A Love Letter To Classic 2D Turn-Based RPGs

Square Enix

Speaking of the battle system, delivering on the joy of the franchise’s turn-based battle system was always going to be the thing that would make or break Resonance. And from what I played during my one-hour demo, the game passes with flying colors. I instantly felt right at home using elemental attacks to exploit foes’ weaknesses or buffing party members with things like haste. As always, some characters lean more towards physical attacks while others specialize in magic. That said, by utilizing the game’s Vision system, you can effectively junction classic characters like Cloud, Tidus or Zidane to the title’s newcomers, which gives them access to signature moves and abilities like Steal and Mug. You can even unleash massive attacks called Limit Bursts (instead of limit breaks) that once again draw inspiration from trademark skills like Omnislash.

Square Enix

The one twist to the series’ classic turn-based format is that Resonance has brought back the stagger system from previous Final Fantasy games, adding an extra layer to your tactical decision making. As always, you can simply opt to defeat enemies by draining their HP. However for tougher opponents like bosses, you’re highly incentivized to attack them in ways that also depletes their stagger bar. And if you can stagger every enemy on the field, you can perform special Ascension attacks, which are basically super-powered Limit Bursts that come with beautiful bespoke animations. However, if you prefer to let summons do your work, you can also call upon familiar entities like Siren and others to assist your party in various ways.

Even though I only had a short time with Resonance, I liked nearly everything about it. It looks fantastic, it’s supported by a lovely orchestral soundtrack and all the little Final Fantasy touches like hand-drawn portraits, classic items and weapons and traditional turn-based combat are back and better than ever.

Square Enix

That said, I do have two small gripes. The game still features random battles in the overworld, which I admit is a classic Final Fantasy thing. I just wish Resonance gave enemies their own sprites that showed up on the main map or in dungeons. Not being able to see your foes until you actually enter a battle makes the world feel a bit empty.

My other small complaint is that even though I appreciate how Resonance has integrated characters from previous Final Fantasy titles into its mechanics and woven them into the very fiber of the game, I think I would have preferred to get a truly original story instead. I understand that might be a little difficult as it could throw off the throughline of the major numbered Final Fantasy releases, but I feel like there’s plenty of room in the franchise for 2D offshoots to tell their own unique stories.

Square Enix

In the grand scheme of things, though, these are two relatively minor nitpicks, because Resonance has quickly become one of my most anticipated games for the rest of 2026. I’m not sure if it will capture the attention of younger gamers that may have only experienced faster-paced 3D Final Fantasy titles, but for anyone who’s fond of the golden age of turn-based RPGs, Final Fantasy Resonance is a loving tribute to a bygone era with plenty of welcome modern touches.

Final Fantasy Resonance ($50) is available for pre-order now on Switch, Switch 2, PS5, PC (Steam) and Xbox Series S and X ahead of its official release on October 22.