After a long period of exclusivity on Apple Arcade, Fantasythe RPG signed Hironobu Sakaguchi and developed by Mistwalker, finally arrives on consoles and PC under the name The Neo Dimension of Fantasy. This enriched version promises to restore the nobility of a title that has remained out of reach for fans of traditional RPGs for too long. But rest assured, I can state without any doubt that The Neo Dimension of Fantasy is a real gem of the genre, despite some minor flaws.
A new Fantasy by Sakaguchi
The Neo Dimension of Fantasy begins in a classic way for a JRPG: Leo, the hero, wakes up with amnesia in an intriguing mechanical world. This starting point, although hackneyed, serves as a springboard for an adventure rich in twists and turns. The story skillfully explores Leo’s quest for identity while fleshing out a universe mixing machines and nature, with ever-increasing stakes as the adventure progresses.
The game shines with its characters. Leo is an endearing protagonist whose fragmented memories are at the heart of a gripping mystery. But the rest of the team is not left out: Cheryl, the princess of a neighboring kingdom, brings a touch of humor and romance, while Kina, an empathetic mage, fascinates with her enigmatic past. The dialogues are neat, the interactions between the members of the group are dynamic, and everyone finds their place in the plot.
Key moments in the story are sometimes told through scenes presented as an audio novel, a narration accompanied by the voices of the characters. This unique and immersive approach reinforces the emotion and gives a particular character to certain moments of the adventure.
One of the most distinctive aspects of The Neo Dimension of Fantasy is his use of dioramas to create his sets. Each place is made by hand, offering a unique and tangible result, even if the technique has its limits. Moving from one diorama to another can sometimes cause small navigation issues: you sometimes have to readjust the directional stick so that Leo follows the camera correctly. Nothing blocking, but frequent enough to be frustrating, and I admit that it took me a while to get used to it.
On the other hand, the soundtrack is impeccable. Nobuo Uematsu, famous composer of Final Fantasysigns here one of his latest works. The themes of cities, battles and narrative moments stand out for their richness and their ability to transport the player into this hybrid universe. If this OST was truly going to be his final masterpiece, it’s a departure with a bang.
On the gameplay side, Mistwalker offers a strategic turn-based combat system that takes us back to the classics. Attacks and skills use a directional range mechanic, allowing you to hit multiple enemies in a single hit or bypass their defenses. This approach gives a tactical dimension to the clashes, without making them heavier.
Another major innovation lies in the system allowing enemies encountered to be stored in an alternate dimension to avoid incessant random combat. Once the player is ready, they can take on all of these enemies in one massive wave. This system, which I find brilliant, offers the flexibility you need to explore at your own pace without missing the combat. However, it has its limits: it does not work on new enemies and its capacity remains limited.
The difficulty of the game is also worth noting. Two levels are available: normal and difficult. Hard mode, which corresponds to the original level on Apple Arcade, offers a balanced challenge, especially in the second half of the game where the boss fights become particularly demanding. Progression is fluid, thanks to the addition of specific skills and talent trees which expand the possible strategies.
Despite its many qualities, The Neo Dimension of Fantasy is not free from flaws. Side quests, for example, often lack interest. They offer modest rewards and fail to integrate convincingly into the game world.
While I heard that the Switch version suffered from performance issues despite the simple environments and minimalist models, this seems stable at Sony, and this does not alter the gameplay. With The Neo Dimension of FantasyMistwalker proves that it is still possible to revisit the mechanics of traditional RPGs while bringing fresh ideas. Between its storyline, memorable characters and ingenious combat, the game offers a must-play experience for fans of the genre. Hopefully this success inspires Mistwalker to port other titles from its catalog, like Lost Odyssey or The Last Story.
