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Final Fantasy 16 Review: A Triumphant Return to Form

Final Fantasy 16 Review: A Triumphant Return to Form Final Fantasy 16 Review: A Triumphant Return to Form

Final Fantasy 16 delivers a near-perfect AAA gaming experience. From breathtaking visuals and captivating gameplay to a rich narrative, superb voice acting, and a memorable soundtrack, Square Enix has crafted a masterpiece that stands as one of 2023’s best releases. While a few minor flaws exist, they hardly detract from the overall brilliance of this latest entry in the iconic RPG series.

This installment introduces players to Valisthea, a land embroiled in conflict, imbued with mystical magic, and steeped in intricate lore. The narrative centers on Clive Rosfield, a complex protagonist whose compelling story unfolds over many years. The game’s opening, as those who played the demo can attest, is a gripping spectacle that immediately draws you in. The plot continues to captivate, consistently surprising and keeping players on the edge of their seats. Final Fantasy XVI excels at maintaining suspense and never fully revealing its hand.

final-fantasy-16.pngfinal-fantasy-16.pngFinal Fantasy 16’s detailed world-building is commendable, albeit occasionally overwhelming. While the lore delivery can sometimes feel a bit heavy-handed, the developers’ clear vision for Valisthea shines through. The “Active Time Lore” system is a particularly ingenious addition. Similar to a codex in other RPGs, it provides readily accessible explanations of characters, factions, and nations, ensuring players never feel lost in the complex narrative web. This accessible design clarifies terminology and plot devices, enhancing comprehension and immersion.

A Combat System That Evolves

Beyond its compelling story, Final Fantasy 16’s combat system truly sets it apart. Even for purists who prefer turn-based combat, the real-time action in FF16 is undeniably superb. The system’s depth progressively unfolds as Clive acquires new abilities and skills, allowing for increasingly intricate combos and devastating attacks. While initially appearing button-mashy, the combat mechanics eventually rival the complexity and fluidity found in character action games like Bayonetta or Devil May Cry.

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final-fantasy-16-ifrit.pngfinal-fantasy-16-ifrit.pngThe boss battles in Final Fantasy 16 elevate the combat to another level entirely. Eikons, colossal beings with unique powers, play a central role. Clive’s ability to transform into an Eikon leads to spectacular clashes against similarly powerful foes. These Eikon vs. Eikon battles are visually and aurally stunning, surpassing similar encounters in many other games. While mechanically simpler than the core combat, these epic confrontations are a true spectacle.

Audio-Visual Excellence

Final Fantasy 16’s audio-visual presentation is consistently impressive. Graphically, it’s arguably one of the most visually stunning games on the PlayStation 5. Despite occasional frame rate dips, the vibrant visuals and high-fidelity graphics create a truly next-gen experience.

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The soundtrack, as expected from a Final Fantasy title, is exceptional. The score’s diversity, encompassing various instrumentation and styles, makes it particularly noteworthy and arguably more compelling than previous entries.

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Exploring Valisthea: A Missed Opportunity

While visually impressive, exploring Valisthea isn’t as engaging as it could be. Instead of a true open world, the game features several large but somewhat disconnected areas. Traversing these locales often feels tedious. Outside of key hubs like cities or character settlements, the environments feel barren, populated mainly by enemy monsters.

This sense of tedium extends to the quests, especially the side quests, which often involve repetitive fetch quests between points A and B. Despite the abundance of content, the side activities quickly become monotonous, leading players to focus solely on the main story without feeling like they’re missing out.

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A Resounding Success

Despite these shortcomings, Final Fantasy 16’s strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. The captivating gameplay and epic boss battles overshadow the less compelling quest design and world exploration. This latest installment marks a triumphant return to form for the Final Fantasy series, reaffirming its esteemed position in the gaming world.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Final Fantasy 16 is available now exclusively on PlayStation 5. A review code was provided by the publisher for the purpose of this review.

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