Final Fantasy XVI Review
No spoilers ahead!
It is no secret that I love Final Fantasy XIV. So when the developement team behind it announced their single player mainline entry, I was beyond excited.
My partner journeyed with me as I hack and slashed my way through what I believe is a system seller game and a technical leap in video games.
The gameplay:
I think what is most diversive about this game and so many others in the series (ironic) is that people who are strong for the ol' RPG ways can't stand the idea of the series heading into a hack n slash type game.
I think what makes me laugh on both sides is that, Final Fantasy is always growing. All of them are different in their own way. When FF7 came out, everyone was panicked. "This isn't Final Fantasy!!" And now, it's the gold standard for so many.
I think if you miss the turn based style, I understand but what FFXVI does is grab this genre and nail it a thousand times over.
Clive is able to weild throughout his journey an absolute stunning amount of versatile combat options to allow for insane combos that turn old classic moves into epic spectacles that stagger, destroy and take you to victory with every move set.
Mix and match moves to make the aerial combat your dreams last for ages or destroy enemies in one hit with later moves.
What the gameplay offers here is more than just button bashing. Especially on the highest difficulty, Final Fantasy mode (obtained after beating the game once) you will need to master this moves and learn what works with your style.
Clive does have allies accompanying him party style but they do their own thing. The only exception is Torgal who using the D-Pad, can attack enemies you're targeting to juggle them in the air or heal you.
Story:
You will hear this is the Game of Thrones of Final Fantasy and I will admit, it does borrow a lot from the series. The high fantasy politics are no joke and had me absolutely glued to the couch never wanting to drop the controller. Every cutscene felt weighted and mattered in every way. Each characters interaction was engaging and I never wanted it to stop. I felt it all enticed me until the very near end where it all culminates beautifully.
The plot is amazing and will absolutely be most of your time in the game. Cutscenes are abound and plentiful and they are lengthy. It really did feel like a huge epic and unlike Game of Thrones, it wraps up those politics in the best way with quite literally one of my favourite boss fights of all time.
Sadly my only issue with the game stems from after this fight. The Ultimicia, Kefka, Sephiroth ect of this game is decent.
I'll say no more than I think it is not the greatest but the ending of this game made me cry twice on both playthroughs and despite my issues with the villain, the ending is perfect.
Music:
SOKKEN MAKES THE BEST FUCKING MUSIC AND YOU'RE GONNA FUCKING ENJOY IT OKAY?! 🙂 SOUNDTRACKS OUT ON JULY 19TH SO FUCKING LISTEN TO IT AND ENJOY IT GOD DAMN IT 🙂
Extra notes:
- I love every character in this game minus the final villian. Every single character matters, feels important and with every single side quest actually being good and worth the time. The game does a great job of making you love everyone around you. It ties great into the themes of this game and what it's trying to aim for. Gav is best boy ❤
- The active lore button is incredible. It's a button that allows at any time to hold down and view snippets of key words, locations or people being mentioned in a cutscene. Imagine a handy encyclopaedia right there when you need a reminder of who is who and where is where
- The boss fights in this game are the best I've ever seen. There is no joke or blind ignorance here. I fully believe Final Fantasy XVI has the greatest boss fights of any video game I've played. I was in awe and screaming of hype almost every time.
Final (Fantasy) thoughts:
I spent 73 hours of my life playing what I believe is the first true reason to own a Playstation 5. I played through the game twice and never stopped loving it.
I went out of my way to get the Ultima weapon despite no trophy and I know I love something when I am willing to make sure I 100% it entirely. Not just the platinum.
Final Fantasy XVI is a 10/10
Even with an issue or two. I think the fact this game still lands that score for me even with those issues, shows how damn good this game was for me and how it has touched my heart in so many ways.
Yoshi-P and his team at Creative Business Unit III have created Final Fantasy XIV, a game in my top 3.
They have now created yet another game that will need to fit in my top 10.
This team, in my opinion, is one to not only look forward to but to admire for what they did as an MMO team making a single player mainline entry in a beloved series.
Anyways, play Final Fantasy XIV and XVI ❤
Both on PS5. Both worthy of a 10 and both two of the best video games I've ever played
No spoilers ahead!
It is no secret that I love Final Fantasy XIV. So when the developement team behind it announced their single player mainline entry, I was beyond excited.
My partner journeyed with me as I hack and slashed my way through what I believe is a system seller game and a technical leap in video games.
The gameplay:
I think what is most diversive about this game and so many others in the series (ironic) is that people who are strong for the ol' RPG ways can't stand the idea of the series heading into a hack n slash type game.
I think what makes me laugh on both sides is that, Final Fantasy is always growing. All of them are different in their own way. When FF7 came out, everyone was panicked. "This isn't Final Fantasy!!" And now, it's the gold standard for so many.
I think if you miss the turn based style, I understand but what FFXVI does is grab this genre and nail it a thousand times over.
Clive is able to weild throughout his journey an absolute stunning amount of versatile combat options to allow for insane combos that turn old classic moves into epic spectacles that stagger, destroy and take you to victory with every move set.
Mix and match moves to make the aerial combat your dreams last for ages or destroy enemies in one hit with later moves.
What the gameplay offers here is more than just button bashing. Especially on the highest difficulty, Final Fantasy mode (obtained after beating the game once) you will need to master this moves and learn what works with your style.
Clive does have allies accompanying him party style but they do their own thing. The only exception is Torgal who using the D-Pad, can attack enemies you're targeting to juggle them in the air or heal you.
Story:
You will hear this is the Game of Thrones of Final Fantasy and I will admit, it does borrow a lot from the series. The high fantasy politics are no joke and had me absolutely glued to the couch never wanting to drop the controller. Every cutscene felt weighted and mattered in every way. Each characters interaction was engaging and I never wanted it to stop. I felt it all enticed me until the very near end where it all culminates beautifully.
The plot is amazing and will absolutely be most of your time in the game. Cutscenes are abound and plentiful and they are lengthy. It really did feel like a huge epic and unlike Game of Thrones, it wraps up those politics in the best way with quite literally one of my favourite boss fights of all time.
Sadly my only issue with the game stems from after this fight. The Ultimicia, Kefka, Sephiroth ect of this game is decent.
I'll say no more than I think it is not the greatest but the ending of this game made me cry twice on both playthroughs and despite my issues with the villain, the ending is perfect.
Music:
SOKKEN MAKES THE BEST FUCKING MUSIC AND YOU'RE GONNA FUCKING ENJOY IT OKAY?! 🙂 SOUNDTRACKS OUT ON JULY 19TH SO FUCKING LISTEN TO IT AND ENJOY IT GOD DAMN IT 🙂
Extra notes:
- I love every character in this game minus the final villian. Every single character matters, feels important and with every single side quest actually being good and worth the time. The game does a great job of making you love everyone around you. It ties great into the themes of this game and what it's trying to aim for. Gav is best boy ❤
- The active lore button is incredible. It's a button that allows at any time to hold down and view snippets of key words, locations or people being mentioned in a cutscene. Imagine a handy encyclopaedia right there when you need a reminder of who is who and where is where
- The boss fights in this game are the best I've ever seen. There is no joke or blind ignorance here. I fully believe Final Fantasy XVI has the greatest boss fights of any video game I've played. I was in awe and screaming of hype almost every time.
Final (Fantasy) thoughts:
I spent 73 hours of my life playing what I believe is the first true reason to own a Playstation 5. I played through the game twice and never stopped loving it.
I went out of my way to get the Ultima weapon despite no trophy and I know I love something when I am willing to make sure I 100% it entirely. Not just the platinum.
Final Fantasy XVI is a 10/10
Even with an issue or two. I think the fact this game still lands that score for me even with those issues, shows how damn good this game was for me and how it has touched my heart in so many ways.
Yoshi-P and his team at Creative Business Unit III have created Final Fantasy XIV, a game in my top 3.
They have now created yet another game that will need to fit in my top 10.
This team, in my opinion, is one to not only look forward to but to admire for what they did as an MMO team making a single player mainline entry in a beloved series.
Anyways, play Final Fantasy XIV and XVI ❤
Both on PS5. Both worthy of a 10 and both two of the best video games I've ever played