WARNING: 
Potential mild spoilers ahead for Final Fantasy XVI. 
Turn away now if you want to venture into Valisthea with fresh eyes.

The mainline Final Fantasy games have had a tumultuous past 10 or so years. Some might even argue that the last mainline game to be widely celebrated and critically acclaimed is Final Fantasy X. And that came out in 2001 — well over 20 years ago. Now comes Final Fantasy XVI, exploding into the scene with a new combat system, more mature themes, and the promise of an epic tale. 

Fair or not, one can say that Final Fantasy XVI (FF16) carries the burden of reinstating faith in the franchise. Its predecessor, Final Fantasy XV, rose from development hell unpolished and in disjointed parts (a feature film, an animé, a game, and late DLCs). 

Helming the latest installment of the franchise is Naoki Yoshida, more commonly known as Yoshi-P. He leads the Creative Business Unit III (CBU3) of Square Enix — the same unit responsible for breathing new life to Final Fantasy IV. His task this time is to do the same, not for a single game, but for the entire mainline series.

A legendary prologue

Joshua Rosfield, the young Phoenix, Dominant of Fire.

Leading up to its launch, there was plenty of skepticism with everything that has been revealed about FF16. While some of it remains, it has largely been extinguished thanks to the game’s demo and from the ashes rose a burning anticipation. 

The FF16 demo featured two key segments: the game’s prologue, revealing key details and setting the stage of the epic story, and one that’s combat-focused to warm naysayers into the new battle system. 

The Phoenix rises.

The demo created plenty of buzz online, with many saying they’re buying a PlayStation 5 – the console this game is exclusive for – to see what happens next. That’s how gripping the prologue is. It lit a fire that would only burn brighter as you progress to the game. 

Clive Rosfield, the second Dominant of Fire

Final Fantasy XVI is told primarily through the lens of Clive Rosfield. The story is told in three key phases of his life: his teens, late 20s, and early 30s. All of which feature monumental events that not only affect him but the entire realm of Valisthea which is where the story is set.

FF16 is hyper focused in telling the story through the trials and tribulations of Clive. Unlike Final Fantasy games that came before it, you control only Clive throughout the game. While you do meet key characters that join your party, exploration and combat is strictly all the second Dominant of Fire. 

Throughout the journey, you’ll see his growth from a steadfast knight, to a battle-worn soldier, and finally a leader with purpose. He isn’t the broody protagonist that most associate with Final Fantasy games. Instead, he is an earnest character, dealing with the cards life has dealt him with a strong will. 

Shield of Rosaria, Wyvern, and an Outlaw

Clive Rosfield in action.

The biggest change and one of the most talked about aspects of FF16 is its combat. The game switches from turned-based battles to one that’s heavily action-focused. Combat Director Ryota Suzuki lists the likes of Devil May Cry 5 and Dragon’s Dogma among others. He recently called FF16 his “masterpiece.” 

Final Fantasy XVI combat starts off simple enough, but deepens as you add more Eikon abilities. You gain these abilities as you progress through the story. 

Basically, you have the melee attack (square), magic attack (triangle), Eikon ability (circle), jump (cross/X), and dodge (R1). Holding R2 changes square and triangle to other Eikon abilities. These range from single enemy attacks to those that deal damage to multiple ones, perfect for crowd control. 

The game eases you into the battle system.

Different melee, magic, and jump button presses also result in ground and aerial combos. Yours truly isn’t too adept in FF16 swordsmanship. However, more creative action-game veterans shouldn’t be left wanting as there is plenty of room for experimentation. That’s even more true when you add the Eikon abilities to the mix. 

Counters and parrying are especially satisfying. Dodging an attack provides you a generous window to counter either with a melee or a magic attack. Parrying results in the enemy being out of balance and leaving them open to taking heavy damage. 

It looks like there’s a lot going on, but combat feels more manageable while you play.

Enemies also have a stagger meter. Landing multiple attacks and magic abilities that the enemy is weak too hastens the stagger meter build-up. Once staggered, the enemy is down and you are free to unleash everything in Clive’s arsenal without fear of retaliation.

“Come to me, Ifrit!”

Perhaps one of the biggest draws of Final Fantasy XVI are its Eikon battles. Eikons or Summons are a staple in Final Fantasy games. Usually, these are larger-than-life figures that aid you in battle. In FF16, they feel grander than ever. 

The Eikons are very much tied to the story. They are abilities inherited by a select few in Valisthea. Their wielders are called Dominants and they are primarily treated as weapons of war. Whichever kingdom has one gains leverage over the others. 

Shiva clashes against Titan.

The Dominants and their Eikons are as follows: 

• Joshua Rosfield – Phoenix (Fire)
• Clive Rosfield – Ifrit (Fire) 
• Jill Warrick – Shiva (Ice)
• Cidolfus Telamon – Ramuh (Lighting)
• Benedikta Harman – Garuda (Wind)
• Hugo Kupka – Titan (Earth)
• Dion Lesage – Bahamut (Light)
• Barnabas Tharmr – Odin (Air)

In the world of Valisthea, there’s supposed to be only one Dominant attuned to an element. Clive being a second Eikon of Fire is an anomaly, and so is his ability to absorb the essence of the other Eikons. 

Titan Lost towering over everything.

The Eikon battles are as grand and epic as they are made out to be. Without spoiling anything, all I shall say is that these colossal clashes are what legends are made of. These are the spectacle and set pieces that will set Final Fantasy XVI apart from both the rest of the franchise and potentially other action-focused games. 

Journey across Valisthea

Clive’s story will have him traveling across Valisthea. And in these travels he shall meet a varied and colorful cast of characters. In classic Final Fantasy fashion, you will be treated to a fair share of adventures and misadventures. 

All of these happen in the beautiful but dying landscapes of Valisthea. As the plot goes, the realm is haunted by what they call the Blight. Any area ravaged by it becomes a desolate wasteland where no magic, let alone life, can survive. This drives the many kingdoms to inevitable conflict, battling for whatever land is left. 

Valisthea is breathtaking.

As a narrative-driven game, there isn’t much by way of exploration and traversal in FF16. There are no platforming no puzzles to solve. What it does have is a world teeming with stories. Side quests in Valisthea are mere fetch quests and battles, but ingrained in them are world-building narratives both personal and grand. These tales will have you smirking, squirming, and possibly even shedding tears. 

Familiar Final Fantasy figures are present like Nektar the Moogle

Speeding through large areas is much easier through Chocobo riding. This, however, can only be unlocked through a side quest about close to halfway through the game. There’s no complicated platforming. What you’re treated to instead are guided paths with breathtaking views and masterful camera work. 

Let the Fire burn

Final Fantasy XVI is a tale both grand and grounded. It succeeds in what its immediate predecessor fell short on in combat. It then raises the stakes by weaving into the story what Summons have been treated as all this time — an ace up a sleeve to turn the tides of battle. 

At the center of it all is Clive Rosfield — Shield of Rosaria and the second Dominant of Fire. His story is personal but the consequences have repercussions in the entire realm of Valisthea. It’s a delicate balance that was handled with excruciating care and executed with surgical precision. 

Final Fantasy XVI is under a lot of heat. But we wager, it’ll burn through it all with inextinguishable flames.

Final Fantasy XVI is out June 22.
Review copy provided by Sony PlayStation.