FANTASIAN Neo Dimension Review: A love letter to old-school JRPGs

FANTASIAN Neo Dimension took me by surprise. After being locked in the Apple Arcade for three years, this JRPG made by Mistwalker has finally made its way to PCs and consoles, with some much-needed improvements over the original. But given that, Mistwalker had to combine the original's two-part release into one, it certainly is not without its flaws.

After almost 25 hours of jumping through dimensions, being constantly challenged, having to rethink my strategy, and finding myself immersed in a world besieged by a curse called Mechteria, I found myself craving for more. But is the experience tailored for you? Let's take a deeper look into FANTASIAN Neo Dimension and find out the answer to that question.

FANTASIAN Neo Dimension Review is an ode to classic JRPGs

A mix of old and new

Mixing the old with the new makes for a fun time (Image via Square Enix)

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On the surface, FANTASIAN may look like an old-school JRPG through and through, and while it isn't completely wrong, certain mechanics did save the hassle that came with those classic games. First is the Dimengion mechanic that you unlock quite early on in the story. This device allows Leo to capture any enemy the party encounters to be fought in an alternate dimension later on.

This device has a limit that keeps you in the loop of combat, but for the most part, you can explore the map on your own without needing to worry about facing enemies. This makes exploration a lot smoother, especially in the game's various dungeons.

Another helpful feature that will benefit the console players a lot is how the map works. Certain interactable points in the map will lead you to other places you can select and then click on the Move button, and Leo will automatically head over to those areas.

The normal mode is also a great addition to the game. It doesn't dull out the challenge that can lead to the thrill during combat scenarios, yet the difficulty doesn't get overbearing to the point of leading to severe frustrations.

Features like these easily make FANTASIAN's gameplay smoother and add a layer to the classic JRPG formula that makes it stand out in the modern landscape.

A simplistic plot carried by a stellar cast of characters

FANTASIAN Neo Dimension tells a heartfelt story (Image via Square Enix)

FANTASIAN Neo Dimension's story is quite simple. You play as Leo, an adventurer who wakes up in a mysterious place and has lost his memory. After some shenanigans, you finally make it back to civilization and embark on a journey to seek out the truth behind the curse that's eating the world and to find your own destiny.

This comes with typical JRPG tropes like evil gods and making new companions. But although simplistic, the story is phenomenally written, with some least expected twists and turns. As someone who loves RPGs and practically grew up playing them, I always think the characters in the plot define a good story.

This is indeed the case with FANTASIAN Neo Dimension, as I found myself laughing during the comedic moments, and sharing a touch of emotions during the more somber bits because the characters share those times with us. Each of them is unique and adds layers to the story, which made me further appreciate the plot's simplicity.

Video games always don't need to be complex and tackle 100 different topics at the same time. Sometimes a well-written simple story is enough, and FANTASIAN Neo Dimension is proof of that.

A unique take on turn-based combat

The Dimengion system makes grinding significantly easier (Image via Square Enix)

FANTASIAN Neo Dimension brings a lot to the table, but its combat is my favorite part. The turn-based combat formula has remained the same, but with a few notable tweaks that allow you to quickly take out enemies. First is your attacks going through enemy targets, allowing you to take down a group of adversaries quickly.

Second is you bending certain attacks and set their path. This allows you to bypass certain enemies, who can block incoming damage and hit the targets behind them. This added a unique touch to the formulaic turn-based combat into a fun gameplay loop.

You still need to come up with a strategy to win, as the bosses are quite challenging, but experimenting with various combos and team setups keeps the combat loop fresh.

A beautiful world carried by magnificent soundtracks

The world of FANTASIAN is stellar (Image via Square Enix)

FANTASIAN Neo Dimension takes a unique style when it comes to building the environments. Each environment is a well-crafted diorama and has a unique feel to it. From the open forests to towns, to people's homes, the environment looks gorgeous, and the isometric view adds to the overall old-school feeling.

Any JRPG is incomplete without great soundtracks, and Nobuo Uematsu brings some of the best compositions that can remind you of old-school Final Fantasy. Each moment of the story is marked by a set of beautiful soundtrack that can elevate the experience.

A few nitpicks: The malevolent side of FANTASIAN Neo Dimension

Nothing can be perfect (Image via Square Enix)

For the most part, I have loved every moment of FANTASIAN and it is easily one of my favorite JRPGs this year alongside Metaphor ReFantazio. But no game can be perfect, and this goes for FANTASIAN Neo Dimension. The very first issue that I have is a lack of enemy variety.

Outside of the bosses, most enemies are just a reskin of the same foes you've encountered before with different elemental affinities. This led to a tedious grind that honestly became frustrating during the game's second half.

The most annoying part I found was that even with an upgraded Dimengion device, I had to enter the arena and constantly fight hordes of enemies as it was filling up quickly. The enemy spawn rate during the late parts of the game can get a bit overbearing and seriously hamper your enjoyment of the story.

Another concern of mine is a slight nitpick: I think certain mechanics like the Tension could have been introduced a bit early on. Yes, I know it's tied to the story, and this is generally because of the original being released in two parts, but it still feels like the game's pacing would have helped a lot if that was the case.

Another minor nitpick is something that can be easily overlooked, but one thing that caused a bit of annoyance to me is how the camera works. Often, the perspective will change, but this leads to a new issue. At times, the character won't go where I intended and clicked to, and this certainly led to some frustrating moments in an otherwise great experience.

In conclusion

A unique JRPG with a grandiose similar to classic Final Fantasy (Image via Square Enix)

FANTASIAN's strength comes from how the game has been crafted. Hironobu Sakaguchi is an industry veteran who brought his expertise to the story and made a fantastic experience that can appease both old-school and new fans of the genre. It's a simple character-driven story that balances comedy with refined moments of growth, friendship, and camaraderie, with a fun gameplay loop that keeps you engaged till the end of the line.

Albeit certain aspects do suffer at times, which may lead to some frustrations, the positives outweigh the negatives, and it can provide you one of the best JRPG experiences. FANTASIAN Neo Dimension is a game that will fly under many people's radar, but if you're an old-school Final Fantasy fan, you should definitely give it a try.

From its beautiful diorama-like environments to the fantastic set of soundtracks, FANTASIAN Neo Dimension brings a tinge of nostalgia that reminds you of a simpler time. A hero's journey to save the world may have become an overused trope, but simpler experiences like this one are always refreshing to look at and enough to get lost in a sense of adventure for hours.