Every mainline installment in the Final Fantasy franchise features a new story and cast of protagonists, and Final Fantasy XVI is no exception, but the big new addition here is a relentless commitment to action. So much so that we’re looking at an action RPG that some have compared its combat to Devil May Cry. Square Enix’s goal is to keep the series’ veterans around and attract a younger audience. The PS5 ratings have been remarkable and sales have been in the millions, but the Japanese publisher was hoping for greater commercial success. We’ll see if the PC version manages to meet the company’s expectations.
Players of Final Fantasy XVI are transported to Valisthea, a world where for centuries the Mother Crystals have blessed its inhabitants with magic and made the aether an indispensable resource for life. However, the Stygian lands are constantly expanding, consuming the aether and making the domains they claim uninhabitable. This situation unleashes a series of wars for the control of the Mother Crystals. The nations involved face their Dominants, humans capable of summoning the eikon, the most powerful creatures of Valisthea. The Dominants cannot escape their fate and while some nations admire them, in others they are considered mere instruments of war at the service of the people.
Fate makes Clive Rosfield, our protagonist and the firstborn son of the Archduke of Rosaria, take part in the war. Contrary to what many expected, Clive is not the Dominant of Rosaria, as fate chose his brother Joshua, a weak, sickly young man with little interest in combat, to be the Dominant of Phoenix. Clive is responsible for the protection of the Phoenix and the beneficiary of its blessing, which allows him to use part of its power. However, his aspirations are thwarted after the tragedy unleashed by the dark eikon, Ifrit, against whom he swears revenge. This promise will lead him to travel through Valisthea.
PC gamers looking to get a taste of Final Fantasy XVI’s gameplay and its take on the action RPG will find a demo on Steam that allows players to complete the beginning of the story and the Eikonic Challenge mode, created especially for the demo.
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