPG, where the world and story often have a bit more impact on one’s enjoyment of the game. I can do no such thing here. Final Fantasy Resonance is an absolute feast for the senses, and I couldn’t help but grin like an absolute moron as I explored new towns and unlocked new abilities, espers, and visions. One of the great joys here is in the spaces between towns and dungeons, where you get to retrieve ethereal versions of Final Fantasy series heroes like Cloud, Cecil, and Lightning, each of whom can be paired with one of your party members to enhance their spell and skill repertoire, while also growing alongside them to provide a number of buffs and stat bonuses. When you’re able to stun an enemy and call forth one of your visions for a final smash, a CG cutscene plays out briefly before the HD-2D version of that hero flies in for devastating effect. This is on top of the dramatic CG entrances of the espers that can be summoned by Fina and function as a temporary fifth party member. There’s also been a massive leap in terms of the overall HD-2D presentation, with cities feeling much more lifelike and to scale, compared to something recent like Octopath Traveler 0. Standing outside Grandshelt Castle is enough to leave one awestruck, but tarry not too long, and make your way to the next-door Colosseum instead.
The Colosseum isn’t the only Final Fantasy throwback; in fact, Resonance is filled to the brim with series charm and references. The soundtrack waffles between familiar tunes and new ones with just a hint of the classics. The version of “Battle on the Big Bridge” that I first encountered while aboard the airship had me pumping my fist so hard I pulled a muscle. Enemy sprites from Final Fantasy 4 and 6 especially are a welcome HD-2D sight, as are the familiar espers like Ifrit, Shiva, and Titan that join your ranks after you prove yourself a worthy opponent in combat. Which brings me to the biggest departure from classic Final Fantasy: the battle system.
Combining a number of familiar elements and then adding a fun wrinkle on top, Resonance’s combat features turn-based action and a novel reward system for wearing your opponent down. Enemies have a stagger meter below their health bar that leaves them stunned once you deplete it, but if you manage to stun every foe on screen, your entire team of four gets a bonus turn to attack, which is then followed by an ultimate ability from one of your equipped visions. The peak of satisfaction (and damage) is when your party can exploit a boss’ weakness multiple times in the bonus round and then have a hero like Cecil or Squall come in with their light and fire elemental finishers to knock your opponent into next week. Certain enemies, especially later in the game, have stout defenses that protect their precious health, and so you can opt for attacks that prioritize depleting the stagger meter and then switch to other moves once you have an opening.
I have to return to the characters, because there are so many small moments between them that conjure feelings of joy, humor, and empathy. One of my favorite duos is engineer Lid and hopeless flirt Jake. Lid with hammer in hand has no problem bonking the crap out of Jake whenever his lude comments stop giving harmless fun and encroach on perverted creeper territory. There’s almost a Palom and Porom, or Edgar and Relm-type relationship between them, and it’s fun to see non-MMO Final Fantasy characters engaging in antics like these. A fitting foil to these interactions is that of Rain and Lasswell, who push each other to be the best versions of themselves. Underneath that, though, are feelings of inferiority that Lasswell has to come to terms with. Seeing the pair’s ups and downs and eventual reaching of their potential makes for an excellent narrative arc.
The pacing of the story has similar peaks and valleys, tending towards a bit more open at times and a bit heavier at others. Some of the mobile trappings seem to rear their head here, such as the division of the game into chapters or the simplified, single-use dungeon spaces, but the more I played, the less I found these elements to be a distraction. Instead, they helped to keep things moving and respect my time over the course of the 30-hour story. I also really enjoyed being able to spend 5-10 minutes on a side quest or hunting down a new esper while enjoying the pleasant airship traveling music. That said, one of the major twists of the game is a bit confounding, but the developers must have realized that since they have one of your party members stand ready to explain and clarify it after that knowledge comes to light.
What’s harder to put into words is the feeling of playing and experiencing Final Fantasy Resonance. I can say without question that it makes me feel like I’m back in elementary school and taking Cecil through his Paladin’s journey or watching Cyan chase the ghost train as it speeds away with his wife and child. This has always been what Final Fantasy was to me, and the nostalgia has been hitting me in waves the more time I’ve spent with Resonance, a title that has only grown more fitting. What were once complaints about the bombastic displays of light and text in combat have given way to the satisfying challenges of the bosses and the unique gauntlets that have to be overcome to progress the story. The mobile roots of Final Fantasy Resonance are there to notice, but I’m happy to say they have no meaningful impact on one’s enjoyment.
The more I played—the more times I struggled to put down my Switch 2 or Pro Controller—the more convinced I was that this is both the follow-up and the legacy of 2D Final Fantasy. I’ve pined for years to see this beloved series return to its roots, instead of leaning into genres that don’t really represent what Final Fantasy is. Resonance, more than anything else, understands what made early Final Fantasy so endearing and enduring. If you’ve missed fully turn-based battles, quirky pixelated characters, and all of the classic ‘90s Final Fantasy charm, Resonance is guaranteed to resonate with you.
