Final Fantasy 16 Review

A great game, just not for everybody

Time spent with the game: 54h (1 Playthrough)

Previous experience with the franchise: Final Fantasy 15, Final Fantasy 7 Remake

Who is it for: Players looking for story focused games, Fans of the Final Fantasy Series, Fantasy Fans

Who should avoid this game: People looking for nonstop action-packed gameplay

Why should you avoid an action-packed game if you're looking for an action RPG? Because Final Fantasy 16 puts a heavy emphasis on storytelling through cutscenes. The main story takes 30 to 40 hours to complete, with what feels like 70 to 80% of it consisting of cutscenes. This game has sparked controversy, as some players enjoy the downtime to immerse themselves in the story, while others consider it downtime from the action.

To put it in perspective, The Witcher 3, a game who faces a lot of critique from players for having a lot of cinematics, had about 6 hours of cutscenes, while FF16 has almost double that at around 11 hours. However, unlike The Witcher, FF16 lacks the extensive open world exploration that follows the cutscenes, making it a more linear experience. But let's highlight the key difference here. In The Witcher, once the cutscenes concluded, you had the freedom to immerse yourself in an expansive open world. You could spend countless hours exploring, completing side quests, and discovering valuable gear, all without any interruptions. However, Final Fantasy 16 takes a different path. As a more linear story-driven game, it doesn't offer the same vast open world experience. This is simply the nature of such a narrative-focused adventure. I fully acknowledge that these two games are distinctly different, but I'm here to paint you a clear picture of what awaits in FF16.

While the story initially captivated me, I must admit that it took a strange turn as the game progressed. Personally, I'm not the biggest fan of a story told solely through cinematics. It's like being a passive observer, detached from the world of Final Fantasy. There's a certain magic in games like God of War or Red Dead Redemption, where you find yourself walking through their landscapes, eavesdropping on conversations that deepen your understanding of the characters and lore. These moments inject life into the narrative, making it more enthralling and immersive. They are the very essence of what makes games truly special, in my humble opinion.

The Story and Lore:

The universe crafted in Final Fantasy 16 rivals them of epic fantasy franchises like Game of Thrones. With its intricate lore and rich tapestry of characters and kingdoms, it draws you deeper into its complex web the further you venture. To ensure you never miss a beat, the developers included a handy lexicon option during cutscenes. It's like having a personal guide to refresh your memory and keep you fully immersed in the unfolding story.

Now, let's talk about the absolute showstoppers of the game—the breathtaking eikon battles. Brace yourself for a slight spoiler, but fear not, as this all unfolds within the first hour. At the heart of Final Fantasy 16's world lie the awe-inspiring Eikons. These godlike beings command the elements—fire, ice, wind, and more. They choose a worthy human, known as a dominant, to wield their immense power. Think of them as the equivalent of nuclear weapons, as YouTuber SkillUp aptly put it. To prevent chaos, these dominants refrain from direct combat. If one interferes, the dominants of rival kingdoms will retaliate, plunging the realm into chaos.

It's an inevitable clash of titans that will leave you in awe. These epic fight scenes are, without a doubt, the standout moments and will etch themselves into gaming history for years to come.

Combat:

Combat takes a backseat in Final Fantasy 16, as it becomes evident throughout the game. Initially, combat feels deep and enjoyable, but as you progress further in the story, it starts to lose its luster and becomes repetitive, relying heavily on ability spamming for optimal effectiveness.

You see, abilities in the game have individual cooldowns, and you can equip a maximum of six abilities, each functioning independently. This means you activate one ability, cycle through the others, and by the time you've exhausted the last one, the first ability is ready to be used again.

Many have drawn comparisons between Final Fantasy 16's combat and that of Devil May Cry 5. After all, the combat director, Ryota Suzuki, had direct involvement in both games as well as Monster Hunter World. However, despite some similarities and inspiration, it's crucial to note that these are entirely different games. Final Fantasy 16 places a greater emphasis on its story-focused RPG elements, while Devil May Cry 5 prioritizes combat as its number one aspect.

When the combat in Final Fantasy 16 shines, it truly shines. It's flashy, fast-paced, and makes you feel incredibly powerful—perhaps a tad too powerful at times. Unfortunately, the game locks the hard mode behind New Game Plus, which means many players won't find the challenge they seek during their initial playthrough. Additionally, the game includes accessibility accessories that make it even easier, catering to players who simply want to enjoy the story without much difficulty. While this is a great feature for those seeking a smoother experience, it may leave hardcore gamers yearning for that extra challenge and the need to master enemy patterns—elements they won't find in this game.

RPG features:

Despite Square Enix marketing Final Fantasy 16 as an Action RPG, I find it more fitting to label it as an Action game. The RPG elements in this title are disappointingly lacking, to the point where their absence would hardly be noticeable. Crafting a weapon with elemental components, for example, doesn't grant any elemental damage benefits. Acquiring a new weapon only offers minimal damage increases, barely impacting your overall effectiveness. Even accessories, such as crafting a new armor piece, provide meager bonuses like a mere 2 additional HP. This trivial increase amounts to a mere 0.1% when you already possess over 2000 HP. While some skills may have accessories that offer significant upgrades, truth be told, they are unnecessary. The skills themselves are already so powerful that additional enhancements feel like overkill. So, yes, the RPG elements in Final Fantasy 16 are far from fleshed out, but fortunately, they don't break the overall experience.

Exploration:

Exploration isn't the primary focus of this story-driven game with smaller maps instead of a vast open world. While the maps look stunning, they offer little substance beyond their visuals. Exploring mostly leads to encountering a handful of enemies, empty spaces, and items that provide negligible benefits. Most items you find can easily be purchased from vendors, and the meager amounts of Gil (the games curracy) you stumble upon hardly make a dent.

What to expect:

Final Fantasy 16, a captivating third-person Action RPG, is set in a unique and immersive universe. Take the reins as Clive Rosfield, a character whose life is forever altered by a tragic family incident, thrusting him into the depths of slavery. Years later, you rise from the ashes, fueled by a burning desire to set things right.

Explore a generously sized world, comprised of multiple semi-open world segments, containing a bunch of side content that can be tackled alongside the main missions. Whether you choose to follow the main story alone or dive into the game's other offerings, you can expect a solid playtime of approximately 30 to 40 hours. However, should you opt to immerse yourself fully and savor every morsel the game has to offer, prepare for a journey that can stretch up to 70 hours.

It's important to note that the story in Final Fantasy 16 primarily unfolds through captivating cutscenes. If you're someone who prefers to minimize your time spent watching extensive cinematic sequences, it may be advisable to consider other gaming options. However, for those who love storytelling through visually stunning narratives, Final Fantasy 16 might even be your game of the year.

The good:

Superb voice acting, especially from the main cast.
A complex universe with immersive storytelling.
High-quality fantasy lore.
Stunning visuals.

The bad:

Lackluster RPG elements.
Exploration lacks rewarding content.
Combat can feel repetitive over time.
The game may feel too easy for many players.

The ugly:

There are no significant downsides to mention. Once you purchase the game, it provides a complete package that delivers value for your money if you enjoy this type of game.

So, do I recommend this game?

It's a difficult question. Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the game but found it less captivating later on. Final Fantasy 16 is a game that divides opinions, with some players loving it and others finding it overly long or stretched out. The good news is that a free demo is available for you to test the game yourself, and I highly recommend giving it a try. The demo takes less than 2 hours to complete, and if you enjoy your time with it, chances are you'll have a good experience with the full game.