Final Fantasy Resonance doesnt hit as hard as the classics, but its still a fun throwback

Final Fantasy Resonance may not have the impact of classic games, but it remains an enjoyable throwback title. Upon my initial encounter with a particular group of Final Fantasy fans in 2006, my friend passionately argued that a game cannot be classified as Final Fantasy without turn-based combat. This was in response to Final Fantasy XII's hybrid real-time combat system, and developers at Square Enix have largely ignored this preference over the past 25 years.

As such, the release of Final Fantasy Resonance, a new title constructed using assets from the mobile game Brave Exvius, is met with enthusiasm.

Resonance retains the essence of turn-based combat, offering enemies on one side and the party on the other, much like the classic Final Fantasy games. Each character, including the protagonist Rain with a big sword, the brooding katana wielder Lasswell, the stern strategic mage Nichol, and the centuries-old sorceress Sakura, is endearing thanks to decent English voice acting and engaging sidequests.

However, the story often falls back on basic concepts like "the power of the human spirit" and the trope-riddled nature of previous Final Fantasy narratives. While the game doesn't reach the emotional heights of games like Final Fantasy X, the turn-based combat is excellent, featuring elemental weaknesses, negative status effects, and smart use of buffs.

The game blends retro-style design with modern ideas, such as a visible turn order on screen, the option to adjust battle speed, and stagger meters for each enemy that, when depleted, immobilize them and make them vulnerable to damage. The standout feature, however, is the vision system, which acts as a soft class system, granting each party member a unique set of moves tied to specific elements.

The visions are mostly cameo characters from past Final Fantasy games, such as Cloud, Terra, Squall, Tidus, and others, adding an extra layer of nostalgia.

While the cameos may serve as a double-edged sword by reminding players of games with better characters and stories, Resonance consistently keeps the player engaged with smart encounter design that encourages regularly switching visions in and out of different situations. The primary issue lies in the cumbersome menu design, which takes multiple button presses to access the full list of visions, making it a slower process than it should be.

Overall, Final Fantasy Resonance is a solid game that will satisfy fans of classic turn-based combat, even if it doesn't reach the emotional heights of its predecessors.