
Sakaguchi says that the process was “very tedious” and forced the designers to approach their creations differently compared to a traditional video game. Once completed, the set is photographed, turned into a 3D model, and transported into the game engine, where it can then be enhanced with effects like lighting or fog. The process starts with concept art, and then the artists start building props and other elements of the diorama.


There are more than 150 of them in total, created by a team that included artists who worked on franchises like Godzilla and Attack on Titan. Every space you’ll explore in Fantasian, including both interior and exterior locations, is actually a hand-made diorama. In the case of Fantasian, new features like a mechanic that lets you banish enemies to another dimension to battle later so that you can explore without interruption, as well as combat skills based around aiming, are key selling points.īut the most obvious innovation is the way the game looks - and it was a lot of work. Sakaguchi says his goal with each new game, dating back to Final Fantasy, is to introduce some kind of innovation. Mistwalker has released several RPGs over the years, including titles like Blue Dragon and The Last Story in 2014 the team expanded to mobile with the Terra Wars series. The creation process from concept art to in-game. “It made me want to go back to my roots.” “Playing that game reminded me of how much I really adore that classic RPG genre, and renewed my interest in it,” Sakaguchi explains. He says the concept began around three years ago when he and some collaborators replayed Final Fantasy IV for the first time in years. “We really wanted to capture that touch and feel, and unique charm, that is only found in these dioramas,” Sakaguchi says.įantasian is developed by Mistwalker, a studio Sakaguchi founded in 2004, and is currently listed as “coming soon” to Apple Arcade. There’s even a new soundtrack from famed composer - and frequent Sakaguchi collaborator - Nobuo Uematsu.īut what makes Fantasian unique is clear from a single screenshot: the game world has a distinct vibe because it’s built from tiny, handcrafted dioramas.
Fun rpg games for mac series#
The creator of the Final Fantasy series is once again making a roleplaying game that takes place in a lush fantasy world, features turn-based combat, and centers on a globe-spanning quest.

Fantasian has everything you’d expect from a new Hironobu Sakaguchi experience.
