“a complete package of epic storytelling, stunning visuals, and engaging gameplay."
HOW I PLAYED: I pre-ordered Final Fantasy XVI digitally through the PlayStation Store and played exclusively on the PS5 in performance mode.
STORY — 18/20
INTRO
The story is hilariously over the top in FF16, blending Final Fantasy with Game of Thrones and Dragon Ball Z. The 3+ hour demo released totally sets the tone for this game. You start off as a younger Clive and get the story started with a prelude section. I felt this was a great way to kick off the game and get to know the mechanics and controls.
CUTSCENES
The cutscenes are PURE CINEMA quality! They are truly jaw dropping at times and really bring back the days where Square Enix were industry leaders in game cinematics and graphic fidelity.
WORLD BUILDING
I loved most of the characters in FF16 and I felt they worked really well together. The game plays out like you are watching a season of Game Of Thrones, and I totally dug it. As the story naturally pans between protagonist and antagonist, it is a little bit "hand holdy" when it comes to story telling... but I can forgive it.
OVERALL STORY
Overall, the story is great! It's nothing that hasn't really been done before, but the main story beats really hit and you CARE about the relationships between the characters in the game. This really makes the hook moments have a larger impact on you the player.
GRAPHICS — 15/15
CHARACTER MODELS
The character models are STUNNING! Everyone is hyper attractive in this game 😂. But what else should I have expected in a Final Fantasy game?
ENVIRONMENTS
The environments are breathtaking, filled with intricate details and spectacular vistas. Despite some limitations like invisible walls, the game’s world is incredibly impressive. FF16 doesn't really reward exploration as there are a lot of invisible geometry that will block you from exploring.
SPECIAL FX
The special effects are top-tier, adding to the visual splendor of the game. From spell animations to environmental effects, everything looks incredible. The Icon fights are an insane mix of cinematics and visual eye candy (See Bahamut fight)
AUDIO — 15/15
AMBIENCE
The ambience sets the tone perfectly, creating an immersive atmosphere that complements the dark and epic narrative. It also has that classic "Final Fantasy" feel.
BOSS MUSIC
The boss music is intense and exhilarating. “Find The Flame” is a standout track that elevates the adrenaline during battles. Every time that track played I would be AMPED to take on any boss fight or challenge. The boss music is operatic GENIUS and puts almost all other game soundtracks to shame. It literally makes other games sound like they are blowing on a Kazoo for their OST.
SOUND DESIGN
The sound design is flawless, with a mix of epic tracks that bring back the nostalgia of 90s Final Fantasy OSTs while introducing new, impactful themes. The voice acting is incredible and I really think that Ben Starr deserves Voice Actor Of The Year for his performance.
PERFORMANCE — 9/10
FRAME RATE
The game generally runs great, though it struggles to maintain a stable 60fps in open-world areas. The combat is locked at 60fps, and cinematics are at 30fps. I was kind of disappointed that Square Enix was not able to get the game to play at a locked 60fps throughout the entire game. When you are out in open fields or regular traversal in non combat area's the games frame rate will dip to low 50's or even in the high 40's at times. I didn't dock more points, because the devs did make it so the game locks to 60fps during combat which is the most important, and in order to keep high visual fidelity they did not use the same techniques for the open field areas. So it shows they did put thought into this.
STABILITY
I experienced no significant technical issues. The game had a smooth launch with a minor day 1 patch, and continuous updates have kept it running well. Some reports of PS5 overheating seem to be due to user setup issues rather than the game itself (I have seen how disgusting a lot of you keep your consoles 🤮)
GAMEPLAY — 34/40
CONTROLS
The controls are responsive and intuitive, especially when adjusted to type B for a more “Souls-like” experience.
MECHANICS
The switch to action combat is a great move, making the game accessible to modern audiences while retaining depth. However, enemies can feel spongy, making some battles unnecessarily long. But if you like Devil May Cry or other Hack-N-Slash games, you will love this! I feel like the enemy NPC's are sponges so you can show off your combos and chain attacks. I personally am not a fan of this type of play style but I understand it's appeal.
PACING
The pacing is mostly excellent, though the intro drags a bit, and fighting basic enemies like crabs and wasps can get tedious. I opted to skip a lot of the "optional content", I did the major optional quests that gave me a chocobo to ride and for the best upgrade materials. And I felt I missed nothing major that impacted my playthrough.
UI/UE
The user interface is clean and functional, though some quality-of-life improvements could enhance the experience further (Auto Run, Turning off film grain and motion blur).
BOSS QUALITY
Boss fights are generally exciting and well-designed, though some bosses, like Odin, fall short of expectations in my opinion. But honestly... anything coming after the AMAZING Bahamut fight would be kind of disappointing in comparison.
ENEMY VARIETY
There is a decent variety of enemies, though some feel too repetitive, and the spongy nature of foes can detract from the experience. There are some re skins, but I appreciate that so the enemies match the environment they are in.
GAMEPLAY VARIETY
The game offers a mix of combat styles and abilities, allowing for customization and unique playstyles. The action combat is well-implemented, and the snapping to the closest enemy during air combos is a nice touch. You can also do more "chill" side quests and narrative moments to help your NPC's at the game hub.
REPLAYABILITY
Replayability is somewhat limited due to the fixed narrative, but the engaging combat and detailed world make it worth revisiting. Maybe going and doing Hard Mode, or just replaying the game with all your abilities at the start.
BONUS — 1/4
Final Fantasy XVI does have some Audio / Visual queues you can enable. But that was the only accessibility option I could see, other than basic closed captions.
OVERALL — 92/100
Final Fantasy XVI is an amazing game that offers a complete package of epic storytelling, stunning visuals, and engaging gameplay. I was genuinely and happily surprised that this game was amazing as I have been turned off from the Final Fantasy series for some time. It’s my Game of the Year choice so far for 2023, and I highly recommend it to both old fans and newcomers to the series.
TLDR: 92/100 (INCREDIBLE) Final Fantasy XVI blends fantasy, action, and epic storytelling into a nearly perfect package. With stunning graphics, an exhilarating soundtrack, and engaging gameplay, it’s a must-play for any gaming enthusiast.
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