Remaining Fantasy XVI’s first three hours play like a fantasy Final of Us

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Once I demoed Remaining Fantasy XVI again in February, I had some questions. The slice I performed was very a lot centered on the upcoming PS5 launch’s fight system. I used to be instantly impressed with how briskly and livid it was, bringing a little bit of Satan Might Cry to the RPG sequence. That mentioned, there was fairly a bit I didn’t see. The story mission I performed would solely give me a quick introduction to its hero, Clive Rosfield, and the war-torn nation by which the sport takes place. I used to be itching to know extra.

I’d get all these lingering questions answered after I went hands-on with the primary three hours of the sport, which launches on June 22. Relatively than letting me take a look at out an arsenal of spells, I’d begin with a a lot much less succesful Clive with just a few assaults to his identify. I’d get to see his full tragic backstory play out by means of lengthy cinematics with just a few smaller gameplay snippets between. I’d depart my demo session with far fewer query marks, a bit extra intrigue, and a few lingering issues that might be alleviated later within the journey.

In case you’re in search of a basic Remaining Fantasy sport, it stays clear that the brand new installment gained’t scratch that nostalgic itch. As an alternative, what I noticed was a pitch-black darkish fantasy that jogged my memory extra of Recreation of Thrones and even The Final of Us. In case you can settle for that change, you’re in for what looks as if an engrossing political drama punctuated by visually gorgeous titan battles. The sport’s explorable world, alternatively, appears notably extra compact than these cinematic cutscenes thus far. It’s a story of two video games

Revenge story

The story begins with an introduction to Clive Rosfield, who begins the story within the midst of a navy operation within the desert. I didn’t join with Clive an excessive amount of after I first met him in February. I discovered his generic gruff man demeanor a bit flat and I nonetheless really feel that to an extent. However the first two hours of the sport go a great distance towards constructing out his historical past. That’s as a result of Remaining Fantasy XVI opens with a protracted flashback that performs like a feature-length movie.

By way of the course of the cutscene-heavy opening, I’d get a variety of justification for why Clive follows the tortured hero archetype. I’d met him 13 years earlier as a bright-eyed member of a royal household sworn to guard his sickly youthful brother, who was destined to turn into the embodiment of the Phoenix. A bloody inciting incident wouldn’t solely break Clive’s cheerful spirit however thrust him into a chilly lifetime of navy servitude. That’s the place the present-day story picks up from.

The storytelling in that introduction is a little bit of a combined bag. Early on, I’m admittedly somewhat bored because the story walks by means of a dryly delivered political drama full of a sea of flat, homogenous characters spouting lore. It’s a gradual burn that requires a variety of desk setting to get to the emotional meat. Although as soon as it did get there, I used to be rather more captivated. It looks as if Remaining Fantasy XVI is a dense fantasy story that balances larger-than-life mythology with excessive private stakes.

It’s maybe somewhat cliché to say this, however I can’t assist however really feel just like the group at Sq. Enix is drawing from The Final of Us somewhat right here. The opening isn’t that a lot totally different from that sport if I’m it beat by beat. And as soon as I obtained by means of that flashback, I used to be in a well-known storyline the place Clive performed the position of an impassive sword-for-hire at all-time low who unwittingly comes right into a protector position shortly after. Whether or not or not it could clean up what’s turn into a considerably drained string of contemporary gaming tropes will rely on the place the revenge story goes within the last sport.

There’s actually room for it to discover some thrilling dramatic territory, too. An early scene has Clive’s youthful brother Joshua questioning why his kingdom ought to have a lot energy simply due to the magical talents they had been born with. That thread about privilege isn’t adopted up on instantly, however I hope it digs into that extra. Although it will appear considerably odd to discover societal injustice after we already know that there’s a scarcity of variety in its characters, in response to Producer Naoki Yoshida.

Throwback design

What continues to impress most in regards to the narrative is its spectacular Eikons, which make this really feel like a excessive fantasy spin on Godzilla. Within the intro, I obtained to see an infinite titan battling towards Shiva. It’s an unbelievable, costly conflict that places the facility of the PS5 to good use. Later, I get to attempt a brand new Eikon battle the place I management Phoenix in a glitzy 3D shoot-em-up that’s in contrast to anything I’ve seen from the sport thus far. Anytime an Eikon is on display, Remaining Fantasy XVI shines.

Shiva floats in the air in Final Fantasy XVI.

There may be, nonetheless, a notable distinction in scope between these sequences and the sport between it. In my first demo, I famous that the citadel I explored felt somewhat underwhelming. It was a reasonably linear assortment of sparsely designed rooms with not a lot character. That design philosophy appears to hold by means of the complete sport, which may find yourself being polarizing for followers.

Within the intro, I’d discover one other citadel that regarded pretty equivalent (although it’s doable it was the identical one I’d performed in February, however 13 years earlier). I figured the linear nature of it was principally as a result of I used to be working by means of a story-driven flashback, however I’d get the identical vibe after I lastly obtained out into the world. My first true mission as modern-day Clive despatched me into the Greatwood, a forest location. I figured I’d get extra exploration there, however that wasn’t the case. As an alternative, I used to be strolling by means of one other pretty linear assortment of paths with just some small alcoves hiding crafting gadgets.

The extra open areas aren’t rather more detailed. I’d ultimately attain a equally sparse hub space with just a few distributors and easy side-quests scattered round. Late within the demo, I’d soar ahead to a way more open-ended subject the place I may stroll round and discover extra, however I can’t say that it was rather more intricate. I may go off the primary path to combat some unfastened enemies and discover the occasional treasure chest, however there wasn’t a lot to marvel at other than grass. The extent design I noticed felt surprisingly archaic (it jogs my memory a little bit of the unique Nier), which appears incongruous with the large scope of its grand story.

Clive walks through a field in Final Fantasy XVI.

In fact, every thing I’ve seen thus far is simply from the primary few hours of the sport. I by no means count on a protracted RPG like this to place its extra intricate foot first and I think about its scale and complexity will layer on steadily. I can affirm that’s the case for its fight system, which feels simplistic at first however ultimately sings as Clive equips extra Eikon powers and spells. I’m hopeful that there’s a gradual burn taking place right here that’ll give the journey some momentum the deeper it goes.

Although I’m nonetheless uncertain of the way it’ll come collectively, I nonetheless have loads of causes to be enthusiastic about Remaining Fantasy XVI. Its fight alone is sufficient to attract me again in and its spectacular Eikon battles really appear particular. If the remainder of the sport can sustain with that and ship a meaty fantasy story within the course of, it ought to make for a worthy entry to the long-running sequence. I simply hope that the big-budget spectacle of its most cinematic moments spreads out somewhat additional than it does within the introduction.

Remaining Fantasy XVI launches on June 22 for PS5.

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