FINAL FANTASY XVI
" Epic action RPG with cinematic boss fights and rich story, but plagued by performance issues "
FINAL FANTASY XVI Review
FINAL FANTASY XVI is a visually stunning action RPG that marks a significant departure from traditional Final Fantasy turn-based mechanics, embracing fast-paced, cooldown-based combat reminiscent of Devil May Cry. Players follow Clive Rosfield through a dark fantasy world inspired by Game of Thrones, with a mature narrative centered on political intrigue, liberation, and devastating Eikon battles. The story is widely praised for its emotional depth, character development, and rich worldbuilding, though some feel it suffers from pacing issues and an overreliance on cutscenes.
Gameplay offers exhilarating boss fights, especially against legendary Eikons, but combat can become repetitive and lacks strategic depth for some. Side quests are frequently criticized as tedious fetch tasks, detracting from immersion. The PC port struggles with performance and optimization problems, including crashes and frame drops, which diminish the experience for many players. Despite these flaws, the soundtrack, graphics, and storytelling have earned high acclaim, making it a recommended experience for fans of action RPGs and narrative-driven games.
Highlights
Players consistently praise the game's stunning graphics and detailed world design, which create an immersive fantasy environment. The storyline stands out as emotionally engaging and mature, with complex characters and themes of liberation and political strife.
The combat system is recognized for its fluidity and excitement, especially the large-scale Eikon boss battles that blend cinematic spectacle with gameplay. The soundtrack, composed by Soken, receives widespread acclaim for enhancing the atmosphere and emotional impact.
Criticisms
Common criticisms include the linear and limited exploration, which reduces the sense of an open world. Many players find the side quests repetitive and uninspired, often likened to MMO-style fetch missions that add little to the narrative.
The combat, while fun initially, can become repetitive due to limited ability variety and lack of strategic complexity. PC users report significant performance issues, including crashes, frame rate drops, and poor optimization even on high-end hardware. Some also note that the pacing suffers from excessive cutscenes and filler content, which interrupts gameplay flow.
Pros
- • The story is mature, emotionally engaging, and full of political intrigue and complex characters.
- • Boss fights against Eikons are epic, cinematic, and provide memorable gameplay moments.
- • Graphics are visually stunning, detailed, and create an immersive fantasy world.
- • Soundtrack by Soken is exceptional, enhancing the game's atmosphere and emotional depth.
- • Combat is fluid and satisfying, with a focus on action and cooldown-based abilities.
- • Character development is strong, with relatable and well-voiced protagonists.
- • The game offers a unique dark fantasy setting inspired by Game of Thrones.
Cons
- • Side quests are repetitive, uninspired, and often feel like tedious fetch missions.
- • PC port suffers from frequent crashes, frame drops, and poor optimization.
- • Combat can become repetitive and lacks strategic depth after initial hours.
- • Exploration is limited and linear, reducing the open-world experience.
- • Excessive cutscenes disrupt gameplay flow and can feel like watching a movie.
- • Some story pacing issues with meandering middle sections and filler content.
- • Lack of party system and traditional RPG elements disappoints some fans.
Rating Criteria
An epic dark fantasy where fates are decided by mighty Eikons and the Dominants who wield them. This is the tale of Clive Rosfield, a tragic warrior who swears revenge on the Dark Eikon Ifrit, a mysterious entity that leaves naught but calamity in its wake.