Feels like a capstone for the Final Fantasy series is so many ways. Practically a full realization of the work Yoshinori Kanada did on FF before passing in 2009. The exaggerated poses during the Eikon fights, the flashy camera angles, and that melancholic ending which evokes both the themes and visuals of Kanada's masterpiece Galaxy Express 999. As much as this is a love letter to Kanada it also an evolution of the Final Fantasy series. Many parallels between 16 and 5, 7, 2, and 14 with the environmentalist and anti-fascist focus but also takes FF into a new radical direction.
The world FFXVI takes place in is set to collapse one way or another, as conflict between warring states escalates and the environment degrades due to a blight caused by humanity abusing magic granted by them through crystals. Production depend on slave labor from bearers who have inherent magical abilities as well as the magic crystals used to power technology and industry. It is a mode of production that exploits and ravishes, one that cannot go on without the world being destroyed. From the contradictions of the world rise Cid and his band of merry men who wish to create an entirely new world free of oppression where mankind can choose their own path forward free from both Gods and slavers. Opposing them is another mysterious force drawing power from the inevitability of collapse but with much more selfish ambitions. From start to finish this is a game about revolutionary action which rules especially in a time where more and more games are straying from any political subject matter, terrified from alienating any portion of their potential audience. If you're generations enough with your reading you can even see ideas drawn from Deleuze and Guattari which fucks.
Burn until there's nothing left but pure white ash.
The world FFXVI takes place in is set to collapse one way or another, as conflict between warring states escalates and the environment degrades due to a blight caused by humanity abusing magic granted by them through crystals. Production depend on slave labor from bearers who have inherent magical abilities as well as the magic crystals used to power technology and industry. It is a mode of production that exploits and ravishes, one that cannot go on without the world being destroyed. From the contradictions of the world rise Cid and his band of merry men who wish to create an entirely new world free of oppression where mankind can choose their own path forward free from both Gods and slavers. Opposing them is another mysterious force drawing power from the inevitability of collapse but with much more selfish ambitions. From start to finish this is a game about revolutionary action which rules especially in a time where more and more games are straying from any political subject matter, terrified from alienating any portion of their potential audience. If you're generations enough with your reading you can even see ideas drawn from Deleuze and Guattari which fucks.
Burn until there's nothing left but pure white ash.