We are now almost only a month away from the worldwide release of Final Fantasy 16 (FFXVI). Fan of Square Enix’s legendary franchise or not, there is no denying that FFXVI is among the most anticipated games in recent memory. Some could even say that it is perhaps the most hyped Final Fantasy entrant in the last decade or so!
With its dark and gritty setting, action-packed combat, and star-studded cast, Final Fantasy 16 has a lot to offer fans of the franchise. Now, with all that being said, here is everything you need to know about FFXVI ahead of its impending release.
What’s the story about?
Final Fantasy 16 takes the franchise back to its roots settings-wise. The recent FF titles employed futuristic settings, where technology and magic coexisted. Such is not present in the upcoming FFXVI.
In it, players will be put in a darker but much-simpler time. It intends to put the Final Fantasy series back to the medieval setting which was once prevalent in older FF games.
The story of Final Fantasy XVI takes place in the land of Valisthea, a world that is slowly being consumed by a mysterious darkness and an overarching war for the mother crystal, the source of all magic. Players will take control of Clive Rosfield, the game’s protagonist, tasked with hunting down the powerful Eikons. They are said to be the source of the darkness but are also each of the warring factions’ greatest weapons.
What kind of game is it?
Final Fantasy 16 is advertised by the game director and everyone involved in making it as the true stepping-off point of the FF franchise from the traditional JRPG genre. FFXVI is an action role-playing game akin to the Devil May Cry series, Kingdom Hearts, or The Witcher 3.
Long gone are the beloved turn-based elements in FF games, Square Enix is now proceeding in a brand new direction. That being a more action-packed, reactionary-driven approach.
Players are set to control Clive for most of the game, if not the whole game itself. While he will eventually be joined by party members who will fight alongside him from time to time, it is confirmed that they aren’t going to be controllable.
Furthermore, it is also said that the game will not have a sprawling open world. Instead, it will have several large open areas for players to explore. Like the recent God of War: Ragnarok, to give you an example.
What are the characters like?
The cast of Final Fantasy 16 is one of its most exciting features. The game features a diverse group of characters, each with their own unique personalities and abilities. Some of the main characters include:
- Clive Rosfield: The game’s protagonist, Clive is a young knight who is on a quest for revenge. He is the First Shield of Rosaria, sworn to protect his younger brother, Joshua, and the Phoenix Eikon.
- Joshua Rosfield: Clive’s younger brother, Joshua is the Dominant of the Phoenix Eikon. He is a kind and gentle soul, who is often overshadowed by his older brother.
- Jill Warrick: A member of the Ironbloods, a group of knights who are sworn to protect the Rosfield family. Jill is a skilled fighter, and she is fiercely loyal to Clive and Joshua.
- Benedikta Harman: A powerful sorceress who is working for the Rosaria Empire. Benedikta is a ruthless and ambitious woman, who will stop at nothing to achieve her goals.
- Hugo Kupo: A chocobo knight who is Clive’s loyal companion. Hugo is a brave and loyal friend, who is always willing to help Clive in his quest.
These are just a few of the main characters in Final Fantasy 16. The FF series is known for including several memorable personalities, in fact, some even consider it as their greatest asset.
Nevertheless, Square Enix rarely fails in creating a colorful, memorable, and truly engaging cast of characters. We expect nothing less from the characters in this game. We are excited to learn more about these characters and their stories as we get closer to the game’s release.
What can I expect from the music?
The music featured in Final Fantasy 16 is composed by Nobuo Uematsu. To those who may not know him, he is one of the most celebrated composers in the video game industry. Several composers today have since credited him as their inspiration for their most masterful works Uematsu has composed the music for many of the previous Final Fantasy games, most notably the highly-successful MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV.
With all things considered, his work on Final Fantasy 16’s music is sure to be a highlight of the game. We expect it to at least be mentioned on the upcoming awards shows for best soundtrack at the very least.
When is it coming out?
Final Fantasy 16’s release date is on June 22, 2023, exclusively for the PlayStation 5. However, considering PlayStation studio’s current focus on delivering their exclusive titles to the PC, you can surely expect it to be available on PC sometime after. Although there is still no confirmed release window or if the title is indeed coming to the system, we expect it to arrive on PCs maybe next year.
Final Thoughts
As you may clearly see by now, we are extremely excited about the newest Final Fantasy entrant, FFXVI. With the things we have heard from it over the past few months, the game is shaping up to be one of the most exciting games to be ever released in quite some time.
Barring any significant blowbacks, we are expecting Final Fantasy 16 to nothing be less than spectacular. If you are a fan of the storied franchise, you certainly have to be excited about this one. In fact, if you love action RPG games in general, then you should definitely keep a close eye on Final Fantasy 16 and everything it has in store. Ultimately, FFXVI is set to be the most ambitious Final Fantasy game to date.
