Though I’ve played a handful of Final Fantasy games over the years, I’m not sure that I can call myself a Final Fantasy fan per se. Fans, I feel, are more dedicated and more passionate in their feelings regarding their favorite series, I think. Still, perhaps I can at least call myself an “enjoyer” of sorts. The games I have played have all been fun, and I’ve even gone back to replay a couple of them from time to time.

This is all to say that I don’t really have much in the way of expectations going into a new Final Fantasy release. If it’s fun, then it’s good enough, and I guess that’s all I was hoping for wih Final Fantasy XVI. I’ve gotten so much more than the usual “fun” with this one though, in fact I’ve found myself continually impressed by almost everything going on here. Honestly, it’s really quite amazing what Square Enix has produced this time around!

Let’s start with the obvious: the presentation. Final Fantasy XVI is an absolutely gorgeous game. The amount of care and attention to detail that’s gone into everything is just ridiculous! I mean, I’m not usually one to stop and admire the views in games, but this one has gotten me to stop and take it all in a few times now. I’ve no idea how they did it, but my goodness!

Final Fantasy games have always been visually impressive, even Final Fantasy XIII was a sight to behold in its day, still, I’m quite impressed here. It’s the same with the music. I makes fights more exciting, heavy scenes more dramatic, wandering more immersive, and victory all the sweeter! The tracks don’t have the same catchiness as some other games’ music, but it’s absolutely fantastic atmospheric work. Some performance issues aside, FFXVI really is an experience!

There is also the story and characters to consider. I’m not going to pretend as though there’s anything truly groundbreaking here. It’s your standard “save the world” scenario that we’ve seen in practically every Final Fantasy game. There’s nothing terribly new about the characters either. However, it is all done rather well. Our protagonists’ motivations are clear: we’re given ample time to get to know them and see how they relate to those around them. We get to see how they fit into the lives of of other major and minor NPCs, and we get real looks into what life is like in the world via the sidequests (simple though they might be). We even get a real sense of what’s driving the villains of the story, which is something of a rarity I think.

Final Fantasy XVI is a game that really takes time to bring the player into its world and gives them a reason to care about it and the characters they meet. We’re given real opportunities to empathize with out protagonists and get real reasons to care about the characters around them. For me personally, I’ve really ejoyed the dynamic between Clive and Jill. They clearly care about each other, but not in the usual, one-dimensional romantic kind of way.

It’s hinted at constantly by the other characters, but what we see most between the two are things like comraderie, displays of trust, mutual admiration, memories shared and just plain enjoying each others’ company. It’s a very strong, well-rounded kind of relationship of the sort that anyone in the real world would be incredibly blessed to have, so it’s been quite heartwarming to see it develop. I can’t remember the last time I’ve rooted so hard for a fictional couple.

The real star of Final Fantasy XVI is its gameplay though. Much as certain purists in the fanbase may protest, the combat system is really quite a lot of fun. It’s not nearly as complicated as something like Devil May Cry V, but there’s enough depth and variety to allow you to find your own style and keep most fights interesting. Combos are easy to pull off and most encounters aren’t particularly difficult, but the visual flair and flourishes that go into every action keep it feeling satisfying nonetheless. You really get to feel powerful in this game, and that feeling really goes a long way.

This is particularly true of the set-piece boss battles. Seriously, Square REALLY knocked it out of the park this time with he boss fights. They are all, to a one, true roller-coaster rides filled with over-the-top action, jaw-dropping visuals and heart-pounding scenarios! The things you get to do in these fights are incredibly cool, so much so that you won’t even mind when they switch from your full control to momentary QTEs or brief cutscenes.

Seriously, these fights are real spectacles to behold and are perhaps the true highlights of the game. One fight in particular might just be the single most hype boss fight I’ve ever played, and I’ve played through a lot of crazy boss fights over the years! It’s all just…chef’s kiss excellent! Even you don’t like anything else about Final Fantasy XVI, you’re sure to love these even if it’s just for their crazy action.

Admittedly weak side-quests aside, I’m thoroughly impressed with Final Fantasy XVI in a way that I honestly didn’t think was possible. This is an absolutely fantastic entry in the series, and one that might very well actually be worth the $70 asking price (much I hate that price point regardless). Of course, you should definitely play the demo first to get a feel for it and those on a budget would of course be better-served by waiting on a sale. If you do decide to dive in though, I really doubt you’ll come away disappointed. Seriously, this one is good. Surprisingly so. I don’t know if it’s a true 10/10 experience, but for me it comes pretty close!

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Have any of you played FFXVI yet? If you have,what are your impressions? What do you think of FF games up to now? Are they your thing or are there some shared issues that have kept you from getting invested in it?

Image from the Final Fantasy XVI website