FINAL FANTASY RESONANCE Details Classic Hero Visions & Mysidia

Square Enix has rolled out a substantial batch of new details for FINAL FANTASY RESONANCE, giving you a better idea of the world, turn-based battles, and progression. The game is also leaning heavily into the series' history, with familiar heroes returning as visions that can fight alongside the main cast.

The world of FINAL FANTASY RESONANCE is built around several important locations and conflicts. The Zoldaad Empire is a major military power and the home of the fire crystal. It reportedly relies on airships and magitech weapons while expanding its influence by invading neighboring nations. Life under the empire is difficult, and growing unrest has led to a rebel army determined to push back against its rule.

FINAL FANTASY RESONANCE also gives you a very different side of the setting through Mysidia.

Known in legends as a city of mages, its actual fate remains uncertain. Some stories say the city was destroyed long ago, while others insist it still exists. Mysidia was once home to an advanced magical civilization and is associated with the ice crystal.

Several original characters have received more attention as well. Jake, voiced in English by Jonah Scott, leads the rebellion against Zoldaad. Jake is easygoing and easily distracted, but deeply committed to helping his people escape the empire's control. His luck-based abilities include Coin Toss and Gamble Shot.

Sakura is an old sage hailing from Mysidia who cannot always be judged by her looks. Even though she seems to be quite young, the way she talks implies that she is older. Sakura’s magical prowess is beyond any question. The party will also meet some members of the Sworn Six: Veritas of the Flame, Veritas of Earth, and Veritas of Light.

The first one is capable of taking any physical damage and bringing the enemy down with an axe strike. Veritas of Earth is a very honorable person looking for more powerful opponents, even if it goes against his orders. Veritas of Earth uses a heavy shield and earth magic.

Veritas of Light is a very unpredictable character.

This unpredictable nature leads to her becoming very angry without any particular reason. Her attacks combine devastating light-based power with cannons built into her gauntlet. In FINAL FANTASY RESONANCE, the turn-based combat system has some familiar RPG mechanics. Characters can build a limit gauge by taking damage or staggering enemies.

Once the gauge is filled, you can unleash a limit burst. Others cause massive destruction, while some enhance your team. One of the most defining aspects of the game is the vision system, where the visions themselves directly help you progress in the game.

Vision crystals contain the essence of legendary heroes, including characters from other Final Fantasy games, and equipping one lets that hero fight beside Rain and his companions. You can use their magic and abilities, while building a stronger bond with a particular vision unlocks additional abilities.

There is also a resonance mechanic tied to staggering enemies. If you stagger every enemy in a single turn, you can trigger a resonance with your equipped vision and unleash an especially powerful attack. Vision crystals can be found at sanctuaries of light around the world. Progression does not stop there.

During your journey, you will find materials that allow visions to be awakened.

Awakening improves their abilities and gives them access to stronger skills and magic. However, magistite is limited, so you cannot simply power up everything without making choices. Each vision has three awakening stages, with later stages requiring higher grades of magistite. Magic can be discovered while exploring dungeons.

You can find spells in treasure chests or earn them by defeating particularly dangerous monsters, giving you another reason to explore. FINAL FANTASY RESONANCE has also detailed a number of original vision characters. Amelia serves as a maid to the empire's crown prince and fights with a Zoldaad-style gun while using fire attacks. One ability can occasionally let her repeat an attack.

Camille is an experienced mercenary who uses water and earth attacks and can gain abilities that improve her strength and speed. Wilhelm, an imperial general, is built around defense. He wears extremely durable armor and can draw the attention of enemies toward himself at the beginning of a battle, effectively becoming the party's shield.

Victoria is a black mage with a connection to Sakura, using dark magic along with spells that can inflict poison and silence. Ayaka is a frontier-born white mage selected by Sakura as her student. Her role is focused on keeping the rest of the party alive, restoring HP and removing negative status effects when necessary.

The crossover side is where FINAL FANTASY RESONANCE gets especially interesting, especially for players who enjoy turn-based battles.

Firion, the young rebel who fought against the Emperor of Palamecia, returns as a vision and specializes in staggering opponents with wind, lightning, and light-based physical attacks. Onion Knight is also included, bringing fire, wind, and earth magic that becomes more powerful as the limit gauge fills.

Vaan from Final Fantasy 12 is another addition. The orphan from the former kingdom of Dalmasca can use fire and earth physical attacks, while his abilities can sometimes cause a staggered enemy to lose its next turn. Lightning from Final Fantasy 13 has also been confirmed, and she is particularly focused on staggering enemies. Her abilities can further increase her effectiveness in that area.

For anyone who grew up with Final Fantasy 13, seeing Lightning return is a notable addition. Noctis from Final Fantasy 15 is part of the lineup too. As the crown prince of Lucis, he comes from a kingdom where modern technology developed alongside the power of its crystal. In battle, he combines ice and lightning magic with a barrage of light physical attacks.

Clive from Final Fantasy 16 rounds out another major part of the lineup. As the firstborn son of Rosaria's Archduke, he is built around staggering enemies and dealing heavy damage through fire- and wind-based physical attacks. His presence adds one of the newest mainline protagonists.

The summons, or espers, add another layer to battles in FINAL FANTASY RESONANCE.

These beings of immense strength may aid you for three rounds before performing an attack that will deal massive damage. Carbuncle is one such being, using the ruby on its head to perform a spell called Ruby Light, which reflects magic attacks on your party. Leviathan takes a more direct offensive approach. The sea serpent can use Tsunami to deal heavy water damage to every enemy.

Odin is also part of the lineup, while Bahamut appears as one of the strongest options, with Megaflare dealing massive non-elemental damage to every enemy. If you like pushing an RPG beyond its main storyline, there is plenty waiting for you. Powerful monsters are scattered throughout the many caves and can drop magic and materials used for awakening visions.

These optional encounters are aimed at players who want stronger parties and tougher fights. There are also secret high-difficulty dungeons outside the main story. These optional challenges give you somewhere to test a fully developed party. Gilgamesh is another optional opponent.

During the adventure, you will encounter the mysterious swordsman, eventually leading to a final battle on a notably large bridge. Because this is optional, you will need to be properly prepared before taking him on. At the end of the journey, Ultimate Weapon awaits as another major challenge.

The enemy has enormous strength and stamina, so you will need to bring together everything earned throughout the adventure before the fight.

FINAL FANTASY RESONANCE is scheduled to launch on October 22 for PS5, XBOX Series consoles, Switch, Switch 2, and PC through Steam and the Microsoft Store. Bartz from Final Fantasy 5 has also been confirmed as another vision, adding another classic character to the roster. For anyone waiting for the series to revisit turn-based combat, this title offers an interesting route.

The crossover roster adds another hook, while progression, espers, dungeons and optional bosses give you plenty beyond the main adventure. FINAL FANTASY RESONANCE: Myidia also seems to be using its connections to earlier games as more than simple cameos. The ability to build bonds with returning heroes and unlock more of their abilities gives those characters a practical role in progression.

Whether you are most interested in Lightning, Clive, Noctis, Firion or another classic hero, there is a sizeable selection to work with. With its new setting, crystal conflict, familiar characters and traditional turn-based combat structure, the game draws from several generations of the franchise while still building its own identity.