FANTASIAN Neo Dimension has an interesting history. Initially pitched as an exclusive RPG for Apple Arcade, it was part of the new subscription service for iOS games and never made its way to other platforms. Despite being critically acclaimed at launch, its limitation to iOS meant that not many people got to play it. I also tried it briefly on Apple Arcade, but mobile gaming has never been my forte, so I didn’t complete it. That’s why I wasn’t surprised to see FANTASIAN Neo Dimension announced for a proper PC and console release—it definitely deserves to be played on a more traditional gaming platform.
FANTASIAN Neo Dimension is the brainchild of Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of the revered Final Fantasy series. Although he left the series long ago, his work is still celebrated, and he can often be seen praising and playing Final Fantasy XIV. After leaving Square Enix, Sakaguchi founded Mistwalker and created games like Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon. FANTASIAN Neo Dimension marks Mistwalker’s first major PC and console release in over a decade, an important milestone for the studio and hopefully a trend they continue.
Originally released in parts on Apple Arcade, the game is now fully featured and built from the ground up for PC and consoles. The story follows Leo, who can travel between multiple worlds, including the Machine Realm where the story begins. However, he starts as an amnesiac, unable to recall his purpose. The narrative is fairly traditional for a JRPG, focusing on a well-written cast of characters who help Leo rediscover his memory and fight the threat known as Vam The Malevolent, rather than dealing with world-ending stakes.
The gameplay in FANTASIAN Neo Dimension is fairly traditional for a turn-based RPG, featuring random encounters. Instead of a third-person view, the game uses an overhead camera, with backgrounds and environments sometimes set up using dioramas scanned into the game. This interesting art style occasionally reminds me of Bravely Default from Square Enix and Team Asano. Characters appear smaller on screen with a unique, somewhat chibi art style but maintain human proportions. While the game may not be visually stunning, its main appeal lies in its gameplay.
The combat system is traditional turn-based, where players control the main protagonist, Leo, along with a set of party members. Players can attack, use items, and deploy skills. Leo starts off alone but gradually assembles a party by meeting unique characters across various locations. The world map features a traditional, linear design where players can teleport between points of interest. It’s not an open-world RPG but is more limited in scope, which can be refreshing compared to the bloat often found in modern RPGs.
One interesting mechanic in the game is the Dimengeon Machine, which allows players to skip battles with enemies they’ve already defeated. These enemies are transferred to a space called Dimengeon, which has limited capacity. Once it’s full, players can fight these stored enemies to gain experience points, helpful for leveling up party members. As characters level up, they unlock new skills or enhance their stats, typical of traditional RPGs.
The new quality-of-life features added to the game include an easier difficulty setting, improved visual quality, and English and Japanese voiceovers, even for previously unvoiced cutscenes. For those who haven’t played the game before, it’s worth noting that FANTASIAN Neo Dimension was quite challenging at release. The new difficulty option is a solid addition, striking a good balance between challenge and enjoyment. Boss battles, which used to be hair-pulling frustrating and required careful strategy, are now more approachable. This could have been a way for Mistwalker to extend gameplay time on mobile, allowing players to tackle bosses during commutes. With the new difficulty, the game is more enjoyable without the frustration. For purists, the original difficulty is still available, but I wouldn’t recommend it for first-timers.
The game boasts a great soundtrack that complements its excellent gameplay mechanics. I also appreciated how the gameplay evolved, starting off simple and gradually introducing elements like skill points, weapon upgrades, and a “Tension” gauge, making battles more dynamic and exciting. The game also features post-game content, including tougher boss fights and a new game plus mode, adding to its replay value. The price might seem steep for a game that started as a mobile title, but it’s a fully-featured JRPG with a great combat system and a fun cast of characters.
The writing is quite solid and reminiscent of traditional JRPGs. It’s no surprise that Sakaguchi was inspired to create FANTASIAN after playing Final Fantasy VI, as the game shares many roots with classic Final Fantasy titles. It’s essentially a Final Fantasy game in all but name. If you’re craving a classic Final Fantasy experience with a modern design, this is an excellent choice, especially since it comes from the father of the Final Fantasy series himself.
FANTASIAN Neo Dimension Game Information
- Price: $49.99
- Publisher: Square Enix
- Developer: Mistwalker
- Platform: PC (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
