REVIEW: ‘Final Fantasy XVI: Echoes of the Fallen’ Is Action Packed But Anticlimactic (PS5)

Final Fantasy XVI: Echoes of the Fallen is the first of two new DLC packs for the hit RPG from Square Enix. Set just before the final events of the main story, Echoes of the Fallen focuses on a new challenge for Clive and his friends to confront along their quest to save the world.

Final Fantasy XVI: Echoes of the Fallen introduces players to Famiel, a new character collecting and selling dusk crystals from the mysterious Fallen tower the locals call the Sagespire. Famiel and his two lackeys have been entering the Sagespire through a secret entrance and mining these dusk crystals since their home nation is not blessed with a Mothercrystal like all of the others are. It is an interesting, if not entirely mind-blowing premise that sets the stage for the chaos that their trips into the Sagespire are about to unleash.

Inevitably, entering a giant Fallen tower to steal its resources is not going to end well. This is where Clive Rosfield, alongside his brother Joshua Rosfield, love interest Jill Warrick, and faithful pet Torgal, are thrust into the action as they head out to investigate these new dusk crystals and their origins. Their investigation quickly brings them to Famiel and the imposing Sagespire where the bulk of the three-hour DLC takes place.

Walking into the Sagespire is a breathtaking experience, specifically the first scene when players walk through the entrance and see the entirety of this massive setting. The tower is magnificently tall and imposing and the Fallen architecture is beautifully intricate. The dusk crystals interspersed throughout give it an eerie feeling that lends itself to the mystery of the Fallen themselves. The open-faced sides allow the orange glow of the setting sun to light up the tower in an awe-inspiring way that makes the Sagespire one of the most beautiful locations in Final Fantasy XVI.

While the setting is an incredibly artistic feat, the combat is the real bread and butter in Final Fantasy XVI: Echoes of the Fallen as Clive and his allies venture up the Sagespire. New enemy types are scattered throughout the tower and provide quite a challenge for players. There are also several mini-bosses along the linear path that make climbing the tower feel rewarding, even if the adventure itself is a bit paint-by-numbers. These fast-paced, action-packed fights lose some of their luster, however, when the payoff by the end is pretty anticlimactic.

Items that contain new battle perks help freshen up the already lively gameplay. Mixing and matching items to find the perfect playstyle remains as enjoyable as ever. At first, it is easy to just stick with the tried and true methods that got players through the main story, but these new accessories and the combat enhancements they bring are genuinely great and add so much to the already superb combat system. Oh, and you can use Cloud Strife’s Buster Sword from Final Fantasy VII as a part of the new DLC since one of the new updates allows players to customize their character appearance. It is a small but nice addition that allows players to keep the look of their favorite weapons without sacrificing the benefit of using upgraded ones.

All of this builds up to the climactic final battle against the Omega enemy at the top of the tower. This epic battle combines flawless combat with beautiful visual design to create an experience that is on par with some of the best fights from the main story. The pink and purple hues lighting up Omega’s dark exterior create an exhilarating experience while flames are crashing down around the battlefield. My heart was racing from start to finish.

It is because of that excellent heart-pounding excitement that the anti-climactic ending feels so disappointing. There is, most disappointingly, no giant Titan battle waiting at the end. Those were the most exciting parts of the main game and the lack of a truly epic finale that Final Fantasy XVI: Echoes of the Fallen seemed to be building up to was quite disappointing.

The story also just ends a bit abruptly. There is no real deep tie-in to what is going on throughout the rest of the continent. The most interesting parts of Famiel’s character and story are served through throwaway lines in the end and a mail message players can go and find, but most probably won’t. It is almost entirely self-contained, more like a slightly expanded side quest than a true DLC. Hopefully the second DLC, “The Rising Tide,” can deliver more on the story front when it releases in spring 2024.

Final Fantasy XVI: Echoes of the Fallen delivers beautiful scenes and incredible action but falters a bit with an anticlimactic ending. There is plenty to enjoy for fans of the main game, but the lack of a great ending means it fails to live up to the lofty expectations set by the main game.

Final Fantasy XVI: Echoes of the Fallen is available now on PlayStation 5.