Final Fantasy Resonance Reviews
Final Fantasy Resonance is an addictive, mechanically deep, and gorgeous role playing game.
It's a gorgeous, affectionate celebration of a style of RPG that has lost none of its appeal, combined with a remarkably generous reimagining of a mobile game that deserved to be remembered for more than its gacha mechanics.
FINAL FANTASY RESONANCE transforms Brave Exvius into a gorgeous HD-2D RPG, trading mobile gacha systems for a memorable story and deeply customizable turn-based combat. Its Visions system is a standout, blending classic Final Fantasy heroes with satisfying strategic freedom, while the soundtrack and world-building shine. Random encounters and backtracking can feel dated, some special animations clash with the pixel-art presentation, and the lack of Brazilian Portuguese localization disappoints. Still, its polished battles and affectionate nods to the series make it a new classic.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Final Fantasy Resonance takes a discontinued mobile game and reinterprets it as a fluid, fast-paced RPG you shouldn’t miss. The leveling curve for the game’s Visions can be a little wonky, but the turn-based gameplay, party customization, and stellar presentation make that a trifle moot, as it both appropriately lionizes Final Fantasy and offers a new experience for those who missed the mobile game.
Aside from the uninteresting stagger system, this is indeed an interesting game. The story is simple, but fun enough to play through. The characters are not original, yet charming enough. There is plenty to do, and the most enjoyable challenges lie in the optional missions. It is just a bit of a shame that the battle system lags behind somewhat. A demo is available featuring the complete first chapter. If you like that, you can essentially purchase this game without any problems.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
I think Final Fantasy Resonance is a fine game, fun even, and a wonderful celebration of the franchise. The whole thing feels like a love letter to both the series as a whole and to fans of the oldest games, especially. It’s just in service of a format that isn’t really for me, and that’s okay. The game doesn’t try to shy away from its turn-based JRPG roots but instead embraces them, attempting to present the best version of those old systems as they could. Ironically, I feel like the Resonance design has a potential future in itself for combat systems that aren’t this, and that has me more excited than anything else. It feels weird to say but I like Resonance more for the potential it represents than the celebration that it is. Still, if you’re a lifelong or diehard fan of the series, there’s a lot here to love and I’d still recommend it.
Final Fantasy Resonance turns a failed gacha into a solid RPG, with great combat and charm, even if its story mostly repeats Brave Exvius beats.
HD-2D gives Final Fantasy Resonance the old-school charm I’ve wanted to see from the series, while its Vision system and stagger-based combat add welcome depth to familiar turn-based battles. The story is fairly forgettable, but the adventure itself makes a convincing case for more classic-style Final Fantasy games.
A fantastic example of how to rewrite battle mechanics to suit a full-fat RPG - it's just a shame about all the actual writing.
In retooling Brave Exvius for the classic RPG format, Final Fantasy Resonance sets a new benchmark for HD-2D visuals alongside solid turn-based combat and incredible music, which carry an underwhelming story.
But for Resonance’s faults, the game otherwise delivered exactly what I wanted–a way for everyone to experience the story, characters, and world of Brave Exvius once again.
Resonance is a popcorn game — best experienced on a handheld with a snack and something playing on the TV.
Final Fantasy Resonance is a strong return to an older style of Final Fantasy, building a thrilling adventure around a classic JRPG design structure that's bolstered by decades of modern game design lessons. A flexible job system, thrilling overworld exploration, and gorgeous implementation of HD-2D all come together to make this one an easy recommendation to any fans of JRPGS new or old.Hopefully this isn't the last time that Square Enix experiments with traditional design for its flagship franchise; Final Fantasy Resonance proves the developers haven't lost the ability to connect with what made it great back in the day.
Hayes Madsen
However, the themes of heroism, honor, and brotherhood struck true, nonetheless, and made the whole thing worth experiencing.
Throughout this analysis I have been critical of several aspects because it is my job and the objective of any video game analysis, but let it be clear that I have enjoyed Final Fantasy Resonance like I haven't enjoyed a Final Fantasy game for a long time .
Review in Spanish | Read full review
If you're left cold by the modern Final Fantasy games, Final Fantasy Resonance returns you to a simpler time, offering old-school action and a decent narrative, while wrapping it in a delightful visual wrapper.
The brilliant turn-based battle system on display keeps Final Fantasy Resonance engaging from start to finish.
Final Fantasy Resonance delivers thrilling turn-based combat, gorgeous HD-2D visuals, and a heartfelt tribute to the series.
Final Fantasy Resonance is a fun JRPG releasing just when I personally needed a classic turn-based experience, but in a world with HD-2D releases of classic Square Enix games and Pixel Remasters of the first six Final Fantasy games, Resonance just isn’t an essential experience. Final Fantasy Resonance doesn’t have to do anything new to be a good game, but something fresh could’ve made it a great one.