#Fantasian diorama series#

This is less of an issue if you’re using touch controls, but then you have to deal with the somewhat awkward point-to-point method of moving your character around.

While the way the game simulates a 3D camera shift as you transition between still images is kind of cool, it often means character control goes out of whack for a second as the system reconciles how you’re tilting the analog stick with the new camera angle. Another annoyance is that as you move through environments, the camera angle will sometimes change. This probably has something to do with keeping the file size low for mobile users, but it’s still a little disappointing that the art design and talent on display is occasionally marred like this. First, while the dioramas are gorgeous, when the camera zooms in for a cutscene or as you’re moving through a particular area, things can get almost embarrassingly blurry. I do have a few quibbles with the implementation of the backgrounds, though. We’re sorry, Princess Garnet Til Alexandros XVII is in another castle. The ambition and creativity on display are astounding, and I wasted plenty of time running around each area staring in awe at the beautiful, adorable backgrounds. Every area in the game is a handmade, real-life diorama photographed at various angles to simulate the pre-rendered feel of a PS1 Final Fantasy. Speaking of presentation, the one thing you’ve likely heard or seen about Fantasian is its diorama backgrounds. The moment is more emotional and impactful precisely because of how it’s presented. You might think such an important moment would be ill-served by being conveyed only through text, but I think it’s quite the opposite.

#Fantasian diorama series#

One of my favorite moments in Fantasian is a series of memories midway through Part One that involves a major revelation.

These short stories provide background for your party members and reveal some of Leo’s memories, fleshing out characters and the world in the process. Even with things starting to become clearer at the end of Part One (yes, only half of the game is available at present), I still have a lot of questions, and I can’t wait to find answers when the second half of the game is released later this year.Ĭharacters also benefit from the addition of Memories, which are text-only vignettes featuring gorgeous background art and beautiful music. I found myself jotting down notes with each major plot revelation because Fantasian does a good job of doling out breadcrumbs that gradually widen your view of the game’s world. As he meets allies and slowly starts to piece things together, the mystery of these two realms, the mechteria infestation, a malevolent god, and Leo’s involvement in whatever is going on behind the scenes steadily deepens. Leo immediately embarks on a quest to recover his lost memories. Mechteria is deadly to humans, and its slow encroachment on human settlements is a source of grave concern for the people of this world. This world is connected to the machine realm by a hole in the sky that has been spewing out strange devices called mechteria for years. Its story starts out a little rote, and its main cast represents archetypes you’ve seen before, but as the wheels start turning and you learn more about both the world and its inhabitants, it’s hard not to find yourself drawn in.Īmnesiac Leo wakes up in a strange realm populated by machines, and with the help of some robots he apparently reprogrammed before he lost his memory, he makes it back to the human realm. Since this could be the last project for both Sakaguchi and legendary composer Nobuo Uematsu, I can think of no better inspiration for the twin fathers of the venerable series.ĭespite being an Apple Arcade title, which means you will likely be playing it on a mobile device, Fantasian is very much a full-fledged RPG. This Apple Arcade exclusive has the look and feel of a classic PS1-era Final Fantasy.

Enter Fantasian, the latest RPG from Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi and his studio, Mistwalker. Nostalgia can be a powerful force, and remembering what used to be good two or more decades ago can still make for an excellent adventure in the present day. As much as we want video games and RPGs to look ahead to the future, there is something to be said for looking to the past.