Fantasian Review

Game: Fantasian
Genre: RPG
System: iOS (Apple Arcade Subscription)
Developer | Publisher: Mistwalker
Age Rating: US E12| EU 12+
Price: US $4.99| € 4,99| UK £ 4.99  Monthly for all games
Release Date: April 2, 2021

Review made by David Lloyd, owner and writer at The Thirsty Mage

Already considered as one of the greatest RPG developers of all-time, Hironobu Sakaguchi sets out to cement his legacy in what could be the final game he’ll ever work on. After stints with all the major console developers, Sakaguchi along with his company, Mistwalker, began a partnership with Apple to create an incredibly ambitious two-part RPG with a very unique development strategy.

Retro Vibes, but Modern

During the PlayStation One era, arguably at his peak, Sakaguchi games were developed using static pre-rendered backgrounds with 3D sprites. Just think back to one of his crowning achievements: Final Fantasy VII. The polygonal hero of Cloud Strife running around the pre-rendered world of Midgar blew the minds of millions of RPG fans around the world. Using a similar technique, Fantasian is built upon a world created completely out of dioramas, with even the smallest details meticulously made by hand. Whether it’s the scales on a fish, or the flowers adorning the bedroom of a princess, every detail in the world of Fantasian is a beautifully made piece of art. Walking down the diorama streets of Vence as a 3D character harkens back to the golden age of RPGs, but the vibrant colours and precise details of the environments give it a modern feel.

The utilization of dioramas to create such a vibrant and stunningly beautiful world gives Fantasian a look and feel that is unique to anything that has come before it. Stepping aboard the Uzra, a massive airship that acts as a cruise ship flying over a monster infested desert, is a sight to behold and much time can be spent just pouring over each and every detail. Whether it be the sprawling trees of the Southern Forest or the bustling streets in the capital of Vibra, every location in Fantasian is a gorgeous handcrafted piece of art.

A Character Driven Story

Previous games developed by Sakaguchi almost always have an action packed, thoroughly cinematic introduction to set the stage for what is to come. In Fantasian however, he takes a different approach. Things start off with the introduction of Leo, the main protagonist of the adventure as he tries to escape from a mechanized world. Suffering from a bout of amnesia brought on during an explosion, Leo manages to escape danger and teleport back to his home world, or at least what he believes it to be. As he explores the area hoping to find a cure for his memory loss, he runs into a woman named Kina who he doesn’t remember but can feel a bond with.

The story is quite mellow for anyone who grew up playing the Final Fantasy series or Lost Odyssey. The main focus for the first half of Fantasian is really about character development, as Leo and Kina travel across the different cities meeting new friends as Leo tries to regain his memories. The interactions between characters are a wonderful mix of humour and sincerity, especially after Cheryl joins the party, a princess who is somewhat lovestruck with Leo after a chance encounter that he can’t remember.

While character development and learning the history of the leading cast is the focal point of Fantasian, the overall plot of a villain bent on world domination demands its own attention. The world is naturally in peril due to an invading swarm of Mechteria that comes from another dimension, this is a Sakaguchi developed title after all. The theme of a mechanized threat intruding on the natural beauty of the world is a Sakaguchi trademark seen in many of his titles. As this is release is the first half of the full game, things end on a cliffhanger in anticipation of the final release later this year.

A Modern Take on Traditional Turn-Based Combat

For a developer that started the JRPG genre, Fantasian has a surprising number of modern ideas fused with a traditional turn-based combat system. Each of the characters has a unique form of attack, whether it be Leo’s sword that can cut through multiple enemies in a straight line, or Kina’s magic that can be bent in a curve to destroy many foes. Traditional random battles can occur, but early on Leo repairs a machine that can send these foes to the Dimengeon, a location where enemies are collected and disposed of in one giant battle. It’s a terrific solution to remove the tedium that naturally occurs with too many random battles in a short period of time. These large battles with up to 30 monsters are a lot of fun when the party members bust out moves that can take out multiple enemies at a time.

Many boss fights are spread out through the world of Fantasian and each one is kept unique by requiring specific strategies to defeat them. A fight with a large bird near the edge of the cliff requires the party to either focus attacks quickly and precisely or distract the enemy to avoid being blown off the ledge and to their demise. Other fights require specific body parts to be targeted or certain attacks to be avoided. Each boss battle feels much like a puzzle, with a specific strategy that needs to be deduced and employed.

Conclusion

Fantasian is a wonderful JRPG that can appeal to fans of the genre and beyond. The aspect most holding it back is its exclusivity to the Apple Arcade service, requiring any would-be players to get their hands on an Apple device. Those without an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or an Apple TV are certainly missing out on one of the best JRPG experiences this year. Begging a friend or loved one to borrow their iPad for a month is well worth the effort to play this unique and beautiful Mistwalker creation.

Final Verdict: Two Thumbs Up