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Game Information

Game Title: FANTASIAN Neo Dimension

Platforms:

• PlayStation 5 (Dec 5, 2024)
• PlayStation 4 (Dec 5, 2024)
• Xbox Series X/S (Dec 5, 2024)
• Nintendo Switch (Dec 5, 2024)
• PC (Dec 5, 2024)

Trailer:

• FANTASIAN Neo Dimension Launch Trailer

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 82 average - 90% recommended

Metacritic - 81 average based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic Reviews


CGMagazine - Chris De Hoog - 8 / 10

Available for the first time on consoles, Fantasian Neo Dimension is a lovingly-crafted tribute to the RPG genre from some of its biggest pioneers.

Checkpoint Gaming - Charlie Kelly - 8 / 10

FANTASIAN Neo Dimension is a vibrant and whimsical RPG from some of the best that have ever done it. The incredibly rich storytelling and setting are bolstered by a quaint and gorgeous world to explore thanks to the striking diorama sets, charming characters and another stellar Nobuo Uematsu soundtrack. Though the game isn't without its frustrating grinds, it's more than the sum of its parts. This is a step forward for the turn-based genre thanks to meaningful and much-needed quality-of-life improvements in its tactical nature and pace-controlling Dimengion system. FANTASIAN Neo Dimension proves there is still so much excellence and magnificence to come from RPGs.

Destructoid - Steven Mills - 8.5 / 10

There's something special about Fantasian Neo Dimension that melds the old with the new to create an enthralling and nostalgic journey in a unique high-fantasy world that's simply a ton of fun to play.

Digitally Downloaded - Matt Sainsbury - 5 / 5

It’s hard to shake the feeling that Fantasian was a project designed to give several legends of the JRPG genre closure. By revising their great classic and both modernising and paying homage to it in equal measures, they can look back at their careers with the satisfaction of having completed a full journey of their own. For people that clearly love storytelling so much it’s hard to imagine a better way to finish up.

Digitec Magazine - Kevin Hofer - German - 5 / 5

With “Fantasian Neo Dimension”, “Final Fantasy” creator Hironobu Sakaguchi brings the feeling of the old PS1 JRPGs into the present day. Despite the obvious inspiration, the game doesn't feel outdated thanks to more modern gameplay elements, but on the contrary modern and challenging.

DualShockers - Christian Bognar - 9 / 10

Fantasian Neo Dimension is one of the best JRPGs I have played in a very long time, and that is saying a lot, considering we've had some great releases recently. It has a nostalgic feel to it that is reminiscent of the older Final Fantasy games, almost like stepping into a time machine. The trajectory system in combat is brilliant, it has an interesting story, and the difficulty is just right where it demands strategy while remaining fair throughout. The beautiful world made strictly from handmade dioramas is nothing short of extraordinary and is one of the most creative initiatives I've seen in gaming. Fantasian Neo Dimension does everything right for a turn-based JRPG, and anyone seeking their next great experience in the genre should look no further than this remarkable creation.

Eurogamer - Ed Nightingale - 4 / 5

The cult classic mobile RPG finally gets its due, for lovers of mechanics over story who can rise to the demands of its extreme challenge.

Evilgamerz - Christiaan Ribbens - Dutch - 8 / 10

Fantasian: Neo Dimension isn’t for everyone. The game is dated in style and structure, and the visual presentation may turn some off. But for fans of classic JRPGs, this is an absolute must-have. With a strong story and solid gameplay loop, Sakaguchi’s team has once again delivered a game that will stand the test of time. It may not be groundbreaking, but it does remind us of what made the genre so great back in the day.

GAMES.CH - Sven Raabe - German - 82%

Fantasian Neo Dimension succeeds wonderfully in making familiar turn-based battles appear fresh with an exciting twist. But the (somewhat predictable) mystery story and likeable main characters are also convincing. Although a few weaknesses prevent the game from reaching its full potential, this RPG adventure is not just for genre fans.

Hardcore Gamer - Chris Shive - 4 / 5

Fantasian: Neo Dimension is a modern take on the RPG formula. In many ways, it's similar to classic Final Fantasy games, but elements such as the trajectory aspect of battles and the Dimengeon help distinguish it from other titles the developers have previously worked on. The Dimengeon is an especially welcome addition to slow down the interruption that random encounters provide. The battles are enjoyable as they do require strategic planning, though playing on Hard difficulty can result in especially rough difficulty spikes later on. The rewarding battle system is complemented by the fantastic soundtrack and engaging story, reminiscent of some of the best classic RPGs. A couple characters can be grating and sometimes the controls feel like they could use some refinement, but Fantasian: Neo Dimension is a welcome challenge for anyone who is a fan of classic JRPGs.

Hobby Consolas - Álvaro Alonso - Spanish - 75 / 100

With Fantasian: Neo Dimension, the father and composer of Final Fantasy bring us a game that is a return to the origins of the JRPG, but that fails to live up to its own legend. It's a decent and entertaining adventure, with some interesting ideas, but it falls far short of the titans of the genre.

Manual dos Games - Luiz Henrique Silva - Portuguese - 9 / 10

FANTASIAN Neo Dimension is the ultimate RPG by Hironobu Sakaguchi, thanks to its emotionally compelling and well-told story, captivating characters, creative and unique combat mechanics, and, of course, a wonderful soundtrack composed by Nobuo Uematsu. It is impossible not to recommend FANTASIAN Neo Dimension to any fan of the genre, as it is a must-play title for those who long for more classic JRPGs.

MonsterVine - Nick Mangiaracina - 4 / 5

I think the audience for Fantasian knows what they’re looking for and they’re going to find it in Fantasian Neo Dimension. I sure did.

Nintendo Blast - Ivanir Ignacchitti - Portuguese - 8.5 / 10

Fantasian Neo Dimension is an excellent example of RPG that manages to combine elegant simplicity with robust systems for combat and enemy [battle] design, especially when it comes to bosses. The version outside Apple Arcade could have used more polish in some areas, but, even so, it's an easy recommendation for fans of the genre.

Nintendo Life - Alana Hagues - 7 / 10

Fantasian Neo Dimension is Hironobu Sakaguchi and Mistwalker at their boldest and bravest, culminating in a JRPG love letter that both delights and frustrates. The stunning world and exploration are a true highlight, and the challenging and rewarding combat will enchant some, but it lacks some of the magic that the game is aiming for and the pacing is uneven. Normal difficulty makes things more accessible for the curious, but make no mistake, this is an RPG for those who want to lose themselves in the mechanics.

NintendoBoy - Angelus Victor - Portuguese - 7 / 10

Having the perfect team doesn't necessarily mean they can put out a perfect game. Now free from its Apple Arcade mobile jail, Fantasian Neo Dimension is now out there for everyone to play with its pros and cons for everyone to see.

Noisy Pixel - Bailey Seemangal - 9 / 10

Fantasian Neo Dimension breathes new life into the original Apple Arcade release with an engrossing narrative, intuitive turn-based combat, and a stellar English dub. While its innovative Dimengion mechanic and character-driven storytelling shine, minor performance hiccups on the Switch and lackluster sidequests hold it back. This is a must-play for RPG fans seeking a modern classic.

PC Gamer - Kerry Brunskill - 84 / 100

Fantasian will make you work hard for every win, but the reward's always worth the effort

PSX Brasil - Thiago de Alencar Moura - Portuguese - 85 / 100

Fantasian Neo Dimension is an excellent re-release of Hironobu Sakaguchi's great work, one that gets all its elements right. From the story to the gameplay, through the soundtrack and visuals, everything fits into a high-quality package that will please JRPG fans.

Pizza Fria - Matheus Jenevain - Portuguese - 8.8 / 10

The game really exceeded my expectations, delivering an engaging and fun adventure that I didn't even know, until then, that I would like and wanted to play so much. The combat has good ideas, most of the game is beautiful to look at and the soundtrack rocks.

ProjectN - Dudu Cavagnari - Portuguese - 76%

Although generic, FANTASIAN Neo Dimension features fluid and dynamic gameplay, paired with an interesting and well-told narrative. All of this makes the game surprisingly captivating, holding the player's attention despite being relatively simple. Recommended for those looking for a traditional JRPG with a good story, although it might be best to wait for a sale.

Push Square - John Cal McCormick - 7 / 10

Fantasian Neo Dimension evokes memories of classic Final Fantasy. It's got an impeccable soundtrack, beautiful locales, and a world that inspires wonder. But it's let down a little by likeable but fiercely archetypal characters and a by-the-numbers story, and it's let down a lot by wild and uneven difficulty spikes that make combat a source of constant frustration in the second half of the adventure.

RPG Site - James Galizio - 10 / 10

Fantasian is a wonderful JRPG, and now it's even better and accessible to all platforms.

Shacknews - Lucas White - 6 / 10

Taking the time to farm elemental resistant accessories, equipment upgrades, and stronger skills, setting up your party loadout just so at a save point, then watching your team get ragdolled anyway all while you’re several levels above what the game says you need completely overshadows the effort put into the careful, puzzle-like design of each boss. Which is a shame, because if those fights weren’t so egregiously overtuned in such an unproductive way, the stuff actually holding up Fantasian’s systems would’ve really shined. The criticism from before clearly had an impact, but even with the adjustments there’s still moments where this game isn’t fun at all to engage with on its given terms. Even everything else, from Uematsu’s thematically apt soundtrack to the super neat diorama visuals, is hard to enjoy when your brain is bogged down by constant dread. Fantasian Neo Dimension has a distinct vibe and a lot of cool ideas, but over-commits to its idea of challenge such that it buries its own nuances under a pile of big numbers.

Siliconera - Cody Perez - 9 / 10

Fantasian: Neo Dimension finally does this Mistwalker JRPG justice with its arrival on modern console and PC platforms without a subscription. The hand-created visuals and environments look stunning, the memorable story is helped along with a great cast of characters, and the new additions like voice acting and Final Fantasy music make this better than some Final Fantasy games in recent memory.

Spaziogames - Gianluca Arena - Italian - 7.4 / 10

Fantasian Neo Dimension is a perfectly fine old-school JRPG, fit for both veterans and newcomers of the genre. It's just that we expected a little more from Sakaguchi-san, whose masterpieces we grew up with on both Nintendo and Sony machines.

SteamDeckHQ - Noah Kupetsky - 4 / 5

FANTASIAN Neo Dimension has a lot of pros and cons to it, and while it isn't perfect, I highly recommend picking it up if you are a JRPG fan. I really enjoy the combat mechanics and dimension battles, and the world is just downright gorgeous with a great mixture of real-life dioramas and digital 3D models. It made me think of the older Final Fantasy titles often as I traveled throughout the world. I do wish the progression systems came into play earlier, and the story was a bit tighter, but it does the job and still felt satisfying as I played through the 40 - 60 hour experience.

Playing on the Steam Deck is a joy, and I have no complaints with the performance. Outside of controlling your character as you run through different camera angles, which would be an issue playing with any controller or gamepad, it's a perfect experience on Deck. Even with its issues, this was a wonderful experience, and I think anyone who enjoys RPGs or JRPGs should pick it up.

The Games Machine - Gabriele Barducci - Italian - 8.8 / 10

Fantasian Neo Dimension is a precious JRPG, which finally ends the exclusivity period to be within everyone's reach. Nothing new, but a beautiful work made with a very small budget.

WellPlayed - Kieron Verbrugge - 8 / 10

This definitive version of a charming, inventive throwback to peak Sakaguchi might still feel like a game best suited to an iPad, but it works well enough that it's absolutely worth a look-in for PS1-era Final Fantasy fans who've been unable to play it thus far.

 

[Go_Ly_Dow]

Some decent scores. I'll be picking this up.

My last 3 JRPGs have been Metaphor, P3R and FF7 Rebirth, all of which are some of the best I've played.

But they're all very beefy games with a lot of systems and components to master.

So I'm looking forward to something simpler to finish off the year, so this and DQ3 HD-2D are what I'll go for.

 

[Nankatsu]

I've come across this game once or twice while searching for black friday deals.

Looks midly interesting. Will keep it under the radar.

Definitely more suited for a portable device.

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Reviews are looking good. I have the physical version pre-ordered, but I'll probably get to playing it early next year.

 

[Evil Calvin]

I wish Mistwalker still had Terra Battle running. It was stuck on mobile. Very fun.

 

[Evil Calvin]

Well my Switch copy won't even arrive from Amazon until 12/18 even though it releases today

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Well my Switch copy won't even arrive from Amazon until 12/18 even though it releases today

This year, Amazon has been hit or miss with shipping pre-orders on time, so I avoid them.

Most of my physical game pre-orders are from either local retailers or video game stores.

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Switch and XSX image quality comparison from RPG Site:

More tech impressions inside the article:

Fantasian Neo Dimension Nintendo Switch Port and Xbox Series X Impressions – New Features, Visuals, Load Times, and More | RPG Site

Fantasian Neo Dimension is great on Xbox Series X, but the Nintendo Switch load times are very disappointing right now. Our Fantasian console impressions.

www.rpgsite.net

 

[CosmicComet]

Is there a demo?

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Is there a demo?

There isn't a demo unfortunately, which is a bit weird because a bunch of Square Enix published games this year have had one: FF7 Rebirth, Visions of Mana, Romancing SaGa 2, etc.

 

[Punished Miku]

Sounds good. Can't wait.

 

[Go_Ly_Dow]

 

[Evil Calvin]

This year, Amazon has been hit or miss with shipping pre-orders on time, so I avoid them.

Most of my physical game pre-orders are from either local retailers or video game stores.

Switch games (especially Nintendo 1st party) has been bad this year. I used to get physical Xbox games from Target, but they don't to seem to have them on release day. I would visit their site and peruse the local store. Buy new release Xbox games after they opened (so it's not a preorder) and pick up after work. Now they seem to only get PS5 games. So, I've resorted to digital purchases.

 

[adamsapple]

Reviewing pretty decently for such a late mobile port.

 

[Diseased Yak]

I played some of it on my iPad back when it first released, and really liked it, but I dropped it after a few hours because of other games.

I have my physical copy ordered, can't wait to fire it up! *looks askance at horrendous backlog*

 

[KàIRóS]

Don't sleep on this one people, I played the whole thing on Apple TV and for those of you who have been waiting forever for Final Fantasy to go back to it's roots, THIS is the game you've been asking for.

Turn Based Battle System
Story by Hironobu Sakaguchi
Music by Nobuo Uematsu
PS1 Pre-Rendered backgrounds
Old School FF Character Archetypes

 

[bender]

thicc_girls_are_teh_best , probably worth noting for physical collectors that this seems to be a limited release.

 

[Deerock71]

Looks like my Switch will be getting some more love.

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

thicc_girls_are_teh_best , probably worth noting for physical collectors that this seems to be a limited release.

It looks like you've tagged the wrong thick* user , but yeah, good shout on that.

I've already secured my physical pre-order.

 

[bender]

It looks like you've tagged the wrong thick* user , but yeah, good shout on that.

I've already secured my physical pre-order.

Damnit. Updated. At least I didn't tag the wrong Mortal Kombat character doing a household activity.

 

[Sanepar]

It was out of my radar but now totally in.

 

[OmegaSupreme]

Lots of good jrpgs lately. I'm in eventually.

 

[Go_Ly_Dow]

Don't sleep on this one people, I played the whole thing on Apple TV and for those of you who have been waiting forever for Final Fantasy to go back to it's roots, THIS is the game you've been asking for.

Turn Based Battle System
Story by Hironobu Sakaguchi
Music by Nobuo Uematsu
PS1 Pre-Rendered backgrounds
Old School FF Character Archetypes

The way they constructred the environments for this game using real models is very cool indeed.

 

[nikos]

Enjoyed what I played of it on iOS. Will buy it on PC eventually, if not tomorrow.

 

[IAmRei]

This year is like the year of J-RPG

 

[sigmaZ]

I wish Mistwalker still had Terra Battle running. I was stuck on mobile. Vert fun.

That game had some of the best character art out of any game I had ever seen. They promised to make a console game if they got a certain number of downloads and never did, the bastards.

 

[jshackles]

thicc_girls_are_teh_best , probably worth noting for physical collectors that this seems to be a limited release.

I've got the physical version pre-ordered, but Amazon are a bunch of cunts and say my copy won't arrive until the 23nd. Might have to double-dip on Steam.

 

[Rocinante618]

I did play this on Apple Arcade, few points what I thought.

• The environments look great! very cool, miniature sets
• The enemies have a good amount of variety
• The combat has directional targeting which was kinda fun but eh, nothing super unique.
• The game difficulty is pure BS after ~40%, just monster/boss spam and really irritating to fight.
• Lot's of loot, areas to explore
• RNG battles in the map as usual
• This is a long game, easily 30-40+ hours to beat, I played about 18-20 hours.

I dropped it here after the first part, Apple Arcade had only 1 part released when I played it, they released the next part after a year or so and I didn't watch to subscribe to Arcade anymore, lol

Quite fun, very decent but that price is way, way too much.

 

[ResilientBanana]

Do they literally just pull words out of a hat to name games in Japan?

 

[Evil Calvin]

That game had some of the best character art out of any game I had ever seen. They promised to make a console game if they got a certain number of downloads and never did, the bastards.

Did they get to the download number? I know they were hitting the goals.

 

[ValiantTraveler]

Don't sleep on this one people, I played the whole thing on Apple TV and for those of you who have been waiting forever for Final Fantasy to go back to it's roots, THIS is the game you've been asking for.

Turn Based Battle System
Story by Hironobu Sakaguchi
Music by Nobuo Uematsu
PS1 Pre-Rendered backgrounds
Old School FF Character Archetypes

I came to say this.

Played Fantasian from day 1 and it really is the classic FF/JRPG game that people crave with some unique and well-thought twists. Stocking up random encounters makes the battles with trash mobs more challenging and more rewarding while taking less time. You can also concentrate on navigating the dungeons and finding the way forward without being interrupted every 10 steps.

The bosses have some insane difficulty spikes but in a good way, think of Souls bosses that you get stuck on but love fighting anyway, it's so satisfying to defeat them. I've said this before: you need to figure out the right strategy for each boss, you need to understand and exploit the various abilities of each party member, and you need to make the right choices at the right time or else you get wiped out even if you know what you're supposed to do. This keeps the bosses hard even when you're prepared and makes defeating them feel like a triumph. This is the best turn-based battle system I've had the joy of playing in years.

And as if that wasn't enough, some bosses have some really well thought gimmicks.

Oh, and Uematsu still has wonderful tracks in him. Absolute legend. The environemnts have a lot of variety with some very unique sceneries. The cutscene direction is nothing short of excellent. The story has some twists in store for the player. Characters are well handled overall, maybe not among the best the genre has to offer but still very good. The addition of voice acting makes this game even better.

Prepare for some 70 hours because boy this is an expansive RPG.

 

[Arsic]

This is Uematsu’s last OST right?

 

[ShadyAcshuns]

A bit silly to post Happy Console Gamer's take, because we all know he likes everything he plays.

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

A bit silly to post Happy Console Gamer's take, because we all know he likes everything he plays.

It's okay. I'm sure you'll get over it.

 

[Arsic]

A bit silly to post Happy Console Gamer's take, because we all know he likes everything he plays.

More like he knows his own tastes and plays good games.

I think it was last year he did the most disappointing games of 2023? He had a few stinkers.

 

[ShadyAcshuns]

More like he knows his own tastes and plays good games.

I think it was last year he did the most disappointing games of 2023? He had a few stinkers.

I like the guy, heck, I'm just like him as far as preferences go, but he always says the same things and rarely if ever gives critical analysis.

 

[Go_Ly_Dow]

This is Uematsu’s last OST right?

Final Fantasy Composer Nobuo Uematsu Isn't Retiring After Fantasian Neo Dimension

Nobuo Uematsu clarified his statement, saying he doesn't want to compose full soundtracks anymore, but he isn't retiring.

www.thegamer.com

It might be his last full OST as the main composer, but going by that he will probably do some main themes (like in FF7R) and contribute in some games alongside a few other composers before he fully retires.

 

[Danjin44]

I also ordered mine but my copy doesn’t come out until Dec 9 but that’s okay because I don’t think I can play right away, I still have lot games to get through.

The amount of JRPGs we got this year is insane and surprisingly most of them turn based which I’m super happy about.

 

[Punished Miku]

A bit silly to post Happy Console Gamer's take, because we all know he likes everything he plays.

Seriously. I dont hate his channel but click it if you just want a hype video.

 

[Go_Ly_Dow]

I also ordered mine but my copy doesn’t come out until Dec 9 but that’s okay because I don’t think I can play right away, I still have lot games to get through.

The amount of JRPGs we got this year is insane and surprisingly most of them turn based which I’m super happy about.

I've got a consistent stream of them to play well into next year. We are feasting.

I also suspect we'll see the next NieR, Tales and hopefully Persona games revealed in the next 12 months and maybe this elusive FF9 Remake too.

Awesome times for the genre.

 

[Jinxed]

thicc_girls_are_teh_best , probably worth noting for physical collectors that this seems to be a limited release.

Shit, I was thinking of picking it up later but I guess I'll have to order it now

 

[Jinxed]

• The game difficulty is pure BS after ~40%, just monster/boss spam and really irritating to fight.

There's a new normal mode, I wonder if it fixes that. I have no desire in a grindy game right now

 

[Danjin44]

That game had some of the best character art out of any game I had ever seen. They promised to make a console game if they got a certain number of downloads and never did, the bastards.

It’s same artist who did character design for Drakengard 3.

 

[fallingdove]

It’s same artist who did character design for Drakengard 3.

I started playing this on Apple Arcade but never got around to finishing it. Might have to give it another go when I get through this backlog.

Kimihiko Fujisaka is an underrated character designer IMO. I do feel like the main character is the least interesting of the bunch though. Great looking supporting cast.

 

[reinking]

Shit, I was thinking of picking it up later but I guess I'll have to order it now

I did the same through Amazon. It will not deliver until the 20th but I am in no rush to replay it since I am currently playing Metaphor: ReFantazio.

 

[Danjin44]

Kimihiko Fujisaka is an underrated character designer IMO. I do feel like the main character is the least interesting of the bunch though. Great looking supporting cast.

I want to see Fujisaka do character design for Yoko Taro’s next game same we saw Voice of Cards.

 

[Moonjt9]

I gotta get this game just for the soundtrack. Uematsu the GOAT

 

[Jinxed]

I did the same through Amazon. It will not deliver until the 20th but I am in no rush to replay it since I am currently playing Metaphor: ReFantazio.

Just pre-ordered it on amazon as well, wont be here until next week but I plan to play PoE2 for a while after DQ3 so I'm good.

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Here's a dope Fantasian artwork shared by Squeenix on their socials

 

[Danjin44]

Here's a dope Fantasian artwork shared by Squeenix on their socials