‘Final Fantasy XVI’ review: seamless cutscene-to-action gameplay in a darker storyline
- As you would expect from any game in the series, the strong voice acting, musical score and storytelling are baked into the player experience
- Compared to 2016’s Final Fantasy XV, some elements have returned, but the new game is much more serious
Final Fantasy XVI was released last month. Photo: Square Enix/TNSThis game is not appropriate for young audiences. It is recommended for players aged 16 or older.
In the latest not-so-Final Fantasy, protagonist Clive Rosfield – a skilled swordsman, son of an archduke and protector of his more favoured younger brother – battles a dark fantasy medieval world filled with betrayal, tyranny, giant creatures and magic, with a lovable wolf companion oftentimes fighting by his side.
The lore of Final Fantasy XVI is expectedly unique and not related to any series predecessors. There are, however, references to past games that fans will notice.
Fans of 2016’s Final Fantasy XV will certainly recall Prince Noctis and his team’s friendly Chocobo mounts, as well as Lady Lunafreya’s message-sending puppy, Umbra. But the mood in Final Fantasy XVI is far more serious – you’re no longer road-tripping with your favourite allies in a car with snacks and supplies.
Seamless transitions and gameplay
Final Fantasy XVI introduces some changes. Crystals used for protection in XV are now meant to be broken. A puppy, Torgal, is reimagined as a beast of an ally in battle. And the giant summons themselves (Eikons controlled by their respective human hosts) are no longer just special attacks that appear and promptly disappear – but controllable entities with their own moves and battles.
Its fluid and active gameplay mechanics is likely to be met with both praise and disdain from newcomers and loyalists who’ve followed the series since 1987.
In this case, a main goal of the story direction was prioritising a seamless experience to avoid breaking the cutscene-to-gameplay immersion, said director and producer, Naoki Yoshida.
There’s undoubtedly something to be admired by any game producer who takes risks with their fan base even after massive success. And I may stand alone as a critic when I judge a product by its creators’ advertised vision and how fluidly and bug-free it executes it.
Before you buy
If cutscenes – scenes shown to players after reaching certain points in a game – are the bane of your existence, and you love pummelling each final boss without knowing who they are, this may not be the game for you.
As you would expect from any Final Fantasy game, the impassioned voice acting, emotional musical score and overall storytelling are baked into the crust of the player experience – just as much as the action gameplay itself. The linear structure is somewhat the antithesis of a game with superfluous conversations that give some sense of purpose behind slaying a set number of bosses.
And as for difficulty, there are points where it can be challenging, but there are options – easy mode – available for those wanting to reach the end credits without needing advanced controller-handling dexterity.
This game is worth buying, particularly if you are a fan of dark fantasy, medieval setting lore and RPGs with an almost overwhelming amount of skill-tree upgrades available. And it’s an experience to be enjoyed by both regular players and back-seat gamers alike.