Final Fantasy Resonance offers the exact old-school vibes I wanted to see from the first HD-2D game in my favorite RPG series

Final Fantasy Resonance delivers the nostalgic, old-school charm I sought in the first HD-2D game from my beloved RPG series. In an early dungeon, each character in my party, including the Warrior of Light, Terra, Zidane, and Cloud, exhibits a spirit form that becomes active during battles. Upon encountering a trio of monsters, I choose Cloud's powerful Buster Sword attack, resulting in a visually striking CG cutscene.

Final Fantasy Resonance elegantly combines elements from a 2015 mobile game, Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, to recreate the classic turn-based RPG style reminiscent of Final Fantasy's NES/SNES golden era. For players yearning for such games, Resonance is highly recommended. Even after a short playtime, I was immediately drawn into the engaging combat and presentation style. Though limited exposition is provided, the game's focus on characters and combat makes up for it.

As you form your party, you have the option to include additional iconic characters from the series, enhancing abilities and creating diverse builds. The ability to equip Visions—special characters that grant a variety of active and passive abilities—adds depth to character customization. Balancing the roles of tank, physical damage dealer, mage, and healer in your party provides a satisfying rhythm, exploiting enemy weaknesses and unleashing powerful special attacks upon staggered opponents.

While not revolutionary, Final Fantasy Resonance offers a thrilling, familiar turn-based combat system with exclusive abilities from each Vision, ensuring an exciting and dynamic gameplay experience. Players seeking classic Final Fantasy games will find much to appreciate, regardless of the fan service. A demo is available for those interested in trying the game before its release on various platforms on October 22.