Final Fantasy XVI is one of the most anticipated games of 2023. Set in a vast, vibrant world filled with thrilling adventures, Final Fantasy XVI is the latest installment in Square Enix’s beloved role-playing game series. What’s waiting for us in the game? Let’s take a look!
- Same but different?
- What’s new in gameplay
- How long is Final Fantasy 16?
- Release date and platforms
- About Final Fantasy games
Same but different?
Final Fantasy XVI’s gameplay promises an immersive and captivating experience for players. With an open world to explore, players will have the freedom to choose their own path, engage in side quests, and customize characters with various skills and abilities. Final Fantasy XVI offers an array of mini-games. They allow players to take a break from the main story by participating in exciting battles and puzzles.
What exactly is going to change in the newest Square Enix game? Each Final Fantasy game, even though boasting different stories, has some elements in common: recurring themes, bosses, creatures, or powers. Yet every installment has something that makes it unique. As the producer Naoki Yoshida stated, FF 16 is going to be slightly darker in tone than previous Final Fantasy games. As we might expect, this title will be a tale of revenge and will feel different from previous games in the iconic series. Will Clive Rosfield, the protagonist, become a new fan favorite? Time will tell!
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What’s new in gameplay
Clive Rosfield travels with fully AI-controlled companions. They will not only fight alongside you but also interact with the main hero and talk to him. It won’t always be the same group of people, though. Your party will change, depending on the current region or moment in the story.
When it comes to combat itself, Clive is capable of both physical and magical combat, which is now enriched with the ability to summon Eikons. These creatures are the most powerful beings in Valisthea. Each Eikon is bound to a single man or woman called a Dominant.
Eikons will play a huge role in the game, not only gameplay-wise but also in the narrative. The combat will revolve around fighting bosses and summoning said Eikons for aid. Clive will gradually discover them during the game, so we’ll gain access to a wide array of different, spectacular abilities. If you want to take a look at what these battles will look like, check out the gameplay trailer. Eikons look truly breathtaking!
FF 16 is going to feature Timely Accessories, a ring that will pop up during battle in order to support Clive and give him an edge. This is just one of the many ways in which FF 16 is going to depart from its predecessors and create something truly unique and exciting.
Timely Accessories will feature a plethora of useful abilities, such as healing or slowing time to avoid incoming strikes. As the developers explained, this new mechanic is meant to help less experienced players and let them have as much fun as those who are veterans of action RPG titles. Therefore, if you want to start your adventure with Final Fantasy, FF XVI might be a good choice for you!
How long is Final Fantasy 16?
The game is going to take about 35 hours to complete for those interested only in the main story. Players who love discovering every piece of the game will need about 70 hours! The game is going to feature over 10 hours of cutscenes themselves, so expect a rich story—a signature element of every Final Fantasy game.
Release date and platforms
The Final Fantasy XVI release date is set for June 22, 2023, for the PlayStation 5 console. It’s going to be a timed PS5 exclusive, but for now, we don’t know anything about the release date for other platforms. Players can choose from different editions:
Physical Editions:
- Standard
- Deluxe
- Collector’s
Digital Editions:
- Standard
- Deluxe
Depending on your needs, you can choose whatever suits you best. The most avid fans will most probably be interested in the Collector’s Edition, which, among other goodies, contains an exclusive statue featuring two Eikons: Phoenix and Ifrit.
About Final Fantasy games
Final Fantasy is a long-running video game franchise that began in 1987 with the release of the first game, Final Fantasy, for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Since then, the franchise has grown to encompass a wide variety of games, spanning multiple platforms and generations of gaming hardware.
Each game in the Final Fantasy series tells a different story, often set in a unique world with its own distinct characters, cultures, and mythology. While each game is generally considered to be its own self-contained story, many of the games share certain themes, motifs, and gameplay elements.
The Final Fantasy series is also known for its memorable characters, from heroic protagonists to memorable villains. Many of these characters have become iconic in their own right, with fan favorites like Cloud Strife, Tifa Lockhart, and Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII being particularly well-known.
Overall, the Final Fantasy series has been praised for its epic storytelling, memorable characters, and innovative gameplay mechanics. Each game in the series has its own unique strengths and weaknesses, but together they have created one of the most beloved and influential franchises in video game history.
