Final Fantasy XVI Review

Final Fantasy is one of the most famous RPG series, with a history so long that we’re now reviewing its 16th installment.

No need to worry! You don’t have to play all 15 previous games to enjoy this one. However, Final Fantasy XVI sparked major debates this year, with opinions ranging from extremely positive to highly critical. Let’s dive into this review to see if it lives up to the hype.

The Story

Final Fantasy XVI features a new world and fresh characters, making it accessible to newcomers. Set in the fantasy world of Valisthea, the story revolves around powerful “Dominants” who can transform into deadly beasts. The main character, Clive Rosfield, embarks on a journey of revenge and discovery.

While the story starts strong with Game of Thrones-like political intrigue and world-building, it suffers from unnecessary padding that can feel repetitive. Despite this, the character development and world history are the highlights of the narrative.

Gameplay

Final Fantasy XVI combines RPG elements with Hack and Slash combat. Players can wield swords and magical abilities, which evolve over time. The game offers diverse magic types, each with unique effects, and players can customize their abilities through a skill tree.

While combat is fun and visually impressive, it can become repetitive due to a lack of difficulty and AI challenges. The addition of a canine companion adds variety but feels underutilized as its abilities remain static throughout the game.

Side quests feel underwhelming and serve primarily to gather resources. However, boss battles stand out as the most exciting and visually stunning aspect of the gameplay, delivering epic experiences throughout the journey.

Technical Performance

One of the biggest disappointments is the technical performance. Despite being a PS5 exclusive, the game experiences frame rate drops and resolution issues, even dropping to 720p during intense battles. Overheating issues have also been reported, leading to sudden shutdowns.

Localization and Controversy

The game offers full Arabic localization for menus and dialogues, making it accessible to Arabic-speaking players. However, it also includes controversial content that may not align with regional cultural norms, which could deter some players.

Unfortunately, this inclusion highlights a lack of effort to provide culturally adapted versions for different regions, raising concerns about the publisher’s commitment to local audiences.

Overall, Final Fantasy XVI offers a mix of epic storytelling and exciting boss battles but falls short in terms of gameplay variety, technical performance, and addressing regional sensitivities.

Final Rating: 7/10