What to Expect From Final Fantasy XVI Posted Aug 12, 2022
You'd have to have been living under a rock for the last 35 years to have escaped the grasp of Final Fantasy. This series is one of the very longest running in the world of video games and if you've ever played it, then you'll immediately know why. Final Fantasy is a hugely immersive game, even as far back as the originals. It's now sixteen games later and we're eagerly awaiting the next instalment. Square Enix have promised us that Final Fantasy XVI will be released in 2023, but we can't help speculating on what is to come.
Main Character
Whilst there's plenty about Final Fantasy XVI that's still top secret, we've been told for certain that the character we'll be playing as in this instalment is Clive Rosefield. He's the first born son of the Archduke of Rosaria and has vowed that he will protect his younger brother at all costs. Sadly for Clive, a series of unfortunate events occur which lead to him spiralling down a dark and dangerous path. Interestingly, Square Enix have suggested that Clive's narrative will be a linear one, that is to say, there won't be too much player input into exactly what happens with Clive. Some players enjoy this predetermined format immensely, it gives the developer the maximum amount of time to devote to one storyline only. It stands to reason that you'll create one truly great story in the same time it would take to create one good story with three mediocre paths. Of course, other players prefer being able to follow their own path, having an input into the trajectory of this character.
Whichever camp you fall into, it seems as though Clive's destiny is already set in stone. This format further makes sense because the player will get to follow Clive over a period of decades rather than years or even months that we've seen in previous games. Squeezing a great deal of information into such a short space of time should make this character progression truly fascinating. So whether you prefer a 'choose your own adventure' style progression or not, you shouldn't be put off. This set up has all the hallmarks of one of Final Fantasy's darker stories, expect a brooding, moody and deeply personal narrative.
Pioneering New Combat Scheme
Amongst other changes to the format, perhaps the wildest one is the totally revamped combat system. Final Fantasy has been known for its intense and complex battle scenes, using all kinds of codes and sequences to generate incredible moves. However, it seems that Square Enix have made the active decision to sweep this complex form of battle away for this instalment, instead focusing almost entirely on speed. With so many fast-paced action-oriented games topping the charts at the moment, the cynical amongst us might think this is a marketing move aimed squarely at a new generation of gamers. Whether this will alienate the Final Fantasy veterans remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure if tactics are knocked on the head entirely then it could upset the die-hard fans.
And In The End?
Final Fantasy can usually be relied upon for a great ending, though some of the endings have generated intense discussion amongst fans, particularly Final Fantasy VII which was so poorly received that it was actually remade years later. In the original ending Sephiroth died and the lifestream saved the planet, it was all great news but it seemed a little too neatly tied up for many players. They had unanswered queries about what the characters went on to do next, all of the messiness was removed entirely, leaving fans with more questions than answers.
There are still a few who prefer the original ending, but the remake did a lot to improve fans' feelings. With this in mind, Square Enix have big shoes to fill with the ending of this installment. Though from the looks of things so far, it would be fair to say we can expect something pretty special.
