Fantasian Neo DimensionPublisher: Square EnixDeveloper: MistwalkerAvailability: 2024Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC (Steam)
Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi is once again back with Square Enix, over 20 years since leaving the company in 2003 shortly after the release of Final Fantasy X-2. Since then, when he’s not busy playing Final Fantasy 14, Sakaguchi has been making games with his studio Mistwalker: that includes the likes of Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, and an impressive Apple Arcade exclusive called Fantasian.
But it’s exclusive no more, with Square Enix stepping in to publish Fantasian Neo Dimension, a new port of the game for PC and consoles. It’s a game that’s already steeped in Final Fantasy history: designed by Sakaguchi as a natural extension of his work on the series, with music from Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu. This new version of the game bolsters that further with its battle music selector featuring pieces from throughout series history.
Now, Fantasian’s heroes can battle enemies to the classic theme of the pixel remasters, or something more modern: Final Fantasy 14, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, or Final Fantasy 16, for instance. It’s a cute addition that brings Fantasian and Final Fantasy full circle.
However, despite its callbacks to RPG traditions, I’m not convinced this port is the best way to play Fantasian. At Gamescom, I went hands-on with the Switch version in handheld mode, probably the closest console equivalent to the original mobile experience. But this is a game made for Apple Arcade, for touch screens, and I can’t help but feel something is lost in the transition.
Before that, though, the basics for anyone unfamiliar with Fantasian – understandable, considering its Apple Arcade exclusivity. Fantasian is a very traditional Japanese RPG, with turn-based combat, randomised battles, and anime-styled characters in a plot exploring the dichotomy of magic and technology. That alone immediately screams Final Fantasy, not to mention Uematsu’s nostalgic score, but Sakaguchi has included some clever ideas to modernise the retro form.