Final Fantasy Resonance Is a Missed Opportunity for Square Enix

Final Fantasy Resonance, developed by Square Enix and Lancarse, has been described as a missed opportunity for the renowned gaming company. The game, co-developed with Lancarse, is essentially a homage to every previous Final Fantasy title, packed with Easter eggs, references, and illusions to the series it was built upon. This is largely a carryover from the original mobile title, Final Fantasy Brave Exvius.

However, much like Octopath Traveler 0 before it, Resonance aims to strip away the predatory gacha mechanics of its source material and offer a more streamlined big box title. But this focus on nostalgia and remembrance of past games only serves to highlight the core issues of the base experience. The game's reliance on reminding players of previous entries in the series is problematic, as it places the game in the shadow of the series' past and other modern successors to the throne that don't have the luxury of bearing the Final Fantasy name.

The game begins in a familiar way, with magical crystals threatened by a great evil and a group of heroes working to stop it. Nostalgic plot beats are present throughout, with characters reminiscent of those from Final Fantasy 4, 6, and others. While tropes may be accused of being lazy, they work in this case as they provide a comfortable blanket of familiarity that is never unsettling. This aversion to risk may be a holdover from Brave Exvius, which Resonance retells the first season of.

The game's narrative, when it finds its rhythm, can offer emotional catharsis, such as a standout moment involving a priestess balancing duty with personal desires. However, the tendency to compare Resonance to other Final Fantasy games often leads to comparisons that aren't in its favor. Additionally, the combat system, while engaging, lacks a sense of urgency or real innovation compared to Octopath Traveler's boost-break system.

Despite these flaws, Resonance does include some hallmarks of the series, such as Limit Breaks and the unique Esper summoning system. However, the game is constantly reminded that it is not an improved or better game than Brave Exvius by default, as sacrifices had to be made in the transition from mobile to big box. The primary feature of Resonance, Visions, are essentially equipable tag-team partners for each party member that unlock additional skills and spells.

While they act like a Job System, players often default to their favorite protagonists due to personal preferences.