Final Fantasy XVI: PS5 Review

Developed by Square Enix
Published by Square Enix
Platform: PS5

There's no denying the latest Final Fantasy is anything but epic.

With an incredible pre-opening titles prologue that lasts a couple of hours and showcases what to expect from both the story and the game's mechanics, there's no denying this latest is out to use the very best of the next gen technology to snag players.

But what's most noticeable about the new Final Fantasy game is just how accessible it is to all, thanks to a combination of Game of Thrones' style story-telling and simple easy to pick up mechanics.

It's perhaps the most approachable one of the franchise, which given this is the 16th iteration of the game proves to be the biggest - and most welcome - surprise of what unfolds.

Set in the world of Valisthea, and its surrounding territories, the game puts you in control of the somewhat oddly-monikered Clive Rosfield. After some initial time-jumping and an incredible battle sequence that looks like it could have been part of The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers, tragedy befalls Clive and his world. Heading out for vengeance, Clive must negotiate both the perils of Valisthea, as well as the politics and machinations of those behind the scenes.

If the description above sounds vague, it's perhaps for the best, given Final Fantasy XVI's surprises and shocks play out at a well-paced speed and with a narrative that's about engaging through the many cutscenes which play through the game.

It's beautifully rendered giving the game a kind of premium sheen that's hard to shake, and one that feels like every ounce of the PlayStation 5's hardware is working overtime to achieve. 

It also feels like its universal appeal is perhaps where its strength lies as well. For every Chocobo that appears there are equally as many other moments which non-fans will appreciate - especially in the world of HBO-led drama.

While it's true that combat itself may not be as thrilling as it could be, and initially is somewhat derivative of the Devil May Cry hack and slash approach, the versatility and simplicity of the fighting mechanics make Clive's quest engaging throughout - especially when further abilities are added to proceedings. Though admittedly, there will be some Final Fantasy fans who don't feel it's engaging or deep enough.

But what's impressive about the world of Valisthea is how well apportioned it is. Whether it's hubs for worlds and for meeting others within the realm or the controlled play areas that are littered with story and cut scenes, there's more than enough to do in Final Fantasy XVI.

Skills are learned easily and while there is occasionally a feeling of button mashing earlier on to combat enemies, as the game opens up, so too do the options and skillsets on offer to Clive.

The scale of the game in its big set pieces is unparalleled, and while the graphics match the ambition of what the developers had in mind, the game's score is also to be commended with its soaring orchestrations hitting the moments and the marks. From side quests to story, there's plenty to do and much pleasure to be derived from exploring all of it.

The developers deserve to be commended too, for using the pause menu for the Active Time Lore controls offers a chance to catch up on who's who in the storyline by highlighting characters and getting a quick catch up if you've dropped out for a while. It's these kind of steps which really show Final Fantasy XVI knows how complicated it can become and how pompous some of its characters names and machinations are, and has done all it can to try and allay such fears.

While this is a review in progress due to the depth of the game, it's not disingenuous to suggest Final Fantasy XVI may be one of the most popular Final Fantasy games yet. 

Though it is hard to see how it will be such a widespread success given it's solely timed as a PS5 exclusive for now. And while that may alienate fans of such a large and enduring franchise, it's easy to see why the game sits at home on the next generation consoles.

What's perhaps most satisfying about Final Fantasy XVI is how everything seems to come together - from the tech to the ambition, this feels like one of the most cohesive games, and in some ways, feels like a book brought to the screen, complete with chapters, twists and turns.

Final Fantasy XVI is a world to dive into, and a sign that even after some 16 iterations, there's plenty of life left in the realms and beyond.