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.
About 25 hours in and I am loving this title. Everything that made me fall in love with JRPGs, made by the people who created those special memories for me all packed in an incredible game.
OVERALL 8/10
It scratched some of the JRPG itches I had, not all of them tho.
Great game - yes. One of my favs - no. Did I enjoy it - very. Will play again - probably not. Am I picky - yep!STORY 7/10
It was decent. High stakes and all, but the whole set up felt too limited.
It felt it was concentrating way too much on characters, sacrificing world building and depth.
I enjoyed the ending, it did the game justice.AUDIO/VIDEO 7/10
It was great. The visuals were very.... artistic, not my cup of tea, but it did a great job.
Dialogues weren't bad, acting was decent.
Music was awesome, tho I doubt I will be listening to the OST any time soon. I love a lot of Uematsu's work, but this one I only like.GAMEPLAY 9/10
I loved the battle system. It wasn't annoying, didn't get tedious as quickly as I expected. I loved the "leave fighting for later" mechanics.
Free switching between characters and thus also tactics worked amazingly well.
Item and skill customization was great (could have used a bit more variety when it came to equipment tho, more upgrading, perhaps skill switching or just more items)
The endgame content was very satisfying, the bosses were tough, but not unfair.FEELINGS 5/10
+ It scratched my itch for good JRPG mechanics
- It didn't scratch my itch for oldschool JRPG story and atmosphere
+ I would like to see the team do more JRPGs
- I don't crave a sequel
+ It was satisfying to 100% it
- I don't think I'll be replaying it (too much time for this amount of feels)
I really wish steam had a middle-review between yes and no, because this game just fits there for me.Gameplay wise its ok, the dioramas and areas are all absolutely beautiful, but... everything else feels like it misses.The music is average at best (about the only track that has stuck to my mind is the combat theme and even that is only because of repetition), the character designs are very hit and miss and I personally feel they barely match the setting they are from look and writing wise.
And writing itself feels rather contrived to me, with any and all plot points that did catch my interest getting quickly swept under the rug.giving a positive review for the dioramas and Zinikr alone I guess.EDIT: you know what, no, changing it to negative
how do you have a story boss WHERE YOU NEED TO HAVE UNLOCKED AN OPTIONAL ABILITY!?
the characters, in game, try to hint that you need to use a specific ability to beat it, but none worked, so I looked it up... and its an optional ability, one I did not have yet.
So my choice was to back off and grind until I could unlock it (even though I was already 6 levels above the recommended level for the quest, and the game has anti-grinding stuff in it, so... f-me I guess)
Also, this boss has a gimmick that attacking any of the ads triggers an auto-destruct counter that deals 2k damage... characters at this point have counter abilities you cannot turn off, and the adds attack you... so, get ready to die cuz you get slapped for a piddly 200 damage and your character countered.
Im really enjoying the game so far, it feels like playing old school Final Fantasy VII but with better graphics, it`s not epic graphics but charming. A bit easy in the beginning, but now 4 hours in it starting to get hard. Main story is about 25 hours long, main+extra 55+hours, completing everything is about 100hours, so it`s a huge game. Controls can be a bit clunky at times when the camera moves. If you are a JRPG fan of the old school this is the game for you, im 40 years plus and it`s been a long time since i had this fun with a game.
Really enjoyed playing it. Feels like a throwback to the PS1 era of JRPGs with the backgrounds and fixed camera angles. I also found the battle system unique and the bosses genuinely challenging.
It's pretty, but that's about it. Its combat is fun for a while, but they slow roll progression pretty hard, so it becomes stale. This game also suffers from one of my least favorite design decisions, "rotating cast of characters". I get that some people love this, but when I go up against a boss and fail because they took away all of my best options of dealing with his gimmick, my patience becomes thin. Also, given that this game wants you to fight up to dozen enemies at a time, it would be nice to have more AoE options on more characters.
This game is amazing. The music is amazing for one and the graphics are decent. Coming back to the turn style of the old JRPGs is a very nice touch. I did not know how much I missed turn based games. The mechanics with being able to bend your magic and some move sets gives a pretty interesting way to spice up the good ol' tap X to continue of turn based games. 10/10
Yes, Fantasian is a true Final Fantasy from the PS1 era in essence, but with a twist: Gorgeous dioramas backgrounds and quite challenging bosses (in the 2nd part).
This game was released in 2 parts on its original Apple arcade subscription model, it's by no means a mobile game though, thankfully no mobile gimmicks at all and it'll take you between 60 to 100 hours to complete like any other traditional RPG.[b]What i liked:[/b]
- The diorama background: They bring an incredible charm to the game, they add that analog feel in the game you can't replicate with 3D or CGI, the amount of work produced here is completely insane and i'm sure underappreciated by many.- It is that old PS1 FF recipe, and it's not emulated by some fan devs but by its creator himself, Sakaguchi, and you can feel that authenticity.- The battle system: You want that PS1 experience, this is what you get, in its full glory, you'll feel right at home here.- It runs on any potato you can find: well that was meant to be on apple devices, no wonder but proves you don't need ray-tracing to do a beautiful game.- The music: Uematsu did produce the most Uematsu-esque tracks ever, with great and memorable themes, still this point will also be in the part i didn't like (uh-oh...)- The world: those dioramas helps a lot for sure, but you travel a lot in this adventure, see various environments.- Carefully crafted side quests: They are all voiced and integrates well in the lore, character story etc... almost no dumb fetch quests.- The bosses, especially in 2nd part, will present you with quite the challenge and will require the use of your brain (i know...)[b]What i didn't like:[/b]
- The pacing: The 1st part of the game presents a linear story akin to those PS1 Final Fantasy you already know, but the 2nd part takes a radical and different approach with a quest-split story you can start in any order you want and focuses more on character backgrounds (after 30hrs...) and combat, leaving the story development to be desired.- While i liked the bosses fight challenge, the difficulty tuning can be somewhat uneven with some bosses being on the easy side, and other completely batshit insane, they're not for tourists and you will die, a lot.- The grinding: I know those PS1 era RPGs used to have some, and i usually don't mind it that much, but the grinding here is possibly the result of overlooked game design, especially in the 2nd part where you have to backtrack a lot, also the chest/key system isn't well thought and all over the place, when you finally manage to unlock some of them you get outdated stuff.- The battle music: while boss and some other themes are "Nobuo Great", the normal and dimengeon battle themes are borderline elevator music... what happened here? This is the music you hear the most in the game! And this makes you understand that bizarre musical collab where you can replace them with other FF entries music.- The controls: it's a minor gripe here, but when the camera perspective changes, they should've reset the input as soon as you move your analog stick to adapt to the new space coordinates, instead you have to go back to neutral position before moving again.- The UI: This is the most non-digetic and mobile disgusting UI you could find and should've been reworked when ported to PC and consoles, it's functional though so again a minor issue.In the end, Fantasian is for sure what it claims to be: The lost Final Fantasy episode on PS1 and should be enjoyed as such, it's fun, challenging and somewhat unique!
This is a fantastic game. A homage to classic JRPGs from the PS1 era.
To play a game where the environments are hand crafted is an absolute joy. The story is great, the characters are all well written and voice acted, and the combat system is simply but very satisfying.This is a game I will keep coming back to for years to come. Great work by the GOOCH!!!
Wow, this was quite an experience! Having very great memories from the old turn based Final Fantasy games (FF1 to 10), this really feels like a worthy sequel in the series, with a great story, great music, and great focus on strategy in combat, making it close to impossible to just "grind" your way to victory. Being a guy that truly can appreciate a good challenge, I played the game in "Hard Mode", and man was I up for a treat! In short: This game is MUCH harder than any of the Final Fantasy games I've played, and has strategy in mind for every boss you meet (that is, from a certain point of the game). Be warned though: The game is fairly easy the first 1/3 of the game, even in Hard Mode, but then there is no more joking around: You really will need to plan your moves well! One of the best games I've ever played :) I've listed some pros and cons from my perspective below.[h2] Pros [/h2]
[list]
[*] All in all: A very great story, and great characters, though with a weak start.
[*] Fantastic challenging turn based combat that requires a proper strategy and analyzing your enemies to be able to win (that is: for boss fights).
[*] Great music!
[*] Beautiful hand crafted and 3D scanned graphics!
[*] Great voice acting
[*] A lot of side quests and side content, with some special challenges to take after you've cleared the main game. I have yet to clear those challenges, but I unlocked them, and they will for sure be challenging :)
[*] The final boss is truly epic and VERY hard, and you WILL need to use most of your party with a proper strategy to be able to beat it. At the written time the achievement for beating the final boss is rare, so that tells a lot. The music for the fight can be compared to the most respected final boss music of the Final Fantasy series.
[*] There is way too much to list here. Just buy the game if you are a sucker for JRPG turn based combat and love the old Final Fantasy games. You won't regret it <3
[/list][h2] Cons [/h2]
[list]
[*] The game starts a bit weak, with the first impression of the characters and the story to be just an average JRPG game. This changes dramatically the more you progress through the game, and I would say it ended up being one of my favorites in the end.
[*] Even when picking "Hard Mode" the game doesn't really get hard until you've cleared about 1/3rd of the main story.
[*] The default battle theme is quite boring, especially compared to the other music being extremely well done. This can be fixed easily though, as there is an option to randomize the battle music with some good actual Final Fantasy music for normal battles.
[*] Since quite a few boss fights will require you to use alternative equipment, there should be a much better way to change them, or change back to a "default" equipment set used when not needing those special equipments. I also found no way to unequip a single gear. I could either unequip all for a character, or just pick some temporary trash.
[/list]
So far, worth the 3 year wait. IMO. The game is gorgeous. It's like what the FF9 moguri mod aims for with quality but better. Most of the 'CG' backgrounds are photos of diorama models that were made by hand. Uematsu's music is like meeting with a friend I have not seen in a long time. The combat is quite interesting, curving spells and attacking through enemies for multi target attacks is a neat gimmick and compound that with the ability to stack random encounter into a massive fight vs 30 monsters all over the field. I anticipate some devastating combos later in the game.My only 2 nit picks so far. When the static camera changes the analog stick does not reorient to the camera until you let go of input. It's an odd choice but I just lift my thumb. The whole game is playable with mouse only if that is your preference. The other nit pick is that the UI is still designed and scaled mostly for mobile screens. The item menu in battle is massive and the pause menus are all massively touch friendly. I have be playing on steam deck so maybe I will try that just for a laugh but the UI could have been tweaked. This does not really ruin anything though. Very interested to keep playing this game.
I don't usually review games since I have some issues putting my thoughts out, but I needed to try and break this habit with this game.
Fantasian is truly an awesome game. There's a perfect mix on that feeling of nostalgia and familiarity from older games, but also a feeling of a new game, and the discovery that comes with it.The characters are fun, the story (albeit not doing anything new) stands pretty decently by itself imo, with a lot of charm and some nice emotional moments.
The gameplay shines with really hard bosses, but also giving you options to deal with the challenge they provide. Personally I found every boss in the game fair, when I discovered their gimmicks. I had to really think outside my comfort zone to win them, which was pretty neat!And adding to that, I like the amount of details in the gameplay. As the characters talk as they fight, how the game opens up in the second part allowing plenty of freedom from builds, and where you explore next. Plus the Dimengion which allows you to store enemies to fight them later with specific buffs that makes the pacing overall goodI'm genuinely happy I got this game. Because despite the price, it was worth it to me. The was a lot of passion behind, and you can feel it.
I hope more people give it a chance aswell, because in my honest opinion, it deserves it.
Latest game of Hironobu Sakaguchi, creator of Final Fantasy series, accompanied by Nobuo Umetasu, the composer of FF soundtracks. Fantasian is the most I've had in recent years playing JRPG. It's a turn based JRPG following an amnesiac boy Leon. Game is split in 2 parts, similar to Final Fantasy 6. First one is more linear and traditional JRPG. Your party members keep changing as you progress through the story. It's also relatively simple and easy in this part. The game has a really interesting way of handling random encounters. You have a device called Dimengion which allows you to "store" the encounters. You can store up to 30/40/50 monsters and fight them all at once. Since almost all skills are AOE in this game (and Dimengion has buffs you can collect), random encounters become a fun occasion where you try to hit as many enemies as you can.Part 2 is more open ended as you gather your companions and explore the world. This part was extremely fun as it was filled with exploration and challenge. I've played the game on hard mode (which was the only available difficulty in original release) and part 2 of this game is the hardest JRPG I've ever played by far, and I've played the famous tough ones like Shin Megami Tensei and SaGa series. You can't mash A or outgrind bosses to win. You need to build properly, you need to strategize. It was mostly fair but a handful of bosses felt kind of cheap (screw that Vacuum fight). There is also a skill tree you can respec any time you want without cost. This gives you so much creativity with your build.Story is good and feels like an SNES/PSX FF game. It has the charm and whimsicalness of titles like FF5-6-9. Characters were likable, my favorites were Tan and Ez. They shine during side quests, especially Tan who shows he's not just an edgelord archetype. There is also no benching. You have to use every single character and you can change them in combat as a free action. Game is mostly voice acted. If you like JRPGs and old FF games, this is easily a must play. If you liked old FF games for things other than "cutting edge graphics", Fantasian will be your FF15 (as 13 was Lost Odyssey)
If you like turn-based RPGs, Fantasian is a great iteration. My only compliant is the constant rotating view while walking around in the different worlds, but, other than that, the story, gameplay, characters, music, and more are really fun. From the original designer and music composer of the FF series, it's like reliving the joy of old school FFIV or V again but modernized. I've enjoyed what I've played so far.
it really brings the nostalgic games from the 90's, the music, the turn base gameplay, the graphics. the animation when you make a special move. i love everything about it kinda. well i wished for a video animation when the cut scenes are happening and a bit more realistic design of the characters. they look a bit animes. but never the less i give it a strong 10-10 game
What can I say, challenging, but very rewarding, Void realm, New game+ has its pluses, so a little recommendation - do not try to beat everyting on first play, finish it fast, start a new game+ and then beat everyone available, as new growth map will be available plus some extras 😉
It's a good game but the level of grind is unreal. You need to keep up the levels and correctly build the characters. The bosses in normal difficulty is straight up harder than SMT endgame bosses. They do high damage, HP is high, high resistance, they heal themselves and what not making it unenjoyable to play even if you just wanted the story. If you have the time to grind levels and trying again and again. This game is for you, if you just want the story, then look for other games.
It's a great modern classic JRPG. While it doesn't quite reach the same heights as the PS1 classics, the game certainly doesn't lack in charm and feel. The music elevates the experience to another level and the handmade dioramas are such a treat to explore. The voice acting is solid and the characters are all likable. I really like the ability to save combat for later and helps to keep the pacing in check. Definitely worth playing if you're a fan of the classic FF games before Sakaguchi left to start up Mistwalker. Hopefully, Mistwalker still has it in them to make one more game with this newfound collaboration with their old friends back at Square Enix.
Really good and unique take on JRPG combat. Exploring a modern version of pre-rendered backgrounds is fun. And it ends up feeling just like a PS1 game but developed by people with decades of experience. Final Fantasy fans who only played FF7 will love it, but if you've actually played the other FF games don't get your expectations too high. It's very polished but nothing revolutionary.The story on the other hand.... it's very anime. A lot of the insufferable parts are only caused by the little sister type princess character who has a crush on the protagonist, so half of her dialogue is about how "she doesn't like him or anything, baaakaa!"
There have been two bits about her underwear so far, and two bits about a speculative "theft" of her virginity. It's really obnoxious and doesn't at all reach the point of so bad it's funny, it's just bad.
Other than that the story has all the JRPG stuff like amnesia, powers they don't understand, a villain with unclear motivations, etc. It's generic.So yea!!!!!!!! It's a very polished game made by experienced developers, it has a cool artstyle, and the combat is actually something new and fresh. The story is nothing new for a JRPG though, it has all the anime stuff and some plot devices are just nabbed from Final Fantasy.
Here’s a polished version of your review:---**Fantasian is phenomenal!** It brings back the magic of being a kid, playing classic turn-based games like Final Fantasy 1–10 and other old-school RPGs. The soundtrack is absolutely stunning, perfectly complementing the nostalgic vibe, while the retro-inspired design feels like a warm hug from the past.The environments are breathtaking, with most maps crafted as real dioramas. It was a delightful surprise to learn just how many of the game’s areas were physically created and photographed—it adds a tangible depth that you rarely see in modern games.The battle system strikes an excellent balance: it’s a modernized take on traditional RPG mechanics, adding just enough innovation without losing the classic charm. Gear management and stat upgrades are streamlined yet satisfying, with growth maps and equipment upgrades that are simple and intuitive.If I had to nitpick, the controls can be a bit quirky when transitioning to a new map view. The camera shifts sometimes make movement feel awkward, but it’s a minor gripe, and after a while, you hardly notice it.One standout feature is the Dimension System, which lets you store up to 30 enemies and fight them all at once. This is a game-changer for grinding and should absolutely be a standard in RPGs moving forward.As for the story, while it’s not overly complex or groundbreaking, that’s part of its charm. It’s clean, straightforward, and easy to follow—refreshingly simple compared to the convoluted, multiverse-heavy narratives we often see today.In short, **Fantasian is a must-play.** Whether you’re a longtime fan of turn-based RPGs or a newcomer, it’s an unforgettable experience that combines nostalgia with modern ingenuity. Don’t miss it!
This is an amazingly fun retro JRPG that feels like an exact spiritual successor to Final Fantasy 9 from the design elements, to the environments, to the main character being a thief. The story is phenomenal and gripping, with all of the characters being very enjoyable. The combat is fun and strategic with multiple difficulty settings to let you choose your level of challenge. The graphics feel like an exact upgrade to the techniques used in FF7, FF8, and FF9, with beautiful handcrafted backgrounds and a neat 3D system that holds them in isometric perspectives. I'm playing on hard mode and the battles push you to the limits of what your characters can do without ever resorting to cheap shots or fake difficulty. Very fun game running below people's radars and I would consider it a must play for fans of PSX era classics.
