Final Fantasy 13 is probably one of the most divisive subseries in the franchise, with the game still receiving three total mainline games in FF13, FF13-2, and Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13 despite fan concerns, and protagonist Lightning is now set to return on October 22. Fans could throw a dart at a board and find an aspect that didn’t gel with lots of folks, from the extreme linearity to its combat system and storytelling, but the same could be said of things that did gel with folks. Final Fantasy 13‘s Lightning, for example, remains a popular protagonist in the franchise.
Indeed, while Final Fantasy 13 chased away many fans, those who remained are highly dedicated—which is arguably more important for any video game rather than simple mass appeal. And among those dedicated fans and even beyond, Lightning essentially walks on water, and fans will get to enjoy her presence once more on October 22.
Lightning Returns in Final Fantasy Resonance
Final Fantasy Resonance, an HD-2D take on the series, releases on October 22, and while it introduces a brand-new story and world, it brings back key characters like Lightning. Square Enix bills its cinematic pixel art, a classic Final Fantasy world and story (airships, crystals, espers, moogles, etc.), and strategic turn-based battles as the biggest draws for the game, and indeed it looks quite nice and fun. It takes place in a Kingdom known as Grandshelt, where people lived placed by the power of crystals, at least until it is attacked by a heavily armored man named Veritas of the Dark. To protect the remaining crystals, a group of characters (the airship commander Rain, Rain’s childhood friend Lasswell, and the mysterious girl Fina) pursues Veritas of the Dark and expands its cast of characters in the process. Another way it expands is with a new feature called Visions.
Find the odd one out before the timer hits zero.
Final Fantasy Resonance’s Visions are essentially a Job/Summon system based on how well the “crystal” resonates with heroes across time. And Final Fantasy Resonance‘s Visions feature at least one character from every numbered game, including Lightning as the representative of Final Fantasy 13. It remains to be seen exactly how she impacts gameplay, but one trailer (screenshot below) showed her in action, sitting on top of her Eidolon Odin.
Given that these Final Fantasy protagonists seem to be taking on supporting combat roles, fans can probably expect that they do not have the biggest impact on the story. No doubt, the idea of Visions very well could play a major role, but the specific characters themselves may be limited. There are 26 Visions in Final Fantasy Resonance, including 9 original characters from Final Fantasy Brave Exvius. Some are unconfirmed, but the confirmed mainline Final Fantasy characters include:
- Warrior of Light
- Firion
- Luneth
- Cecil
- Bartz
- Terra
- Cloud
- Squall
- Zidane
- Tidus
- Shantotto
- Vaan
- Lightning
- Y’shtola
- Noctis
- Clive
Scratch & Peek
Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as
possible.
Final Fantasy Resonance is shaping up to be something truly special, and at the very least, it’s nice to see a Final Fantasy game essentially be a bonafide love letter to the entire series.
- Released
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October 22, 2026
- ESRB
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Everyone 10+ / Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Language, Suggestive Themes
