Sometimes it's fun to see an old homie you haven't seen in a while. Final Fantasy Resonance understands that, to great effect.
The new throwback-style RPG from Square Enix remixes assets from the mobile game Brave Exvius into a single-player console and PC adventure, complete with turn-based combat inspired by the classics. "Visions," ghostly apparitions of characters from previous Final Fantasy games, are a big part of the combat, with each one imbuing their associated main party member with new powers and powerful special moves that can turn the tide of any fight.
With that in mind, I wanted to take a few minutes to talk about my six favorite visions in Final Fantasy Resonance. Some are here just because I think they're cool, and others because of their role in combat. Let's get into it.
Cloud
This is sort of like including water on a list of best beverages, but I had to do it anyway. Cloud, the protagonist of Final Fantasy VII, is a pretty good Final Fantasy protagonist in his own right, thanks to a compelling case of mistaken identity and a very cool, very big sword.
But what makes him great in Resonance is that, as a vision, he can break the combat wide open. He grants whichever character equips him huge bonuses to critical hit rate and damage. If you play your cards right over the course of the game, you can use Cloud to do unbelievable amounts of damage and end boss fights shockingly quickly. His elemental combination of water and lightning is also useful in many different situations.
Vaan
I should make something clear: I really don't like Vaan, who is technically the main character of Final Fantasy XII. I say "technically" because his inclusion in that game feels like a mistake. He doesn't have much to contribute to the proceedings and is, charitably, like the fifth most interesting character in that game's party. He's also just kind of annoying.
But I'm not here to talk about Final Fantasy XII. I'm here to talk about Resonance, and in Resonance, Vaan can do some incredible things. His vision can automatically jack huge amounts of money and even items from defeated enemies, making it nearly impossible to run out of cash on your adventures. He also has the ability to grant fellow party members more actions per turn. Seriously, Vaan is kind of broken in Resonance, and it has made me respect him more.
Terra
Terra is included on this list for a couple of reasons. First, I just love Final Fantasy VI. It's one of the very best games in the series, and her role in the story is a big part of that. Her journey over the course of that game gives it a solid emotional core and makes her feel like the closest thing its sprawling ensemble cast has to a real protagonist.
She also happens to kick ass as a vision in Resonance. Her loadout is complete with several different kinds of magic and, eventually, an extremely important ability that gives party members the ability to do more than 9,999 damage in one hit. She's arguably the most important vision in the entire game for breaking combat.
Tidus
This is mostly a sentimental inclusion because Final Fantasy X is my favorite game in the series. Tidus is an effective fish-out-of-water protagonist in that game, and his ultimate fate is one of the most heartbreaking moments in video game history.
He's also, as it turns out, a pretty effective vision in Resonance. His elemental affinities for water and wind come in handy in lots of encounters, and his associated party member gets a passive damage bonus just for having any kind of buffs applied to them. Some of his abilities were key to my playthrough, and maybe they can be for yours, too.
Lightning
Lightning is so cool, man. Final Fantasy XIII rocks. The haters can get lost. It's got one of the best combat systems in any RPG, and she's a great protagonist.
She's good in Resonance, too, but that's sort of beside the point. I like the big special move she does when you stagger every enemy onscreen. Check it out when you get the chance.
Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh is not, to the best of my knowledge, actually a vision in Resonance. This pompous, eccentric weapon collector debuted in Final Fantasy V and has made a series of appearances in other FF games since then, usually accompanied by one of the best boss fight songs in the history of the medium.
That is exactly how it goes when you encounter Gilgamesh early in Resonance's main story, and later in some side quests. He shows up, acts like kind of a buffoon, and you hear the song. It's perfect. That's all you need from Gilgamesh.