Games Happy

Fantasian Neo Dimension from Mistwalker and Sq. Enix has lastly arrived on consoles and PC following its debut on Apple Arcade just a few years in the past. Once I first performed it again in 2021 on my iPhone and iPad, given Apple’s involvement, I by no means thought it might be ported past possibly PC. To see it not solely arrive on consoles, but in addition get some extra options, has been nice. Forward of right this moment’s launch, I have been taking part in Fantasian Neo Dimension on each Nintendo Change and Xbox Collection X to jot down about the way it feels on each consoles. I doubtless will replace this once I get my PS5 bodily version and have examined it there, however for now I needed to cowl how Fantasian Neo Dimension feels on Nintendo Change, Xbox, and the way each evaluate to the Apple Arcade model. 

Once I first performed Fantasian on Apple Arcade, I bumped into just a few minor efficiency points. Barring that, it performed effectively and appeared wonderful. There are some situations the place the digital camera zooming into particular diorama parts appeared blurry or the place sure results really feel misplaced, nevertheless it was a cultured sport on the units I attempted it on. I revisited it a 12 months in the past on a MacBook Air with M1 chip and in addition my iPhone 15 Professional. Fantasian on Apple Arcade was capped at 60fps and mainly ran virtually completely even on barely older units. When Fantasian Neo Dimension was introduced, I used to be curious to see how the sport would scale throughout the board. I additionally re-downloaded Fantasian on my previous iPad Air 2 as a degree of comparability for load instances and efficiency. 

Fantasian Neo Dimension new options

Earlier than stepping into efficiency, load instances, and visible variations, Fantasian Neo Dimension has just a few helpful options over the unique Apple Arcade sport. These are a brand new simpler issue choice (laborious mode right here is the Apple Arcade’s issue), a battle music selector with Ultimate Fantasy music, and voice appearing (each English and Japanese). It’s unclear if any of those will probably be patched into the Apple Arcade authentic. 

Fantasian Neo Dimension – Nintendo Change load instances

I will lower to the chase right here and spotlight the most important challenge Fantasian Neo Dimension has on Nintendo Change proper now: the load instances. Some video games taking longer to load particular issues on Nintendo’s hybrid system is not a brand new phenomenon, however each little transition in Fantasian Neo Dimension has an extended than anticipated loading display right here. This all provides up in a sport with a number of battles and display transitions. 

Fantasian on Apple Arcade did not have points on this entrance except you performed on the oldest supported units. For some perspective, Fantasian on an iPad Air 2 (2014 mannequin) takes about 9 seconds to load the primary story battle and eight seconds for the subsequent few battles. The Nintendo Change model performed on my Nintendo Change OLED mannequin takes about 8 seconds for a similar first encounter. Even for random battles, the Change took at the very least 6-7 seconds at minimal in comparison with 3 seconds or much less for the Xbox Collection X model. The latter mainly matches the Apple Arcade authentic on my iPhone 15 Professional. Fantasian Neo Dimension additionally provides a small loading indicator to the battle display transition or any transition in between places. The Apple Arcade authentic simply had the transition with none loading indicator. This alteration is sweet as Fantasian on older Apple units typically felt prefer it was frozen when it simply had a prolonged loading transition.

Within the first city, going out and in of any store or constructing sees a brief 1-2 second transition within the Apple Arcade authentic on my iPhone. On Change, even this could take as much as 5 seconds. These add up, and when coupled with some efficiency points on Change, I want we noticed a greater conversion right here for Nintendo’s hybrid console. The Xbox Collection X model then again matches the Apple Arcade sport on my iPhone 15 Professional in relation to loading out and in of any retailers or buildings. 

After just a few hours of taking part in, I needed to ensure these load instances weren’t due to any potential SD card points. I reinstalled the sport on the inner reminiscence on my Nintendo Change OLED and retested it on not solely my previous saves, but in addition on a model new file. I had the identical outcomes sadly. I hope potential patches can tackle this, however as of this writing, the Change port of Fantasian Neo Dimension leaves rather a lot to be desired. 

Fantasian Neo Dimension – visible and efficiency upgrades over Apple Arcade

Fantasian on Apple Arcade provided two body price choices (30fps and 60fps) and two graphics high quality choices (high and low). On Xbox Collection X and PS5, Sq. Enix has additionally confirmed 4K assist, and Fantasian Neo Dimension appears beautiful on Xbox Collection X for probably the most half. There are some areas the place the zoomed in digital camera reveals some decrease high quality textures within the scans. I additionally observed some UI components have not been up to date for increased decision shows. These appeared high-quality on the small display taking part in on iPhone, however they stick out on my TV just like the save level. Barring that, I’ve no main complaints with how Fantasian Neo Dimension performs and appears on Xbox Collection X. Fantasian itself appeared nice on fashionable Apple units, however seeing the Xbox Collection X model of Fantasian Neo Dimension on my 1440p monitor is nice. 

Transferring over to Nintendo Change, Fantasian Neo Dimension made an amazing first impression with a 60fps goal and it trying crisp in handheld mode. Issues went downhill shortly because of the load instances which I lined above, however the body price goal is not met in most places. You see this within the first city the place the body price fluctuates a bit. When roaming round on the world map, the body price can also be not constant. The efficiency points on Change will not be a deal-breaker given the {hardware} and the way some video games utilizing the identical engine carry out, however the load instances undoubtedly are. Fantasian Neo Dimension might’ve performed with some post-processing for the principle fashions on Change as effectively as a result of you possibly can visibly see a number of jagged edges and a few shimmering, however once more, none of those are as a lot of a difficulty because the load instances. 

The Change port other than the load instances and a few efficiency points is healthier than I anticipated with its 60fps goal (that’s held up effectively in lots of areas) and with how good it appears in handheld mode. Regardless of being designed for Apple Arcade, Fantasian Neo Dimension’s aesthetic shines at a lot increased resolutions on Xbox Collection X and in addition on the Change’s OLED display.

Is it price getting Fantasian Neo Dimension on console in the event you already performed it on Apple Arcade?

If you wish to replay Fantasian, Fantasian Neo Dimension is well one of the best model of Mistwalker’s RPG. I adored the unique and was at all times planning to replay it, however in the event you do not care concerning the voice appearing and simpler issue, there is not a lot of observe right here to warrant a double dip. For newcomers to Fantasian, Fantasian Neo Dimension is a necessary RPG, and one I like to recommend. I hoped for a much bigger visible improve in components and a number of the graphical quirks the unique needed to be addressed, however Fantasian Neo Dimension is the definitive model of a superb RPG.