Final Fantasy XVI - Review (Spoiler-free)

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Final Fantasy XVI promised to be an 'evolution' of the Final Fantasy formula. Instead, I think it's a big step back, hollowing out core franchise pillars such as party members, exploration, itemization, character progression and customization. In short, this just isn't an RPG, and as flashy as the combat and cutscenes are, I really hope this style of game is not the future of the Final Fantasy franchise.

#Review #FinalFantasyXVI #FFXVI
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Video edited by Stuart.
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[nighttrain]

Odd for the creator to say that gamers these days won't tolerate turn based combat due to their attention span, but then make a game that's 75% cut scenes

[IzunaSlap]

I do like how, similar to FF9, summons are treated as weapons of mass destruction and the consequences of using them are explored.

[jordanneal]

As someone who bounced off of Final Fantasy XV pretty hard, I'm kind of enjoying just having a linear, cinematic experience. The combat is fun and I'm really invested in the story, so I'm having a good time. Only eight hours in though. I guess we'll see if it holds up.

[GojoStiglitz]

I can’t tell whether or not I’m enjoying the game or that I’m TRYING to enjoy the game simply because I paid for it.

[Yuuria_]

I'd like to say that I really appreaciate the community you've fostered, everywhere else I see constant fight between different 'fanbases' about what's good and what's not, fights about the average reviewer rating, etc.
It's nice to read very respectful comments even from people who are very much enjoying the experience, it's something I hardly ever see these days.

[BLitzRunner]

Thanks for including the scene where you punch a chocobo in the butt to death for like, 10 seconds straight at 24:25 Excellent review.

[carbodude]

Its pretty hilarious knowing that FF16 was produced with such a cynical mindset towards turn-based gameplay but then months later, Baldur's Gate 3 came out and completely outshined it

EDIT: And Baldur's Gate 3 won 6 out 10 awards at the VGA, including best of RPG and Game of the Year 2023 lol

[Johnnybox]

Why do I have 700 sharp fangs
Why am I finding useless items and 2 gil everywhere
Why are my new weapons being replaced 5 mins later
Why are the side quests so boring and back ended
Why are there cutscenes every 10mins
Why cant I min max stats or build clive to fit a certain style i.e. why does gear exist and give the eikons more depth
Where did game of thrones go..
Why is this game soo confused as to what it wants to be
Why cant we switch party members like in FF7r?
Why am I fighting the same birds and wolves everywhere
Why are there no cactuas in the desert?
Why are there no secret dungeons?

[Jmerithew]

Even when it looks like our opinions differ on a game I’m always eager to hear your thoughts.

[davisandew]

Just finished the game last night. I started off really enjoying it, but by the end I couldn’t wait for it to be over. I think Ralph gave a completely transparent review of this game. I have all the same thoughts.

[SuperRamos]

Reading new comments daily is now my favorite past time for this review. The divide is amusing to me.

[kab-l]

These were my exact thoughts playing through FF16. It just felt significantly underbaked on gameplay despite having a ton of potential. The narrative was too drawn out and padded as well.

I didn’t realize it was the same studio as FF14 (if I understand correctly), and that explains a lot imo.

Great and honest review!

[mwjgcreeves]

27:22 In regards to *Heatwave*, the projectile counter/parry that takes up an Eikon ability slot: you don't actually need to use it as a parry ALL the time and in fact it does very decent damage, has fast cooldown and has a deceivingly wide hitbox that'll knockdown medium/small enemies around Clive. IF you use it as a parry not only is it one of the coolest-looking and best-feeling moves but it also pretty much DELETES even bosses' will meter AND it stops time so they actually won't be able to avoid it (try it on Benedikta's flying projectile attacks that avoid even the magic precision counter and it'll freeze her in place lmao).
All this to say nope, it's not a waste of a slot even if you don't like parrying.

[IcyBlaze]

Honestly kind of surprised you didn't mention the soundtrack. Regardless of how you feel about the gameplay changes, the soundtrack was just freaking phenomenal. There were a couple of moments where the soundtrack crescendoed with the story or action on screen perfectly and as corny as it sounds I actually had to pause and just kind of process it because it was SO good

[thomasmitchell]

I knew from the moment I finished the demo that this game was going to be divisive. I love this game. But I can definitely see why some people wouldn't. If you're a bigger fan of the more traditional Final Fantasies, this one's going to rub you the wrong way. But I do appreciate how accessible this game actually is, and I think that was part of the point in the game's direction.

[viator]

I am 43 hours into the game, and that's about 70% complete. And I am completing 100%. The more I play, the lower my review score keeps getting. After beating Titan, my score dives even lower. It's supposed to be a spectacle but it's just a lot of fast cuts and nonsense attacks, things flying everywhere that doesn't actually make any damn sense. Trying to copy God of War just to be big in scale? I don't get it. When it plays out like crap, who gives a damn. Life to the empires are all about the crystals, but when they "vanish" no time is spent on it. The foundation of the world is irrelevant. It's baffling. Summon fights are one of the worst things in this game. They clearly had no idea what to do with them. And to make it worse, limit breaks are dead. This game isn't an RPG at all. I keep thinking that me going out and farming, leveling up, and looking at every corner of each map will pay off in any way. But it hasn't. I'm not having much fun anymore. I started to skip conversations from my side quest people just yesterday. Nothing interesting happens, nor do you get anything interesting. S rank hunt? Easy and I didn't get anything. I hope there is something more before the journey ends.

There are a million games like Final Fantasy 16, but before there were almost no games like it prior to even FF13 (which was bad). They just keep changing FF into what they think will sell, not make it to what FF actually means and having people want what FF they make. Nintendo doesn't change their games at all, not Zelda, not Pokemon and they don't give a damn. You put out a game that is fun, and what do you know? People will buy it and enjoy it even if the game direction isn't what is mainstream or deemed the best route. You will find it interesting what people will gravitate towards. Final Fantasy has always been about heavy RPG elements. It's not about turn based combat like FFX, or ATB. Variations of gameplay. It's about the entire package. The RPG aspect of those identities is much larger. FF16 so far, 43 hours into it has thrown it all away.

Who told these guys we want Final Fantasy to not be an RPG game anymore? Who says that we and younger kids whom are the "future" want instant gratifying games where you just hit everything? Why hasn't anyone been paying attention to actual trends. Final Fantasy doesn't need to follow a trend. It is a trend. It's chasing games that have two or three entries max and then die off. Final Fantasy used to be about creating what they dreamed of, what didn't exist. Now they are chasing what's already there. Devil May Cry? Bayonetta? These bomb games are the sales that they are chasing? It doesn't make any sense to me.

My rating of FF16 right now.

Graphics 9/10
Dialogue 7/10
Combat 4/10
Story 7/10
Systems 2/10
Character Design 5/10
World Design 8/10
Extra Content 2/10

Overall - 7/10

[Valdrath]

I think if we mixed FF 16 with Stranger of Paradise we'd get SkillUp's favorite game. For real though, Stranger of Paradise has pretty much everything that he feels is missing from this game.

[CrimsonFIame]

I don't think things will set in with gamers till more people finish it. It's heavily cinematic comparable to something like MGS4 where there's more cutscenes than there is gameplay. Sadly there's no endgame dungeon or superbosses at the end either and the sidequest are the same as most games. Combat is very fun but yes there's some negatives

Edit - It's not a bad game I'm a fan of both the FF series and Devil May Cry but this isn't the perfect mixture of both titles. It's missing alot of elements that's known within the series and before anyone says "well yeah that's because it's an action game" It's still a mainline FF title and one can't help to expect certain things from that. It's very restrictive with what you are able to do. It's an action rpg and I've seen God Of War Ragnarok handle being within that genre far better.

[DontFeedTheTrolls]

I really liked FF Tactics on PS1... everything since then has been less interesting. i did enjoy FF XV more than most people but I had a strong feeling XVI would be another step in the wrong direction.

[Nonov]

FF16 open world is pointless because they streamlined the rpg elements. Whats the point of exploring and gathering when there is not much to craft or equip. They really poured their budget into their story and force you to drag yourself throughout. Open world gives you a break from story but its empty and pointless...i was literally skipping cutscenez at end just to feell rewarded by getting new powers from bosses. I was exhausted from story pace