Square Enix has released HD-2D RPG, Final Fantasy Resonance, on PC, PlayStation, Switch 2, and Xbox.
Resonance is a spiritual successor to mobile spinoff, Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, released in 2015, and adapts the first major storyline from the mobile RPG. The RPG is a return to the long-running franchise’s roots, with traditional turn-based combat, and a classic fantasy story about returning evil and magical crystals. Plus, many familiar Final Fantasy elements such as Chocobos, airships, and Espers.
The story follows Rain, a young knight in command of his own airship squadron, who embarks on an epic journey with his childhood friend, Laswell. They discover a powerful evil has returned, and must protect the Crystals to save the world. Sounds about right!
As a further celebration of the Final Fantasy series, players can use Visions to summon familiar Final Fantasy heroes and characters from across the timeline — not unlike Fire Emblem Engage. Summoned heroes fight alongside the party with their own skills and abilities. Their ultimate Resonance attacks create cinematic battlefields in glorious pixel art.
HD-2D, a genre term trademarked by Square Enix, has grown into a popular subset of retro-inspired RPGs, most notably, the Octopath Traveler series. The art style combines 2D characters and sprites with 3D environments and modern lighting, creating a richly updated style reminiscent of what older 90s RPGs used to look like.
The HD-2D style has appeared in several more RPGs over the years, including Triangle Strategy, The Adventures of Elliot, and the Dragon Quest remakes.
Final Fantasy Resonance is available now on PC (Steam, Microsoft), PlayStation 5, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S. It’s rated E10+. A free demo is also available.
