Final Fantasy: Resonance: PS5 Review

Developed by Square Enix
Published by Square Enix
Platform: PS5

The first HD-2D game within the Final Fantasy series, this latest from Square Enix is a celebration of everything that makes up the genre.

A modern reimagining of the first arc of the mobile game Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, the game is set in the world of Lapis, and follows Rain, Lasswell and Fina on a quest to protect Crystals from the Veritas of the Dark. 

Mixing turn-based strategy with cute pixel-heavy graphics makes this latest Final Fantasy feel like a real blast from the past - and in a good way. While Rain concentrates on fire attacks, Fina on light and Lasswell on ice attacks, the game offers up plenty of points of difference during the combat in their battles against the Sworn Six.

Travelling through the world brings out details of Fina's story and other characters, as well as introducing Random Battles back into the game as the fights can happen at any time and in any place. It's a welcome touch that adds much to the Final fantasy Resonance feeling, and builds on much of the nostalgia and goodwill the game franchise has provided over the past 40 years.

The ability to summon Visions, characters from the game's past also bring a welcome touch to proceedings and is a great way to pay homage to everything that's already gone past the game while ensuring the franchise doesn't become bogged down in its own world.

IT's beneficial that all the characters in Final Fantasy: Resonance feel relevant throughout, ensuring there's a deep immersion and connection to events in the world of Lapis and the central stories - not all JRPGs do this successfully and this latest is to be commended for engaging down this path.

Ultimately, Final Fantasy: Resonance, with its gorgeous pixel art and beautiful background worlds feels like a real love-letter to the Final Fantasy world - you'll once again embrace the chocobos and other elements and feel like it's never been a better time to revisit the fantasy series.