Upon first impression, Final Fantasy XVI struck me with its darker and extra violent tone than something within the collection’ previous. It’s not simply within the graphic depictions of bloody battles or godlike beings crushing one another to a pulp, but additionally within the specific narrative threads about persecution and enslavement. It delves into the dying and destruction that follows within the wake of all of the political drama and supernatural standoffs. The brutality inflicted upon its victims is laid naked at practically each flip, typically to the purpose of embellishment, to strike the nerves it needs to hit. But there is a thematic coherence to all of it that melds what occurs to the folks on the floor degree with the fantastical components that steer their destinies. And inside that harsh exterior, glossed with magic and aether, is a gripping story about characters clinging to their humanity, the bonds that give them energy, and the lengths they’re going to go to make the world a greater place–all advised in a manner that solely Final Fantasy can.Final Fantasy has all the time been about reinvention and FFXVI maybe marks the collection’ most drastic shift but. The fight system veers a lot nearer to a Devil May Cry than Final Fantasy XV or VII Remake, and is a shining instance of what an action-RPG could be. Eikon battles initially appear to be simply explosive set-pieces however develop into significant moments which might be as narratively pushed as they’re totally spectacular spectacles. Through the awe-inspiring battles and emotional cutscenes, I discovered myself repeatedly asking in disbelief, “Did this game just do this?” because the soundtrack’s stunning melodies had been seared into my reminiscence. However, these peaks are additionally met with dated design conventions that stick out like sore thumbs, making for some noticeable lulls within the 50-plus hours I spent with the sport. Still, I’ll all the time keep in mind FFXVI for its highly effective and gorgeous moments, for these are the explanations it stands among the many storied franchise’s finest.
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FFXVI may be very a lot concerning the progress of Clive and the folks round him, however story’s preliminary emphasis on the nations and political buildings of Valisthea set the stage for the whole lot that follows. Valisthea is a world tormented by environmental decay and battle is fueled by the starvation for sources, which on this case, are the crystals. Because they’re a catch-all magical useful resource, these with the inherent skill to wield magic are abused, subjugated, and handled as property; instruments for use and sacrificed in service of their supposed superiors. Thus, liberation and revolution are the narrative throughlines, and FFXVI closely leans into these themes, utilizing them as a powerful basis to construct each side of the story and its characters.FFXVI largely navigates these themes with a deft hand. Its writing usually demonstrates an understanding of the complicated dynamics that include the territory, and it shines by empowering characters, letting them and their experiences be the focal factors in sharp cutscenes and dialogue. As heinous because the darkest moments could also be, they’re additionally essential to every character’s understanding of the hostile world they exist in. It’s encouraging to see the sport plainly say what must be mentioned, although at instances that deft hand turns heavy, laying it on a little bit too thick or overlooking a little bit of nuance that would’ve gone a good distance in correctly unpacking a theme or perspective. On uncommon events, I discovered a couple of minor story occasions that undermined the relatively clear messages the sport tries to ship. But as a core motivation for the forged, and me because the participant, to take motion stays convincing all through, and this ends in some nice narrative payoffs.Jill is a improbable character who fights alongside Clive and performs a big position.Clive and his brother Joshua are caught up in all this as a result of they belong to a royal household that inherits the ability of Phoenix, one of many Eikons that shake up the ability stability inside Valisthea. Tragedy strikes their household early on, setting the story in movement and establishing simply how vital Dominants–the choose few who can faucet and remodel into Eikons–are as weapons of mass destruction. It looks as if a blessing, nevertheless it’s very a lot a curse, and the earth-shaking energy they wield comes with clear penalties. This mixing of political drama, social injustice, and the fantastical tropes of Final Fantasy provides the story room to have the legendary bombast anticipated of the collection but additionally make it significant. The Eikons are an important reimagining of Final Fantasy’s summons, they usually’re neatly contextualized inside the story–so for as bonkers and over-the-top as Eikons could be, FFXVI’s story all the time finds itself touchdown on stable floor.Embedded within the themes of revolt and the shows of godlike energy are robust private tales of revenge and redemption. The burden of sins, issues they’ve accomplished that they don’t seem to be wholly answerable for, weigh heavy on the principle forged’s shoulders. I’ve grown fairly bored with the previous trope that looking for revenge is an empty endeavor that makes you as dangerous as your oppressors, so it is invigorating to have a narrative put its foot down and provides characters the satisfaction of killing their masters to set themselves free, introduced with out caveat. Nevertheless, atonement is yet one more vital lens by way of which you see characters develop and undergo the method of re-distinguishing what’s proper and mistaken. Sometimes this implies forgoing their privileges, making immeasurable sacrifices, or defying their supposed destiny.For all its darkish turns, FFXVI may be very a lot a narrative about love and the assorted types it could possibly take. It’s a wonderful, trustworthy story of brotherhood; there is a familial love that I typically discover laborious to narrate to, however on this regard, FFXVI cuts sharper than any story I’ve skilled in latest reminiscence. There are additionally a couple of romantic plot traces that stream naturally into what motivates specific characters, and deep friendships that kind by way of shared experiences. And good boy Torgal is the loyal canine who fights with Clive each step of the way in which. It would not be a Final Fantasy with out the ability of human bonds manifesting because the energy to hold on and giving its characters a world value preventing for.Clive and Joshua exemplify a powerful concord splendidly proven in FFXVI’s story.These extra granular themes work so nicely as a result of whether or not it is Clive, Joshua, Cid, Jill or any of the opposite key characters, their personalities are pushed by impressed voice performances. Clive is usually the gruff man who does not have a lot to be completely happy about, however this makes the moments he breaks out of his shell all of the extra impactful. When he screams and cries in desperation, it is the sound of somebody really in ache and you’re feeling it in your bones, and when he cracks a smile or lets free, it is a second to rejoice. It actually makes him one of many realest protagonists within the Final Fantasy pantheon. Cid shakes the room with the sheer bass in his voice, and his easy charisma and sharp wits steal each scene. He’s the sort of particular person that may make even essentially the most aimless folks consider in a trigger, and essentially the most stone-hearted folks naked their souls. A plausible human high quality attracts you towards Jill, so when she pours her coronary heart out or has blood in her eyes, you recognize she means it. And when every of them rises to the event of their most important moments, you’ll be able to rattling nicely hear it of their supply.FFXVI goes for some large swings, and hits when it issues most. It’s a tightly woven and targeted story advised with out sacrificing the magic that makes Final Fantasy particular. It takes some time to see it come collectively, and stumbles into a couple of disappointing tropes alongside the way in which. But at its peak, whether or not or not it’s the sheer thrill of the motion or the uncooked emotional honesty–and typically the concord between the two–FFXVI goes so laborious that I may really feel it in my coronary heart.A major a part of what had me so invested in FFXVI is the stylish-action fight since it is so tightly tied to the sport’s identification. While you solely management Clive all through the sport, his roster of Eikon skills construct up alongside story occasions, and the framing of his biggest battles works so nicely as a result of he controls like a nimble, masterful swordsman with a slew of badass powers he can whip out and string collectively at any second.I play FFXIV, these AoEs do not section me.FFXVI loosely retains the design rules of an RPG, with ability timber, a leveling system, upgradable gear, and stats that create a way of development. But whenever you’re in fight, your dealing with of Clive’s technical capabilities and Eikon powers are what’ll win the battle. You can equip three Eikons and swap between them on the fly in battle–each has two powers on cooldown and a singular utility transfer that you may execute at any time. Customizing and mapping out your Eikon skills is vital; to be approached as for those who’re creating loadouts or crew compositions in different video games. And as a result of these skills all have properties resembling launching, midair execution, charge-ups, or area-of-effect harm, you will get inventive with some candy combos.For instance, I usually used a bread-and-butter rotation beginning with Phoenix’s Rising Flames then going into Garuda’s Wicked Wheel, launching myself midair earlier than smashing down with Titan’s Upheaval and ending off with a full-powered Windup earlier than mixing in the usual sword-slashing combo. If you simply need cool-looking skills that do tons of injury, you will get away with that, too. But the extra you examine the nuances of how sure skills could be strung collectively, the extra you will see the methods you’ll be able to execute deliberate assault rotations.Brilliantly designed boss battles carry out one of the best within the stylish-action fight. Typically, you’re employed to carry down their stagger meter then hit them with all you’ve got bought, fastidiously planning your assault sequence to benefit from the harm multiplier that goes into impact in a staggered state, much like Final Fantasy VII Remake. But these bosses additionally problem your abilities in dodging, positioning, studying incoming assaults, and reacting with precision and swiftness. As somebody who has a pair thousand hours in Final Fantasy XIV and commonly does savage raids, I can clearly see how the MMORPG’s boss mechanics have influenced FFXVI. It’s one of many growth crew’s many strengths and I’m thrilled to see these design philosophies cross over to complement the expertise.Nothing extra satisfying than laying on the stagger harm on a beefy foe.Because the buildup of Eikon skills is beholden to story progress, it takes time for the deeper gameplay components to open up. While it strengthens the narrative coherence with the gameplay, it creates considerably odd pacing within the first half of the sport, and it is a bit disappointing as a result of later Eikon skills supply some fascinating potentialities and add layers of depth.FFXVI is not a very troublesome recreation, however typically you will run into DPS checks or encounter enemy assaults that do important harm in a single hit, which you’ll typically brute pressure your manner by way of by popping potions. There is problem within the purely gameplay-focused Arcade Mode–which ranks you want a Devil May Cry game–and the New Game+ Ultimania issue, which cranks the problem to near-impossible heights, for many who need it. Other than sheer enjoyment of besting the sport’s hardest battles, partaking with these modes is generally for leaderboard bragging rights. On the flipside, there are equipment that act as gameplay assists that may assist those that could wrestle with numerous elements of the fight system–options resembling auto-combos or extra lenient dodge timing do not utterly automate the expertise, although there are equipment that may do this for you. However you select to play, it is actually satisfying to finest essentially the most imposing monsters whereas receiving hardly a scratch with each Eikon skill exhausted.FFXVI is not a fancy recreation both, as its construction is fairly easy. You have a house base known as The Hideaway and sparsely populated hub areas for every area that steadily open up as you make progress and sidequests populate these areas to flesh out the world. Once you get entry to the Hunt Board, you will discover non-obligatory boss fights inside these areas that reward you with a satisfying problem, a bunch of XP, and supplies for higher gear. But the principle quest is primarily pushed by distinct combat-focused situations akin to a linear dungeon the place mobs of enemies are interspersed with a handful of boss fights. Not solely do these comprise a number of the finest story moments and cinematics, it is the place gameplay finds its groove, hitting an satisfying cadence of spectacular fights.I am unable to wait for people to satisfy Mid as a result of she completely guidelines.Sidequests are, sadly, certainly one of FFXVI’s weaker elements. Having accomplished all of them, I really feel they’re nonetheless value doing for the way in which they humanize the folks of Valisthea. I’d go as far to say {that a} handful of them are important for getting the complete image of key characters and their relationships. But outdoors of these few vital ones that reward you with heartfelt scenes, they’re largely comprised of stilted dialogue sequences with goals that not often benefit from the sport’s strengths. It’s the place the writing sometimes falls flat, too, so the distinction in high quality is stark when the principle quest has best-in-class storytelling.Where FFXVI flexes the toughest, although, is within the Eikon-versus-Eikon battles: pivotal moments the place totally reworked Dominants put the whole lot on the road and combat with the whole lot they bought. There aren’t many of those boss fights, however the ones from across the midway level up till the top make for a number of the wildest, most spectacular spectacles seen in video video games. New powers particular to those battles open up as the sport goes on, too, so it isn’t all fast time occasions or glorified button mashing. And even after they do depend on QTEs, you get a ridiculous show of energy that might make Asura’s Wrath proud. I’m not simply wooed by fancy cinematics or super-high visible constancy, however FFXVI is one case the place that technical prowess accentuates the grand scale of those genuinely stunning, astonishing moments.Cid is simply that dude.Whether it is in heated battles, emotional cutscenes, or temporary treks throughout Valisthea, it would not be a Final Fantasy recreation with out an evocative soundtrack to match. Composer Masayoshi Soken and his crew are a big a part of what makes FFXIV a particular MMORPG expertise, and their work on FFXVI additional proves that the collection’ music is in good palms. Reverberating piano items instill a tranquil and wistful vibe set towards the huge landscapes, very like overworld themes heard in FFXIV. The commanding orchestras and choirs carry an plain weight to essential battles. But, as Soken usually does, he breaks from thematic conventions so as to add digital tunes and heavy guitars that someway match proper in. Even the conventional boss theme had me sitting up straight, shoulders squared, buzzing alongside as I whooped on my foes with confidence. And the identifiable melodies that develop into highly effective leitmotifs seize emotions which might be powerful to place into phrases: stunning expressions of the complicated feelings that the characters, and me because the participant, really feel particularly moments. Music is integral to the storytelling in Final Fantasy and FFXVI is a masterful execution of this pillar of the collection’ custom.When I hear the brand new renditions of the Crystal Prelude and the unique Final Fantasy theme, I look again on the franchise’s wealthy historical past and notice simply how a lot of an influence it is made on me and numerous others. There are eras of my life which have been outlined by Final Fantasy video games and my connection to them. Having seen FFXVI right through, I’m completely happy to incorporate it alongside a few of my all-time favorites within the collection. It’s heartening to see that this daring method to each story and gameplay is now a part of that legacy, increasing the definition of what a mainline entry could possibly be. It could fall brief in some respects, nevertheless it ought to be celebrated for its most gorgeous moments and the characters who embody them. FFXVI succeeds and earns its place inside the Final Fantasy pantheon as one of many nice entries, and does so by itself phrases.