Attention Final Fantasy fans! Last April, during a PlayStation State of Play conference, Square Enix unveiled a gameplay trailer by Final Fantasy XVI producer Yaoki Yoshida, focusing on the game's mechanics and story. Since then, a new trailer was unveiled at a PlayStation Showcase at the end of May. Entitled Revenge, the game will be available exclusively on PS5 from June 22, 2023.
A video in which we learn that Final Fantasy XVI aims to be a"true action-RPG", offering particularly impressive combat phases, both in the hero's style and that of the "Primordials", a kind of giant summoner reminiscent of a certain Bayonetta 3...
"Twilight approaches for Valisthea... Since ancient times, mankind has settled in communities around the Mother Crystals, enjoying the benefits of the magic they offered through ethereal flows. However, the ether began to dry up, sowing chaos and conflict into their previously peaceful lives. Crystal hegemony has controlled the world's destiny for too long. This story is about the struggle to break free".
In terms of gameplay, we're expecting real-time combat, as in Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy XV. And when it comes to summoning (at least, it looks like it), some of the creatures may look familiar, such asIfrit, a summon that recurs frequently in the saga, is also part of the game, as some of the images suggest, through numerous battles between these deities.
Our opinion on Final Fantasy XVI :
Playtime: 78h, main quest and side quests 100% complete
The release of a new Final Fantasy is always a moment in itself in the gaming world, and especially for fans of the franchise... And this new opus is no exception to the rule! So, what's this new release worth? We're not going to lie: it's pretty good, on several counts. Starting with the graphics, with extremely beautiful and detailed cutscenes (depending on whether you're playing in performance mode or not). We're blown away by the particularly well-realized fog, smoke and foam effects. The graphics are beautiful, but also a little uneven at times. On the character side, although the faces are a little frozen, they also work well, having been worked out in great detail.
As for the story, it's extremely well-sourced, particularly detailed and captivating enough to keep the player on the edge of his seat! And it'sHeroic Fantasy fans who will be delighted, as the game makes a welcome return to its roots, while at the same time modernizing itself by drawing a great deal of inspiration (the team made no secret of this) from Game of Thrones. It's all there: the hero in Jon Snow mode accompanied by a wolfhound, the complex geopolitics mixing war, sex and alliance, the violence characteristic of the series, and even the map, which is graphically inspired (a little too much) by the credits of the HBO series. A mature game, compared to previous opuses, but a maturity that remains timid, and which will undoubtedly attract as many players as possible, whether they're into blood and violence or not.
It's a breath of fresh air with a solid foundation, just what the franchise needed to get back on track. On the other hand, there's just one criticism: it's long, too long in fact, both in its general narrative and in its dialogues, which could be shortened - in the secondary missions, for example - when they happily exceed 20 to 30 lines, at the very least. So, detailing the story is all well and good... But too much dialogue kills dialogue, and by extension, the story. Towards the end, you find yourself speeding up the dialogue, even if it means losing the story, just to get to the end of the adventure. It's a real shame. The main antagonist's dialogues are also a little off-putting.
In terms of gameplay, the idea of shaking up the codes is an interesting one, with Final Fantasy XVI abandoning the combat system for which the saga is famous for something more modern and common. Ryota Suzuki, who worked on the game's combat design, is no stranger to this, since Final Fantasy XVI 's combat system is reminiscent of that of Devil May Cry 5, on which he worked. But it's not our hero's ability to twirl his sword and cast spells that makes the fights so charming... no, no, no... Rather, it's the immoderation Square Enix brings to its titanic battles between "Primordials" in shoot'em up mode, in the image of a certain Bayonetta 3, from which the "kaiju" battles take their inspiration. And it's particularly successful: the gradual intensity of the battles is well exploited. It's gargantuan, excessively over-the-top, and that's what you pay for!
We also wanted to share one final highlight with you: the absolutely incredible haptic feedback from the joystick, which surprised us with its precision and its particularly real and ingenious use, especially when opening doors. For example, the heavy wooden doors are difficult to open (you have to force the trigger - physically), before it gives way, just like the trigger, once opened. Sounds silly when you put it like that, but it's particularly brilliant. Best use of the haptic trigger to date.
And here's a word of advice: jump at the chance to do the side quests on offer, some of which grant you significant bonuses to help you progress through the adventure, such as several equipment upgrades like a larger bag, more effective potions, etc.
All in all, Final Fantasy XVI is a fine game, despite its minor shortcomings, which are largely offset by a rich story and particularly well-written characters. It's also worth noting that the level is modular, allowing you to enjoy the story to the full. A must-have for all PS5 owners, provided you like the genre... Get set!
And to see the other trailers, click here :
Dates and Opening Time
Starts June 22th, 2023
Official website
fr.finalfantasyxvi.com
