Final Fantasy XVI
Are you hip to be Clive?
“LEANS ON SOME MATURE THEMES – IT COULD BE THE DARKEST FINAL FANTASY YET.”
Has a new Final Fantasy on a new PlayStation ever not wowed us? Final Fantasy VII was revolutionary. Final Fantasy X pushed PS2 visuals. Final Fantasy XV showed us an open world like no other. And Final Fantasy XVI, a PS5 exclusive, looks set to be no different, combining state-ofthe-art visuals with a new action-packed approach.
We take on the role of moody sword-wielder Clive. There’s a reason for all his angst, and it’s something we’ll see in-game, as we’ll get to spend time with the character before and after a tragic event alters the course of his life.
HEALING CRYSTALS
The land of Valisthea is covered in Mothercrystals, each providing shelter from an enigmatic force, allowing kingdoms to prosper and magic to spread. Part of that force manifests in Eikons, legendary creatures (traditional FF Summons) bound to individuals called Dominants. Each kingdom treats its Eikon differently, as anything from a tool of war to an object of worship, or even a monster to be hated.
Clive’s brother Joshua has Phoenix bound to him, and Clive is his protector. Both are sons of the Archduke of Rosaria, the Kingdom where they live. Naturally, this situation turns nasty, in a manner that’s quite bloody for a Final Fantasy game. XVI is full of the usual fantastical creatures (chocobo? Check!), but like Final Fantasy XV before it, it leans on some mature themes. In fact, it could be the darkest Final Fantasy yet, though in the safe hands of veteran devs who’ve worked on megahit MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV Online the mature content is inserted with a degree of confidence rather than simply by playing the ‘edgy’ card. Sword in hand, Clive strides further into the more actionoriented approach Final Fantasy has been going for lately. Gone are the days of the turn-based battle. Here, Clive slashes and combos with the best of them. Fights look not dissimilar to those in Devil May Cry (the games share a combat designer in Ryota Suzuki). Somehow, Clive’s able to channel Eikon powers for special moves, calling on Phoenix’s flames for fiery launchers and Titan for hard-hitting strikes. We’ve yet to see if he will be solo throughout, or joined by a party, but if it were us we’d hate to be on his bad side.