Gaming Roundup

Final Fantasy Resonance: Casual vs Normal vs Expert Difficulty (and Can You Change It?)

Final Fantasy Resonance has three battle difficulties, and you can switch between them at any point from the in-game Options menu.

Final Fantasy Resonance has three battle difficulties, and you can switch between them at any point from the in-game Options menu.

Final Fantasy Resonance offers three modes: Casual, Normal, and Expert. Casual reduces the challenge of combat, Normal is the standard middle-ground option, and Expert makes fights tougher while granting more MRP. You can change modes whenever you want.

Quick answer: To change difficulty, press Esc (keyboard) or Menu (controller), choose Options, set Difficulty on the Gameplay tab, and press R to Apply.

DifficultyIn-game descriptionWhat changes
Casual“For those who want a story-centric experience. Battles are easier.”Easier battles
Normal“For those who want a balanced experience. Normal difficulty battles.”Standard battles
Expert“For those who like a challenge. Battles are harder and award more MRP.”Harder battles, more MRP

Final Fantasy Resonance difficulty settings explained

Your first selection comes when you choose New Game on the title screen. The game then displays a “Select difficulty” screen, where all three choices appear in a list. Moving the highlight shows a brief, two-line explanation below the list for the selected setting.

Casual

The game describes Casual as “For those who want a story-centric experience. Battles are easier.” The setting lowers the challenge of fights so you can focus on the plot.

Select difficulty screen in Final Fantasy Resonance with Casual highlighted and its description
Casual highlighted on the Select difficulty screen.

Normal

Normal reads “For those who want a balanced experience. Normal difficulty battles.” This is the standard setting, and battles play out at their intended level.

Select difficulty screen in Final Fantasy Resonance with Normal highlighted in the list
The Select difficulty screen with Normal highlighted.

Expert

Expert’s description is “For those who like a challenge. Battles are harder and award more MRP.” Fights get tougher, and you earn more MRP in return.

Select difficulty screen with Expert highlighted and its description about harder battles and more MRP
Expert highlighted on the Select difficulty screen.

Which difficulty should you pick?

Choose Normal for your first run. Casual fits a story-focused run, while Expert suits anyone seeking tougher encounters and bonus MRP. You can adjust the setting whenever you like, starting with any option and switching if fights feel too easy or too difficult.

The game reminds you of this before you start. After you pick a setting, a prompt appears with Yes and No options. For Normal it reads “Start with Normal difficulty? This setting can be changed at any time from the Options menu.” Choose Yes to begin the game.

Confirmation prompt asking to start with Normal difficulty, with Yes and No options
The confirmation prompt that appears after choosing Normal difficulty.

How to change difficulty in Final Fantasy Resonance

You change difficulty from inside a game, not from the title screen. The Options screen on the title menu has no Difficulty row. It only appears in Options once you are playing.

While you are in the field, press Esc on a keyboard or the Menu button on a controller. This opens the System Menu, which lists Load, Help, Options, Return to Title and Quit Game.
System Menu open over gameplay, listing Load, Help, Options, Return to Title and Quit Game
The System Menu, opened with Esc or the Menu button.
Select Options from the System Menu.
Stay on the Gameplay tab. The first row is Difficulty, described as “Change battle difficulty.” Set it to Casual, Normal or Expert.
Options Gameplay tab with the Difficulty row in the first position, set to Normal
The Difficulty row at the top of the Gameplay tab in Options.
Press R to Apply.