Going into Nintendo Direct, I had a mental checklist of things I thought we might see. Maybe there would be a remaster of something I’ve already bought three times. Maybe there would be a surprise JRPG announcement that immediately got added to my backlog. Maybe we’d get another teaser trailer that would leave everyone guessing for the next year.

While we DID get some of these things (and holy cow, Kingdom Hearts IV!), what I wasn’t expecting was Final Fantasy Resonance.

When the trailer started, I honestly wasn’t sure what I was looking at. The HD-2D visuals immediately caught my attention, but it wasn’t until the familiar Final Fantasy elements started appearing that I found myself leaning forward in my chair. By the time the trailer ended, it had become the RPG reveal I was thinking about most.

Part of that comes down to the visual style. I am an easy sell when it comes to HD-2D games. Octopath Traveler, The adventures of Elliot, sign me up! There is something about the combination of detailed pixel art and modern lighting effects that feels both nostalgic and new at the same time. It reminds me of the games I grew up with while still looking modern enough to stand beside today’s RPGs. Seeing Final Fantasy embrace that style feels surprisingly natural.

The other thing that immediately stood out was the combat. I know action RPGs are incredibly popular now, and I’ve enjoyed plenty of them over the years, but turn-based combat will always feel like home to me. When I think back to my favorite RPG memories, most of them involve staring at menus, planning out my next move, and hoping I had leveled enough before a difficult boss fight. Seeing a new Final Fantasy lean into turn-based combat again instantly pushed Resonance onto my radar. I am FINALLY playing through all of Rebirth now that the next in that series has been announced and while it is amazing, I cant help but want a traditional Final Fantasy.

The more I watched the trailer, the more it felt like a celebration of classic Final Fantasy. Airships, summons, familiar creatures, and all the little touches that made the series special over the years seemed to be packed into one game. As someone who spent countless summer nights getting lost in Final Fantasy VII and IX, it was hard not to feel excited.

I know this is an expansion or extension of Brave Exvius on mobile but it feels fresh. The world map looks awesome, the combat system (even with the sort of out of place Visions) looks amazing. I want to play this game right now! October isn’t too far away, right?!

That said, I am trying to keep my expectations in check. Every trailer and screenshot look amazing. Every RPG sounds incredible when the music swells and the camera dramatically pans across some giant fantasy landscape. I’ve fallen for enough trailers over the years to know that excitement and reality don’t always line up.

Still, Final Fantasy Resonance feels different. Maybe it’s because the HD-2D style fits so well. Maybe it’s because turn-based RPGs seem to be finding their footing again. Or maybe it’s because the game reminds me of the era that made me fall in love with RPGs in the first place.

Whatever the reason, this was the reveal I wasn’t expecting to walk away talking about. Yet here I am, still thinking about it a day later.

What about you? Out of everything shown during Nintendo Direct, which RPG announcement stood out the most?

For more Don’t Revive Your Friends goodness, check out an article below!

• The RPG Reveal I Didn’t Expect To See During Nintendo Direct | Final Fantasy Resonance
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• 10 RPGs That Defined My Childhood Summers
• Why Summer Break Always Felt Like RPG Season
• 5 Gaming Memories Younger Players May Never Experience