After its initial reveal in September 2020, Final Fantasy XVI, the latest addition to Square Enix’s iconic franchise, has finally hit the shelves. As the most anticipated PS5 exclusive of the summer, the game comes with high expectations from avid fans and critics alike.
Clarification
During a special media event, we had the chance to play a demo of Final Fantasy XVI, which is worth analyzing to understand what players can expect from the game. However, it is important to note that this demo version may differ from the final product.
The demo lasted less than an hour and featured various aspects of the gameplay, such as battles against groups of enemies and a boss, as well as a Primordial battle – the name given to summons in this installment. While the storyline aspect was not the focus of the presentation, we did not learn much about Clive’s quest for revenge.
A Promising Shift Towards Action-Packed Gameplay
In case you’re not up-to-date with the latest news about the game, let’s start from the beginning to make sure everyone is on the same page. Final Fantasy XVI is the latest addition to Square Enix’s renowned franchise, and just like its predecessors, it has its own distinct universe and is not a sequel. You don’t need to have played the previous games to comprehend the plot as the game is designed to accommodate all levels of players.
The development of Final Fantasy XVI is being handled by the Creative Business Unit 3 within Square Enix. This division is responsible for the success of Final Fantasy XIV, the second MMORPG in the series, which has been popular for the last decade. Despite being out of their comfort zone, the team is producing an action game, which goes beyond the level of action in Final Fantasy XV, the game that started this trend in 2016.
FFXVI almost flirts with the beat’em up genre as the emphasis is on combat mechanics, and players control only one character – Clive Rosefield, the heir to the duchy of Rosaria, who seeks revenge for the death of his younger brother. The game’s focus on action and combat mechanics represents a significant departure from previous installments, making it an exciting addition to the series.
During our recent gaming session, we were able to experience the gameplay of Final Fantasy XVI, which had been shrouded in mystery until now. The controls are simple and easy to use, allowing players to execute combos with ease. Clive, the protagonist, has access to basic elements such as attack, magic, dodge, and jump to defend himself against his enemies.
In addition to these basic moves, Clive can harness the power of the Primals, which provide him with unique abilities. By pressing the triggers, players can switch between sets of abilities, allowing them to access the “talents” provided by each Primal. For instance, Phoenix offers area-of-effect attacks, Garuda can project opponents into the air or destabilize them, while Titan offers devastating charging abilities. Each Primal also has two powerful techniques that can be used in combat, with a cooldown period once they have been consumed.
To unlock new techniques, players can use the skill tree. However, only two techniques per Primal can be used in combat. Additionally, Clive can enter a trance state when his Limit Break gauge is filled, which ignites all his attacks, allowing him to deal massive damage.
Devil May Cry, Get Out Of This Body!
Final Fantasy XVI offers players the ability to combine various elements to create satisfying and effective combos. The gameplay is dynamic, with the ability to chain counters after dodging, which provides a thrilling experience. After a brief adjustment period to the controls, players can achieve rewarding combinations by combining melee attacks, magic, Primordial abilities, and unlocking new techniques in the skill tree to push their limits further.
This approach draws parallels to the gameplay of Devil May Cry, which is not surprising considering Ryota Suzuki, the combat director, has worked on the Capcom franchise and has brought his expertise to the Square Enix team. However, unlike DMC, Final Fantasy XVI provides a more accessible gameplay experience than Dante’s gameplay in Devil May Cry 5. Players can still enjoy the impressive and acrobatic side of the game while having access to well-thought-out options that cater to different play styles.
The development team behind Final Fantasy XVI came up with an innovative solution to make the game more accessible without compromising its challenging gameplay. Instead of a traditional easy mode, they introduced five accessories that offer different effects to assist players.
These accessories include the ability to slow down time, perform complex combos with a single button press, automate dodges and potion use, and give orders to Clive’s dog, Torgal. However, players can only equip two accessories at a time to maintain the game’s balance.
Despite the game’s excellent qualities, our gaming session also revealed some occasional slowdowns when the action becomes too intense. It’s worth noting that we played a pre-release version of the game, and the developers have ample time to optimize the performance before the official release.
Boss battles with an anime feel
Moving on from the core gameplay, Final Fantasy XVI’s boss battles are a sight to behold. From the high-flying battles between humans and emissaries to the seamless blend of gameplay and real-time cinematics, Square Enix has once again delivered an epic presentation to keep players constantly engaged.
The boss battles also feature quick-time events (QTEs) which are thoughtfully implemented and not intrusive, adding to the anime game atmosphere that will surely remind fans of titles like Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm series.
But the excitement doesn’t stop there. Players also get to experience boss battles as one of the Primordials, such as Ifrit. Though controls are simplified, the blows still pack a punch, and each Primordial battle promises a unique approach.
For example, the battle against Titan will be on a large scale, while Phoenix’s form leads to a shooting game sequence. The Ifrit vs. Garuda battle has been compared to a wrestling match, reminiscent of Attack on Titan with each participant destroying parts of the other’s body, only for them to regrow with magical power. It’s no wonder Final Fantasy XVI has a PEGI 18+ rating with these intense moments.
Regarding Voice Acting, How does it Sound?
As we have had the chance to play the demo several times, we decided to experiment with the various voice acting options available.
While the primary language of the game is in English and the Japanese version is also commendable, it is noteworthy that the French dubbing is quite remarkable, especially in the case of Clive, who is portrayed by Marc Arnaud (known for his roles as Morpheus in Sandman or Link in Grey’s Anatomy) and delivers an exceptional performance. A sneak peek of his portrayal can be listened to here.
Our impressions
Having experienced the combat gameplay of Final Fantasy XVI firsthand, we can confidently say that it offers a great balance between accessibility and depth. The game’s controls are easy to pick up, but mastering them allows players to perform flashy combos by combining the different abilities of the Primordials.
The developers have also included intelligent accessibility options to ensure that even players less familiar with action games can enjoy the experience. In addition to its core gameplay, the title offers boss battles with epic staging, featuring both human and transformed Primordial forms, promising many high-octane confrontations.
Overall, our first hands-on experience has us eagerly anticipating the release of Final Fantasy XVI exclusively on PS5, to delve into Clive Rosefield’s revenge quest.
