As someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the vast and intricate worlds of RPGs, I must say that these images from Fantasian: Neo-Dimension have truly captivated my attention. The level of detail and creativity in each scene is nothing short of awe-inspiring.
As a devoted fan here at RPG Site, it’s no understatement to say that I, along with many others, were captivated by Fantasian when it graced Apple Arcade three years ago. Incredibly, it even managed to snatch our esteemed 2021 Game of the Year title – a fact that still feels unreal but is undeniably well-deserved. So, when developer Mistwalker announced Fantasian Neo Dimension in June, available on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, and PC with the collaboration of Square Enix, excitement coursed through our secret staff Discord chatroom. I was fortunate enough to get a hands-on experience with the PS5 version of this new, Apple Arcade-free release of Fantasian
In their official reveal, it was highlighted that certain new features include 4K graphics on all platforms except the Switch, as well as an improved difficulty setting. Additionally, Square Enix shared that both mandatory cutscenes and numerous optional scenes within the game will now have voiceovers, available in both English and Japanese
One of the new unannounced features that I got to tinker around with in my hands-on session is the new battle music selector. Accessible both in the settings menu and in battle, people can pull up a list of various Final Fantasy games that will play select tracks from them. The titles selectable were Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth, Final Fantasy VII: Remake, Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster, and Final Fantasy XVI. There was a random option at the very bottom too, if you want combat to just play a different tune every time you engage into battle.
Frankly, it seems like an unusual move. Fantasian isn’t a direct sequel or spin-off from Final Fantasy. While Square Enix is leveraging Hironobu Sakaguchi’s name and legacy to promote Fantasian: Neo Dimension to a wider audience, one can’t help but feel that this might suggest a lack of faith in the game’s ability to succeed independently. Instead, it appears they believe that attaching the phrase ‘Final Fantasy’ somewhere within the game will boost its appeal, even though most of these titles have not been directly worked on by Sakaguchi himself
Beyond my initial thoughts, the hands-on demo for Fantasian Neo Dimension surpassed my hopes for what I anticipated from Fantasian. Previously restricted to Apple devices, it was liberating to see that the handmade diorama environments remained as sharp and detailed as before. They were already visually striking in the original Apple Arcade release, but they shine even brighter in Fantasian Neo Dimension. The intricate details within these dioramas are evident and I find myself wishing there was a gallery feature in Fantasian Neo Dimension to showcase all the original diorama models individually, apart from the game’s assets
The demonstration showcased the first visit of Leo, Kina, and Cheryl to the ancient hill area, during which they met Tan – an enigmatic loner who was accompanied by his spirit animal, Galf
As a gamer, I don’t have much time left before a band of soldiers hot on our trail spring an ambush. If you recall the original Fantasian, the gameplay remains essentially the same. The combat system is still turn-based, with a clear timeline displaying who’s up next, ensuring players stay informed about the sequence of turns
Fantasian’s combat system focuses on striking several opponents simultaneously. Consequently, numerous abilities move along a course that naturally penetrates multiple adversaries. For instance, a Fire spell can be deliberately pointed along a line and all enemies within that line will be targeted; when aiming a spell, it can also curve to follow a U-shaped path
Absolutely, Mistwalker has devised strategies to counter this approach. Certain opponents can instantly halt an attack or spell’s path due to their shields blocking its penetration. In such cases, players might need to adjust their aim to strike from a different angle, ensuring that only the enemies hidden behind them get hit
An alternative talent exists that can outmaneuver this defense; it’s like a counter to the counter. For example, Cheryl’s Knightly Impact skill doesn’t follow an arc. Instead, her knightly guardian plunges down directly onto all enemies within the Area of Effect zone instantly. This means that shielded enemies can’t actually block this skill from reaching the adversaries behind them
In combat situations, I observed a temporary reduction in game speed once enemies were vanquished and their visual models disappeared from the battlefield. This seemed noticeable, but it’s likely to be addressed by the time the final version is launched. Remember that this is a work-in-progress version of Fantasian Neo Dimension
A notable carryover from the original Fantasian to Fantasian Neo Dimension is the Dimengeon System. Instead of players engaging in battles spontaneously through random encounters, as seen in older RPGs where they would navigate a map until an abrupt screen shift (twist, turn, spiral, or move in various ways) signals an encounter with a group of enemies, causing the game to instantly transport the player’s party into a battle arena
Using Fantasian, players can activate the Dimension feature to save several random encounters to battle them at a later time. However, it’s important to note that the foes in these battles must have been encountered and defeated at least once previously. Players usually need to defeat and eliminate any newly-encountered enemy types initially, before they can save subsequent fights with the same enemy type within the Dimension
In a region where someone has encountered every type of foe, they’ll be able to traverse it freely without interruptions when the Dimension System is activated. Any battle triggers will manifest as orbs moving into the Dimension. However, remember that the Dimension can accommodate only a certain number of enemies before players need to enter and defeat all the previously stored enemies
As a gamer, I find the thrill in dueling Dimengeon foes lies in the acquisition of short-term enhancements for my party, which can boost attacks and grant extra turns. The challenge is to strike a balance between attacking multiple enemies using my abilities and strategically choosing when to forego two enemy strikes to grab a beneficial modifier instead
Admittedly, there’s a part of me that’s hesitant about the battle music picker, but blasting “Find the Flame” from Final Fantasy XVI’s soundtrack certainly amped up an otherwise long Dungeon fight and made it more thrilling
Besides this, the hands-on experience with Fantasian Neo Dimension culminated in a battle against the golem boss in the Ancient Hill region. Although it was short, the very existence of Fantasian Neo Dimension is thrilling as I’ll have more people to discuss Fantasian with, not just those on RPG Site (including myself), who either acquired an Apple TV to play it or were subscribers to Apple Arcade due to owning an Apple device. A specific launch date is yet to be confirmed, but it is expected to drop sometime in Winter 2024
Fantasian Neo Dimension
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2024-09-04 16:29