With this in mind, we must ask: is it fun to play?Īs a lover of old-school turn-based RPGs, I was initially skeptical of the move toward a real-time system. Let the battles begin!įor all this emphasis on story, Final Fantasy 16 is, ultimately, a video game. The climax of this journey was so deeply affecting that it'll almost certainly live in my head rent-free for years to come. Not since Death Stranding have I felt so captivated by a game’s sense of narrative momentum. Emperors, Kings, and Vicerenes compete in a compelling pseudo-medieval power struggle, but Final Fantasy 16 takes things further by pulling at the fraying threads of this Machiavellian tapestry.Īs layer after layer of Final Fantasy 16’s setting is pared back, the story gains more and more momentum - until it’s 1 am and you can’t bring yourself to go to bed because you desperately want to know where the next twist will take Clive and Co. Riven with political intrigue, the game begins with the world’s factions teetering on the edge of war. Whether it’s Gav’s witty banter or Otto’s gruff but well-meaning grumbling, this found family makes Clive’s base of operations feel like a home.Īll of this takes place in Final Fantasy 16’s well-realized and meticulously crafted world of Valesthia. It’s a wonderful story about masculinity, emotional intelligence, and vulnerability.įinal Fantasy 16’s supporting cast is absolutely charming and brings the setting to life in a big way. Once this happens Clive comes into his own during the latter half of the game, surpassing the person he was by allowing himself to feel. Clive, like all Final Fantasy protagonists, is trauma-ridden and broody, which causes him to butt heads with other characters before finally accepting his connection to others. Starting as a teen, the young nobleman struggles in the shadow of his obligations and expectations, the tension and stress oozing from every moment of Starr’s performance. Clive is the fulcrum upon which the entire game turns. Ben Starr, Clive’s voice actor, knocks it out of the park with his voice work.įinal Fantasy 16 takes its story further by pulling at the fraying threads of its own Machiavellian tapestry For the overwhelming majority of the game, you inhabit Clive Rosfield, you go where he goes, see what he sees and, thanks to some deeply moving acting, you feel what he feels. Final Fantasy 16 places a great burden on the shoulders of its protagonist.
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