Are You Team Kina or Cheryl? A Modern Take on Traditional Turn-Based Combatįor a developer that started the JRPG genre, Fantasian has a surprising number of modern ideas fused with a traditional turn-based combat system. As this is release is the first half of the full game, things end on a cliffhanger in anticipation of the final release later this year. The theme of a mechanized threat intruding on the natural beauty of the world is a Sakaguchi trademark seen in many of his titles. The world is naturally in peril due to an invading swarm of Mechteria that comes from another dimension, this is a Sakaguchi developed title after all. While character development and learning the history of the leading cast is the focal point of Fantasian, the overall plot of a villain bent on world domination demands its own attention. The interactions between characters are a wonderful mix of humour and sincerity, especially after Cheryl joins the party, a princess who is somewhat lovestruck with Leo after a chance encounter that he can’t remember. The main focus for the first half of Fantasian is really about character development, as Leo and Kina travel across the different cities meeting new friends as Leo tries to regain his memories. The story is quite mellow for anyone who grew up playing the Final Fantasy series or Lost Odyssey. As he explores the area hoping to find a cure for his memory loss, he runs into a woman named Kina who he doesn’t remember but can feel a bond with. Suffering from a bout of amnesia brought on during an explosion, Leo manages to escape danger and teleport back to his home world, or at least what he believes it to be. Things start off with the introduction of Leo, the main protagonist of the adventure as he tries to escape from a mechanized world. In Fantasian however, he takes a different approach. Previous games developed by Sakaguchi almost always have an action packed, thoroughly cinematic introduction to set the stage for what is to come. Plenty of Final Fantasy References for longtime fans A Character Driven Story Whether it be the sprawling trees of the Southern Forest or the bustling streets in the capital of Vibra, every location in Fantasian is a gorgeous handcrafted piece of art. Stepping aboard the Uzra, a massive airship that acts as a cruise ship flying over a monster infested desert, is a sight to behold and much time can be spent just pouring over each and every detail. The utilization of dioramas to create such a vibrant and stunningly beautiful world gives Fantasian a look and feel that is unique to anything that has come before it. Walking down the diorama streets of Vence as a 3D character harkens back to the golden age of RPGs, but the vibrant colours and precise details of the environments give it a modern feel. Whether it’s the scales on a fish, or the flowers adorning the bedroom of a princess, every detail in the world of Fantasian is a beautifully made piece of art. Using a similar technique, Fantasian is built upon a world created completely out of dioramas, with even the smallest details meticulously made by hand. The polygonal hero of Cloud Strife running around the pre-rendered world of Midgar blew the minds of millions of RPG fans around the world. Just think back to one of his crowning achievements: Final Fantasy VII. Retro Vibes, but Modernĭuring the PlayStation One era, arguably at his peak, Sakaguchi games were developed using static pre-rendered backgrounds with 3D sprites. After stints with all the major console developers, Sakaguchi along with his company, Mistwalker, began a partnership with Apple to create an incredibly ambitious two-part RPG with a very unique development strategy. Review made by David Lloyd, owner and writer at The Thirsty MageĪlready considered as one of the greatest RPG developers of all-time, Hironobu Sakaguchi sets out to cement his legacy in what could be the final game he’ll ever work on.
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