Final Fantasy XVI is the latest entry in the Final Fantasy franchise, bringing with it a full shift into the action RPG genre. Although such a change initially divided the fanbase, the game released to positive reviews among huge fan anticipation and has been highly praised for both its combat and storytelling.
The new release's popularity means it's being widely discussed online as excited fans are eager to share their thoughts and experiences. Those who haven't previously played a Final Fantasy game may find themselves intrigued by this new title, but starting a franchise with its 16th mainline game can also feel a little daunting. Fortunately for these new fans, Final Fantasy XVI is an excellent introductory point as it can ease new players into the key features of the franchise without overwhelming them with unknown stories, characters, or important gameplay points.
Mainline Final Fantasy Titles Are Standalone Games
Despite being continuously numbered, mainline Final Fantasy games are all standalone titles, each with its own unique characters and story. As a result, new players won't need to worry about missing out on backstory or not knowing who the characters are. Final Fantasy XVI's story is particularly engrossing, and its dark twists and turns have led to comparisons with the brilliant Game of Thrones.
The game follows Clive Rosfield, the First Shield of Rosaria, who's tasked with protecting his younger brother and heir to the Rosarian throne, Joshua. The game's story contains twists and turns of love and betrayal and is one of the franchise's darkest and most encaptivating entries to date. New fans can easily get lost in the world, characters and storytelling that have made previous Final Fantasy games such a success.
Final Fantasy XVI's Combat Will Feel Familiar to Many Gamers
Early Final Fantasy games were fully turn-based, with later entries beginning to shift toward real-time action. Final Fantasy XVI is the first game in the franchise to be a full action RPG, meaning its combat and gameplay will feel a lot more familiar to a wider audience of new players. It's drawn comparisons with the likes of God of War and Devil May Cry — Devil May Cry 5's combat director, Ryota Suzuki, did work on the title after all — which means fans of these games will find transitioning to Final Fantasy XVI less overwhelming, yet still unique and challenging.
FFXVI's gameplay still maintains the franchise's core, though, and helps to bridge the gap for turn-based fans. The inclusion of Timely Accessories, for example, offers fans the option to simplify some of the game's more complex gameplay mechanics to a simple button press, as if selecting an option from a turn-based menu. This combination of action gameplay and optional simplifying features is ideal for those wanting to ease their way into a new franchise.
Final Fantasy XVI Keeps the Franchise's Core Elements
Despite the gameplay shift, Final Fantasy XVI is still certainly a traditional Final Fantasy game at its core. It keeps a whole host of important features from the franchise and can act as a great introduction to these aspects for new players. Firstly, the game maintains several important gameplay features that are staples of the franchise. These include the use of summons, RPG elements, and party companions alongside a combination of magical and weapon-based combat.
FFXVI also includes many of the other staples of the franchise that thread each entry together. Crystals have always played a varying yet important role in each game, and in Final Fantasy XVI, it's no different. This time, they're the source of Magick across the kingdoms of Valisthea, causing wars and conflict as each nation vies for their control. Players will also be introduced to more classic Final Fantasy terms, including the franchise's unique spell and potion names that will give them the understanding to go back through older entries.
Finally, iconic creatures such as Chocobos and Moogles also make a return, as does the recurring fan-favorite character, Cid. The game even includes several Easter Egg nods to previous entries, including the Enterprise from Final Fantasy III and a scarecrow made to look like Vivi from Final Fantasy IX. Although these might not mean too much to new fans initially, they'll help to immerse new players in the world of Final Fantasy in a way that doesn't feel overwhelming. Combining these classic features with its new action-RPG gameplay and strong storytelling ensures that Final Fantasy XVI is a great entry point for new players that will put a huge smile on the face of long-time fans, too.