Final Fantasy XVI Review

thesixthaxis.com:

It’s always risky for a franchise to take a different direction, but there’s always a chance that it pays off and marks a defining new era for a series – Resident Evil 4 is a textbook example of this. After the contentious Final Fantasy XV, decried by many as a ‘boyband simulator’, some will feel a change of direction was sorely needed. Final Fantasy XVI does not disappoint — in this regard or any other. If anything, it’s an astounding success that should take its place in the echelon of best Final Fantasy games of all time.

And yet, this change of direction is one that looks back over its shoulder. In many ways, with what is formally its sixteenth iteration, the franchise is coming of age. It hearkens back to earlier titles in looks and feel, channelling Final Fantasy 12 in its high fantasy feel, Final Fantasy 10 with its mysterious ancestral race, and Final Fantasy 1–6 in a bevy of ways, most particularly the early games’ fascination with crystals.

Valisthean society is utterly dependent on magic, from filling wells to lighting lamps and fuelling forges. Even humble fishermen rely on magic to keep the catch of the day fresh. Such is their dependance that Bearers — those who can channel magic without the use of crystals — are enslaved at birth, becoming property of those who cannot freely wield magic. They are branded with face tattoos that strip their identity and denigrated by all around them. All except Clive, that is. His tale told through three distinct periods in time, Clive’s mission is a simple one: to end the plight of Bearers and create a world where all people can live and die on their own terms. All this while saving the world from the encroaching blight.

Long-time fans will be able to see and feel the