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When we thought gaming couldn’t get any better, 2024 raised the bar once again. Gamers have been eating well over the past year, and we have the excellent developers behind our favorite games to thank for that. This International Women’s Day, we’re honoring six game makers who made the year better via their contributions to our favorite video games. The list is by no means exhaustive, but hopefully shouting out just a few incredible women who work on games, it will encourage more people to look behind the curtain at just who brings these amazing experiences to life. Here's our list of six games you should check out below:

Pinki Li – Writer, 1000xResist 2e2f1c

1000xResist is one of the standout releases of last year. Telling the story of a society cloned from a single teenage girl immune to a disease that devastated the planet, 1000xResist examines everything from Chinese diaspora in Canada, and the building of culture from nothing, to the internal struggle of burden, and loss.

It is not an easy story to tell, and even just playing through it you will need to take time to digest it. However, as one of the main writers on the project Pinki Li tackles these topics with grace, and nuance, while not shying away from showing a darker side to emmigration. 1000xResist’s power comes from the strength of its narrative, and we have Pinki Li to thank for that. It is a powerful game, a powerful narrative, and a powerful experience, and one of the must play games of the last 12 months.

1000xResist launched on May 9, 2024, and is available on PC and Nintendo Switch.

Azusa Kido – Director of daily events, Metaphor: ReFantazio 4q5c4m

Metaphor: ReFantazio is indisputably one of the best games of last year. Developer Studio Zero took their work on the modern Persona series and elevated it to a whole new level with changes that go beyond the high-fantasy setting. Metaphor: ReFantazio splits the gameplay, and story between dungeon-crawling action, improving your Kingly Virtues, and forming tighter bonds with the people you meet.

Metaphor: ReFantazio’s biggest improvement over the Persona series is the wider variety of actions you can do when not on the critical path, and the more lenient time frame you have to complete them. We can thank the director of daily events Azusa Kido for these improvements, as she worked to tweak the formula, make daily life more engaging, and give players more options to individualize their playthroughs. As one of the many amazing women in gaming, Kido’s contribution to Metaphor: ReFantazio is one of the most important additions to the game.

Metaphor: ReFantazio was released on October 11, 2024, and is available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, and PS5. 

Anna Todich and Anastasia Dyachuk – Actors, Indika 3t7010

Indika is one of the most singular experiences of 2024. There is no other game I can compare it to. It tells the story of a Russian nun who is ostracized from her community as she suffers a mental health crisis. She begins to have a crisis of faith, and on her journey to deliver a letter, comes across a dying man, who believes he can be healed by visiting a holy artifact, the Kudets, and she decides to him hoping to heal herself and reclaim her faith.

Anna Todich voices the titular Indika, and Anastasia Dyachuk worked as her face model making for a dynamic duo of women in gaming. With so few characters in the game, Indika’s strength is in the skill of its actors. Indika’s inner torment can be read through her facial expression and her voice, and as a character study, Indika would not be as incredible as it is without the work of these actors.

Indika launched on May 2, 2024, and is available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5.

Åsa Wallander – 2D artist, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes 6h1354

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes was developed by Simogo, the same team that created the rhythm-based acid trip Sayonara Wild Hearts. Before I talk about the game and Åsa Wallander’s contributions, I want to shout out Simogo in general for highlighting each of its developers and giving them all the recognition they deserve. Developers are the lifeblood of the industry and they deserve so much more recognition than they receive. 

If Celeste is the hardest platformer anyone can beat, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is the hardest puzzle game anyone can beat, if they put in the effort without immediately giving up the ghost. It will make you feel the smartest and dumbest you’ve ever been all at once. Åsa Wallander’s work is not meant to be noticed; it’s the type of work that players only notice when it’s done poorly. The environmental art is a masterclass in style, sucking you into the world that is beholden to no particular period leaving you with a sense of unease. If you appreciated the atmosphere of Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, Åsa Wallander is to thank.

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes was released on May 16, 2024, and is now available on PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, and PS5.

Saho Nishikawa – Producer, Fantasian: Neo Dimension xhc

Square Enix and RPGs go hand-in-hand, and not only does the company love producing them, but it is excellent at doing so. Not only that but Fantasian: Neo Dimension was developed by Mistwalker, best known for creating the Wii cult classic, The Last Story. From this pedigree it seemed inevitable that Fantasian: Neo Dimension would be an excellent game, but there is something specific that sets it apart.

Every background, every environment, every scene, is created physically before being put into the game. Everything except the sprites and the UI, including the towns and the battle grounds are dioramas; real life paper craft, and models that make up the backgrounds. It takes the 2D-HD art style that became popular with Octopath Traveler and pushes it to the next level. Producer Saho Nishikawa’s work focused on the creation of these dioramas, alongside the special effects that make them blend so seamlessly into the game. We hope that more women in gaming push game art like this in the future.

Fantasian: Neo Dimension was released on December 5, 2024, for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

The post International Women’s Day in Gaming – Six Incredible Game Makers That Made Our Year appeared first on Siliconera.

Square Enix and Mistwalker announced that there’s a way to test out if you’ll like Fantasian Neo Dimension ahead of buying it now, as it released a demo after launch. It debuted the evening of December 16, 2024. It is immediately available on consoles and Windows PCs. It isn’t on iOS devices or Macs, as the original game is still part of the Apple Arcade subscription.

Here are the direct links to the Fantasian Neo Dimension demo on each storefront. Note that the full game costs $49.99.

• Nintendo Switch: eShop
• PC: Steam
• PS5: PlayStation Store 
• Xbox Series X: Microsoft Store

The companies didn’t note how long this trial is. However, it does include a sample of the introduction. This means that once you go through it, you can make saves and then eventually carry those over to the full version if you choose to purchase it. No bonuses were mentioned for doing so. (In some cases, a game may offer additional items or equipment if you carry over a save file.)

As a reminder, this version of Fantasian isn't just the full game all at once. (The Apple Arcade version released while in-development in two parts.) It also includes a new difficulty option and extra music that can be used as the soundtrack while you play.

Fantasian Neo Dimension is immediately available on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, and everyone can find a free demo online now. The original Fantasian is available via Apple Arcade for Macs and iOS devices. 

The post You Can Try Fantasian Neo Dimension Before You Buy With a Demo appeared first on Siliconera.

I subscribed to Apple Arcade back in 2021 for one game alone: Fantasian. I only ended up putting about eight hours into the Mistwalker and Hironobu Sakaguchi JRPG due to the subscription model and mobile format. Thankfully, I finally fixed that issue with the release of Fantasian Neo Dimension, which cements this JRPG as a worthy Final Fantasy-like game every JRPG fan should check out.

If you put Fantasian in front of me and told me it was a remaster or remake of a classic PS1 or PS2 JRPG, I’d be likely to believe you. It fits right in with some of the greats of the genre, like Final Fantasy X, Chrono Trigger, and Final Fantasy VII. The opening of the JRPG begins with an amnesiac protagonist named Leo fighting his way through a futuristic robotic factory.

This opening dungeon wastes no time whatsoever in ushering the player into the action, much like the start of Final Fantasy VII. Fantasian Neo Dimension feels like the perfect blend of Sakaguchi’s previous Mistwalker works like Lost Odyssey and his time at Square Enix working on the Final Fantasy series. It has wonderful aspects of both experiences at the same time.

For one, there is the amnesia and visual novel-like memories that come straight out of Lost Odyssey. There is a lot of rich lore to this world, including the Mechteria menace that is invading everywhere and destroying everything. Much of this backstory plays out in the form of memories that are stunning, unforgettable, visual novel vignettes.

Then there is the combination of the general gameplay and vibes found in this JRPG. This is where the Final Fantasy element comes into play. The turn-based combat feels like a flashier, more flexible version of the first 10 or so mainline titles. Players can pick various skills, attacks, and items to use in combat each turn. This will all feel familiar to existing JRPG fans. The twist, though, comes into play with the fluidity of attacks.

You can use the thumbstick of your controller to bend your attacks. Most skills use a line to target enemies, but you can twist this line to be more angular. This allows you to bend around the edge of the arena, for instance, and hit three enemies at once, rather than one. It is a fascinating system, and most skills allow its use. This makes every single turn you make a strategic endeavor to find the most efficient way to attack.

You’ll want to do this too, because Fantasian Neo Dimension is a highly challenging game. Fortunately, this version comes with two difficulty modes: Normal and Hard. Hard is the previous difficulty from the Apple Arcade version. I shamelessly played on the Normal difficulty this time around, and it feels much more balanced and welcoming. That said, this is still one of the most challenging JRPGs I've experienced in a long time.

Even grinding levels and being overleveled does little to help you here. Bosses still have some of the most intense and ridiculously difficult strategies found in modern JRPGs. I appreciate how every boss pretty much has their own unique idea and concept. One boss might have arms you have to defeat first to reduce its skills set and make it weaker. But then you might have another boss that summons minions that it consumes if you don’t defeat them fast enough to do a powerful, near-party-wiping attack.

Fantasian: Neo Dimension is the type of game where you can expect to see the "game over" screen. That said, the exhilaration of defeating the bosses is one I haven’t felt in quite a while. It helps that the other parts of the JRPG match the level of the combat. Exploration, for instance, looks constantly beautiful due to the hand-crafted nature of the world. Each area you visit comes from a literal diorama the team made in the real world. There is nothing like this visual style and it continues to impress in its level of detail.

I also found, though, that this diorama idea struck the right balance between non-linearity and pacing. No area feels too large or overwhelming to explore. But, at the same time, there are enough rooms and branching paths in dungeons to warrant exploration, with tons of chests and items around every corner.

Then there is the story itself. It may not reach the heights of Lost Odyssey, for example, but it doesn’t need to. This is a tale where the characters take center stage, and I actually like this cast a bit more than the ones found in Mistwalker’s past works. The dynamic between the three leads of Leo, Cheryl, and Kina is reminiscent of the triangle of Cloud, Tifa, and Aerith in the best way possible, all without copying it too much.

The constant banter between the party is consistently great. I won’t dive into the other party who appear later on, but every member of the group quickly became a favorite of mine for different reasons. Better yet, Fantasian Neo Dimension does a fantastic job of ensuring every party member plays widely different from one another. Kina, for instance, is your typical White Mage character with heals. But Cheryl is like a Summoner, able to rely on her ancestral knight summons to deal impressive damage. There are some even more neat additions later on as well, spoilers aside.

Voice acting is finally available in Fantasian Neo Dimension, and it helps flesh out the party . Whether you pick to play in Japanese or English, these aspects really bring the story and characters to life. Another new feature with this release is the addition of Final Fantasy songs. I wish it was easier to pick songs, as they are generally tied to types of fights like boss fights, normal fights, and so on. Still, being able to play with one of my favorite recent FFXIV Dawntrail tracks was a great addition.

And this is all before including the Dimengeon feature. Grinding in Fantasian Neo Dimension is a breeze because you can avoid random encounters, and instead store them to fight all at once later on. It is fascinating ideas like this that make this game one of my favorite JRPGs in recent memory. In fact, I had more fun with Fantasian than the most recent mainline Final Fantasy title.

After all, Fantasian Neo Dimension is the best way to play this Mistwalker JRPG. The sharper visuals and resolution make this truly pop in a beautiful way on the Nintendo Switch, where I played it. The story, characters, and fluid turn-based gameplay are high quality enough to feel like a classic spin-off of the Final Fantasy series. If you like JRPGs, don’t miss out on one of my favorite releases in 2024 during a year jam-packed full of thrilling releases.

Fantasian Neo Dimension releases for Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on December 5, 2024.

The post Review: Fantasian Neo Dimension Feels Like a Final Fantasy Spin-off appeared first on Siliconera.

Mistwalker is the legendary, arguably underrated studio from Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi. After Sakaguchi’s split from Square Enix, he founded this studio. Certainly, the studio doesn’t have the success it deserves. But this doesn’t mean it doesn’t have excellent games worth checking out. So, what is the best Mistwalker JRPG?

Mistwalker has phenomenal titles like Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, Fantasian, and more. These JRPGs are well worth your time. When it comes to the best one out of these in of visuals, story, characters, and gameplay, though, there is only one answer.

Siliconera Speaks Up: Our Favorite Mistwalker JRPG n6yx

Lost Odyssey was, strangely enough, one of the first JRPGs I ever played and a game that ranks highly for me in the overall genre. Since I only ever had a Nintendo handheld for Pokemon or an Xbox console growing up, I missed out on just about every JRPG out there for a long time. My general knowledge and experience from playing Final Fantasy XII when I borrowed a PS2 for a short time got me to check out this game and I adored it.

The story of Lost Odyssey is incredibly unique with its tale of immortals, the little visual novel-like stories you find throughout is such a novel idea, and the turn-based combat still holds up well today. Sadly, I never finished it as my disc got scratched up when I was likely around 75% through. I’m really hoping for a remaster someday so I can finally see it through to the conclusion. Of the incredible Mistwalker JRPGs, Lost Odyssey stands out as the best for me. That said, I also enjoyed my time with Fantasian for a bit on my iPad. I never finished it but it has some neat ideas of its own. I look forward to completing it with Fantasian: Neo Dimension soon. -- Cody

Fantasian: Neo Dimension releases for Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on December 5, 2024.

The post What’s the Best Mistwalker JRPG? appeared first on Siliconera.

Hironobu Sakaguchi of Mistwalker teased the next game for the studio. The developer said that the Fantasian team is currently working on the new title and its scope is smaller compared to a AAA title. [Thanks, ryokutya2089!]

According to leaker ryokutya2089, Sakaguchi teased his next work in a recent interview with Famitsu about the release of Fantasian Neo Dimension. Sakaguchi said that the next project is currently in production with only 4 programmers working on it and it is "a game that you would never imagine."

The platforms in which Fantasian Neo Dimension would be released were decided by Square Enix. Sakaguchi said that he is not very savvy about the game market nowadays, so he thought releasing it only on PS5 out of the Sony family of consoles would be enough, but the company knew they game should also be released for the PS4.

Sakaguchi also said that learning that Mistwalker would return to Xbox consoles with the release of Fantasian Neo Dimension was a very moving moment. Likewise, knowing the game would release for PlayStation consoles took Sakaguchi back to the time of the original Final Fantasy VII release. Sakaguchi said that Fantasian Neo Dimension will be available on 4K on PS5, Xbox Series X, and Steam, and he wants players to be able to see the rustic aspects of the dioramas, such as the glue marks.

Hironobu Sakaguchi announced that he was working on a new game with Mistwalker in late 2023, and revealed that he was working on writing a new scenario in early 2024.

Fantasian Neo Dimension will come to the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC on December 5, 2024. Fantasian is also readily available on Apple Arcade.

The post Hironobu Sakaguchi Teasing New Mistwalker Game appeared first on Siliconera.

We’ll be able to choose how our Fantasian Neo Dimension physical copies look on shelves, as Mistwalker and Square Enix showed the reversible cover on the Switch version of the game. While one side shows the general art with the main cast, the other option is more artistic.

The primary cover art for Fantasian Neo Dimension focuses on Leo and his allies. He appears at the bottom, and we see Zinikr, Kina, Cheryl, Ez, Valrika, Tan, and even Prickle posed above him. The interior option has Leo with Kina and Cheryl on either side of them as they pose on a staircase, while something of a spoiler character appears on the opposing side.

Here is the official social media post showing the default cover art for the Switch version of Fantasian Neo Dimension, as well as the reversible option that initially is hidden on the other side.

It isn’t just the new version of the game that’s about to debut. There will also be a detailed book from Mistwalker and Square Enix going over the title and its development. However, so far the companies only confirmed that Fantasian Neo Dimension Official Setting will launch in Japan in December 2024.

Fantasian Neo Dimension will come to the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC on December 5, 2024. Fantasian is also readily available on Apple Arcade.

The post Fantasian Neo Dimension Switch Reversible Cover Shown appeared first on Siliconera.

Square Enix is now accepting pre-orders for a new Fantasian: Neo Dimension Official Setting book containing information about the setting of the game. The book will include an introduction by producer and writer Hironobu Sakaguchi. It is only confirmed for Japan, at the moment, and debuts in December.

The Fantasian: Neo Dimension Official Setting book costs 2,640 yen (or approximately $17.22), and it is now available for pre-order from the Square Enix e-Store. The volume has only been announced in Japan so far, and it is set to release on December 5, 2024. That is the same day that Fantasian: Neo Dimension will come out on consoles and PCs.

Aside from the introduction from Mistwalker founder Hironobu Sakaguchi, the new book includes a variety of concept art pieces, previously unpublished art and photos of the dioramas used to create the environments of the game, development staff comments, and messages from composer Nobuo Uematsu, various other developers, and the diorama artists. Square Enix warned people that the book will include spoilers up to the very end of the game, so players that purchase it might want to wait until clearing the game to check it out.

The Fantasian: Neo Dimension book costs 2,640 yen (~$17.22) and is now available for pre-order with its release date set for December 5, 2024 in Japan. The game itself will also come out on December 5, 2024 for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC.

The post Fantasian Neo Dimension Setting Book Appears in December appeared first on Siliconera.

Square Enix and Mistwalker shared a new video on the social media for Fantasian Neo Dimension that confirmed it will be the last full game soundtrack composer Nobuo Uematsu worked on. He shared the news in the brief announcement. Uematsu later took to social media to confirm he isn't completely retiring yet.

The reveal began with Uematsu confirming the more widespread version of Fantasian will release on December 5, 2024. Previously, it only appeared on Apple devices via the Apple Arcade subscription service. He followed that up with the statement, “This is my final project as a composer of video game music.” 

Here is the full video: 

In the updated statement, he noted there was a misunderstanding and he would only "cut back a bit" when it would come to composing for video games.

Nobuo Uematsu was tapped as the composer for the original Fantasian game, prior to his announcement that his last project will be the Fantasian Neo Dimension release. Prior to that, he worked on the FFVII Rebirth song “No Promises to Keep,” which is an Aerith theme. His music was included in the original FFVII Remake as well. Uematsu also worked on games like Square Enix’s Dungeon Encounters, FFXIV, and FFXV over the last few years, as well as Mistwalker’s Terra Wars and Terra Battle 2.

Fantasian Neo Dimension will appear on the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on December 5, 2024. The previous version of the JRPG is immediately available on Apple devices like the iPad and Mac via Apple Arcade. 

The post Fantasian Neo Dimension Composer Nobuo Uematsu’s Last Entire Game Soundtrack (Update) appeared first on Siliconera.

When Mistwalker created Fantasian for Apple Arcade, the team built actual dioramas in the real world to use as background and environments in-game, and Square Enix and the developer shared another video going over the process again ahead of Fantasian Neo Dimension’s debut. It shows both the creation of a few dioramas and the filming of them, as well as gameplay of areas that used them.

The Fantasian Neo Dimension video begins with a piece of art, before showing someone working on a diorama based on it. As part of that process, we see how the water around a wall is added. From there, a whole in-game town is depicted from a distance, before a close-up offers a better look at its more unique elements. We then see how that diorama looks in-game as gameplay shows Leo running through the streets. 

At the 43 second mark, we get to see a more detailed series of progress on the game. Things begin with concept art of technological ruins. Then, we get to see the construction of the diorama. The process also included small prototype figures, to help provide a sense of scale for when it appears in-game. We watch as details are added, before we see gameplay at the 1:05 mark.

Here’s the full trailer: 

As a reminder, Hironobu Sakaguchi talked extensively about the development of the Fantasian dioramas back in 2021, going over how they affected gameplay. He also revealed that, after the game development ended, he saved one of the homes used in the process.

Fantasian Neo Dimension will come to the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC on December 5, 2024. Fantasian is also readily available on Apple Arcade.

The post Fantasian Neo Dimension Video Shows Dioramas and Gameplay appeared first on Siliconera.

During the September 2024 State of Play, Sony announced that the release date for the Fantasian Neo Dimension console and PC port is slated for December 5, 2024. As part of the event, Mistwalker founder and Fantasian Producer Hironobu Sakaguchi appeared during the latest broadcast to announce the launch date.

Additionally, Sony and Square Enix released a new gameplay and story trailer for Fantasian Neo Dimension. The trailer showcases the unique real-life diorama pre-rendered backgrounds mixed with 3D character models. Furthermore, the trailer showcased the Dimengeon system, where random enemy encounters can be temporarily stored in order to fight all of them in a row.

Here is the release date trailer for the game:

Fantasian originally appeared as an Apple Arcade exclusive between April and August 2021. Square Enix will be publishing the Fantasian Neo Dimension console and PC port, which was announced earlier this year during the June 2024 Nintendo Direct with a Winter 2024 release window. Final Fantasy XIV Producer Naoki Yoshida and Mistwalker’s Hironobu Sakaguchi talked in the past about both the collaboration between both companies to publish and release.

The Fantasian Neo Dimension release date is set for December 5, 2024 and it will appear for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC via Steam.

The post Fantasian Neo Dimension Release Date Falls on December 2024 appeared first on Siliconera.

Square Enix shared a new video of Naoki Yoshida and Hironobu Sakaguchi talking about Fantasian Neo Dimension, Sakaguchi’s Mistwalker game which Square Enix is publishing and Yoshida is producing with Creative Studio 3. However, in addition to discussing Fantasian, the two also bring up FFXIV. 

The brief clip begins by setting the stage with some introductions. Sakaguchi and Yoshida then note how this is the first time Sakaguchi worked with Square Enix in 25 years. He is one of the founders of Final Fantasy and worked on mainline up until FFXI, as well as spin-offs like FFX-2 and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. From there, Sakaguchi said one of the reasons he “entrusted” Fantasian Neo Dimension to Yoshida is because of the work he’s done as director and producer on the MMORPG. They also tease a release date announcement for the console and PC version of the former Apple Arcade exclusive.

Here is the full video, which ends with Sakaguchi stating, “FFXIV is the best.”

This is the second time we’ve seen commentary from Naoki Yoshida and Hironobu Sakaguchi about Fantasian Neo Dimension. Previously, a Famitsu interview with the two appeared. Among other things, they talked about how this version of the game has voice acting due to Yoshida’s influence and suggestions.

Fantasian Neo Dimension will come to the PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X, and PC in Winter 2024. Fantasian is on Apple devices via Apple Arcade. Final Fantasy XIV is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC.

The post Naoki Yoshida and Hironobu Sakaguchi Talk FFXIV, Fantasian in New Video appeared first on Siliconera.

In an interview with Famitsu for Fantasian Neo Dimension, Naoki Yoshida of Square Enix and Hironobu Sakaguchi of Mistwalker discussed the addition of voice acting in the game. Other updates to the game include 4K resolution for larger screens. [Thanks, Famitsu!]

After the Famitsu interviewer asks the pair about additions to Fantasian Neo Dimension, Yoshida stated that Square Enix really pushed for voice acting. He believes that this would make it easier for both newcomers and veterans of the game to immerse themselves into the world. Sakaguchi states that modern players are used to games with voice acting and that to them, stories are something they watch, rather than read. So voice acting will help increase a player’s motivation to get all the way to the end. That’s why Yoshida heavily suggested it to Sakaguchi.

In response, Sakaguchi said that he doesn’t usually add voice acting to his games but when playing it during the development phase, he was like “Wow, this is amazing!” He wishes to thank Yoshida for the suggestion and understands that Yoshida was so pushy about it because he wanted to make sure as many people as possible could experience the appeal of Fantasian. As a note, the game isn’t fully voice-acted. Random NPCs do not have voice acting so as not to disturb the tempo of the game.

Fantasian Neo Dimension will come out on the PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC some time in Winter 2024.

The post Fantasian Neo Dimension Has Voice Acting Thanks to Yoshida appeared first on Siliconera.

The RPG landscape was beginning to shift in 2007 when Lost Odyssey released. Final Fantasy had begun to favor more stylized and cinematic storytelling. The not-far-off Final Fantasy XIII in particular would limit exploration (to an extent) to serve its deep political and sweeping narrative. In contrast, Lost Odyssey represents a progression of golden age JRPG storytelling, offering players a rich world full of exploration, a great cast of characters, and plenty of discovery along the way.

Created by Final Fantasy's father Hironobu Sakaguchi, Lost Odyssey acted as a spiritual successor to 90's JRPGs. Also, with Uematsu on board for the soundtrack, Lost Odyssey felt like a Final Fantasy game in everything but name.

The game offers a rich, emotional narrative with deep character development, focusing on themes of immortality, loss, and memory. Also, the traditional turn-based combat and richly detailed world feels like a love letter to fans of classic JRPGs.

The characters in Lost Odyssey are one of the game's strongest aspects. A diverse cast of characters Kaim Argonar, the immortal protagonist. Each has their own struggles and backstories deeply intertwined with the game’s central themes.

In of gameplay, Lost Odyssey stays true to those same roots Final Fantasy does. The turn-based combat system is strategic and challenging. The addition of the "Ring System," which adds a timing element to attacks, keeps players engaged during battles. The game also includes traditional exploration and puzzle-solving elements, reminiscent of the earlier Final Fantasy titles.

At the time of its release, Lost Odyssey was part of Microsoft’s strategy to break into the Japanese market. Alongside games like Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey was one of the key titles in Microsoft's attempt to attract Japanese gamers to the Xbox 360. Although these efforts ultimately fell short, Lost Odyssey remains a significant title from this period. It showcases what could have been if Microsoft had succeeded in its ambitions.

Lost Odyssey captured the essence of what many JRPG fans loved about the genre during its golden age. Despite being over a decade old, the game still holds up well, with its timeless story, memorable characters, and classic gameplay mechanics.

In the end, Lost Odyssey represents a separate path from the Final Fantasy series. For fans of classic JRPGs, Lost Odyssey remains a must-play title. A game that stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of the genre and the creative vision of Hironobu Sakaguchi.

Lost Odyssey is currently available as a backwards compatible title on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

The post Lost Odyssey Was a Solid Successor to Pre-Playstation Final Fantasy appeared first on Siliconera.

Mistwalker founder and Fantasian Producer Hironobu Sakaguchi saved one of the real miniature diorama houses created for the RPG and took it back home himself. As a reminder, the Fantasian Neo Dimension console and PC port was revealed during the last Nintendo Direct.

After the announcement, the X (formerly Twitter) official for the game shared one of the real diorama houses created as one of the game assets, as well as how it looks in-game. The post shared said that the developers created over 150 hand-made dioramas to use as backgrounds for Fantasian.

In response to the aforementioned post, Hironobu Sakaguchi himself shared a photo of the same diorama house, and revealed that he took it back home to Honolulu with himself and is now on display at his work room. You can check out the original post here:

Shortly after the announcement of the console and PC port of Fantasian, Sakaguchi also shared on his social media that Square Enix and FFXIV Producer Naoki “Yoshi-P” Yoshida is collaborating with Mistwalker on Fantasian Neo Dimension as publishers.

Fantasian Neo Dimension is currently in development for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC, and it will come out in the 2024 holiday season. Fantasian is also readily available on Apple Arcade.

The post Sakaguchi Saved One of the Fantasian Diorama Houses appeared first on Siliconera.

Three years after its Apple Arcade debut, Fantasian will appear on the Nintendo Switch as Fantasian: Neo Dimension. The June 2024 Nintendo Direct revealed the exclusivity arrangement expired, and people can expect it in the Holiday 2024 season.

Fantasian was one of the early Apple Arcade exclusives, with the first part appearing in April 2021. The second part launched in August 2021, with elements like new game plus also eventually added. In February 2023, creator Hironobu Sakaguchi noted interest in both a PC port and sequel. SteamDB also showed a listing for a PC version of the game back in August 2023. However, it’s only now that a Switch release is confirmed.

Here's the trailer:

In Fantasian, players follow an amnesiac young man named Leo who is currently stuck in the Human Realm. He’s attempting to find out who he is and what happened prior to a Machine Realm. In so doing, he gets caught up in the investigation of Mechteria draining the Human Realm of energy and the fate of the world. It is unique in that Mistwalker created actual dioramas in the real world for the game's environments.

Fantasian is available on Apple Arcade, and it will also come to the Nintendo Switch in the 2024 holiday season.

The post Fantasian Heads to Switch, No Longer Apple Arcade Exclusive appeared first on Siliconera.