REVIEW: ‘Final Fantasy XVI’ Is An All-Time Great (PS5)

There are very few video game series as iconic as Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy XVI is the latest in a long line of incredibly successful mainline games in the franchise. Officially announced in 2020 but in development since 2015, Final Fantasy XVI showcases the best of what the producer Naoki Yoshida and the Creative Business Unit III team at Square Enix is capable of. A truly epic action RPG, Final Fantasy XVI deserves to be in the conversation as one of the greatest video games of all time.

Final Fantasy XVI stars Clive Rosfield (Ben Starr), the eldest son of the Archduke of Rosaria, one of the many kingdoms in the world of Valisthea where the game takes place. In the world of Valisthea, there are people known as Dominants, those blessed with the ability to summon the great titans known as Eikons. Clive himself was not chosen by the Phoenix titan, the Eikon of fire, but instead, it chose his younger brother Joshua. Unfortunately, very early on in the story, a second Eikon of fire is revealed that is responsible for the death of Joshua. Clive holds himself responsible and sets off on a years-long quest to discover who was behind his brother’s death and exact revenge.

While the core of the story seems quite straightforward at first, there are many twists and turns along the way that turn Clive’s quest into something he never expected. Along the way, he meets a man named Cidolfus “Cid” Telamon (Ralph Ineson), a former member of the Royal Army from the kingdom of Waloeder who is also the Dominant of the lightning Eikon Ramuh. Cid left Waloeder because he saw the way the world treated Dominants and Branded, those who could use magic without needing crystals to channel it, as pawns. While Dominants received special treatment and high status because of their blessing, the Branded are seen as subhuman and are treated as slaves. Both, however, are ultimately just tools at the disposal of the kingdoms they belong to.

In the exceptionally dark and dreary world of Valisthea, it’s Cid’s dream of equality that stands out. He wants to live in a world where Dominants and Branded are free to live and die as they choose, the same as normal people. It might sound like a cliche dream, but like Clive I found myself drawn to it as more of the world was revealed. The way Final Fantasy XVI portrays those in power makes it easy to empathize with both the Dominants and the Branded and I was invested in even the smallest of side stories that I encountered along the way. It helps that other side characters like Jill Warrick (Susannah Fielding) and even Clive’s trusted furry friend Torgal fit so well with Clive’s story as they work together to clear every obstacle in their path. And yes, you can pet the dog.

It is in the little moments that Final Fantasy XVI really shines. Sure the grand tale of epic heroes and villains is exciting, but the world of Valisthea is so much more than just Clive’s individual story. His quest becomes one of helping everyone who resides in Valisthea and Final Fantasy XVI does a great job of highlighting the small bits of information about their everyday lives that make the larger tale matter so much more. Through a system called Active Time Lore, players can read up on individual characters and locations and learn more about their history and motivations. I found myself using Active Time Lore in virtually every cutscene because I was so hungry to learn as much as I could about the Game of Thrones-inspired backstory.

When I first heard that Final Fantasy XVI was taking an approach similar to Game of Thrones I initially rolled my eyes. Buzzwords associated with the development of the story had me worried that it was going to try to be edgy just for the sake of being edgy. I have never been more happy to be wrong about something in my life. The dark and gritty moments are plentiful throughout, but they actually serve to enhance the beauty and hope found in Clive’s adventures. I never felt like things were being hamfisted in just for the shock factor and was thoroughly impressed from start to finish with the impeccable quality of a story that is going to sit with me for years to come. The strong language, blood and gore, and more mature sexual themes might not be trademarks of the Final Fantasy series, but they were used in ways that helped enhance a story that was very much a Final Fantasy one.

The incredible story of Final Fantasy XVI is further enhanced by a combat system that features a plethora of powerful swordplay techniques that are silky smooth to the touch. This isn’t just the first fully fledged action RPG for the franchise but it’s one of the best action RPG experiences possible. This is due to Square Enix bringing in Ryota Suzuki to serve as the combat director, who seasoned action gamers will know from Devil May Cry 5 as well as Monster Hunter: World. That said, this should be considered Suzuki’s magnum opus.

Clive is blessed with the ability to channel the power of various Eikons, something intertwined in the story quite well, which manifest as special abilities that can be enhanced as you progress. These Eikonic abilities work in tandem with the typical attack and dodge mechanics to create a fast-paced real-time battle system that does not slow down. The upgrades make Clive faster, stronger, and more exciting to play as. Fighting a group of lower-level enemies is quick and fun, zipping around unleashing a fury of devastating attacks on various foes throughout the world. Then, when encountering tougher bosses, using the Eikon abilities in quick succession to bring them down is incredibly satisfying.

Also present in Final Fantasy XVI are battles between the Eikons themselves. These battles initially seemed like they would be clunky, on-rails experiences, but I was pleasantly surprised at how well Square Enix managed to balance the epic scale of these large battles with the same fluid motions and fast pace seen in the smaller battles. There are decidedly fewer options in these Eikon battles and they do contain a fair amount of quick-time events, but they are some of the most jaw-dropping experiences I have ever participated in.

Jaw-dropping is an adjective that could accurately be used to describe virtually everything in Final Fantasy XVI, but it most accurately describes what a beautiful visual experience it is. Square Enix chose to eschew the open-world approach of most current-gen RPGs for one more focused on individual locations that can be selected via an overworld map. The choice was made so that each area could feel unique and vibrant and boy did they deliver. Blight-infested darklands and lush green forests are just a few of the stunning visual experiences to be found, and that is just in the world itself.

While each location is beautiful in its own right, the true visual highlights are in the most frantic moments. Seeing Clive in battle against deadly creatures with elemental abilities flashing around him was so genuinely stunning that it made me feel a part of the battles. The various enemies I encountered all have such a distinct look, from ones as simple as an enemy knight to ones as creative as a vampiric plant, there are so many incredible enemies to fight along the way. The fact that combat looks as good as it feels had me actively seeking out battles while I was traveling to new mission objectives, something I rarely ever do in games.

Completing the package is the indescribably great musical score by composer Masayoshi Soken. Soken is the lead composer for Final Fantasy XIV, the hit MMORPG from Square Enix known for, among many other things, the sheer volume of incredible songs all throughout. For Final Fantasy XVI, Soken held nothing back in making the world feel even more alive through music. Epic battles are made even grander through heart-racing themes and the quieter moments are made more reflective with simple acoustic guitar melodies. There are a whopping 215 tracks to be heard and they all play a vital role in making Final Fantasy XVI such a moving experience.

In a world full of games trying to stand out, Final Fantasy XVI has no problem rising above the rest. Wonderfully fun combat and beautiful presentation help make the excellent story even more impactful in an adventure well worth the price of admission. This is one that will surely sit with players for many years to come and will surely be one for the history books.

Final Fantasy XVI releases June 22nd on PlayStation 5.