For the reason that reveal of Remaining Fantasy XVI in 2020, my questions concerning the title have continued to develop. Thoughts you, my questions are firmly planted within the fascination of every part surrounding this recreation, like how Remaining Fantasy XIV studio Artistic Enterprise Unit III is growing the title with Naoki Yoshida within the producer function or how former Satan Could Cry 5 and Marvel vs. Capcom 2 fight designer Ryota Suzuki is the sport’s lead fight director. Will FFXVI characteristic the storytelling prowess of FFXIV? Will its fight go full fashionable motion? What does it imply that this upcoming sequel is the primary Mature-rated recreation within the collection (fast reply: listening to Remaining Fantasy characters say f**okay)?
These are just some questions I had going right into a current hands-on preview for FFXVI. Whereas many nonetheless linger, I’m now able to let myself be absolutely excited for the sport’s June 22 launch. Yoshida assured us the sport is not going to get delayed, however this is identical firm that spent some huge cash on a three-hour Remaining Fantasy XV stage present to announce that recreation’s launch date… just for it to get delayed. The sport’s trailers have finished loads to promote me on the world, however with this being essentially the most action-heavy Remaining Fantasy but, going hands-on was one thing I’d been hoping to do for some time. After almost two hours of controlling protagonist Clive and the Ifrit Eikon, I’m stoked by how nicely Suzuki’s Satan Could Cry-isms work in Remaining Fantasy.
FINAL FANTASY XVI © 2023 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved
Clive’s youthful brother, Joshua, is a Dominant, a singular being that may rework into an Eikon, the sport’s time period for summon monsters. It is a helpful energy for Rosaria, the dominion the place the 2 reside, and these Eikons assist maintain the lands of Valisthea, made up of 5 nations with their very own Dominants, in test. With out spoiling a lot, this relationship is seemingly on the coronary heart of the sport and shortly after its begin, Clive embarks on a journey of revenge.
Yoshida says we’ll bear witness to Clive’s teen years, his 20s, and even his 30s. I like the thought of sticking with this important protagonist for a lot of his life, particularly as a result of Yoshida says Clive is who we’ll primarily management all through the sport. Get together members do be part of Clive now and again, he says, however they’re at all times managed by A.I. Most of my playthrough noticed me operating Clive and Cidolfus Telamon, a dominant capable of turn into the Ramuh Eikon, by a fortress dungeon going down about 5 hours into the sport.
Instantly, FFXVI’s fight is quicker than anything within the collection. It’s combo-driven, reliant on a mixture of Clive’s sword assaults, Eikonic talents, and normal magic. And after a while familiarizing myself with the fight, I used to be capable of pull off some spectacular combos. I’d begin slashing with my sword, then press Circle to make use of my Phoenix Eikon’s fiery dash-teleport means to shut the gap between myself and the subsequent enemy. As I end that enemy, I faucet R2 to change from my Phoenix means wheel to my Titan Eikon wheel as a result of its Circle means permits me to attract upon a big rock protect to dam incoming assaults.
With every of those weapon wheels, Clive has particular talents he can use on a timer. The Phoenix has giant AOE fireplace assaults at this level within the recreation, with one lifting enemies into the air, whereas the Titan makes use of a big rock hammer to deal excessive injury. The Titan’s talents are particularly enjoyable to make use of as a result of you’ll be able to launch the button throughout a selected window (indicated with a circle on display) for further injury. In between all of this, I’m dodging unblockable assaults and parrying others. Throughout a last boss struggle, I used to be slamming buttons frenetically, seeing simply how reactive the fight is, and to my shock, it stored up fairly nicely. Satan Could Cry followers will really feel proper at house in FFXVI.
However fret not if motion video games aren’t your factor; particular ring equipment allow you to customise the issue on the fly. There’s no simple, medium, or exhausting mode – simply story-focused and action-focused. Regardless, you’ll be able to equip these rings to amplify or reduce the problem. I had entry to a hoop that quickly slowed time earlier than assaults, permitting me to simply press R1 to dodge. One other ring robotically chosen the assaults Torpal (your canine companion that, sure, you’ll be able to pet) carried out. Others let me auto-dodge most assaults or used potions robotically when well being was low. There’s even one which turns the sport’s heavy motion right into a one-button present that performs combos for you. I like how I may curate fight with out altering your complete expertise on a system-wide degree.
I used to be additionally capable of struggle the Garuda Eikon as Clive, and whereas it was flashy and cinematic, it was much less thrilling. The battle performed out in a decent enviornment, and I used to be button-mashing till prompts appeared to additional the struggle. It was in the end boring in comparison with the remainder of the fight within the recreation.
The Eikon vs. Eikon battle – my Ifrit vs. Garuda – was rather more thrilling. Controlling like a Kaiju struggle, the 2 large summons had been sluggish however hit exhausting. Watching the surroundings round me crumble, ignite with fireplace, and develop increasingly more destroyed was a pleasant contact. I solely had entry to a couple assaults as Ifrit, and Yoshida says the struggle displays Clive’s inexperience tapping into the Eikon’s energy. Cidolfus even had to make use of Ramuh to attract Clive again out of his fiery rage after the struggle towards Garuda, drawing consideration to how a lot injury Clive had triggered within the space.
What’s particularly fascinating is Yoshida says this specific Eikon vs. Eikon battle is like no different, as every of those particular cinematic fights is exclusive. Whereas this one felt like a Kaiju struggle – Yoshida says Evangelion, Godzilla, and Extremely Man encourage it – a battle with Phoenix shall be extra like a 3D shooter, whereas one other with the Titan Eikon shall be extra about high-speed motion. Yoshida even joked about how absurd it’s to make such distinctive battles and related fight programs just for them for use as soon as within the recreation. However I stay up for seeing how far these battles stretch throughout genres in a single Remaining Fantasy recreation. It’s completely different for the collection, and one thing I believe will, to a point, turn into one of many defining sides of it throughout this decades-long collection.
I may wax on about what I loved in FFXVI. The style of the rating I heard was unsurprisingly improbable, contemplating it’s coming from FFXIV composer Masayoshi Soken. The voice performing can also be nice, though overly medieval British, and the characters and their convictions appear attractive. I used to be least impressed visually, however what I performed by was darkish and principally passed off in a nondescript fortress; I hope the ultimate recreation impresses me extra as a result of graphics and the way Sq. Enix leverages {hardware} know-how are a giant a part of the collection’ draw. However nonetheless, if what I performed is any indication, FFXVI is trying to shake up this long-running collection in lots of thrilling methods, and whereas I’d prefer to play extra to see simply how profitable these distinctive shifting components work in tandem with one another, the sport’s first impression is a robust one.
Editor’s Word about this preview construct: This was a particular model made for media to expertise, and contents could differ from the ultimate model.
