Final Fantasy XVI Review | RPGFan
I tried playing Final Fantasy XVI two times, but, as the saying goes, the third time’s the charm. Time constraints largely hindered my first two attempted playthroughs, though I admit that beyond the jaw-dropping war intro that Clive navigates, the game’s early stages didn’t enthrall me. But that initial lukewarm feeling melted away the more I managed to play Final Fantasy XVI, as the narrative builds upon itself at every possible moment. The game’s world-building is phenomenal, and if you give them time to grow, the characters are memorable and full of heart.
Finally reaching the poignant end credits and epilogue scene, I can safely say that Final Fantasy XVI is undoubtedly one of the best-written stories in a single-player mainline Final Fantasy game in a long while, and that is a sentiment I hold as a series fan who’s played some iteration of every mainline Final Fantasy game, along with several spin-offs. That said, the PC port isn’t the best version of Final Fantasy XVI if you don’t have access to a high-end PC with comparable specs to a PS5 (and you can check out Zach Wilkerson’s excellent review for more on that version). Likewise, I would not recommend playing it on a Steam Deck (even OLED) despite technically being able to do so, as it is unsupported. I also wouldn’t recommend playing this port without a controller, but even playing with bare minimum requirements doesn’t deter from the plot highlights of Clive’s moving journey.
For those not already aware of the game’s narrative, Final Fantasy XVI tells a tale set in the medieval-inspired fantasy realm of Valisthea. The land’s struck by a horrific plague known as the Blight, sucking away the ground’s very life force as well as taking the life force of any living thing that happens to be unlucky enough to be in its path. The only protection people have from the Blight are the magicks provided by the Mothercrystals, but since they are in limited supply, political control over those resources happens to be heavily disputed by Valisthea’s various regions.
Having failed to mine all the necessary crystals that provide daily comforts, the people of Valisthea rely on a slave caste called Bearers. These Bearers can wield magic without relying on crystals, but they’re viewed as less than human by most, forbidden from even learning to read and write or marry who they wish. Families turn on any offspring revealed to be a Bearer the second they display their abilities, with their lives viewed as essentially disposable, even with the knowledge that should they use their powers long enough, they fall victim to a painful “curse” that turns their bodies to stone from the inside out. I found the narrative’s plight of the Bearers an incredible societal commentary on the ills of prejudice and slavery that reminded me somewhat of the X-Men comic books, albeit with more dire consequences, seeing as how Bearers eventually die from using their abilities.
There are horrible examples of the mistreatment of Bearers throughout Final Fantasy XVI‘s runtime, yet the game never shows their situation as entirely hopeless. Clive, previously regarded as a Bearer thanks to being a Branded soldier, discovers a group of Bearers and their allies working to improve the situation and give everyone true freedom, even if they must topple society to build a better one. Valisthea is a world rife with despair and cruelty, yet in the moments where kindness and hope win out, the game’s narrative soars, making a lasting impression.
Aside from the compelling Bearer plotline, Final Fantasy XVI is a personal story focusing on Clive’s character growth. Clive Rosfield is a phenomenal main character who develops alongside the narrative. At the game’s beginning, I was worried he’d be a revenge-obsessed, brooding character. He develops incredibly after discovering certain truths and taking up the mantle of “Cid” to help Bearers freely live. The familial bond between Clive and his younger brother Joshua is exceptionally well-written and memorable. Family, chosen and biological, is an essential cornerstone in Final Fantasy XVI. This isn’t depicted only in the narratively central brotherhood of the Rosfields; I love Uncle Byron’s evident care and support for his nephews, as well as how much the original Cid means to his adopted daughter Mid.
Unfortunately, because the plot centers around Clive, the other characters tend to only get attention when they’re closer in orbit to him. This oversight is a shame, as the primary and supporting cast of Final Fantasy XVI are excellent in their own right. I’d have loved to see more of what Joshua and Jote were up to or had the chance to see more of Dion because his journey was also very emotional. Benedikta could’ve been a more compelling antagonist if her early screentime hadn’t happened so quickly. Jill also could’ve had more moments. Her storyline after what happened to Joshua and Clive is only implied and, while compelling, not as explored as it should have been, which is a missed opportunity given the information we do get, as well as how it could’ve helped develop the still well-written romance between her and Clive.
Over time and in a realistic fashion, you learn more about the Hideaway allies like Byron, Mid, Dorys, Tarja, Otto, Gav, Martha, and Quinten once Clive grows closer to them, but larger parts for them in the overall narrative would’ve been great. It’s a shame that some character moments get relegated to Vivian’s inner voices segment, such as the medical girl Kihel and Dion’s love interest Terence’s fates. Clive is a fantastic main character, and Final Fantasy XVI does a great job developing anyone he grows close to. Still, there could have been ways for the other characters to have a share in the narrative.
Truthfully, I suspect the plot’s centering around Clive stems from the game’s action RPG focus. The Final Fantasy series constantly reinvents itself with each new installment, but Final Fantasy XVI is the most drastic departure from its traditional RPG gameplay roots. Beyond having a control schematic for Torgal, the loyal hound who follows Clive on many of his adventures, any other character who “joins” the party is wholly AI-controlled. The battle component focuses solely on controlling Clive. I see where that’s off-putting for many Final Fantasy fans.
I found the combat’s action RPG elements largely enjoyable, especially after gaining several abilities in Clive’s versatile skill tree. You perform combos with button presses in real time, and quicktime events are sprinkled throughout fights so it feels like you’re playing in an interactive FMV CG movie cutscene that has become synonymous with Final Fantasy. As Clive unlocks various Eikon abilities throughout his adventure, you can choose which abilities to equip for quick access during fights. I was partial to Bahamut, Leviathan, Shiva, and Phoenix myself. Combat is fast, fluid, and entertaining if you enjoy action RPG mechanics.
Of course, the biggest draw toward combat is the larger-than-life Eikon battles once you control Ifrit. These are engaging, large-scale battles of epic proportions divided into different phases reminiscent of over-the-top fighting game rounds. I enjoyed them, though the most challenging and satisfying one is the DLC Eikon battle with Leviathan. Just be wary of how long they are, with massive HP pools that take forever to diminish.
Graphically, Final Fantasy XVI‘s visual presentation wholly depends on your PC specs. I initially played it on the PS5, and it looked fantastic. When I got this port, I had to use the lowest minimum specs even to run it on my Steam Deck OLED, which, I should note, is technically unsupported. So, while I was able to play it, doing so was far from ideal and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who has any other potential platform option available to them. Running it at 30 fps didn’t do the title any favors visually and made the game look like it was part of a much older console generation. However, it still looked nice enough in many of the FMV cutscenes if you can ignore the weird little shine that sometimes haloed around the characters. There was a lot of lag during open-word segments on a minimum spec setup, especially when initiating combat. I also found the UI text relatively small, so playing with a larger monitor would be beneficial.
From a soundscape perspective, Final Fantasy XVI is a mixed bag. The soundtrack is astounding, with emotional and powerful tracks like “My Star.” The English voice acting for the more narratively important characters is also incredible, with special mention to Ben Starr‘s passionate and dynamic performance as Clive. However, the voice-acting for random NPC villagers and the like tended to be hit-or-miss.
While the main quest is considerably shorter, it took me seventy-five hours to play Final Fantasy XVI. Granted, I played the Complete Edition version that came bundled with the game’s two DLC expansions, Echoes of the Fallen and The Rising Tide, but I also spent a lot of time completing all of the side quests. They’re massively important to the story because they build on one another and reveal essential plot elements and character information that help flesh out the setting, providing more emotional impact to the endgame. I wish they didn’t contain so many fetch quests, though. It could be a chore to get through the side quests, even if doing so was ultimately rewarding from a plot stance. There’s a lot of ground to cover in Final Fantasy XVI if you want to discover all the game has to offer!
Final Fantasy XVI is phenomenal if you enjoy action RPGs, especially if you appreciate well-written stories that build upon themselves, teeming with memorable characters and poignantly emotional moments. I’m glad I finally got to play it in its entirety, even if it wasn’t remotely close to its recommended specs. The final boss fight and ending scenes left me with so many feelings, and those on the fence about Final Fantasy XVI for any reason should at least give the game a chance. Like me, they might find a hidden gem underneath.
