FANTASIAN Neo Dimension Review (Switch)

Dec 4, 2024

Fantasian Neo Dimension intrigues with its visuals and combat but struggles with pacing and narrative, earning a 7/10.

: Fantasian Neo Dimension, created by Hironobu Sakaguchi and Mistwalker, offers a nostalgic JRPG experience with stunning diorama visuals and strategic combat. The game includes a Memory system similar to Lost Odyssey and unique Dimengeon to store monsters. Despite these features, it faces criticism for uneven pacing, a lackluster story, and some technical hiccups on the Switch. The version reviewed adds features like voice acting and difficulty modes, aiming for both challenge seekers and casual players.

Fantasian Neo Dimension is a tribute to classic JRPGs, brought to life by industry legend Hironobu Sakaguchi and Mistwalker. It captures the nostalgic feel of the genre with its visually striking world built from over 160 handcrafted dioramas, complemented by Nobuo Uematsu’s soundtrack, though not his finest work.

The narrative follows protagonist Leo in a dimension-hopping quest, enriched by a Memory system reminiscent of 'A Thousand Years of Dreams' from Lost Odyssey. Combat is strategic, with turn-based mechanics and the innovative Dimengeon feature, though it is hampered by repetition and the game’s inadvertent pacing issues.

On the Nintendo Switch, Fantasian presents beautifully, albeit with occasional performance hiccups. Features added to the console version, like full voice acting and a new difficulty mode, aim to broaden its appeal. However, uneven storytelling and extended combat scenarios challenge its success as a modern RPG classic, resulting in a score of 7/10.