Review | Fantasian Neo Dimension

A (tryout to a Fantastic) review

Fantasian is a 2021 role-playing video game developed and published by Mistwalker for Apple devices through the Apple Arcade platform. The game was released in two parts: on April 1 and August 13, 2021. It was written and produced by none other than Hironobu Sakaguchi—the legend behind the best Final Fantasy titles (like VII) during his time with Square Enix, and later, some of the finest JRPGs under Mistwalker Studios, where he currently resides. At Mistwalker, he gave us masterpieces like Lost Odyssey, Blue Dragon, and The Last Story. I am a huge fan of this guy. And let’s not forget—he often collaborates with Nobuo Uematsu. These two are my love letter to the genre, so I always expect top-tier JRPGs whenever Sakaguchi is involved in a new project.

A console and Windows version, Fantasian: Neo Dimension, was released on December 5, 2024, by Square Enix for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows. Physical editions are also available for PlayStation 5 and Switch. This updated version features high-definition graphics, gameplay tweaks, and voice acting in both English and Japanese. My only gripe? The €60 price tag in Europe—it’s just too steep and will likely hurt sales. Also, Switch version is tehnically the worst one.

That aside, I can’t help but praise almost everything about this game, though I’ll mention a few negatives in my upcoming review. One thing’s for certain: I adore everything Sakaguchi creates. His games have soul. They hit where they’re supposed to hit and deliver exactly what I love about the genre.

At first I was dissapointed by the looks of the enemy models and their variety, but the boss fights and your crew helped me out to remember what I love about JRPGs the most. Fantasian is what I love.

Story and the characters

Fantasian is a role-playing video game where players step into the shoes of protagonist Leo and his growing party as they explore various locations across multiple worlds, including the land of Vibra (the human world). The game features an original score composed by Nobuo Uematsu. Both Uematsu and Sakaguchi approached this project with the mindset that it might be their last large-scale collaboration due to age and health concerns. I sincerely hope that’s not the case because they still create games with unmatched passion and meticulous attention to detail.

Leo is anything but an ordinary guy. As the protagonist, he’s a genuinely cool character. While the overarching plot—centered on his amnesia—might feel familiar, the true strength of the game lies in the way the story is written and how well his allies are developed. Sure, there are quirky moments, a few childish characters, and some odd voice performances, but the game’s flow feels natural, rewarding, and engaging. Leo even gives me NieR-crossover vibes, which is a huge plus in my book! Every character in the game is at least decent, with a few standing out as extra cool.

The game is split into two parts—originally released that way on Apple Arcade—but with this version, you don’t need to think about parts. You’ll know when Part 2 begins. Part 1 is relatively simple, especially in combat, but Part 2 is where the game truly shines. The structure reminds me of Final Fantasy VI in the best way possible; there’s a point where you lose all your party members and have to reunite them. This is where I fell in love with the game.

I adore how almost every quest is tied to the story. These quests often come with meaningful rewards for the initiating character and usually include a boss challenge. I loved the multiple worlds, the interconnected stories, the rich lore, and even the villains—who feel like they’ve stepped straight out of classic Final Fantasy titles. The game is beautifully crafted and presented, though I have to warn you—it’s grindy as hell!

This is one of the rare games where I was happy when I opened a chest. For some you will need to hunt down keys in combat, and they give the best rewards. Simply take your time, do not rush. 

Game design, exploration

At first glance—looking at the background images, the simplistic linear dungeon design, and even the font used in fights (plus the uninspired enemy designs)—I genuinely thought this was a full-on mobile game. I couldn’t have been more wrong, thankfully. The first dungeon and town do the game no justice. The backgrounds initially feel like PS1-era rendered graphics, while the character and NPC models are so sharp they almost pop out of the screen. It’s a bit jarring at first, but as you progress and take in the sheer beauty of the locations (and there are a lot of them!), you’ll come to appreciate the art style. The music, too, feels reminiscent of Final Fantasy VII or VIII—and honestly, that’s never a bad thing, right?

What really surprised me was how well the NPC dialogues are written. I usually turn off random bantern in modern games (FF7 Remake/Rebirth being the ultimate offenders in that regard), but here, I genuinely enjoyed talking to everyone. NPCs often reward you with items or key items, which made the effort feel worthwhile. Every location has its secrets, many of which are revealed much later in the game. It all feels engaging and makes exploration rewarding. Honestly, I’ve missed that sense of discovery in games, and I can’t even begin to explain how refreshing it is to have it back.

The biggest downside, by far, is the camera. It’s static, shifting only when you hit certain edges, which leaves the controls in a frustrating state. You have to keep moving in the original direction, even as the new camera angle flips your orientation completely. This pivoting feels unnatural, and I found myself constantly bumping into walls. They really need to fix this; it’s an unnecessary hassle.

As for the rest, my only major gripe is the grinding. It’s not the grinding itself, per se, but the sheer frequency of random encounters—sometimes happening every 10 to 15 seconds! It’s overkill and can easily drive players insane. That said, if you manage to power through this segment, you’ll find the game immensely enjoyable. Sure, it’s a divisive mechanic that might turn many gamers off, but I actually ended up loving it.

The simplicity of dungeon exploring is much better than open-world bloatness. You can't even compare the art with some generated surrounding that we often get in modern games. This one is the best example how simple and linear becomes fun and interesting.

Combat

The Lost Oddysey type of memories (stories) are great (the last picture). The world/plot is explained mostly though these, and they are awesome. One of the best ones is written by Nobuo itself! I can't think of a better due than Sakaguchi and Uematsu.

Side Content

Side content comes in the form of quests and exploration. Thankfully, there aren’t really fetch quests here—just a couple at most. The majority are story-driven, with some requiring you to find hidden items. What ties all of this together is the reward system. Everything you explore, open, or overcome rewards you meaningfully. These rewards give you an edge in combat, especially during boss fights. Even something as small as an ATK +2 passive skill can make a difference. Gem slots that protect against ailments and armors or weapons with passive skills only add to the mix.

If you enjoy micromanaging your party, you’re going to love this system. Every boss fight introduces a gimmick or requires a specific element or strategy to win. This keeps you constantly tweaking your party setup as the game progresses. Add in the expansive world map and all its secrets, and you’ve got a recipe for endless enjoyment. That’s where the love for this game really comes from.

I also have to mention the optional Tri-Star fights. These challenges are some of the best side content, packed with hilarious humor. I absolutely loved those three challengers!

There’s so much fun waiting for you, but I don’t want to spoil everything. All I’ll say is that the game is designed to constantly demand your attention and investment. It never holds your hand, so if that’s what you’re looking for, you’ve found the perfect game.

It's really hard to capture the perfect screenshot in some scenes! Nevertheless, some sceneries are breath-taking, some are not as much. I can hear every image, Nobuo killed it.

Conclusion

This is a hidden PS1/PS2-era gem crafted by the father of JRPGs himself. Sakaguchi even tested some fights and demonstrated how to tackle early challenges—his commitment shines through! You can feel it in every aspect of the game. The whole experience feels like a Final Fantasy title or one of the classics we all played and loved during the golden era of RPGs (which, honestly, feels like this year again!).

I clocked 60 hours in this game. That’s about how long it takes to hit 100%, though there’s also New Game Plus, a second Growth Tree, and some brutal DLC challenges in the form of super-hard boss fights.

If you can push through the frustration of lengthy battles, occasional difficulty spikes, the grind, and the intense boss challenges, this game will undoubtedly land on your list of favorite titles this year—or maybe even of all time. I don’t know, man. Sakaguchi is the undisputed father of the JRPG genre for me, and there’s no going back on that.

I can’t help but wish for Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon to be brought to Sony platforms—these masterpieces deserve more love. Sakaguchi, if you’re listening: we love you. Please give us more games. Please.