Final Fantasy XVI Review
- Release: 2023 (PS5)
- Developer: Square Enix
Reviewed Platform:
Steam
Final Fantasy for a New Generation
Summary
Final Fantasy XVI (16) is the first brand new numbered entry since 2016's Final Fantasy XV (15)! What has Square Enix learned in 7 long years? The franchise has hit it out of the park with FF7 Remake and Rebirth. But some argue that remakes are just nostalgia pandering. Does the team at Square still have that magic to make a brand new cast and story that will be revered in 10-15 years like past mainline FF game?
One word review: Eh?
Series producer Naoki Yoshida, set out to make a game for a brand new generation of gamers:
“... You have a generation of players raised on FPS games, on GTA games, some of whom just won't play a turn-based game. So when we were thinking about how FF could grow hereafter, we decided to just go for all-out real-time action.” - Yoshida
With this guiding principle, does FF16 deliver on capturing a new wave of loot box hungry, fast paced, self expression driven gamers?
"We fight, we survive, we endure, we don't need a reason"
Narrative
Final Fantasy XVI (FF16) promises a grand political epic, but falls
incredibly short. Yoshida has not been shy to admit Game of Thrones and Attack on Titan
are a direct inspirations for this game's story. However, the writing team for FF16 fails
to innovate on the dark fantasy and political thriller genre. Instead of pushing the
genre, like their aforementioned inspirations, they retread a very predictable story with
little sustenance.
Human freewill, do we have it? If so, do we deserve it?
The world of Final Fantasy XVI is commanded by three fundamental pillars: Bearers,
Mother Crystals, and Dominants.
The land of Valisthea is full of magic, with massive mountain sized mother crystals. These
crystals and small chunks of the mother crystals grant small scale use of magic to its users.
For example, using a small magical stone to start a fire, for healing, or to pull water out
of a well. Every aspect of life in Valisthea is dependent on the mother crystals.
However, some unfortunate few are born with the ability to harness magic without a crystal.
One would think this would be a favorable and sought out blessing, but instead magical people
are enslaved and branded as slaves called bearers.
People in Valisthea are not all born equal, some magical users are even more magical, being
born with the power of an Eikon. The host of the Eikons are called dominants. Some dominants
use their power for political gain, others as a tool for positive change, and others view
it as a curse.
Final Fantasy XVI's story is pretty straightforward. Clive wants to avenge his brother through
any means possible. Armies, Kings, Gods will not stop Clive as he fights for freedom and revenge.
Gathering a small army to help him pursue his goals, these rebels form the small FFXVI party.
Clive Rosfield
First born son of the Archduke of Rosaria, Shield of Rosaria, and dominant of Ifrit.
Many titles for our new Final Fantasy protagonist. FF16 follows the life of Clive Rosfield,
a noble son who is robbed of his birthright to the throne and his family. We follow Clive's
journey from his teenage years, up until his early 30s.
First born son to the Rosfield family, the family Eikon Phoenix skips over him. Instead
going to his younger brother Joshua. Clive's mother Anabella resents Clive for not seemingly
inheriting an Eikon. Instead Clive is tasked to be his brother's shield, to protect Joshua,
the dominant of Phoenix, and the jewel of their mother's love.
Clive trains to be an adept and formidable swordsman to protect of his brother and kingdom.
Not letting the lack of inheriting of his family Eikon sway his commitment to his family.
Final Fantasy 16 exclusively follows in Clive's footsteps, breaking series tradition of
controlling an ensemble cast. Clive's story is front and center at all times, this narrative
structure really upset series veterans, who come to FF for that classic JRPG story and
gameplay.
Joshua Rosfield
Second born son of the Archduke of Rosaria and dominant of the Phoenix.
Blessed, or cursed, by the Phoenix, Joshua inherited the family Eikon and the throne. Joshua
shares his power by blessing his older brother Clive with the power of the Phoenix. His
mother feels great shame in Clive, instead focusing her love to Joshua for inheriting the
Phoenix.
Although Joshua's life is seemingly cut short in the opening story prologue. Joshua's supposed
death is the main catalyst for his brother's revenge story, avenging Joshua's killer.
However, Joshua lives the night of the assault at Phoenix's gate. Living a mysterious life
in secrecy, seeking truth, helping his older brother from the shadows.
Jill Warrick
Adopted into the kingdom of Rosaria, Jill was raised alongside the Rosfield brothers.
She was also blessed with being the dominant of Shiva. The kingdom of Rosaria really
struck gold with three children being raised together, all dominants who were destined
to change the kingdoms.
Jill at a young age was also never seen without her trusty dog companion Torgoal.
Jill plays a key role later into the story. She is one of the main companions on
Clive's journey, showing the atrocities of war between the kingdoms of Valisthea. Her
Eikon and powers were used as tools of war, while she had no control over her own
life.
After re-uniting with Clive, her story focuses on being able to rebuild her own life as
a free woman fighting for her own freedom and for others.
Cidolfus Telamon
Cid the 🐐 and dominant of Ramuh. Final Fantasy is required by law to have someone
named Cid.
He is the pivotal turning point in the narrative of FFXVI. From the perspective of the
established kingdoms, Cid is a radical terrorist, upending the current social order and
power dynamic of Valisthea.
Cid's dream is of a world where humanity ends the practice of enslaving bearers and frees
itself from its dependence on magic. Cid is building an army of newly freed bearers and
wants to ultimately destroy the source of all magic, the Mother Crystals.
Clive recruits Clive to help see out his dream, this gives our cold hearted/stoic protagonist
to have a new purpose in life, to carry out Cid's dream.
Eikons
In previous Final Fantasy iterations, summons were cool cutscene attacks.
Summoning random legendary creatures that do lots of damage, just part of the JRPG power
fantasy. Well now those summons are key characters that dictate humanity's future.
Eikons live inside of human hosts, who are called dominants. Dominants can use the power
of their Eikon. Either using a partial amount to gain super human strength and
abilities, or fully transforming into their Eikon. These Eikons are the source of great
power that also leave massive destruction in their wake.
It is up to each dominant to wield their power and shape the land of Valisthea.
"Devil May Cry? Clive surely doesn't."
Gameplay
Capcom's very own Ryota Suzuki, who has previously worked on Devil May Cry, Monster Hunter, and Dragon's Dogma was poached by Square to be the combat director for FFXVI.
