Fantasian Neo Dimension Review

If you were to ask me, I would say that 2024 wound up as being one of the strongest years for RPGs in recent memory. Metaphor: ReFantazio, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Unicorn Overlord are three new classics, while Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake was a great take on an old classic. One final gift for the genre has arrived at the tail end of the year, though, with the port of Fantasian: Neo Dimension. Developed by the pedigree rich folks over at Mistwalker, the RPG had previously been locked away on Apple Arcade. Revamped with improved graphics and tweaks to the gameplay, this is the definitive version of the game.

Spearheaded by Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, Fantasian is both a throwback to his classic works, as well as a twist on established mechanics. There are randomized battles, a turn-based combat system and a plot where the hero has amnesia. All attributes of other titles you have probably encountered in the past. However, it also sports a unique way to deal with those random battles, extensive micromanaging of each party member and a gorgeous visual style that is entirely its own. The usual trappings of the genre are still there, but there's also elements that help it stand out.

The combat engine of the game serves as a good example of the balance between old-school philosophy and new-school design. It is a turn-based system, but one that allows you to finetune where your attacks go. Upon selecting your attack, you'll be able to see a line that depicts the path which the attack takes. Some of them are straightforward but can pierce multiple targets. Others can be curved around objects to hit an enemy that might have been blocked otherwise. This can prove to be helpful because you are always aware of the turn order due to the list being at the bottom of the screen. You can therefore eliminate enemies before they get a chance to attack someone in your party. This is exceptionally helpful when it comes to the Dimengeon system that gets introduced early on.

To put it simply, the Dimengeon allows you to send encounters against enemies you have previously faced to this weird alternate dimension. Then, when you have the time to do battle, you can choose to face off with all the stored foes in one continuous stretch. This is great to have when you are trying to reach a specific location or save point and don't want to deal with the hassle of randomized battles. And while having to fight a large group of enemies at once could seem too challenging, there are power-up drops on the battlefield that help increase your odds of survival. These include getting to repeat your turn or boosts to your party's strength. When combined with being able to shape the attack path, you can really create some powerful combinations.

Any advantage you can get in Fantasian is welcome, because the difficulty of the game ramps up quickly. I chose to play through the game on the Normal option, which is supposed to be the less challenging version of the original release that was added for this port. Even at this level, though, I constantly had to make sure my focus was dialed in for every battle. If I wasn't paying attention to enemy attack patterns or turn layout, my team would end up getting battered in even a regular encounter. Knowing how to spec out your characters on the unlockable Growth Maps also go a long way towards deciding how your team will fare. Go into a fight with a build that is counterintuitive to the enemy's strengths, and you're gonna really struggle. The good thing, though, is that you are free to reset the Growth Map and fine tune it towards a particularly challenging encounter, if need be.

The delayed introduction of the Growth Map is representative to one of my issues with Fantasian, which is that it takes a while to really get going. Having not played the Apple Arcade release, I was not aware that the game is split into two different acts. The first act is linear and designed to get you acquainted with the world and basic mechanics, while the second act goes full open-world and introduces a layer of complexity to the game that was previously missing. I'm not opposed to gradually introducing things in order to let players get their feet under themselves, but we are talking hours of playtime before you get to the good meat of the game. While I wouldn't call the first act a slog to get through, it does pale in comparison to the more interesting back-half of the title.

My issues with the pacing could have been potentially alleviated if I was engaged with the plot on any level. I should have known that this wasn't going to be up my alley when we immediately begin with protagonist Leo waking up with amnesia. From there we follow Leo as he travels from town to town in search of information about who he is and why he woke up where he did. Each new location tends to introduce a new face that will soon become part of your traveling party. Ultimately, the diverse cast of characters will need to work together to rid the world of the toxic Mechteria that has spread, and to take down the powerful being known as Vam the Malevolent.

Fantasian's story feels like a jumble of the best of previous Sakaguchi creations. The characters are reminiscent of those seen in the likes of Final Fantasy VI and VII, and certain cutscenes call to mind the style of Lost Odyssey. And while we get plenty of depth in the characters, I found myself struggling to get invested in them. The whole thing just ends up feeling very "been there, done that." There's a standard level of proficiency to the writing of the team at Mistwalker, but the story often ends up just conjuring memories of classics of the genre.

Outside of the Dimengeon system, the other unique feature of Fantasian is the hand-crafted look of the game. What Mistwalker did for the game is that they built real-world dioramas that were photographed and digitalized into the game. There were incredible details built into each of the models, and you really see it when you are exploring them. It's a beautiful technique and I loved this approach to building the world. The 3D character models were also carefully created so that it feels natural to see them exploring each location. The differing styles could have potentially clashed, but it all flows together magnificently here. And it looks great whether you are playing on the Steam Deck or viewing it on a regular monitor.

Sakaguchi was not the only legend of the genre to contribute to the game, as famed composer Nobuo Uematsu crafted the soundtrack. As with the story, the soundtrack will feel familiar to those who have followed Uematsu's work in the past. Although some patterns are familiar, there are still beautiful tracks to be heard. Whether you are exploring the machine world, or learning about a character's backstory, Uematsu delivers track to fit the mood. The option to hear classic tracks from older Final Fantasy games during battle has been added to this version as well, which is a nice treat. Another new addition with the Neo Dimension port is full voice acting in both Japanese and English. I think the talent they got for both languages really shine, and they do a good job of embodying their characters.

Fantasian: Neo Dimension is both a love letter to the classics and also a satisfying twist on the expected. The combat engine requires players to fully invest with the mechanics, and Dimengeon system helps alleviate the burden of random encounters. The harsh difficulty may prove to be a barrier, but if you give yourself over to it, you'll be able to break through. The meandering story may not have fully captivated me, but I always enjoyed discovering new locations thanks to the fantastic art design. Ultimately, I don't think this fully matches the level of quality that Sakaguchi has delivered in the past, but I'm still satisfied that this grand effort wasn't forever relegated to the Apple Arcade.