Table of Contents
There have been a total of 16 mainline Final Fantasy games, but if you count X-2, 13-2, Lightning Returns, and the remake of Final Fantasy 7, there have been a total of 20. But none of these games can hold a candle to Final Fantasy 16 in terms of quality. The most recent entry in this esteemed series is less of a throwback to the role-playing game (RPG) roots of the game and more of a progression of the character action genre. It blends fast reflexes with the ideas of role-playing games, with the emphasis being placed on the former more than it ever has been before. The combat system is top-notch for an action role-playing game, but when compared to the very finest in the character action subgenre, it pales in comparison.
Final Fantasy 16 Specifications
There have been 16 mainline Final Fantasy games, and 20 if you including X-2, 13-2, Lightning Returns, and the remake of Final Fantasy 7. However, none of these games compare to Final Fantasy 16.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Role-playing game |
| Platform | PlayStation 5 (and potentially PC) |
| Developer | Square Enix |
| Release Date | 22 June 2023 |
| Graphics | Stunning visuals, realistic detail |
| Combat System | Strategic and action-oriented |
| Storyline | Intriguing narrative, complex themes |
| Characters | Memorable and diverse |
| Link | Download Now |
Final Fantasy 16: A world at war
Players of Final Fantasy 16 will go on a massive adventure through a world ripped apart by war. The game’s captivating tale features interesting characters and plot twists set in a rich and detailed fantasy world. As good and evil become increasingly gray, players are drawn into a complex web of political intrigue, personal strife, and battles for control.
Incredible visuals and a responsive combat system bring this world of conflict and wonder to life. The game takes place in a variety of locations, from bustling metropolis to perilous wilderness, and players will meet friends and foes alike as they explore.
Final Fantasy 16: A Story that Sticks
The plot of Final Fantasy 16 is impressive, but its greatest success is that it never lets you get lost in its mythos. There are five distinct kingdoms, each with its own government, monarch, religion, and ideals; there are countless realm-specific terms, such as bearers, Eikons, and Dominants; and there is a vast world history that you are expected to know in order to fully appreciate the climactic moments of the story. Without Active Time Lore, an ingenious quality-of-life feature that I hope becomes standard across all story-heavy video games, it would all be a little overwhelming.
You can access a slew of contextual compendium entries pertinent to any given scenario simply by holding down the DualSense touchpad at any time during a discussion or cutscene. So if a character mentioned a term, character, or location that I was unfamiliar with or wanted a refresher on, I could pull up the Active Time Lore and find a concise entry to bring me up to speed.
Final Fantasy 16: Violence and timing
Like its predecessors, Final Fantasy 16 features prominently violent gameplay and narrative elements. While there is some violence in the game, it is usually presented in a stylized and fantasy manner rather than being gratuitous or overly graphic. Combat is tactical, incorporating elements of melee fighting, magic, and unique skills.
Players of Final Fantasy 16 must master the subtleties of battle and react quickly in order to succeed. The difference between success and failure often comes down to knowing when to attack, defend, or deploy special skills.
Final Fantasy 16: Fighting Fantasy
Final Fantasy has been moving further and further away from its roots as a turn-based role-playing game for quite some time now, and with the release of Final Fantasy 16, it feels like a transformation that has been in the works for years is finally complete. The battle system in Final Fantasy 16 is an action game through and through. Period. It is fast, flexible, and incredibly reflex-driven, and it is full of opportunities for you to absolutely style on your adversaries with air combos, leap cancels, and a big arsenal of extremely strong spells and abilities.
Final Words
It’s a lot of fun to play Final Fantasy. This game is a rollercoaster of an adventure with as many high peaks as you want to count, practically all of which feature unbelievable-scale combat. It’s got a lot of soul, and the fight system has been overhauled completely. It’s surprisingly invigorating for a series of this vintage. As fans of the series, we hope this doesn’t mean Final Fantasy is done with turn-based combat for good, but as an experiment in tone and pacing, we’d say it was a smashing success.
Final Fantasy 16 review: The good and The bad
Final Fantasy 16, despite the fact that in its broad strokes it is not very revolutionary, feels refreshing in its maturity.
The Good
- Powerful PlayStation 5 graphics.
- A captivating plot.
The Bad
- PS5-only platform availability.
Questions and Answers
King concludes her review by praising the game’s storytelling and world-building, particularly the how it manages to make the player feel hopeful even while the world around them crumbles. Final Fantasy 16’s emotional depth and challenging gameplay won her over, and she proclaimed it a triumph.
The main story of Final Fantasy XVI can be completed in around 34 hours. A dedicated gamer who wants to see everything the game has to offer will probably put in roughly 71 hours to finish it.