FANTASIAN Neo Dimension Preview - From Mobile to Consoles

Let it be known: There is no game that has ever looked quite like Fantasian. It's a shame, then, that it was relegated to the small dimensions of an iPhone screen. Thankfully, a console port called Fantasian Neo Dimension is coming to PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and Nintendo Switch by the end of this year, giving players a chance to experience this cult favorite in new ways.

How Does Port from Mobile to Console Work Out for Fantasian Neo Dimension?

But that's just the thing, right? It's an iPhone game, and now it's on consoles. Keep your expectations in check, for while yes, it's a rather appealing looking game, there's little done to make it look less mobile than before. At an off-site event during PAX West 2024, we got to check out the upcoming console port for Fantasian Neo Dimension, so read on!

Fantasian Neo Dimension's UI still looks like it's made more for the phone than console, and while that is truth of the matter, I had hoped Square Enix would do a bit more to make it look appealing for gamers playing this new version on the big screen.

I'm just not a fan of the somewhat generic looking UI design, so it reminds me that yes, I am playing a mobile game. It's serviceable and does the job, but keep your expectations in check. Regardless, Fantasian is a coveted title for a reason, and I can see why fans were so quick to praise it back when it launched in 2021.

The Sights and Sounds of Fantasian Neo Dimension

First off, the art style. Like I said, it's unparalleled. Developer Mistwalker handcrafted background environments, and by handcrafted I mean physically sculpted dioramas and put them into the game itself. Seeing it in all its glory on the PS5 is wonderful, and I can't help but stop and appreciate the amount of work put into making this vision a reality.

Character and enemy models don't quite survive closer scrutiny, as again, they were created for iPhone hardware, not that of modern hardware. Still, it's a very appealing looking -- and sounding -- game. From the audio side of things, what's great is that you can choose battle music from various Final Fantasy franchises.

I was able to queue up Final Fantasy XVI's battle music, which is grandiose and epic. Though, if you prefer, you can choose music from some of Final Fantasy's newer titles like XIV's various expansions as well as VII Remake and Rebirth.

I'm Still a Bit on the Fence with Fantasian Neo Dimension

I ran into a few issues, one being a product of the port, and another being a gameplay design decision I didn't quite like. The first issue is, when your character reaches the next part of the environment, the screen sort of shifts around the diorama. I assume this is because Mistwalker captured these environments with photos, thus requiring this blurry, shifting effect.

Well, when you're moving to the next part, your direction can be thrown out of wack and it becomes harder to control your character with the joystick. I know I'm not the only one that shares this sentiment since another writer played the demo as well, and it's quite annoying to deal with.

The other issue is the Dimengeon System, which throws players into a random encounter with a grueling gauntlet of enemies. You have to take out like 30 or so enemies, and it's just a conflict that feels a bit too prolonged for my taste.

The combat system in Fantasian Neo Dimension is fully utilized here in Dimengeons, with its super unique curving attacks and trajectories. Still, I don't particularly like random encounters to be grueling in my RPGs, so I wonder if this will get tiring after a while.

Either way, I'm still interested in Fantasian Neo Dimension, no doubt. It's been praised to high heavens for a reason, but I'm still going to keep my expectations in check just a tad. I'm hoping it does end up blowing me away, as it did many iPhone players, but we'll see!

Fantasian Neo Dimension was previewed at an offsite event during PAX West 2024.