Home - RPG Games - Fantasian Neo Dimension: A Comprehensive Review
The world of role-playing games (RPGs) is vast, filled with countless titles that bring fantastical stories, innovative mechanics, and breathtaking visuals to gamers. Fantasian Neo Dimension stands out as a testament to the genre’s potential. Developed by Mistwalker, the studio founded by Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, this title revives the magic of classic JRPGs while introducing unique twists that cater to modern audiences. Let’s delve into an in-depth review of this masterpiece, exploring its core features, strengths, and areas for improvement.
Aesthetic Excellence: The Diorama-Based World
One of Fantasian Neo Dimension‘s most striking features is its diorama-based art style. The game’s environments are crafted from over 150 handcrafted dioramas, meticulously designed to immerse players in its enchanting world. Unlike conventional digital landscapes, these dioramas provide a tactile, lifelike quality that enhances the overall aesthetic.
Key Highlights:
Visual Appeal: The dioramas’ intricate details, from lush forests to bustling towns, create a stunning backdrop for the game’s narrative.
Immersive Atmosphere: The blend of physical art with high-definition digital graphics bridges nostalgia with innovation, captivating players of all ages.
Unique Design: The handcrafted approach adds a personal touch that’s rare in modern gaming, making every location feel distinct and memorable.
The game’s aesthetic success is further complemented by the subtle use of lighting and color. Each area’s ambiance is carefully curated to match the story’s tone, from vibrant, sunlit meadows to eerie, shadow-cloaked ruins. However, while the visuals are undeniably beautiful, some players might find the fixed camera angles restrictive, particularly when exploring hidden areas or engaging in battles.
Storyline: A Tale of Dual Dimensions
At its core, Fantasian Neo Dimension delivers a narrative-driven experience that weaves together mystery, emotion, and epic adventure. The game’s story revolves around the protagonist, Leo, who awakens in a strange mechanical world with no memory of his past. As he journeys through the dual dimensions of order and chaos, he uncovers secrets about his identity, his companions, and the forces threatening the universe.
Narrative Strengths:
Character Development: Each character’s backstory is richly detailed, creating a deep emotional connection with the player.
Engaging Plot: The dual-dimension concept is masterfully executed, adding layers of intrigue and complexity to the narrative.
Cinematic Presentation: The story is told through a mix of beautifully animated cutscenes and in-game interactions, ensuring seamless immersion.
The supporting cast shines as well, offering memorable personalities and meaningful contributions to the overarching plot. From stoic warriors to enigmatic sorcerers, each companion adds depth and diversity to the story’s emotional weight. Despite these strengths, some players might feel that the pacing slows during certain segments, particularly in the middle of the game. This could detract from the otherwise compelling storyline.
Gameplay Mechanics: Innovation Meets Tradition
Fantasian Neo Dimension‘s gameplay strikes a fine balance between classic JRPG mechanics and innovative features that enhance player engagement. The game employs a turn-based combat system, reminiscent of traditional RPGs, but introduces modern twists to keep battles dynamic and strategic.
Combat System:
Dimengeon System: This unique mechanic allows players to send weaker enemies into an alternate dimension, reducing random encounters and enabling uninterrupted exploration.
Trajectory-Based Attacks: Players can manipulate attack trajectories to target multiple enemies, adding a layer of strategy to combat.
Customization: Characters can be equipped with unique abilities and upgrades, encouraging diverse playstyles.
Exploration is equally engaging, with puzzles and environmental challenges integrated into various areas. Players often need to use their wits to navigate obstacles, unlocking pathways to hidden treasures or advancing the story. While these features are groundbreaking, the learning curve for the Dimengeon System might be steep for newcomers, and mastering trajectory-based attacks requires patience and practice.
Music and Sound Design: A Nobuo Uematsu Masterpiece
No review of Fantasian Neo Dimension would be complete without mentioning its soundtrack. Composed by the legendary Nobuo Uematsu, known for his work on the Final Fantasy series, the music elevates the game’s emotional impact.
Musical Highlights:
Memorable Themes: Each track perfectly captures the mood of its respective scene, from epic battles to poignant character moments.
Diverse Soundscapes: The blend of orchestral and electronic elements creates a rich auditory experience.
Immersive Audio: High-quality sound effects and voice acting further enhance the game’s atmosphere.
Each character’s theme is a standout, providing auditory cues that amplify their personality and story arc. However, the lack of voiceovers in some critical scenes might feel like a missed opportunity to further immerse players.
Replayability and Value
With a playtime of approximately 30–45 hours for the main story and additional hours for side quests and exploration, Fantasian Neo Dimension offers substantial content for its price. The inclusion of multiple endings based on player choices adds replayability, encouraging players to revisit the game to uncover different outcomes.
Post-Game Content:
Side Quests: Numerous optional missions provide opportunities to explore the world further and deepen character relationships.
Boss Challenges: Hidden bosses offer a rewarding challenge for players seeking to test their skills.
New Game+: Players can carry over progress to a new playthrough, making it easier to explore alternate paths.
Additionally, a robust crafting system lets players create powerful items, further incentivizing exploration and resource management. Collecting rare materials and experimenting with combinations adds another layer of depth to the gameplay.
Accessibility and Platform Availability
Initially exclusive to Apple Arcade, Fantasian Neo Dimension has since been re-released on multiple platforms, including Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. This wider accessibility ensures that a broader audience can experience its magic.
Technical Performance:
Smooth Gameplay: The game runs seamlessly on all platforms, with minimal loading times and no major bugs.
Optimized Controls: Both touch and controller-based inputs are intuitive and responsive.
Cross-Save Functionality: Players can sync their progress across devices, ensuring flexibility and convenience.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Stunning Diorama Visuals: Unique handcrafted environments that are visually breathtaking.
Engaging Storyline: A rich narrative with well-developed characters and emotional depth.
Innovative Combat Mechanics: Strategic systems like the Dimengeon and trajectory-based attacks.
Immersive Soundtrack: Masterfully composed music by Nobuo Uematsu enhances the game’s emotional resonance.
High Replayability: Multiple endings, side quests, and post-game challenges encourage repeated playthroughs.
Wide Accessibility: Available on multiple platforms with seamless cross-save functionality.
Cons:
Fixed Camera Angles: Restrictive perspectives may hinder exploration in certain areas.
Steep Learning Curve: Some mechanics, such as the Dimengeon System, require time to master.
Pacing Issues: The story’s momentum slows in certain segments, potentially losing player engagement.
Limited Voice Acting: The absence of voiceovers in key scenes diminishes immersion.
Platform-Specific Controls: Touch controls on mobile may feel less precise compared to traditional controllers.
Final Thoughts: Is Fantasian Neo Dimension Worth Your Time?
Fantasian Neo Dimension is a love letter to classic JRPGs, blending nostalgic elements with modern innovations. Its diorama-based visuals, engaging storyline, and strategic gameplay make it a standout title in the RPG genre. While it has minor flaws, such as pacing issues and the steep learning curve for certain mechanics, these are outweighed by its strengths.
Key Takeaways:
Perfect for fans of traditional JRPGs and newcomers seeking a unique gaming experience.
Offers a compelling mix of story, visuals, and gameplay that’s rare in today’s market.
A must-play for enthusiasts of Hironobu Sakaguchi’s work and Nobuo Uematsu’s music.
High replayability ensures lasting value for players.
Whether you’re a seasoned RPG fan or a newcomer to the genre, Fantasian Neo Dimension is a journey worth embarking on. Its blend of art, story, and innovation ensures it will be remembered as one of the defining games of its era. With its breathtaking dioramas, captivating narrative, and innovative gameplay mechanics, it’s not just a game but a testament to the artistic potential of the medium.
Absolutely fantastic JRPG. For those of you that played this on the iPhone back in the day this is a better version that has added voices in some other features. Fun story beautiful sets great music, this game is reminiscent of the final fantasies of old in the era between Final Fantasy 7 and Final Fantasy 9
It's a really fun game ^^, it does feel like it is a little bit mobile because it was released in chapters on Apple Arcade. You sort of can see the chapter ends in this version, but it flows very seamlessly that it's not very noticeable (unless you go in with a negative eye and go looking for everything bad!)It follows the same gameplay style as Final Fantasy, where you must always run back through dungeons to level for boss fights (although I'm playing on Hard difficulty, Normal might not require this).Gear is done pretty well, later in the game you unlock gear upgrading and a talent skill tree.The characters are very likeable, it is similar to Final Fantasy 7 with the "love triangle" ^^.It gives the option to change the battle themes to FFVII Remake and FFXIV battle themes, I gave them a go but I hate them because I prefer the default Fantasian music <3.As Hironobu Sakaguchi's indie title after leaving Square, and Nobuo Uematsu's final game compositions this is a great title to give a go ^^.A lot of people don't like the mobile feeling, but if you love games it doesn't matter about that. There is no monetisation.
Good story. Camera movement can be a hindrance sometimes. Leveling up requires fair amount of grinding. Characters are interesting. Game runs smoothly.
Legendary game director Hironobu Sakaguchi and famed game composer Nobuo Uematsu have teamed up again to make a very charming (and surprisingly strategic) narrative turn based rpg. This game quickly became one of my favorite games of 2025.The story is charming and hits all of our favorite jrpg tropes of the late 90s and early 2000's.
Corny yet endearing characters? CHECK.
A large and ever changing adventuring party with conflict and tension between them? CHECK.
Kill god? CHECKI have seen a few reviews marking these aspects as being negative. While I understand where these criticisms come from, this is exactly what I, (and I suspect) a certain group of old school jrpg fans are looking for. If you are looking for a comfort food jrpg, you will love this game. If you are looking for the next evolution to push the genre forward, you may find it a bit uninspiring.The combat can be quite addicting. Battles are turn based and involves aiming attacks on a 2D plane. Some pierce multiple enemies while others let you arc you spells and abilities to reach enemies hiding behind their comrades in a guarded stance. It feels very satisfying when things line up just right resulting in slashing down multiple enemies in one blow.Random encounters are tuned just about where I like them, maybe leaning a bit towards the 'too frequent' side of the spectrum. Thankfully, this gets balanced out by a device you get pretty early on in the game that lets you store up your encounters and defeat enemies all at once. This device can be upgraded multiple times throughout the adventure in order to store even greater numbers of enemies. This coincides with your characters gaining greater AOE abilities to burn them all down. This can be quite satisfying and makes grinding gold, items, and exp less of a chore.Another feature of the combat system requires you to time your abilities with certain frames in idle animations in order to hit weak points or fitting abilities in between small moving windows in order to avoid your attacks from being blocked outright. Examples being enemies opening their mouth or an enemy summoning swirling rocks that require you to time and aim your attacks to fit between them.If you played jrpgs in the era of Final Fantasy 7-10, I would recommend playing this game on hard. If you do take my advice, be ready for quite the challenge in the game's 2nd act. Thankfully you can flip the difficulty on the fly if you find any certain section of the game too hard or too easy.Boss fights are where this game shines. Early bosses can be burned down easy enough, but mid to late game bosses can be quite challenging and often require full reworks of gear, gems, and talent trees in order to be defeated. It is fun stumbling upon bosses and figuring out which strategies work best. Failure is not overly punishing as you can quickly restart battles from the beginning, or go back to the nearest checkpoint to change your loadout.The graphics style is quite charming and features 3d scans of hand made dioramas. There are a few spots where the alpha and the collision do not 100% line up, but it was never distracting enough to take away from the vision of the artists intentions. The 3D polygon models can be a little hit or miss, but I try to remember the platform this was original developed on, which is Apple Arcade. I am quite happy that this game escaped Apples devices, as an rpg of this caliber was getting buried under gacha and quick dopamine slop.The sound design and music are fantastic and have a similar sound font to Final Fantasy 8 and 10. Not every tune is memorable, but I do have a few songs I find myself humming along to from time to time. I am currently listening to the world map theme as I write this review, which is one of my favorites. Not Nobuos absolute peak, but still high on my list of jrpg soundtracks.If you are the type of person who knows the names Sakaguchi and Uematsu, you will adore this game. It has its flaws, specifically with a few pacing issues, but it is flawed in the same way the ps1 Final Fantasy games are flawed, and that tickles my nostalgia. This game will not be a masterpiece for everyone, but it will be for some, and I suspect you will already know which person you are when you hit 'add to cart'.
This is a great game! It is a turn-based RPG from two legends of the genre. The art direction is extremely strong with the areas apparently being built as little dioramas.Combat is based around elemental weaknesses and positioning. Hard difficulty is actually hard and the bosses have different phases which force you to rotate characters and use many different skills.Definitely check it out if you are a fan of the genre!
A modern take on classic JRPGs made by one of grand fathers of JRPGS. It's a phenomenal game, with great music, fantastic companions and a great story. The combat/gameplay is terrific too!
Before saying anything, I 100%'ed the game.It's not worth the nearly 100 hours to do so. Let me explain why in time saving bullet-points:• Characters were uninteresting.
• Story overall was very mid.
• Literally started off with a character who has amnesia, which is very cliche.
• Random battles were very slow and happened WAY too much, even with the Dimengeon.
• Music was subpar, which is suprising because Nobuo did it. What happened there?
• Way too much 'friendship beats all'. JRPGS do this so often.
• The game is WAY too straight-forward until about half way through, and even when it opens up, it's not very fulfilling.
• The achievements were way too time consuming. I was done with the story at hour 35. Everything else was grinding to level 99.Overall disappointing JRPG, there's so many better ones you can spend your time with.
FANTASIAN Neo Dimension arrives as a rare kind of modern JRPG—one that is both proudly traditional and boldly experimental. Developed by Mistwalker Corporation, the studio founded by Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, and published by Square Enix, this enhanced edition updates the Apple Arcade original with higher resolutions, expanded voice acting, refined mechanics, and full multi-platform support. Beneath these additions lies a game shaped by deep reverence for JRPG history: turn-based combat, an amnesiac hero, a grand world-threatening crisis, and a cast of unlikely companions whose bonds slowly strengthen over the course of their journey. Yet Mistwalker infuses this familiar framework with distinctive artistic and mechanical twists that give FANTASIAN a personality entirely its own.The narrative follows Leo, a young adventurer who awakens in a machine-dominated realm with his memories fractured. His journey to reclaim them gradually intertwines with a larger mystery involving a creeping biomechanical corruption known as Mechteria. Along the way, he is joined by a cast of companions who each bring emotional texture and personality to the story—comic relief, grounded wisdom, idealistic earnestness, and occasional conflict. While the plot embraces classic JRPG motifs, it does so with sincerity rather than irony, weaving a tale of recovery, sacrifice, and unity that strives to evoke the golden era of the genre. The writing may not always escape genre conventions, but it maintains a heartfelt tone that complements the visual and musical direction of the adventure.The battle system is where FANTASIAN Neo Dimension signals its most deliberate evolution of JRPG combat. At first glance, it resembles turn-based systems from the 16-bit and early PlayStation eras, but Mistwalker adds tactical layers through trajectory-based abilities. Skills and spells can be fired in straight or curved lines, allowing players to line up attacks for crowd control, multi-hit opportunities, or creative positioning advantages. Enemies move slightly between turns, so timing and placement matter more than in traditional turn-based combat. The game’s most praised innovation, however, is the Dimengeon system—a clever reimagining of random encounters. Rather than interrupting exploration every few steps, enemies can be “stored” in a dimensional pocket and fought all at once in a massive battle at the player’s choosing. This respects pacing, encourages strategic risk-taking, and offers a refreshingly modern answer to the longstanding frustrations of random encounters.Equally impressive is the game’s presentation, driven by handcrafted dioramas used as the environmental backdrops. Mistwalker physically built these miniature sets, scanned them into the game, and combined them with 3D characters to create a hybrid visual style unlike anything else in the genre. The effect is striking: locations look tangible, textured, and lovingly crafted, almost like walking through a living model village. Lighting, camera angles, and detail work together to produce environments that feel imaginative and grounded at the same time. The soundtrack, composed by legendary JRPG composer Nobuo Uematsu, further elevates the experience. His score ranges from ethereal melodies to emotionally charged themes, lending a symphonic presence that enhances everything from major story beats to quiet moments of exploration.Despite its strengths, FANTASIAN Neo Dimension is not without friction. Portions of the late game suffer from noticeable pacing issues—difficulty spikes appear abruptly, certain dungeons drag with repetitive encounters, and the overall flow becomes less controlled and more demanding. Some boss fights feel artificially inflated in complexity or endurance, pushing the turn-based system toward grind-heavy patterns rather than tactical creativity. The UI and menus, though improved, still reveal their mobile-first origins; certain screens feel cramped or unintuitive on PC or console, and menu navigation lacks the ergonomic polish expected from a major JRPG release. Likewise, a few character arcs and narrative turns resolve too quickly or rely on familiar genre shorthand, leaving missed opportunities for emotional depth.But even with these drawbacks, FANTASIAN Neo Dimension stands as a meaningful and memorable JRPG—one that successfully blends nostalgia with innovation. Its unique visual craftsmanship, refined combat, and thoughtful encounter design distinguish it from more formulaic modern entries. It is a passion project through and through: a celebration of classic RPG sensibilities crafted with meticulous care, elevated by Mistwalker’s attention to atmosphere and Square Enix’s polished re-release features. For players who appreciate turn-based combat, handcrafted artistry, and the earnest charm of traditional JRPG storytelling, FANTASIAN Neo Dimension offers a journey that feels both warmly familiar and refreshingly inventive, making it the definitive way to experience one of Mistwalker’s most ambitious works.Rating: 8/10
I didn't love the narrative style with periodic storybook style narration between gameplay and cutscenes; and found the art style with animated characters in a model setting to be oddly off-putting. A shame, because I think otherwise this is exactly the kind of game I would love.
A faithful port from iOS, Fantasian presents a wonderfully hand-crafted (literally!) world for exploration. The game starts fairly linearly, then branches out into open-world (gated only by character level), so be warned that there will be a gameplay and narrative style shift about halfway through. Still a recommendation.
While perhaps nothing groundbreaking, Fantasian takes the mould of classic '90s era Squaresoft games, adds an enjoyable battle system that both expedites and adds an element of strategy to fighting random mooks, while also adding some depth to boss fights (i.e. you need to do more than just level up and mash attack to win), all wrapped in a charming diorama aesthetic.The soundtrack by Uematsu, while not his best work, still provides several memorable tunes and adds to an already great experience, both exploration and narrative. Like the rest of the game, the story also retreads a lot of familiar tropes, but it all feels sincere, and the humour that's sprinkled throughout the game adds both to the characters and the game's charm.Of course, if the thought of supporting a game that wasn't made with a Triple-A budget scares you, you could always wait for a hefty discount, but I would recommend the game in a heartbeat to anyone who enjoys old-school JRPGs.
--the game is 10/10 must play --
--What really impressed me about this game is how it mixes new ideas with that classic JRPG soul we remember from the PS1 days. The voice acting and music add so much atmosphere, and the art direction is on another level — the way they built real miniature models, captured them, and transformed them into the 3D world gives the whole game a distinct, handcrafted feel.
My only complaint is the interface, which still looks a bit too mobile-oriented. A proper PC redesign would’ve been ideal, but honestly, it doesn’t take away from how enjoyable the experience is.
One of the rare JRPGs that kept me playing nonstop and not ADHDing to another game.
Great deal and was excited for this game since it finally came to Steam.
A fantastic return to classic turn based fantasy RPGs. The first half is a bit slow but the combat engine really shows its colors in part 2. I played on Hard and felt the difficulty was perfect. The music and art are also great, I especially love the backgrounds.While it's not the deepest narrative in the world, the storybook scenes really pull you into the fantastical world. It's like a nostalgia trip for classic childhood fantasy stories. It's simple and magical.My only complaint is the encounter system, while interesting, doesn't really pan out to be fun in practice. By the end of the game it's basically treated as a very expensive repel. It also doesn't work well with the key system.
This game has that Mistwalker feel. It is the arts and crafts loving child of Lost Odyssey and one of the Final Fastasy's, but none of them will admit who the father was.
I've enjoyed the game so far, the turn based mechanics are enjoyable, though I've not gotten deep enough to determine whether they continue to hold up.
The game has a 20 hour long tutorial, after which you're literally getting introduced to mechanics that should have been there from the start.
The story is very basic, and the characters aren't anything groundbreaking.
Combat gets progressively more tedious the further you get, as the normal enemies never quite get hard enough for you to care, but the battle animations prolong the fights way past the fun point.
The bosses force you to adapt to their mechanics or you get wiped most of the time, they also go on for what feels like forever, and trust me, there are alot of bosses. They even shoved bosses into places where there shouldn't be any, completely ruining whatever is left of the mood of the situation.Music is great though, for the most part.
this game is absolutely beautiful. it's so unique but at the same time so nostalgic. if you are an oldschool fan of jrpgs since ps1 era. this one is for you.only downside is the mobile-ish interface. they could've reworked this when ported to pc, but does not ruin the fun.
Chose to refund the game because of no 21:9 resolution support.. lazy pc port by Square Enix. How can you lock aspect ratio in 2025...[edit]
What’s frustrating is that the original iPhone release already ran at a wider aspect ratio (~19.5:9), which is actually closer to 21:9 than the 16:9 letterboxed image we get on PC.
The game itself looks beautiful, but the port settings are too limited.
Bare minimum: give us the original aspect ratio.
Lots of fun, good fights, lots of grinding available to level up. Final fantasy-ish. very similar to suikoden 3, 4, or 5. good game, lots of hours to keep you entertained. challenging side quests. so much fun.
I rarely play rpgs to completion but I really enjoyed my time with Fantasian throughout the ~70 hours it took me to beat. It very much feels like a classic jrpg from the 90s that got brought up to speed with a bunch of developments we've seen in the genre since.
The dioramas are an absolute highlight and while some shots are not super sharp and some transitions between camera shots get really confusing I think it was well worth doing because it gives the game a very unique look.
Music's great, it might not be as catchy as 8/16bit tunes of yore but I still found myself humming some themes while out on a walk with my dog. Junkyard theme is my absolute favorite, such a weird and out there track for what is otherwise a classical orchestral soundtrack.
Little visual novel style vignettes were all lovely and broke up the pace nicely. Writing's not amazing or anything but it stays at least decent at all times.
I played on hard which is apparently the difficulty from the original version. Game definitely got hard in the final ~third and some bosses took me multiple tries but it's fun figuring out the patterns and how to counter them.
If you're nostalgic for PlayStation one style jrpgs or if you're new to the genre I highly recommend checking out the demo (you can move your save from the demo to the full game) and giving it a try.
Unfortunately this game start very good until u reach lv30 or after act 1 the random encounter becomes pain and waste of time and bosses become bs you need certain strategy to beat them and alot of grind to get certain skills for the strategy and the amount of experience you get is very low maybe if they add 2x speed or auto play it's well be come less painful
The game is just mediocre. The first half of the game is an absolute chore to play through, and it get's slightly better in the second half. I can't recommend a game that requires 20 hours of play before it just to mediocre. I can't understand how this game has a mostly positive rating.
i am very much a story over gameplay person, so imagine my surprise when nearly 50 hours later and i'm choosing to continue playing fantasian for the exploration and combat alone?i don't know what it is, but i haven't been able to get attached to literally any of the characters - and not for lack of trying. even the mc, despite being voiced by my favourite japanese va, is about as interesting as stale bread. fantasian's story is a very, very typical jrpg story that, while i understand is meant to be a love letter to the ff series, innovates nothing - which begs the question: why play this over the games it was clearly inspired by? all that aside, i've found side quests to be pretty fun, and unlike other reviewers, i actually enjoy the frequency of dimengeon battles. the combat can be a slog at times, but i think the fights are interesting enough without bordering on gimmicky. i especially enjoy being able to swap members out in fights on the fly. visually, i'm a huge fan of the diorama backgrounds, which i think make the game stand out as unique.overall, i would rate fantasian a 7/10. if on sale, it's definitely worth a look into for jrpg enjoyers. i don't think it's worth its full price though.
The story is a bog-standard JRPG amnesia plot line, but the thing that prevented me from continuing is just how awful the dialogue is. The characters don't talk like real people who are trying to communicate or accomplish any of their own goals, but instead just spout clichés until the writers have brought the scene to whatever the next plot point is.The visuals rarely felt like dioramas except in very small rooms, and outside of those rooms it felt like the same effect could have been accomplished equally well or better with traditional game engine techniques.I was excited by the idea of the combat system, but the reality was underwhelming and I didn't get the impression they knew how to really get the most out of their idea. But out of all my criticisms, that is the one I most expect would change if I were to play more of the game.
Slow Slog at the start and Slog Slog Slog towards the end. The tasty part is the middle 50 hours of the sandwich.
Was very close to binning it near the end because the game gets difficult and tedious, but was worth it mostly. Probably not for everyone though.I'm basically of the opinion that Uematsu Nobuo wanted to hide his short story about robots behind 50 hours of an RPG before letting you read it.
I really tried to give this game an honest chance. The first 20-25 hours are absolutely incredible. The visuals, the story and character development, learning the game mechanics. All of that was wonderfully executed. However, once you get to the second half of the game, it completely overstays its welcome.For whatever reason, the amount of exp you receive gets cut SIGNIFICANTLY for each character after level 35. Couple this with an abrupt increase in difficulty (BS boss fights, constant random encounters with strong enemies) and the game loses most of its appeal to me. Just when the story is picking up and heading to a climax, the game throws all of this at you as well as entire new mechanics and quest lines. I feel like this could have been done in a way where it's much more gradual.It's a massive let down, because I love Sakaguchi and Uematsu. But I just couldn't make it through.
I had high hopes, but sadly it just reminded me again that Sakaguchi is kinda overrated. The diorama-style areas sound cool on paper, but in practice they’re pretty iffy. The combat system also had a ton of potential, but the execution was poor. Honestly, that’s the game in a nutshell — tons of potential, but none of it realized.
