Final Fantasy Resonance is pushing the HD-2D style to exciting limits

While Square Enix has utilized HD-2D art for years, it's never looked as good as it does on this upcoming Final Fantasy adventure.

Ever since Square Enix started putting out RPGs with the HD-2D art style, there have always been two logical destinations: Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. The former has had its day in the sun over the last few years with the remake of the Erdrick Trilogy. Now it's Final Fantasy's turn with Final Fantasy Resonance from Square Enix and Lancarse. Prior to making the trip to Gamescom 2026, I got to try the game out and it's looking like it could be the classic 2D Final Fantasy story that many have been wanting for a long time.

The story of Final Fantasy Resonance adapts the first season arc from Square Enix's mobile hit Final Fantasy Brave Exvius. Beyond taking Final Fantasy back to 2D turn-based combat, the story is also a throwback of sorts, focused on the four elemental crystals of legend. A mysterious evil force, known only as the Veritas of the Dark, is seeking to destroy the crystals, which stands to throw the kingdom of Grandshelt and the world into chaos. Main characters Rain and Lasswell embark on a quest to stop the Veritas of the Dark, making friends along the way and tapping into the power of Final Fantasy's greatest heroes.

Resonance unfolds like a classic 20th-century Final Fantasy game. Players explore a vast overworld, either on foot or on the backs of their Chocobo mounts, getting into monster encounters along the way. The game operates on vintage turn-based battles, but with some notably revamped mechanics. The stagger gauge is the biggest addition to the formula. If an enemy's stagger gauge is depleted, they'll be unable to act on their next turn while the player is granted a bonus phase. If all enemies are staggered, it triggers a sweeping stagger state, granting the friendly bonus phase, as well as the chance to unleash a Resonance attack.

The Resonance attack summons a character's Vision character. Vision characters are represented by classic Final Fantasy heroes like Final Fantasy 7's Cloud, Final Fantasy 15's Noctis, the original Final Fantasy's Warrior of Light, and many others. Players will encounter new Visions over the course of their journey and be able to equip one to each character. Of course, there's more to Visions than mere star power. As alluring as it is to attach a character like Cloud to just anybody, it's important to note that every Vision specializes in a particular element. Success in Resonance hinges on pairing the right Vision with the right character in order to create a well-rounded squad. With all of this said, the Visions are already proving to be Resonance's biggest highlight, as they'll attack through fully rendered cinematics. While the English voiceovers weren't ready for these attacks, they were still amazing to witness.

What else was amazing to witness was the game's Limit Bursts. The Visions aren't the only ones who can deliver hard-hitting attacks. If characters take enough damage to fill their limit gauge, they can unleash powerful Limit Bursts. These unfold through gorgeously animated sequences that use fully expressive versions of the game's HD-2D models, realizing a potential for this art style that I hadn't seen in previous RPGs that utilized it. Watching Lasswell launch his adversary into the sky for a slashing attack in front of the full moon was a jaw-dropping moment. Similarly, players can be dazzled by the game's Summon system. Espers allow for players to call upon classic Final Fantasy Summons to help turn the tide of battle. However, only Fina, a character who joins the party early on in the story, can utilize Summons for an as-yet-unrevealed narrative reason.

Final Fantasy Resonance feels like a throwback for the franchise in many ways, right down to the dungeons that feel like they're straight out of the 16-bit era. However, while the formula may appear familiar, there's a lot about the game that has been totally revamped from the source material. Only the story is taken from Brave Exvius. The battle mechanics, the overworld design, and the various character systems have all been overhauled into something totally new. For all that's familiar, like the unforgettable victory fanfare that plays at the end of each battle, there's something new, like the characters bantering to each other while it plays in the background. The most important thing to note is that the Visions are not gated behind gacha systems the way they are in Brave Exvius. Any Vision that's in this game can be unlocked naturally over the course of the story. It's also worth noting that Visions can be leveled up and learn new skills, similar to the main party members themselves.

Those wanting a more old-school Final Fantasy experience will want to keep a close eye on Final Fantasy Resonance. At a time when Square Enix is preparing to complete a modern remake trilogy, the publisher has not forgotten the series' roots and appears to have something incredible lined up for those that grew up on the experiences that made it iconic in the first place. Final Fantasy Resonance will release on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 1 & 2 on Thursday, October 22. As revealed during today's PlayStation State of Play showcase, a free demo is available right now.

This preview is based on an early PlayStation 5 build played on-site at Square Enix's American offices in Los Angeles, CA. The final product is subject to change.

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