Final Fantasy Resonance marks the primary time the Final Fantasy sequence has gotten the HD-2D visible remedy, which mixes 2D pixel artwork with three-dimensional environments and dynamic lighting results. The model was first launched with 2018’s Octopath Traveler, and earlier this 12 months, Sq. Enix’s motion RPG The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales innovated on the model in some endearing new methods. Now, Resonance is poised to take that innovation a step additional, with a turn-based story of crystals that imagines a world the place Ultimate Fantasy video games continued to push the boundaries of pixel artwork within the late ’90s and past.
Based mostly on the primary season of the 2016 cell recreation Final Fantasy Brave Exvius — sure, the one which featured Ariana Grande and Katy Perry as summons — this expanded and enhanced model of the story goals to ship a richer expertise than a simple port of remake. Forward of the sport’s launch in October, Sq. Enix has shared some new particulars concerning the recreation’s world, solid of characters, and the way previous Ultimate Fantasy heroes will lend their energy to this new journey.
For those who’re a fan of the SNES period of the sequence, prepare for the return of chocobos, espers, and airships. Resonance may also function numerous nations powered by mighty crystals, like The Zoldaad Empire, a navy nation that is dwelling to the fireplace crystal. In typical Ultimate Fantasy style, this Empire is as much as no good: “In response to rumors, Zoldaad plans to make use of the airships and magitek weaponry they’ve mass-produced lately to invade neighboring international locations,” mentioned Sq. Enix in a press launch. There’s additionally the superior magical metropolis of Mysidia, the house of the Ice Crystal that is mentioned to exist solely in legend. (Mysidia was additionally the identify of a metropolis stuffed with mages in FF4.)
Zoldaad and Mysidia are dwelling to 2 new fundamental characters in Resonance, Jake and Sakura. Sq. Enix describes Jake as “The chief of the insurgent military opposing the Zoldaad Empire. Although Jake comes off as breezy and simply distracted by the fairer intercourse, inside his chest is a coronary heart that beats fervently for his countrymen, and he’ll do no matter it takes to finish their struggling underneath the empire’s boot. In battle, Jake makes Woman Luck his ally, combating with chancy skills comparable to Coin Toss and Gamble Shot.” I am seeing a little bit mash-up of FF6‘s Edgar and Setzer right here, and I am not mad about it.
In the meantime, the purple-pigtailed Sakura “seems to be a younger lady, her true age is unknown. As she speaks in a fashion that means an historical soul, many imagine her to be far older than she appears… Sakura possesses an immense magical prowess that locations her a reduce above different mages. Her true origins and identification, nevertheless, are a thriller.” From the sound of issues, she is perhaps a mixture of FF6‘s Terra and a little bit of FF4‘s Rydia. Both method, the mysterious metropolis stuffed with mages is a JRPG trope I can by no means get sufficient of.
Sq. Enix additionally shared some new details about how Resonance‘s turn-based fight will work. In battle, your social gathering members will be capable of use Restrict Bursts, tremendous highly effective assaults tied to a gauge which fills when enemies or staggered or the character takes harm. As in previous Ultimate Fantasy video games, you will additionally be capable of summon highly effective enemies often called espers that will help you in fight, together with acquainted names llke Carbuncle, Odin, Leviathan, and Bahamut. However what’s most original about Resonance‘s fight are Visions, crystalized essences of legendary heroes that may be outfitted to struggle alongside protagonist Rain and his companions. The extra you employ Visions in battle, the stronger they develop into. For those who’re in a position to stagger all enemies in a single flip, you will set off a Resonance with a imaginative and prescient and carry out an exceptionally devastating assault — primarily an much more highly effective model of a Restrict Break that is distinctive to that character. So as to receive imaginative and prescient crystals, you will have to go to the Sanctums of Gentle which have been erected around the globe.
Some Imaginative and prescient characters are distinctive to this world and story. Every fundamental character appears to have a handful of Visions related to them, like Jake’s gun-toting maid Amelia and Sakura’s white mage pal, Ayaka. However different visions will probably be very acquainted to longtime Ultimate Fantasy followers. These embody FF3‘s Onion Knight, FF12‘s Vaan, FF13‘s Lightning, FF15‘s Noctis, and FF16‘s Clive, amongst many extra. (There is not any official phrase but on pop princesses like Ariana and Katy becoming a member of the solid this time round.)
Many Ultimate Fantasy gamers love a top-tier problem, and Resonance guarantees to have lots to maintain them occupied. The upcoming recreation will function quite a few non-obligatory superbosses and secret dungeons. “Although unrelated to the primary story, these dungeons supply the right likelihood for these seeking to take a look at their mettle,” Sq. Enix teases.
Ultimate Fantasy Resonance will probably be launched for Nintendo Swap, Swap 2, PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, and Xbox Collection X on Oct. 22.