Lost Soul Aside Isn’t Final Fantasy, But Maybe It Should Have Been

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Upon first impression, Lost Soul Aside appears similar to a Final Fantasy game, which is an understandable assumption considering its visual style that closely resembles many modern Final Fantasy games, particularly those from Final Fantasy 13 onwards. However, upon closer inspection, Lost Soul Aside differs significantly from the Final Fantasy series and could be considered quite distinct. In reality, there are only a few shared characteristics between it and Square Enix’s acclaimed franchise. Instead, its gameplay mechanics lean more towards action-adventure games like Devil May Cry.

While Ultizero Games has been working hard to address performance issues in Lost Soul Aside since its release, other problems inherent in the game seem to be deeply rooted and may not be fixable. If, instead, they had focused on emulating what makes Final Fantasy unique, they might have been able to avoid these issues. It’s worth considering that Lost Soul Aside could potentially have been more successful if it had adopted a more blatant style similar to Final Fantasy, despite the negative feedback that would likely accompany such a move.

Lost Soul Aside Might Have Been Better as a Final Fantasy Copycat

Lost Soul Aside’s Final Fantasy-Inspired Visuals Paid Off

In essence, the visually stunning graphics reminiscent of the Final Fantasy series in Lost Soul Aside truly set it apart, adding a unique style that might have been missing otherwise. Though not a part of the Final Fantasy universe itself, its appearance shares striking similarities, making a significant impact. While Final Fantasy is renowned for more than just visuals, its contemporary period has influenced numerous other games to adopt similar styles in their own creations. The fusion of science fiction and fantasy that Final Fantasy embodies has become a coveted trait in the JRPG genre, with games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 openly acknowledging it as an inspiration.

Essentially, the unique style of Lost Soul Aside is one of its most powerful assets, and it’s evident that this inspiration plays a significant role. Characters like Kaser, the main protagonist, bear a striking resemblance to both Noctis Lucis Caelum from Final Fantasy 15 and Clive Rosfield from Final Fantasy 16 if they were to have a child. However, this Final Fantasy-inspired style functions more as a misleading veil that obscures the real nature of Lost Soul Aside: it appears to have prioritized an impressive wardrobe over its core essence. In summary, it’s not truly a game in the vein of Final Fantasy.

Lost Soul Aside Could Have Benefited From Final Fantasy’s Character Development

In simpler terms, Lost Soul Aside is lacking in detailed and impactful character development, akin to what you’d find in games like Final Fantasy. While many Final Fantasy games offer engaging combat and exploration, their lasting appeal lies in their emotionally stirring narratives and well-developed characters, aspects that are notably absent in Lost Soul Aside. Unfortunately, it’s challenging to connect with any character in Lost Soul Aside, even though the story centers around the protagonist’s mission to save his sister.

It seems that the reason for this might be because Lost Soul Aside appears to move quite quickly, almost to the point where it interrupts itself frequently and rarely provides time to pause. However, it’s hard to argue against the fact that even when playing in its original language, its characters don’t seem to exude the same intensity or emotion that is often characteristic of the most memorable characters from Final Fantasy. Despite the similarities in appearance, Lost Soul Aside is not like a typical Final Fantasy game. And for once, it might have been more effective if this game had embraced the essence of the franchise it mimics superficially and openly acknowledged its inspiration.

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2025-09-03 22:07