Earlier this year, Square Enix revealed it would be bringing Mistwalker's turn-based RPG Fantasian to multiple consoles including the Switch. We're now a week out from the arrival of Fantasian Neo Dimension and the first review is in!
As usual, it comes from the Japanese outlet Famitsu, and it's delivered a score of 8/9/9/8 which gives it a total of 34/40. This information has been shared by 'Ryokutya2089' (via Gematsu).
Be on the lookout for our Nintendo Life review of Fantasian Neo Dimension in the near future. Of course, even if you have played the original version (which debuted on Apple Arcade and was created by Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi), this new version also includes new difficulty options, features and full voice acting.
Here's a bit of backstory, courtesy of the official PlayStation Blog:
"For the uninitiated, Fantasian Neo Dimension follows the protagonist Leo, who embarks on a multi-dimensional adventure to recover his lost memories and discover the secrets behind a strange mechanical infection that threatens to destroy his world. Set across the backdrop of over 150 vibrant and beautiful hand-crafted dioramas, the game features a unique artistic style with a fun, strategic twist on traditional turn-based battle mechanics."
Will you be checking out this game on the Nintendo Switch? Let us know in the comments.
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[source ryokutya2089.com, via gematsu.com]
Comments 27
I'm so torn on getting this on Switch or PS5, I'll probably wait until some more detailed reviews are available before I decide.
I'm still looking forward to NL's review, but I'm almost certain I'll be playing this one day.
Nice to know the first review is quite positive. Really looking forward to this one, it's not quite the same but it looks like it'll really scratch that Bravely Default-y "modernised classic turn-based JRPG" itch.
Definitely buying this day one on Switch and PC, will double dipped if a physical edition is coming too.
Unfortunately, I can't grab it on day one but, I'll be getting it eventually
Hard to tell with famitsu. I’m hopeful tho. Been looking forward to it for a really long time. And it’s not like the iOS version got bad reviews.
I’ll be playing it on Xbox 😝 I have credit.
The character models look like bland trash, but the rest looks like it captures that PS1 era of Square. So I'm getting optimistic!
(And Bravely Default looks bad at first glance and they all sucked me in completely. So let's give it a go! )
@Serpenterror it has a physical on PlayAsia and Amazon 😁
@garfreek The character models are pre-render sprites, a unique 3D art style popularly used during the 16-Bit/32-Bit days. Several popular games had used that style including the Donkey Kong Country trilogy, Super Mario RPG, Sonic 3D Blast, Vectorman 1 & 2, Clockwork Knight 1 & 2, Shining the Holy Ark, Golden Sun 1 & 2 (while the games are mainly 2D with 2D character sprites outside of battle, in-battle the characters and enemies used pre-rendered 3D models), Killer Instinct 1 & 2, Toy Story, Pandemonium 1 & 2, Tomba 1 & 2, Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee, and Treasure Hunter G, even Sonic the Hedgehog 2 & 3 had used it for their half pipe and blue sphere special stages. It's not trash like those one dimensional flash style garbage sprites we seen in mobile RPGs nowadays.
I can't say I will be playing this game day one, as I have way too many great games in the list right now. But it reviews well, and I'm sure it will (coming from Sakaguchi and Uematsu), I will end up playing it for sure!
Nice, looking forward to Nintendo Life's review and eventually playing my discounted physical copy of this!
After watching an hour of the Apple Arcade version, I feel like this game is nostalgia baiting with the names of Hironobu Sakaguchi and Nobuo Uematsu. By the way this article does it too. It simply does not feel like a classic, like Final Fantasy 7-10 and the music was bad or just alright like the Village of En theme. I did not feel for the characters. The visuals are good though.
I think I will skip this, because it feels forgettable.
Where's "The Last Story," Mistwalker? Huh? I got muh Xenoblade Chronicles X, I need more now! (TLS is so underrated, I never hear anyone talk about it.)
@garfreek If you're not aware, all of the locations are hand built dioramas and they're gorgeous.
@Jhena I agree and disagree. It does feel like a classic Final Fantasy game, specifically Final Fantasy VI, which is about the highest praise I can give it.
Agreed that the music is not Uematsu’s best work, despite what the man himself may have said. Also there are a lot of flashback cutscenes in the game that are done in a bizarre storybook style, where you read a ton of text next to still images. Probably they’ll be narrated in this version?
Overall though the game absolutely nails that Sakaguchi FF feel in a way that copycat games never do. It’s what Final Fantasy XI should have been, especially since the basic battle system is the same as FFX.
EDIT: And to be clear. I actually PLAYED most of the game on Apple Arcade. Honestly I doubt you’re going to get a good sense of the feel of the game from watching an hour of it.
@cvrator I played a tiny bit of The Last Story on Wii, but fell off of it as soon as I got to the giant city. Man I didn’t want to explore all that before getting back to the action. Also I think perhaps it was one of the first JRPGs where you couldn’t talk to everyone, which was a big turnoff for me at the time. Honestly I can’t believe Octopath Traveler does that too. I think it was the nail in that game’s coffin for me as well.
As someone who grew up with some of my first RPG memories being Zelda and FF6, this game instantly landed on my radar after I saw it was coming to Switch. Gotta wait until after the holidays unless somebody blesses me with eShop credit lol, but yeah. Would be a day 1, will be a day XX instead.
The creator peaked my interest and the diorama sealed the deal. Just beautiful and what a breathtakingly creative idea for the backgrounds in a game???
@cvrator @Serpenterror
It's not the rest I dislike, or the execution. It's the literal main character designs. I just think they are really generic!
But the world, battles and everything else looks absolutely ace!!
Can’t wait to play this on a normal gaming system. Also, special mention for The Last Story, great game.
@LastFootnote
It was enough for me to know, that I will not love it. Lost Odyssey needed just a few minutes of watching gameplay to convince me, that it has soul. And I loved it. Lost Odyssey might be the inspiration for the story book style scenes. I do not think they are done well in Fantasian.
The battle mechanic may be fun, but Mario & Luigi reminded me, that it can not carry a 30+ hour game.
Still thank you for the reply.
I'm so loaded with games. Next free time for new stuff will be around March, but it IS on the list^^
@serpenterror are they? Unless I’m misunderstanding the thread, I’ve played this game on Apple Arcade back in the day and the character models sure didn’t seem pre rendered to me.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but this is very much in essence of PS1 FF games with 3D polygonal character models and movements over a pre-rendered background - difference being they built real life handcrafted diorama backgrounds that were photographed & scanned for this title.
I’ve played the Apple Arcade version up to a point where it just got way too hard for me. So I’m actually looking forward to this … for an easy difficulty option.
I'm looking forward to this game, but this review is basically payola.
Publishers shouldn't be able to permit some outlets to drop early reviews while retaining a review embargo on others, as this practise makes it far too to easy for a publisher to manipulate public opinion in the run-up to a release.
As far as I'm concerned, the moment the first review is authorized, embargoes should become unenforceable.
@hel105 i’m in the same boat. I literally ordered both copies and will return one, just don’t know which one yet lol
Gonna add this to my already huge backlog of games. JRPGs and portable systems are match made in heaven. Gonna play this on Switch.
@cvrator, I played TLS, recently and it was really good.
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