{"id":81946,"date":"2026-09-03T23:12:58","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T15:12:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=81946"},"modified":"2026-09-03T23:12:58","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T15:12:58","slug":"final-fantasy-resonance-the-final-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=81946","title":{"rendered":"Final Fantasy Resonance: The Final Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em><strong>Key Preview Takeaways:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul class=\"list jsx-4224303756\" data-cy=\"list\">\n<li><em>This might be the prettiest HD-2D game yet.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Visions are a fun gameplay mechanic that get fan-favorite characters from previous Final Fantasy games involved.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>The soundtrack is on point based on what I\u2019ve heard so far.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">About two minutes into my demo, Final Fantasy Resonance hit me with a word that I\u2019ve never seen before. That doesn\u2019t happen much in a video game these days. The word? \u201cPuissance.\u201d So, like any good writer, the first thing I did was look it up. It\u2019s Middle-English by way of Anglo-French, first used in the 15th century. It means \u201cstrength\u201d or \u201cpower.\u201d You see, I\u2019d found my way into a strange, crystalline cave where the Vision of Noctis rested. I already had Noctis in my party, but entering the shrine gave me the opportunity to relive the act of acquiring him. The whole thing played out like a montage: moments from Final Fantasy XV played out all around me, and I answered questions about what I\u2019d do if I was in Noctis\u2019s shoes. The more my answers lined up with Nocti\u2019s actions, the deeper our bond would be. None of it mattered of course; I already had Noctis, and I wouldn\u2019t gain additional puissance for redoing it. But I\u2019m glad I did all the same.<\/p>\n<h3 data-cy=\"title3\" class=\"title3 jsx-12333944 jsx-3517023867\">HD-2D FTW<\/h3>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Based on my time with it, Resonance has a lot of cool little moments like that. Let\u2019s get the obvious stuff out of the way. Resonance has the most impressive use of HD-2D I think I\u2019ve ever seen. It\u2019s absolutely gorgeous, and you can see it from the overworld. It\u2019s the way the clouds pass gently overhead, the way the wind seems to rustle the grass beneath your feet. What\u2019s equally stunning is the way your character\u2019s spite moves through all of this. HD-2D is gorgeous, but it can sometimes look like your character is a little out of place in the world. Not so here. Your character looks distinct, but it always seems like they fit.<\/p>\n<p><output class=\"box-wrapper jsx-2673806401\" data-cy=\"article-video\"\/><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Once I was done chillin\u2019 with Noctis, it was time for me to head to the Wind Shrine and actually do the demo I\u2019d come here to play. I putzed around in the overworld a bit to get a feel for the combat system, but once I felt good, I mounted my Chocobo and headed for the Wind Shrine. The visuals will get most of the ink in previews like this, but you shouldn\u2019t sleep on Resonance\u2019s music. It\u2019s gorgeous. As I rode around on my Chocobo, and the Chocobo theme played (complete with a few callbacks to Swing de Chocobo), I felt right at home. And the battle theme? An absolute banger that I was banging my head to. I wouldn\u2019t be surprised to see it show up at the Distant Worlds concert series sometime in the near future.<\/p>\n<h3 data-cy=\"title3\" class=\"title3 jsx-12333944 jsx-3517023867\">Sticking to its Vision<\/h3>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Once inside the Wind Shrine, my demo began in ernest. My party was making quick work of the wolves and other monsters scattered about outside, but inside it was time to get serious. Resonance\u2019s combat system is interesting. I had four characters on the field \u2013 Rain, Lasswell, Fina, and Lid. Rain was your fire sword boy protagonist, and I loved him for that; Lasswell is your too-cool-for-school swordsman; Fina is an archer who also serves as the party\u2019s healer; and Lid \u2013 who is aiming to be the next Cid, more a title in Resonance than a name \u2013 most clearly maps to Thief, despite her giant hammer and stone attacks. It\u2019s a fun group, and I enjoyed the way they gassed each other up \u2013 or, in Lasswell\u2019s case, was audibly over that \u2013 after fights. <\/p>\n<p><output class=\"box-wrapper jsx-2673806401\" data-cy=\"article-video\"\/><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">That part is traditional Final Fantasy through and through. What makes Resonance different are the Visions I mentioned earlier. See, Visions aren\u2019t just cool callbacks to Final Fantasies past. They\u2019re partners you can equip to your characters so you can call on their strength in battle. You only equip one to each of your party members at a time, but the crew I was rolling with featured some absolute legends. The Warrior of Light was paired up with my boy Rain. Everyone\u2019s favorite twink Cloud Strife was a natural fit for Lasswell. Lid was hanging out with Final Fantasy IX\u2019s Zidane, and the First Lady of Final Fantasy, Terra herself, was swapping stories with Fina. <\/p>\n<div class=\"display-title jsx-684634384 jsx-2659527929 quote-container\" data-cy=\"quoteBox\">Visions aren\u2019t just cool callbacks to Final Fantasies past. They\u2019re partners you can equip to your characters so you can call on their strength in battle.<span class=\"stack jsx-2959124702 jsx-326843967\"><span>\u201c<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Like the main party members, each Vision has their own attacks, spells, and special abilities, so it isn\u2019t much of a surprise to see Cloud pulling off Braver or Terra casting spells. Combat itself reminds me of Final Fantasy X, which is to say it\u2019s actually turn-based, not based on the ATB system, and it feels very good, especially when you can do things like have Lid grant someone else her turn or cast spells that ensure your entire party goes before the enemies do.<\/p>\n<h3 data-cy=\"title3\" class=\"title3 jsx-12333944 jsx-3517023867\">If it\u2019s a Fight You\u2019re After\u2026 <\/h3>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">The other cool thing Resonance does is add a Stagger gauge. Any attack will reduce it, but tag an enemy with its elemental weakness \u2013 almost everything in the Wind Shrine was unsurprisingly of the Wind element, which made them vulnerable to Ice spells and attacks imbued with a bit of chill \u2013 and you\u2019ll drop that thing to zero in a hurry. Stagger every enemy and you\u2019ll gain access to extremely powerful Resonance attacks, which call in one of your Visions for a \u201cget the hell off my lawn\u201d attack. These are gloriously animated 3D cutscenes, in contrast to Resonance\u2019s lovely HD-2D, and they look pretty rad. Fights are generally quick and snappy, and it\u2019s fun to watch your characters pull off cool attacks or plan to activate a Resonance. <\/p>\n<p><output class=\"box-wrapper jsx-2673806401\" data-cy=\"article-video\"\/><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Between fights, I ran around the shrine, riding elevators, finding goodies, and generally Playing a Final Fantasy Dungeon\u2122. I even ran into one of those weird pots that wanted items. I gave him an ether. Life was good. Chill dude, provided you give him what he asks for.<\/p>\n<p><span data-cy=\"poll-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<section class=\"box-wrapper jsx-2673806401\"\/><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Finally, it was time for a showdown with the boss of my demo: Aether. He was all high and mighty \u2013 apparently, folks from the sky look down on us poor land-dwellers \u2013 but I\u2019ve played Xenogears before. He wasn\u2019t scaring me. The fight was the hardest of the demo by far, and I was lucky Lasswell had a weapon that piled on Wind resistance. Aether was no joke, and sometimes he\u2019d summon other monsters to help him out. Luckily, I was pretty familiar with my party\u2019s skills by that point, and I knew the right combination of protective spells, attacks, and abilities to take him down. And when things went sideways, I had Phoenix Downs. So many Phoenix Downs. Thank God my team came to the shrine loaded for air.<\/p>\n<p><output class=\"box-wrapper jsx-2673806401\" data-cy=\"article-slideshow\"><button type=\"button\" style=\"display:none\" class=\"jsx-2228525885\"\/><span data-cy=\"slideshow-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-preview\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 slideshow-preview\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1085005187\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview-title\">Final Fantasy Resonance Preview Screenshots<\/h3>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-container\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 images-container\"><button type=\"button\" data-cy=\"hero-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 hero-image\"><img alt=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\" decoding=\"async\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"\/><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3027214138 jsx-4266531355 row-pagination-button next contained centered round large\" data-cy=\"paginate next\" title=\"Open Slideshow\"><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/RightChevron.272be43c.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"\/><\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/output><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">This was also when I got to see my first summon \u2013 Siren, who\u2026 I have to be honest, didn\u2019t do much, but she <em>did<\/em> look cool \u2013 and the party\u2019s limit breaks, whether it was Fina\u2019s rain of arrows (between this and her and Terra\u2019s healing magic, she was truly the fight\u2019s MVP) or Lasswell styling on \u2018em in a duel under the moonlight, cherry blossoms blowing in the wind. But eventually, Aether went down. And there, my demo ended.<\/p>\n<h3 data-cy=\"title3\" class=\"title3 jsx-12333944 jsx-3517023867\">Just Like Old Times<\/h3>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Final Fantasy Resonance feels like it\u2019s walking a tightrope between being a loving tribute to Final Fantasies past while also taking the series into a cool new direction and telling its own story. Is it going to pull it off? We\u2019ll have to wait and see, but I was very impressed by the hour I spent playing it. From the gorgeous HD-2D aesthetic to the awesome soundtrack and a battle system that can hold its own, Resonance looks like it\u2019s doing all the right stuff. The cameos are just a bonus. Just\u2026 don\u2019t take Zidane to fight Aether, okay? He\u2019s a windy boy. Doesn\u2019t do much. Bring Noctis and his cool fishing animation instead.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">While you&#8217;re here, check out these recent previews of other big upcoming games we&#8217;ve checked out recently!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<center><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/final-fantasy-resonance-the-final-preview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><br \/>\n<center\/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Preview Takeaways: This might be the prettiest HD-2D game yet. Visions are a fun gameplay mechanic that get fan-favorite characters from previous Final Fantasy&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":81947,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[2829,667,3613,24536],"class_list":["post-81946","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tech-gadgets-reviews","tag-fantasy","tag-final","tag-preview","tag-resonance","wpcat-32-id"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81946","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=81946"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81946\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/81947"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=81946"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=81946"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=81946"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}