Final Fantasy Dimensions, a retro-looking throwback to the 16-bit era of the series, was released on iOS a few days ago. While there are a few issues with this title at first glance, a classic-style FF is not something that gets released all that often nowadays. After playing through the free Prologue chapter, I got over my minor issues and didn't hesitate to invest money to see more of it.
Dimensions is very similar to Final Fantasy V, including a job class system, and even certain storyline elements are obviously taken from the game. The aesthetic is very "SNES", graphics-wise, and hits hard in the nostalgia department for anyone who holds that era of FF dear. That being said, something about this game just looks... off. The game honestly comes across, at first glance, as some sort of an RPG Maker-like FF clone. While I appreciated the very easy-to-read text, the menus and text boxes lack any sort of character whatsoever. The sprites also feel slightly off, possibly due to their upscaled nature.
That being said, the slightly odd visuals are something that, if they bother you, will only bother you at first. Gradually, I got over my reservations about them and ended up not really noticing anymore.
The game's music is simply excellent, by the way, and it's worth downloading the Prologue just to hear it. The "classic FF battle intro" chords are present, and the traditional victory music is back in full force as well.
Gameplay-wise, the game will be familiar to anyone with experience in classic Final Fantasy. Besides the job class system, the game sports a "two party" concept, which switches between the Warriors of Light and the Warriors of Darkness at certain points. The dynamic of two different perspectives is a welcome new idea and keeps things fresh.
I personally didn't have many issues with the touch controls. There are a few different control schemes to choose from, which I'd recommend experimenting with to find out what works best for you. Battles run smoothly and I never felt like I was at a disadvantage due to the controls. The game has options for "active" or "wait" for the ATB system. Those who feel unsure about their reaction times with the touch controls are probably better off leaving it at the default of "wait", at least at first.
In fact, the only time I had a problem with the controls was when I was checking multiple barrels/pots for items, as maneuvering up to them and examining them was a bit tedious. Still, I grew accustomed to the controls much quicker than I thought I would, even if I'd prefer physical controls any day.
On to perhaps the most pressing matter of them all... its status as an iOS game. The choice of smartphones as the game's platform is kind of a "glass half full/glass half empty" situation. On the one hand, it would be much more preferable if the game was released on the 3DS eShop or as a downloadable PSP/Vita title. Physical controls benefit 2D RPGs more than any other kind, and the market for a 16-bit throwback FF game would undoubtedly prefer to access it via a "proper handheld". In fact, I have no doubt that its current platform will only hinder access to the people who would care about this game the most.
On the other hand, this game originated as a cellphone game in Japan, which is a codeword for "you will never play this game ever" to English-speakers. Dimensions is essentially an HD remake of said game, and its price point is actually lower than the original's. If the options are "iOS or nothing", then this is clearly the better choice. Thinking about it that way, I've begun to get over my reservations about the game, while still wishing for it to appear on a handheld console, perhaps futilely.
Speaking of the price point, $30 for an iOS game might seem steep. The game does include the aforementioned free Prologue chapter which will introduce the basics of gameplay and give you a couple of dungeons to explore. However, the first chapter you have to pay for is less than $3, and that will give you access to the job system and quite a bit of game for the price. Paying for the chapters individually will only end up costing you a tiny amount more than paying for the bundle, and I definitely recommend buying them one at a time if you're unsure.
Overall, Final Fantasy Dimensions is an odd game to categorize. It's clearly aiming for nostalgia points and the classic FF market, but on a platform that isn't all that friendly to the concept. If you're a fan of this kind of game and can get over those issues, though, it's a worthwhile investment. This sort of Final Fantasy doesn't come around all that often anymore, and considering the fact that it's been saved from "Japanese cellphone game limbo", it's something I've decided to cherish.
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