Final Fantasy XVI: a new opus under the influence of Game of Thrones

In 1987, publisher Square Enix was on the verge of bankruptcy. Going all out, he offers himself a last lap, a last stand, a final fantasy which will even give its name to this game. Huge success which will not only save it, but will also perpetuate it for many years to come. one of the most powerful video game licenses there is, which has since entered the pantheon of Pop Culture. And it is not the more than 170 million copies sold, all games combined – spin off included – that will disprove this immense success.

Released in 2016 and developed under the auspices of Hajime Tabata, Final Fantasy XV was marked by chaotic and painful development. Sold 5 million copies worldwide within 24 hours of its launch, it will even reach 8.9 million in October 2019. After the steampunk universe of the sensational remake of Final Fantasy VII released in 2020 and the more “realistic” one of FF XV, place now at the High Fantasy with a 16th opus which hit the shelves on June 22.

Here is the trailer…

Under the influence of Game of Thrones

Its development was entrusted to the care of Game Director Hiroshi Takai. It’s not just anyone: it was he who literally saved the MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV from disaster, by taking over all the development of the game from top to bottom, allowing the title, ultimatelyto become a resounding success.

The development team decided to place its story in an adult Medieval Fantasy universe, drawing its inspiration largely from Game of Thrones. “At the time we started development of the game, Game of Thrones Season 4 was starting to air” producer Naoki Yoshida told the site Game Informer.

“We saw how well the series was doing and was being followed by more and more people, not only by the older generations but also by the younger generation. So we bought the Blu-Ray box set of seasons 1, 2 , 3 and 4, and got everyone on the team to watch the show, to make the developers understand that this is what’s hot in the world, this is what people like, and that’s the kind of fantasy people like.”

Square-Enix

This FF XVI actually stands out from previous parts by its violence. Murders, betrayals and blackmail will be on the menu. As well as sex; although the thing is treated in a very modest way; Japan obliges. We are very far from the treatment applied by CD Projekt Red to The Witcher. Here, we are rather eyeing the manga Seinenlike a Berserk, if we have to take a close universe comparison.

The story, which unfolds its finery over more than forty hours, takes place on a continent called Valisthéa. Divided into six kingdoms, each of them has a “mother crystal”, supplying the people of Valisthea with Ether, allowing them to manipulate different forms of magic. Among these are invocations named Primordials; colossal creatures housed in the bodies of mere mortals dubbed “Emissaries”.

Square-Enix

Devoured by ambition, power and the thirst for conquest, these kingdoms are ravaged by endless wars which follow one another for the control of this powerful resource. And, to further add to the misfortune of the world, a strange evil, the black scourge, is spreading throughout the continent, killing all forms of life and forever sterilizing the earth.

It is against this undoubtedly apocalyptic backdrop that the player controls the destiny of Clive Rosfield, guardian of the Archduchy of Rosalia, during three periods of his life: his adolescence, his twenties, and his thirties.

Choices that will not be unanimous

If there is one constant in the license that cannot be taken away from it, it is this desire, in each episode, to inject new blood and take risks, even if it means not doing the unanimity and even straighten the purists. Exit the open world attempts of FF XV: the 16th returns to much tighter areas.

To be honest, we were very scared during the first ten hours of play, with this tenacious impression of evolving in areas with more corridor. No or very little exploration too. It gets better later when the character has a mount, with which he can roam the expanses of Valisthéa.

This FF XVI also became an Action RPG; the role-playing dimension being reduced to its simplest expression in the management of its inventory: three objects that can be worn at the same time and as desired, a belt, a bracelet and of course the character’s sword. These elements will of course change over the course of the adventure, being able to be manufactured and becoming more and more powerful. But we are very far from the (relative) complexity of the past.

Square-Enix

No more tactical pause in fights, and that good old ATB bar. Under the direction of Ryota Suzuki, who was responsible for the completely crazy fights of the formidable Devil May Cry 5 at Capcom, the clashes in Final Fantasy XVI are in real time, ultra nervous, even if the camera sometimes does its thing and it is difficult to find your way in the fray when clusters of well-stocked enemies tumble . This is definitely one of the strongest points of the game.

That said, if Clive is regularly accompanied by one or two characters – including a dog, the adorable Talgor – on his journey, the player will never control the other characters, who will simply lend him a hand in battles, so autonomous. It is still possible to control the behavior of the dog, but, honestly, given the frenzy of the fights, we were quick to let him get angry on his own like a big one on the enemies.

Square-Enix

But there is more. On top of that, the clashes over the top between Primordials that will arrive at key moments in the story, in an apocalyptic crossover between Attack on Titan, Dragon Ball Z and Asura’s Wratha game released in 2012 that featured daunting clashes led by a fallen deity obsessed with revenge.

Often spectacularly staged, rewarding by the feeling of omnipotence they provide, they sometimes remain a little too long, like the confrontation you will have against the Emissary of Titan, which is that said clearly one of the best characters in the game, very charismatic.

Jagged writing

What about the story itself? It blows hot and cold, or rather lukewarm. The very Game of Thrones aspect in the rivalries between the kingdoms turns out to be really interesting, to the point of having had the brilliant idea of ​​creating a chronography in the game.

At the touch of the touchpad, all the information on the key notions in the game, the rivalries between the great houses and their history, the biographies of the characters, the past and current conflicts, etc… are visible at once of eye. A desire to be didactic very welcome and much appreciated. We regret, however, that this dimension is evacuated two thirds of the game, which then takes a narrative turn much more oriented towards magic.

Square-Enix

The story sometimes suffers from naive and clumsy writing. He is also very talkative, according to his many Cut Scenes. Secondary quests sometimes without any interest, while others very clearly give more depth to the motivations and aspirations of its characters.

But he nevertheless manages to weave a web that turns out to be quite breathtaking, of a real darkness, to end in a final act as epic as it is very moving. Paradoxically, despite its flaws, we were always surprised not to want to let go of the controller before knowing the outcome of the sick destiny of Clive Rosfield. Final Fantasy XVI, a game certainly perfectible, but, ultimatelyvery endearing.