It’s time to get this HD-2D party started, and I’m not just talking about the inevitable remaster of Final Fantasy XIII that’ll probably drop in a few years with a shiny new coat of paint and a “remastered” label. No, I’m talking about the latest entry in the long-running Final Fantasy series, Final Fantasy Resonance, which promises to bring back the good old days of turn-based combat and nostalgic graphics. Because, you know, what’s more exciting than playing a game that looks like it was made 20 years ago, but with better lighting?
As we all know, Square Enix has been on a roll lately, churning out remake after remake, and I’m starting to think they’ve got a team of developers whose sole job is to remake old games with slightly better graphics. But hey, who needs new ideas when you can just rehash old ones, right? Anyway, where was I? Ah yes, Final Fantasy Resonance. So, it’s got this fancy “HD-2D” style, which is just a fancy way of saying they took some old character sprites and slapped them into a 3D environment. It’s like they took all the leftover assets from Final Fantasy VI, threw in some modern lighting, and called it a day.
The HD-2D Revolution
But in all seriousness, the HD-2D style does look pretty slick, and I can see why they’d want to use it for a game like Final Fantasy Resonance. I mean, who needs fancy 3D models when you can just use retro character sprites and call it “stylistic”? And the best part is, it’s not like they’re just phoning it in – they’re actually putting in the effort to make the game look and feel like a classic Final Fantasy game. Take, for example, the game’s combat system, which combines old-school turn-based combat with some newer mechanics like resonance attacks and limit breaks. It’s like they took all the best parts of the old games, threw them into a blender, and hit puree.
A Mashup of Old and New
Now, I know what you’re thinking – “Pixel, isn’t Final Fantasy Resonance just a rehashing of old ideas with a new coat of paint?” And to that, I say… guilty as charged. But you know what? I’m okay with that. I mean, who doesn’t love a good dose of nostalgia every now and then? And besides, it’s not like they’re just rehashing the same old ideas without adding anything new. The game’s got some fresh twists, like the Vision system, which lets you equip “echoes” of characters from other Final Fantasy games. It’s like they took all the best characters from the series, threw them into a hat, and said, “Hey, you know what would be cool? If we let players use them all in one game!”
Visions of the Past
So, I spent some time with the game at Gamescom 2026, and I’ve got to say, it’s shaping up to be a real treat for fans of the series. The demo I played was a slice of Chapter 2, where you’ve got to explore the Wind Shrine and collect the Wind Crystal. But the real fun started when I stumbled upon the Sanctum of Noctis, the protagonist of Final Fantasy XV. I mean, who wouldn’t want to explore a dungeon filled with nostalgic references and then get to equip Noctis as a Vision? It’s like they knew exactly what fans of the series would want – a big ol’ dose of nostalgia, with a side of new mechanics and fancy graphics.
In the end, it’s clear that Final Fantasy Resonance is a game that’s unapologetically a mishmash of old and new Square Enix sensibilities. And you know what? I’m okay with that. It’s a game that’s not afraid to wear its heart on its sleeve, and that’s something to be admired. So, if you’re a fan of the series, or just looking for a game that’s a little bit old-school, a little bit new-school, then Final Fantasy Resonance might just be the game for you. Just don’t expect me to start praising the game’s “innovative” graphics or “groundbreaking” gameplay – let’s be real, it’s still just a Final Fantasy game at the end of the day.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte, widely regarded as the “Shakespeare of Sh*tposts,” is a video game expert with a unique knack for turning pixels into punchlines.
Born in the small town of Respawn, Pennsylvania, Pixel grew up mashing buttons on an ancient NES controller, firmly believing that “blowing into the cartridge” was a sacred ritual passed down through generations.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte: proving that life, much like a buggy open-world game, is better with a little lag-induced chaos.
