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Thirty hours into my Fantasian Neo Dimension playthrough, I found myself in a surreal landscape, a twisted amalgamation dotted by ghostly white corruption known as Mechteria. My Dimengeon device, a contraption that allows me to “bank” monster encounters, was nearly overflowing, so I had to take out over 40 enemies in a single battle. I continued to advance, thinking that the threats had been eliminated, yet numerous encounters piled up within mere seconds. Fantasian Neo Dimension certainly presents a challenge, even for the most ardent fans of turn-based role-playing games, such as myself. Developed by Mistwalker and released in two parts for Apple Arcade back in 2021, Fantasian is a collaboration between two giants of the industry: Final Fantasy series creator Hironobu Sakaguchi and renowned composer Nobuo Uematsu. Now, this new rerelease for Windows PC and consoles boasts 4K resolution support, along with battle themes from previous Final Fantasy titles, given that Square Enix is handling publishing duties. Indeed, Fantasian Neo Dimension is more than just a callback to the classics of yore or a mere nostalgia fix, as the game has its own quirks to make it stand out of a crowded pack . However, it has a few notable flaws, namely with the controls and camera movement, as well as the narrative arc and combat. Like numerous RPGs, Fantasian Neo Dimension tells the story of an amnesiac. In this case, an adventurer named Leo has found himself jumping back and forth between realms, not knowing what led him down this path. As you piece together Leo’s story, you’re joined by a memorable cast of characters, such as the demure Kina, a healer with a mysterious power, and rambunctious princess Cheryl, whose attitude proves to be more than a match for poor Leo. Fantasian Neo Dimension ’s story does have its share of serious themes, like children yearning for their parents, and the emotional connections that can eventually grow among newfound friends. At the same time, Sakaguchi and his team deftly combine these ideas with humor and lighthearted sequences. The game’s cutscenes are bolstered by terrific English and Japanese voice acting to further heighten the drama or convey the relationships among the characters. I can recall the many times I chuckled whenever party members like Zinikr, a boisterous ship captain, and Ez, a vagabond youth, chided Leo for forgetting the traps he set in his own headquarters. Likewise, there were times when mysterious elflike researcher Valrika interpreted things a little too literally, and made remarks about her taste for men with beards. The appearances of the Cinderella Tri-Stars, recurring bosses with some hilarious battle shenanigans, made me laugh out loud, too. There were also a few callbacks to JRPGs, most notably the love triangle involving Leo, Kina, and Cheryl — complete with hints of jealousy — which reminded me of Cloud, Aerith, and Tifa from Final Fantasy 7 . Fantasian Neo Dimension ’s campaign, meanwhile, made me feel like I was playing Chrono Trigger all over again. My journey took me to other realms not necessarily through time travel quirks, but via dimension hopping to distant places with their own unique designs and landscapes. The art design in the game is nothing short of wonderful, with vivid hand-crafted backgrounds akin to dioramas, from lush forests and frozen mountaintops, to dingy dungeons and cities overrun with Mechteria. Sadly, I’ve also noticed that a few backgrounds and environmental details weren’t fully rendered in 4K, making them look blurry when up close. This, too, is further compounded by janky controls and camera movement. Fantasian Neo Dimension offers three control schemes: gamepad, mouse clicks, and WASD keys. Unfortunately, the sweeping movement of the camera view — perhaps intended to make exploration feel more dynamic — happened so frequently that it felt as though I was fighting with my gamepad’s analog stick just to get my character to move toward a location. Speaking of Mechteria, these pustulant growths are harmful to humans, blocking pathways or depleting your party’s HP if you get too close. The presence and origins of Mechteria in the world are further explained as you progress through the campaign. In keeping with the other RPGs that clearly influenced this game, let’s just say that the planet-annihilating antagonists you fear at the start are but the tip of the iceberg in a narrative arc that goes from zero to 100 rather quickly. After a predominantly linear and tightly woven first half of the campaign, the second half devolves into a nonlinear and disjointed series of “rescue the rest of your team” dungeon romps. This presentation worked as a two-part launch in 2021, since the parts had a monthslong gap between their releases, but the transition from the first half to the second is jarring in a full release at this stage. In a way, the disparity between the two halves also reminded me of discs 1 and 2 of Xenogears , where the former and latter had vastly different structures and presentation. Combat in Fantasian Neo Dimension consists of random enemy encounters, which occur as you explore landscapes. A unique twist to this tried-and-tested formula is the inclusion of the aforementioned Dimengeon device, a means of “banking” or “collecting” enemies until you’re ready to take them on in one huge battle. However, the Dimengeon also has an (upgradable) limit, so you have to be mindful of when to trigger the encounter, lest you get overwhelmed later on. I enjoyed utilizing this feature for the most part, though the latter half of the campaign proved to be tedious due to so many encounters happening within seconds of each other. I had to partake in multiple Dimengeon battles with over 40 enemies, so much so that the pacing became unbearable. (There’s a way to completely reset the Dimengeon counter, but this required me to warp to another town. Although fast travel in the game is very player-friendly, I didn’t always have the means to teleport to and from certain maps or sections.) Meanwhile, the battles themselves are your usual turn-based affair, with enemies and your three-person party taking actions based on the initiative bar. Another refreshing take in Fantasian Neo Dimension is that most character skills and spells pierce through enemies, and you can align their trajectory to hit specific foes in a straight or curved line. For example, if one opponent is blocking its cohorts behind it, you can “bend” your spell to strike those targets instead. The concept adds new tactical layers in how I approached battles, especially during instances when I had to prioritize specific foes or power-ups. The downside is that enemy variety is lacking in many areas, with the game often featuring the same monster types, albeit with different elemental weaknesses. My only other complaint with Fantasian Neo Dimension ’s combat is that several key mechanics are introduced a bit too late in the campaign. This is somewhat understandable in the case of Growth Maps — character-specific skill trees with dozens of perks and upgrades akin to Final Fantasy 10 ’s Sphere Grid system — since these are unlocked as you obtain key items known as Divine Artifacts. Still, I would’ve wanted to have seen the Tension system, akin to Limit Breaks (i.e., powerful abilities that can be unleashed only upon filling a gauge) introduced sooner. I can only surmise that this was due to the original’s two-part launch, where the release of part 2 made it feel like an expansion of sorts for those who had already gone through part 1. For a full release, though, a few major tweaks would’ve been necessary to align these mechanics with expected player progression. One positive aspect worth mentioning is that unlike the original version of the game, Fantasian Neo Dimension has Normal Mode, a welcome concept given that the Apple Arcade release only had Hard Mode as its default difficulty. This makes the game significantly more approachable for newcomers. The grind becomes a lot more manageable if you’re attempting to bring down the game’s toughest bosses, too. Still, don’t expect those fights to be cakewalks, since you still need to be mindful of your party composition, character perks, and equipment. Moreover, the collaboration between Mistwalker and Square Enix has led to one of the best features in the game: the ability to choose from battle themes from other Final Fantasy titles, such as Final Fantasy 7 Remake , Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth , Final Fantasy 14: Endwalker , Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail , and Final Fantasy 16 . I honestly grinned from ear to ear when I fought a couple of slime mobs and Uematsu’s brilliant “One-Winged Angel” suddenly played in the background. Even with just the default music, Uematsu’s genius remains on full display, with soaring and haunting melodies complementing each stage and location. There’s even a tune that sounds like a more sinister rendition of the classic Prelude/Crystal theme from the Final Fantasy series. In the end, Fantasian Neo Dimension is still a solid offering from Mistwalker, one that brought back memories of classic RPGs I played decades prior, including those featuring work from Sakaguchi and Uematsu. References and callbacks abound, though there are still refreshing concepts to keep you engaged for dozens of hours, including a secret dungeon and a new game plus mode. Just watch out for the annoying camera movements all throughout and the ridiculous number of encounters toward the later portion of the game. Fantasian Neo Dimension will be released Dec. 5 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X. The game was reviewed on PC using a copy provided by Square Enix. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. You can find additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here . Gaming Nintendo PC PlayStation Reviews Xbox
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Texas probes tech platforms over safety and privacy of minorsBOULDER, Colo. — A 72-year-old lifelong Colorado fan with end-stage kidney failure waited to the side of the field in his wheelchair for Travis Hunter and the rest of the Buffaloes. One by one, players strolled over and signed a football for Riley Rhoades, his face lighting up with each signature. Standing close by and taking in the scene was Jeremy Bloom. He's become a wish facilitator for older adults. Bloom, the former Colorado wide receiver and Olympic freestyle skier, started the Wish of a Lifetime foundation in 2008, which has made thousands of aspirations turn into reality for older adults. The list of granted wishes range from taking veterans back to the beaches of Normandy to helping late-in-life authors publish a book. He's staged concerts for musicians, assisted some in daredevil feats such as jumping out of an airplane and even lined up a meeting between an Olympic medalist and former President Barack Obama. For Rhoades, his wish was simply to return to Folsom Field again, the place where he used to have season tickets but hasn't attended a game since 2004. "Everybody has somebody in their life —a grandparent, friend, neighbor — at that age where you wish you had more resources to help," said Bloom, whose college career was cut short two decades ago when the NCAA denied his reinstatement to play football and still ski professionally after receiving endorsement money to fuel his Olympic dreams. "Nothing can compare to seeing someone else's eyes light up because you helped make their dream come true." The foundation is a tribute to his grandparents. But the concept began to take root when he was a teenager. He was in Japan for a World Cup freestyle skiing competition when a woman tried to hop on a crowded bus. There was no room, but everyone in front rose from their seats to make space. That stuck with him, along with seeing these acts of kindness for older adults all over Europe and Asia as he traveled. An idea formed — bring that same level of appreciation to the United States, with a wish-granting element. Bloom's organization has been a charitable affiliate of AARP since 2020. It was the yearning of Rhoades that brought the two of them to Folsom Field last weekend. Rhoades, who had season tickets at Colorado for 27 years, wanted to see the Buffaloes in person after watching the team's resurgence on television. A few years ago, Rhoades, who was born with spina bifida, was diagnosed with end-stage renal failure. Being among the 54,646 fans Saturday stirred up plenty of emotions for Rhoades, as he watched the 16th-ranked Buffaloes (8-2, 6-1 Big 12, No. 16 CFP) beat Utah. Colorado remains in the race for not only a conference title but a spot in the College Football Playoff. "It's just great to be back here again," Rhoades said as he pointed out the section where he used to watch games. "It's just ... so cool." For Bloom, the success that coach Deion Sanders has brought to the program means more reunions with teammates as they pass through town. "I've been through many years where nobody comes to visit," Bloom said. "It's fun that Boulder has become the epicenter of college football." Leading the way for Colorado this season have been quarterback Shedeur Sanders and two-way star Hunter, who's the Heisman Trophy frontrunner. But what particularly pleases Bloom is that Sanders, Hunter and the rest of college football players are able to finally profit through name, image and likeness. In his day, Bloom got caught in the NCAA crosshairs for wanting to play both sports and to have sponsors in one (skiing) so he could fund his Olympic aspirations. How time have changed. "I'm just really grateful that this generation of athletes gets to monetize their skills and ability," said Bloom, who finished sixth in moguls at the 2006 Winter Games in Italy. "It's the right thing." He's thrown his passion into fulfilling wishes such as learning ballet, riding in a Formula 1 pace car or taking a flight in a fighter jet. He's also helped reconnect families and friends, including a reunion for a trio of centenarian sisters who hadn't seen each other in more than a decade. This granted wish has stuck with Bloom: A person in Alabama wasn't able to travel after being diagnosed with end-of-life emphysema. So he asked for postcards to be sent, just to learn what made someone's town so special. He received 2,000 postcards from 26 different countries. "There's no end to the things that they've done for us in the world," Bloom said of older adults. "We're one of the organizations that reminds them that their dreams still do matter and that we still appreciate them and we cherish them." Get local news delivered to your inbox!
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Meghan Markle was another man’s muse before he met Prince Harry —and his approach backfired. TV presenter Ryan Russillo, who worked for ESPN sometime in 2016, discussed his failed attempt to seduce Meghan on The Bill Simmons Podcast and said that he failed. Russillo recalled meeting Meghan in 2014 during a celebrity flag football game held over Super Bowl weekend. At the time, Meghan was gaining fame as the star of the legal drama Suits. While most eyes were on the Sports Illustrated swimsuit models also participating, Russillo found himself intrigued by Meghan. ALSO READ| Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ‘have invited Princess Eugenie’ for... “We played in a celebrity flag football game together and it was all of the [Sports Illustrated] swimsuit models. So, nobody was really paying any attention to Markle,” Russillo said bluntly, as reported by US Weekly . “I was like, 'That's my lane.'” TV presenter decided to take a chance by sliding into Meghan’s DMs “I shot her a DM,” he revealed. “It was a very soft sell... It was, 'Hey, I know the new season of Suits is coming out if you ever want to come on the show to promote it.' It was really professional.” “It was like a gauging of interest,” he admitted. “Like, if I got an emoji back, who knows?” Unfortunately for Russillo, Meghan’s response was polite but left no room for misinterpretation: “Oh, I don't know anything about sports, but thanks for the offer.” Russillo described her reaction as “ice cold.” ALSO READ| Meghan Markle once rejected an ESPN host who slid into her DMs, believing she was ‘obtainable' Years later, Meghan met Prince Harry and started a royal love story. In a 2022 interview with The Cut, she revealed that she and Harry are raising their son Archie with the motto “manners make the man.”
Key GOP senators begin to fall in line behind Kash Patel and keep door open for Pete Hegseth
