I have so many mixed feelings about this game. The highs are really high and feel like a great FF game. But the lows are just meh and feel like another generic Square Enix “rpg”. The real big problem I have with this game is that once I get past the fun spectacle sequences, the in between stuff(which is where you’ll be at many times for a big chunk of this game) is just boring and meaningless. Which is a damn shame bc the world/lore they’ve built in FF16 is so interesting. I honestly don’t really know how to even rate this game. It’s good but also has so many faults that I can understand why some people, especially the hardcore fanbase, would be turned off by FF16. But if you just like a flashy action/adventure game with some rpg elements to it then sure you’ll probably have a good time. But this game just felt so soulless to me.
I’d compare FF16 with FF12. FF12 was a Final Fantasy game with a Star Wars inspired theme to its story. Bc of this inspiration, the world building and overall narrative was well done. But the uninteresting characters and the mostly empty world that you actually played in really dragged the game down from being great. FF16 on the other hand is a Final Fantasy game with a Game of Thrones inspired theme to its story. And just like with 12, world building and overall narrative benefits the most from this inspiration. But that’s where the comparison with 12 stops. At least 12 did something innovative with its gameplay and stood out as a unique game in its own right(which is saying a lot for me considering I don’t really like FF12). FF16 though just feels so generic at times. I also couldn’t connect with a single character in this game. Maybe it’s just me but idk. Clive felt like a lifeless FF protagonist with 0 interesting character traits. Lifeless and 0 interesting character traits describes almost all of the characters in this game tbh. Can’t believe they managed to dethrone Lunafreya from FF15 as the most boring FF love interest with Jill. That’s honestly really impressive. Cid and Joshua are probably the only characters I actually got somewhat invested in(Torgal is a good boi too so I will not be slandering him). I’d even go as far as to say that I think it was a mistake to make Clive the main protagonist when Joshua has the more interesting character story arc and would overall just make for a better protagonist.
Also despite the world being interesting, it’s just very empty when you’re actually playing in it. Yeah there’s some “side quests” scattered but they’re all so half baked it’s not really necessary to do them bc they don’t really add anything worthwhile and aren’t all that fun. You can do the typical FF grind in this game but so many of the RPG elements that the series used to have has been stripped down and you’re not really grinding for much outside of a character level and a few pieces of gear. The skills in the hollow skill tree don’t really provide much of a benefit either bc all you’re really unlocking is a new flashy cooldown ability animation that you can do.
I know I’ve been mostly negative but when it comes to the highs in this game, man do they make you feel like you’re having a tremendous experience. The highs in the story are so engaging and do genuinely feel like you’re watching a FF spin on Game of Thrones. Benedikta was a great introductory villain. And everything from Hugo Kupka’s arc in the story and beyond was really well done and engaging to play through. Ultima was an okay villain with a pretty dope character design. Combat is fluid for the most part and there’s a lot of fun combos you can do. I just wish there were elemental effects to enhance it(weird choice to take that away btw). The big boss battles with the Eikons are always so damn cool too. And of course, the game is very pretty to look at.
But again, a lot of what’s in FF16 is just not for me and it may just not be any deeper than that. I wanted to love this game but there’s just a lot holding it back for me despite the occasional fun moments that are presented.
I’d compare FF16 with FF12. FF12 was a Final Fantasy game with a Star Wars inspired theme to its story. Bc of this inspiration, the world building and overall narrative was well done. But the uninteresting characters and the mostly empty world that you actually played in really dragged the game down from being great. FF16 on the other hand is a Final Fantasy game with a Game of Thrones inspired theme to its story. And just like with 12, world building and overall narrative benefits the most from this inspiration. But that’s where the comparison with 12 stops. At least 12 did something innovative with its gameplay and stood out as a unique game in its own right(which is saying a lot for me considering I don’t really like FF12). FF16 though just feels so generic at times. I also couldn’t connect with a single character in this game. Maybe it’s just me but idk. Clive felt like a lifeless FF protagonist with 0 interesting character traits. Lifeless and 0 interesting character traits describes almost all of the characters in this game tbh. Can’t believe they managed to dethrone Lunafreya from FF15 as the most boring FF love interest with Jill. That’s honestly really impressive. Cid and Joshua are probably the only characters I actually got somewhat invested in(Torgal is a good boi too so I will not be slandering him). I’d even go as far as to say that I think it was a mistake to make Clive the main protagonist when Joshua has the more interesting character story arc and would overall just make for a better protagonist.
Also despite the world being interesting, it’s just very empty when you’re actually playing in it. Yeah there’s some “side quests” scattered but they’re all so half baked it’s not really necessary to do them bc they don’t really add anything worthwhile and aren’t all that fun. You can do the typical FF grind in this game but so many of the RPG elements that the series used to have has been stripped down and you’re not really grinding for much outside of a character level and a few pieces of gear. The skills in the hollow skill tree don’t really provide much of a benefit either bc all you’re really unlocking is a new flashy cooldown ability animation that you can do.
I know I’ve been mostly negative but when it comes to the highs in this game, man do they make you feel like you’re having a tremendous experience. The highs in the story are so engaging and do genuinely feel like you’re watching a FF spin on Game of Thrones. Benedikta was a great introductory villain. And everything from Hugo Kupka’s arc in the story and beyond was really well done and engaging to play through. Ultima was an okay villain with a pretty dope character design. Combat is fluid for the most part and there’s a lot of fun combos you can do. I just wish there were elemental effects to enhance it(weird choice to take that away btw). The big boss battles with the Eikons are always so damn cool too. And of course, the game is very pretty to look at.
But again, a lot of what’s in FF16 is just not for me and it may just not be any deeper than that. I wanted to love this game but there’s just a lot holding it back for me despite the occasional fun moments that are presented.