Imagine a world where FF7 never became 3D!
What if Square Enix hadn’t taken that bold step in 1997? What if Final Fantasy had remained true to 2D pixel graphics and never ventured into the realm of 3D graphics?
This is the question prompting the new trailer for Final Fantasy: Resonance to envision, offering a captivating vision of an alternate world where the series never experienced the technological leap that changed its history.
In this scenario, we might have seen the famed HD-2D style years before it actually emerged, but it is certain that Final Fantasy: Resonance seems to be one of the most beautiful representations of this style to date.
Although the trailer doesn’t state it directly, it clearly hints at imagining a world where Final Fantasy VII was not released in 3D graphics.
Final Fantasy VII was the first game in the series to adopt 3D graphics, at a time when this technology was still in its infancy, making the project a real gamble for Square before its merger with Enix.
To achieve its vision, the company had to abandon traditional discs and switch to CD-ROMs, which allowed for the use of pre-rendered backgrounds and high-quality sound effects.
The risk was not just technical but financial as well.
Square allocated an enormous budget for the project, so much that the entire company's success became reliant on the success of Final Fantasy VII.
The development team also had to quickly learn 3D game design and expand its capabilities to meet the project's ambitions.
But in the end, the gamble paid off, as the game turned into a global phenomenon and achieved incredible sales, with its impact still felt today, to the extent that it received a Remake Trilogy.
Years later, Cloud and Sephiroth appeared in the mobile game Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, but acquiring them depended on luck through the Gacha system.
Among the game's most notable features back then was that rare characters had stunning cinematic showcases for their Limit Break attacks, especially Cloud and Sephiroth who had remarkable combat scenes.
However, Final Fantasy: Resonance completely does away with these elements.
The game will not feature the famous Final Fantasy series characters, as all free-to-play systems and Gacha mechanics have been removed, focusing instead on its own world and original story.
The game will revolve around a group of original characters, who will embark on a journey to protect the crystals scattered around the world from a mysterious organization known as Sworn Eight of Paladia.
Final Fantasy: Resonance is set to be released on October 22nd for PC and consoles. However, the report advises players wishing to buy it on Nintendo Switch to think carefully about the platform they choose, as Square Enix typically does not provide free upgrade paths between its HD-2D style game versions.
I have loved video games since the days of the Family Computer, preferring adventure games like Tomb Raider and Assassins Creed (before shifting to RPGs), and I hold no bias towards any home console as the best is the one that offers the most outstanding games. What matters to me are experiences with engaging storytelling, as the story is the essence of enjoyment beyond gameplay.