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After forty-plus hours playing Final Fantasy XVI by Square Enix, my only question I have is “How fast can I finish this write-up so I can hop back on”? As a lifelong Final Fantasy fan, I had a lot of expectations and anxiousness before hitting play on my PlayStation 5. The expectations were reserved for how much fun the gameplay would be, based on previous titles in the franchise. The anxiousness was for the unknown changes I knew were coming with Final Fantasy XVI. And indeed, Final Fantasy XVI confidently changes the tone and feel of the franchise, but does so without sacrificing the core foundation.
Story
The game takes place in the fictional world of Valisthea, a world divided between six nations who hold power through access to magical Crystals and Dominants, humans who act as hosts for each nation’s Eikon. Tensions between the nations escalate as a malady dubbed the Blight begins consuming the land. Clive Rosfield – guardian to his younger brother Joshua – witnesses his kingdom destroyed and goes on a revenge quest in pursuit of the dark Eikon Ifrit. As the game progresses, players will notice a darker and grittier Final Fantasy story. It’s almost a love letter to HBO’s Game of Thrones but does a fine job of being its own original story, something Square Enix excels in.
Gameplay
The combat system in Final Fantasy XVI is a departure from the turn-based approach used for previous previous entries. Instead, it is an action-based system that allows players to freely move around the battlefield while attacking enemies with a variety of melee moves and magic-based abilities. Players can also summon Eikons to aid them in battle, and summons can be used to perform powerful attacks or to buff the player’s party. Honestly, it feels like an improved version the Final Fantasy XV combat system with more fluidity and organization. It admittedly feels like button mashing at first, but after playing more and more, you realize the combat system is a very methodical, and upon mastery is one of the most fun and addictive combat systems in the entire franchise.
Graphics and Sound
I also find the graphics to be the best in the series, comprised of high-quality cell-shaded art style that gives it a unique and stylish look. Sound design is also top-notch, with a sweeping orchestral score that perfectly complements the game’s dark fantasy setting. As cinematics roll, even the shortest cutscene is just as immersive as the longest.
Overall
Final Fantasy XVI is a dark, action-packed, and visually stunning game that is sure to please fans of the series. The combat system is solid and engaging, the story is compelling, and the graphics are a triumph. Square Enix successfully reinvented its flagship franchise by turning up the maturity and intensity, adapting Final Fantasy for a new generation of gamers and creating a possible Game of the Year contender. Its safe to say, there are definitely many more to come in the Final Fantasy franchise. We are far from “final”.
