The long-awaited Final Fantasy 16 has finally arrived, and with its release, players embark on a new adventure filled with fantastical realms, compelling characters, and intense battles. I played the first 8 hours, and here are my initial impressions.
The setting of Final Fantasy 16 reminds me of the Game of Thrones universe. The Phoenix Gate, where our protagonist Clive spends his childhood, bears resemblance to Winterfell. This medieval-like environment sets the stage for a world teeming with intrigue, conflict, and danger.
Clive, our main protagonist, starts his journey as an elite soldier, caught amidst two battling armies. Flashbacks reveal his past as the son of Lord Elwin Rosefield, serving as his brother Joshua's devoted bodyguard. However, tragedy strikes when Joshua falls victim to an attack by a mysterious Eikon of Fire named Ifrit, leading to a web of betrayal involving Clive's own mother.
Final Fantasy games have sometimes struggled with uneven narrative pacing, and while Final Fantasy 16 does a decent job of keeping players engaged, it occasionally walks a fine line. At times, you may need to trust that the game's direction will gradually unfold, although there were moments when the pacing felt inconsistent. Based on the initial 8 hours of gameplay, Final Fantasy 16 strikes a decent balance in revealing Clive's motivations without becoming dull.
The gameplay mechanics in Final Fantasy 16 follow the conventions of a JRPG. The combat builds upon the real-time systems seen in Final Fantasy 15 and the Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Abilities tied to collected elements bring customization and variety to battles. However, I found the combat experience swinging from being too easy to occasionally feeling long and monotonous. Nonetheless, the satisfaction of dodging attacks adds a positive aspect to the gameplay.
In terms of graphics and visual design, Final Fantasy 16 is a well-polished and visually appealing game. Although I did not play with HDR enabled, the overall presentation is impressive, contributing to the experience.