FANTASIAN Neo Dimension Review – Back to the Basics

When I look at how the RPG genre has modernized itself, I can’t help but feel conflicted most of the time. While we’ve had some modern bangers and even terrific remakes, the genre still suffers from a few issues while seeking a more modern approach. Bad pacing, late character introductions, and convoluted gameplay mechanics are only a few of the issues that arise whenever an RPG leaves the old formula behind. And then, we have FANTASIAN Neo Dimension that embraces the soul of old RPGs to create an unforgettable adventure. From start to finish, it shows that the basics of role-playing games won’t grow old any time soon.

For the unaware, FANTASIAN Neo Dimension comes from the Father of Final Fantasy, Hironobu Sakaguchi, who now helms Mistalkwer Studio. Also, this game was originally released for Apple devices in 2021 through Apple Arcade, so chances are some of you are already familiar with it. But if you’re not, don’t fret. This is a sort of re-release on PC and modern consoles with many new features, such as 4K support, English and Japanese voice-acting, and a normal difficulty mode. So, if you didn’t play the mobile release, this is the best way to experience FANTASIAN for the first time.

Down Memory Lane

Like any other proper RPG, FANTASIAN Neo Dimension features its healthy dose of intrigue at the hands of its amnesiac protagonist, Leo. After waking up with no memory of what just transpired, our white-haired lead character forms a party to recover his memories and unveil the mystery behind an affliction that looms over the world: Mechteria. This infection is destroying the world little by little, and as usual, only a band of eclectic characters can stop it.

So far, the game seems to have a run-of-the-mill fantasy plot. And while it may seem as such, it’s much more than that. I won’t delve into spoilers, but I can tell you it is an unforgettable narrative. Furthermore, FANTASIAN Neo Dimension fixes many of my gripes with the genre. Characters are quickly introduced and stay relevant throughout the plot. The story’s pacing never falters. It is one shocking moment after another, and the lighthearted situations blend perfectly with the world-ending shenanigans. In a sense, it is an almost flawless story.

However, there is one thing that you should be aware of. FANTASIAN Neo Dimension, or at least FANTASIAN, before this re-release, was divided into two parts. That doesn’t mean one is a prequel and another a sequel. It’s more a case of the game’s story launching in two separate halves. And while here it doesn’t feel as such, the changes between one and the other are quite noticeable.

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Again, I won’t delve into the smaller details to avoid ruining a newcomer’s experience. But frankly, I wasn’t sold on the game’s second part at first. It’s a big shift from what the first 20 hours sell you. The linear storytelling changes a bit, and new gameplay systems may feel a bit overwhelming. It isn’t something that will deter players, but it is quite different from what you’ll be playing initially. Fortunately, the story remains as top-notch as ever, which appeased my doubts about the second half.

Creating the Perfect Combat System

As someone who can’t put RPGs down, it always amazes me how developers do the impossible to create new turn-based combat systems that stay faithful to the genre’s roots but are modern enough to gather a new audience. By now, I’ve seen many new ideas that tend to hit the nail most of the time. Some add tag-team attacks. Others let you see the enemies on the overworld and defeat them before entering combat. There are a few others that just let you auto-battle through every encounter. In truth, FANTASIAN Neo Dimension has one of my favorite systems ever.

First, let’s talk about the actual hands-on moments during a fight. Since it’s turn-based, you have the usual elements: MP and HP bars, skills that you unlock as you level up, an item menu, and a timeline that shows which characters go next during combat. However, the gimmick here relies on the tactical element. Each attack has a line that shows where your move will land. Usually, enemies spawn in different formations. Some in a line, some in a cluster, and some as spread out as possible. It’s up to you to line up your shots, spells, and slices to defeat your foes effectively. However, there are more tactical elements that let you overcome even the most mundane fight.

For instance, Leo wields a sword. He can use his skills to attack a row of enemies and pierce through them. Ez and Cheryl, on the other hand, have a circle-shaped AoE that can take several enemies down at the same time. Others, like Kina, can curve their attacks to hit foes in the back row or create an attack that hits all the enemies in the outer ring of the formation. Frankly, I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Even a normal encounter had a lot of variations due to enemies appearing in different positions. And speaking of spawning enemies, the cherry on top of the system is the Dimengeon Battle, which is an excellent modern feature for a turn-based RPG.

After obtaining a key item, you can enable it to absorb monsters you’ve already encountered in the game. Since all fights are random, a là Pokémon or Dragon Quest, this item captures these creatures in a pocket dimension. After reaching the machine’s cap, you can fight all those foes at the same time. You begin with a cap of 30 and can fight as many as those. This makes exploring the game’s gorgeous zones less tedious and gives you that placebo of obtaining huge amounts of experience during a single battle. If you prefer to have random encounters, you can deactivate the machine and just face monsters every few steps you take. However, I don’t recommend doing so, especially if you’re playing on Nintendo Switch, such as myself — more on that later.

Challenging Yet Rewarding

Besides the normal encounters, which are great from start to finish, the real winners were the bosses. It’s been years since I’ve felt threatened by an RPG’s boss because it seems games nowadays just want to hold our hands with little to no challenge. FANTASIAN Neo Dimension shines with its boss encounters, which are frequent and unique, something that’s rare to see in this day and age.

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Enemies, and bosses for that matter, don’t have the usual HP bar. Instead, you need to inspect them first to see their weaknesses and health. I liked this as the screen didn’t feel cluttered with unnecessary UI elements. However, the thing that allured me was how every boss brought new mechanics to the fray.

For instance, there’s a mid-game boss that spawns ice spikes from the ground. You can ignore them if you want, but if you leave many spikes around, the boss will throw a secret move at you that hits like a truck. Another boss absorbed lightning from other enemies. If you don’t eliminate these enemies first, the boss can knock you away from the arena, leading to a game over. Every single fight was a feat, visually and mechanically speaking. Plus, I loved how the difficulty of these encounters grew progressively, making me change my tactics and experiment with skills I thought I’d never use.

If there’s one thing that I can say about the combat system as a whole, though, it is that the UI tends to work against itself. See, while trying to modernize the game’s look and declutter the screen, certain elements are a bit hard to follow. For example, when leveling up, you get a notification of a new unlocked skill. However, this notification lasts a fleeting second. So, next time you fight, you need to scroll down the large list of skills. Also, the former mobile UI is noticeable. While certain menus are easy to access, others require more input than necessary, making it a bit tedious at times. Still, FANTASIAN Neo Dimension has one of the most enjoyable combat systems out there and one that could even be refined further to create something perfect.

A Diorama Haven

Another selling point of FANTASIAN Neo Dimension is its visuals. While characters are the usual 3D models you can expect in a game of this style, the actual locales are the ones leading the graphical charge. The developers at Mistwalker created some of the most beautiful dioramas for the game. Every town, dungeon, sci-fi factory, and room is a visual treat. However, the Nintendo Switch struggles a bit with some of this beauty.

Another complaint I have is, yet again, how the game translates some of its former mobile features to modern platforms. For instance, traversing through a diorama feels like a Resident Evil game. You move around a place, and the camera shifts its angles. While the camera changes seamlessly, the characters don’t. Often, you’ll find your character running in another direction because they didn’t adjust with the camera, which leads to clunky movement. Fortunately, fixing it is as easy as stopping your movement and resuming once you grab the stick again, but it can get a bit jarring, especially when trying to explore a location.

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Also, the Nintendo Switch struggled a bit with a few things. Loading times aren’t terrible, but they aren’t the best, either. This is why I’m thankful for the Dimengeon Battles. I usually grabbed as many enemies as possible and took them down in one fight instead of going through smaller loading screens. Also, some of the game’s most beautiful cities lead to noticeable frame drops. One of the first cities you’ll visit had my game lagging a lot. In addition to that, the clunky movement after a camera swap was a bit headache-inducing. Yet, the other elements were so great that they never ruined my experience.

Keeping the Formula Alive

Ultimately, I was glad after playing FANTASIAN Neo Dimension. It brought a terrific cast of characters accompanied by a mind-blowing story and showed me why I fell in love with RPGs. It features a proper turn-based combat system that requires a lot of player input. Also, it has an excellent roster with unique skills that remain relevant throughout the whole game. Last but not least, it fixes many of the issues that even the largest and most famous RPGs have.

While there are a few technical issues here and there, my excitement never waned. Also, despite the loading times and frame drops, this RPG is perfect for the Nintendo Switch. You can tackle a zone quickly, fight a few monsters, and call it a day before your next session. Furthermore, the new voice-acting additions and the music crossover with games like Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth or FFXIV: Dawntrail make FANTASIAN Neo Dimension a role-player’s paradise. Frankly, I feel many will find an unforgettable experience with this one. Also, I’m glad this will be the last major RPG of 2024 because it will end the year with the highest possible note.

Review copy provided by Publisher.