FINAL FANTASY RESONANCE
"A pixel-perfect revival held back by its PC port."
About
Travel with companions and call on Visions—spectral allies—to aid you in battle. FINAL FANTASY RESONANCE is a turn-based role-playing game presented in a 'HD-2D' style, blending classic pixel art with modern visual effects. The story follows a party of heroes uncovering a world-threatening force in the land of Lapis. The core combat revolves around customizing characters by equipping different Visions, each granting unique skills and abilities.
Verdict
Final Fantasy Resonance is the game fans of the classic series have been waiting for. Its HD-2D visuals are stunning, the soundtrack is a triumph, and the 'Visions' system provides a deep and rewarding customization loop. The game masterfully recaptures the spirit of its 16-bit ancestors. This makes the technical execution all the more frustrating, with intrusive DRM and a lack of basic PC features holding back what is otherwise a brilliant JRPG.
You'll like it if …
- +You miss the era of Super Nintendo and PS1 Final Fantasy games.
- +Theory-crafting party builds and ability synergies is your favorite part of an RPG.
- +You value gorgeous pixel art and a sweeping orchestral score above all else.
You'll dislike it if …
- −DRM that can interfere with a single-player game is an absolute dealbreaker for you.
- −You prefer games that let you discover objectives for yourself without constant guidance.
- −Random encounters are a mechanic you believe should have stayed in the past.
Breakdown
- +Classic turn-based combat feels responsive and deeply satisfying.
- +The Visions system allows for complex and strategic party builds.
- +Expert difficulty offers a substantial challenge for genre veterans.
- −Aggressive hand-holding marks every objective, removing any sense of discovery.
- −The high rate of random encounters can interrupt the flow of exploration.
- −Even on its hardest setting, the difficulty curve can feel underwhelming at times.
- +Extensive party customization through the Visions system creates a compelling build-crafting loop.
- +A wide array of unlockable skills, passives, and magic encourages constant experimentation.
- +Side quests successfully flesh out the main cast and add texture to the world.
- −Mastering every Vision for every character can require significant grinding.
- +A well-paced main story that rarely outstays its welcome.
- +The main cast is generally likable and develops a convincing chemistry.
- −The plot leans heavily on familiar and predictable JRPG tropes.
- −Untranslated Japanese dialogue during certain ultimate attacks is jarringly out of place.
- −Voice acting is completely absent from all side quests, making them feel less important.
- +The 'HD-2D' art style is gorgeous, successfully blending pixel art with modern effects.
- +A consistently praised soundtrack that captures the feel of a classic Final Fantasy score.
- +Character and enemy sprite work is detailed and expressive.
- −Some pre-rendered cutscenes have a low-resolution, pixel-filtered look that clashes with the in-game art.
- −Cutscene direction can feel overly busy with constant, restless camera movement.
- +Runs well on Steam Deck, offering a solid portable experience.
- −Denuvo DRM implementation can lock players out of their single-player game for hours.
- −Lacks basic accessibility options, including the ability to adjust text size.
- −The PC version suffers from occasional crashes and reports of corrupted save files.
- −No controller vibration is a surprising and noticeable omission.
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