Things are getting shaken up in Final Fantasy XVI to give us all something new and old from the Final Fantasy IP
Holy Hells! We have a whole lot to take in here for Final Fantasy XVI as we all gear up for the June 22nd release date that is on the way for the PS5. A whole new twenty-five minutes of footage that Square Enix put together for the most recent State of Play event that highlights so many different aspects of the game. The usual RPG elements and the fact that the combat will be closer to what we have seen in the recent Final Fantasy games is the starter and the basics. On top of the fact that we are going to be seeing a truly grittier world for the IP this time around all while keeping the usual no need to have played any others to be able to enjoy. Oh, and the fact we will be able to play as the Eikons (AKA Summons) in the game too. Yes, you read that here…
While it sounds like it may be a bit more on the basic side of things for Final Fantasy XVI when it comes to the Eikon gameplay. That does not seem to be the case here. After we have geared up, learned all of the lore in the world, and used the various equipment to change gameplay, more on that lower down, we will get to take on the role of the Eikons in a few various ways. In fact, it sounds like each will have their own little gameplay segments when pitting them against each other in Final Fantasy XVI. Sure, there will be the usual massive fights that we will get to control, but there will be 3D shooting battles, some that look like we will have to help out Eikon navigate some 3D platforming segments, and many more not shown here. Not something that I thought or knew I needed but am glad to see it on the way here for the game. If that was not enough to be excited for at all.
Final Fantasy XVI — Gameplay & RPG Elements
Square Enix unveiled exciting new Final Fantasy XVI gameplay for the latest standalone title in the Final Fantasy franchise, through a dedicated PlayStation State of Play broadcast, revealing further details on role-playing game elements and impressive Eikon battles players can look forward to when the game releases exclusively for PlayStation 5 on June 22, 2023. Developed as the first full action RPG in the series, Final Fantasy XVI is set in an epic dark fantasy world, where the fate of the land is decided by the mighty Eikons and the Dominants who wield them, Final Fantasy XVI follows the journey of warrior Clive Rosfield, who has been sworn to protect his younger brother Joshua, the Dominant of the Phoenix.
The footage reveals a host of details about the upcoming game, including:
- New Hideaway Advisors – The Hideaway, which serves as protagonist Clive’s base, will give players the opportunity to discover more about the world of Valisthea, from past to present, by speaking to historian Harpocrates, as well as view the relationship chart of the characters by speaking to military scholar Vivian.
- New Training Function – Players can battle in training mode by accessing the ‘Arete Stone’ in the Hideaway. This feature will be useful when wanting to practice a combination of abilities, particularly after learning a new skill.
- New Hunts – More adventures can be accessed from the Hideaway as players can check the Wanted Posters to discover powerful monsters roaming around the world. Defeating these enemies will yield powerful rewards.
- New Battle Footage – View newly released footage showcasing a variety of Clive’s combat actions, Eikon battles, and more.
One of the other massive shifts here for Final Fantasy XVI, sounds like it will be linked to some of the “gear” that Clive will be able to add on. We will be seeing the game in an active battle system once more with Square Enix looking like they will never go back to a turn-based system again. Weirdly, there looks like there is an option to help those that need that style of gameplay when it comes to the gear. All of the bits look like they will change up some core elements or make the game easier to play for the individual. Like a gear bit that will auto-evade or, as I am getting to here, one that will slow down time so we can react to the battlefield. Much like we saw in the first launch of Final Fantasy VII Remake, but this is not just an option to turn on. Given that we will only be controlling Clive in the battles, I can see that we will not need to worry about handing out all manner of commands in the mix, but it feels weird to see it is gear. Mainly as that is usually limited in these games…
Are you excited to finally get to play as some of the Eikons in a Final Fantasy game or will that be more of a one-off gimmick that will get played out quickly? Do you think that many will go down all of the lore and character information pages or is that why we are seeing some of the nostalgia mixed in to entice us to do so? Will there be a limit on the various gameplay gear items we will get to equip or will there be an option for all of us to play the game however we want down the line? Take all of that into the comments and then discuss it until the game launches. We should have answers to some of these questions soon, along with more for Final Fantasy XVI. Please keep checking in here to see and hear about all of that as it comes out to us. We only have a little longer to be able to nail it all down and I hope we are able to do that with a quickness.