IT · 2026-10-22
Final Fantasy Resonance Review: The Spirit of the SNES Golden Age Meets HD-2D
Final Fantasy Resonance combines HD-2D graphics, blending pixel art with 3D backgrounds, with traditional turn-based combat and world map exploration. It takes the familiar structure of classic RPGs and adds quality-of-life battle features plus a vision system that lets you use characters from across the Final Fantasy series.
The Final Fantasy series has evolved in many different directions over the years. In an era where action-heavy blockbusters are the norm, returning to the turn-based battles and world map exploration of classic entries can feel refreshingly different. Square Enix’s Final Fantasy Resonance brings that old-school RPG feel back to life with HD-2D graphics.
HD-2D, which combines pixel art with richly layered 3D backgrounds, is a visual style that preserves both a retro atmosphere and modern presentation. Resonance uses it to support a structure built around roaming a large world map, discovering towns and dungeons, running into random battles along the way, and relying on familiar staples like inns and shops. Combat is also handled through a traditional turn-based system in which you choose actions from menus, putting more emphasis on planning your next move than on fast-paced action.
The game’s core story follows the protagonist Rain and his friend Raswell after magical crystals are destroyed, sending them off on an adventure to protect other crystals. In The Verge’s review, based on roughly the first 10 hours of play, the story is described as following the familiar grammar of Japanese RPGs without introducing major twists. Even so, the pacing is light and smooth, which makes it easy to enjoy as a classic adventure.
The combat system also includes some modern touches. Enemies have not only health, but also a stagger gauge, making it beneficial to use magic and skills that exploit weaknesses. You can speed up battle flow or skip long attack animations, and the game also supports fast travel to previously visited locations. In dungeons, you can return from a save point near a boss to the entrance to regroup, easing some of the repetition that can come with exploration and repeated encounters.
One especially notable feature is the “vision” system, which lets you use characters from other Final Fantasy games in battle. Equipping a character with a vision from someone like Terra Branford or Cloud Strife unlocks new abilities. As you fight alongside them and unlock more powers, you can even use learned skills without equipping that vision anymore. It adds the fun of seeing familiar characters again, while also giving you something to think about when building your party.
What stands out in The Verge’s review is that the game’s classic structure never feels like empty nostalgia. Random battles, leveling up, and the tension of boss fights flow together naturally, while the quality-of-life features help reduce the friction along the way. Rather than replacing the action-oriented direction of modern Final Fantasy, Resonance seems to highlight another side of what the series can do.
According to the article, Final Fantasy Resonance is set to launch on October 22 for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. This piece is based on an early impression formed after around 10 hours of pre-release play, and it is not a final judgment on the full game’s overall quality. Source: The Verge.
HD-2D, which combines pixel art with richly layered 3D backgrounds, is a visual style that preserves both a retro atmosphere and modern presentation. Resonance uses it to support a structure built around roaming a large world map, discovering towns and dungeons, running into random battles along the way, and relying on familiar staples like inns and shops. Combat is also handled through a traditional turn-based system in which you choose actions from menus, putting more emphasis on planning your next move than on fast-paced action.
The game’s core story follows the protagonist Rain and his friend Raswell after magical crystals are destroyed, sending them off on an adventure to protect other crystals. In The Verge’s review, based on roughly the first 10 hours of play, the story is described as following the familiar grammar of Japanese RPGs without introducing major twists. Even so, the pacing is light and smooth, which makes it easy to enjoy as a classic adventure.
The combat system also includes some modern touches. Enemies have not only health, but also a stagger gauge, making it beneficial to use magic and skills that exploit weaknesses. You can speed up battle flow or skip long attack animations, and the game also supports fast travel to previously visited locations. In dungeons, you can return from a save point near a boss to the entrance to regroup, easing some of the repetition that can come with exploration and repeated encounters.
One especially notable feature is the “vision” system, which lets you use characters from other Final Fantasy games in battle. Equipping a character with a vision from someone like Terra Branford or Cloud Strife unlocks new abilities. As you fight alongside them and unlock more powers, you can even use learned skills without equipping that vision anymore. It adds the fun of seeing familiar characters again, while also giving you something to think about when building your party.
What stands out in The Verge’s review is that the game’s classic structure never feels like empty nostalgia. Random battles, leveling up, and the tension of boss fights flow together naturally, while the quality-of-life features help reduce the friction along the way. Rather than replacing the action-oriented direction of modern Final Fantasy, Resonance seems to highlight another side of what the series can do.
According to the article, Final Fantasy Resonance is set to launch on October 22 for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. This piece is based on an early impression formed after around 10 hours of pre-release play, and it is not a final judgment on the full game’s overall quality. Source: The Verge.
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