Final Fantasy 16 Seems Nothing Like FF15, But That's a Good Thing
One expectation going into Sony's PS5 event was the official reveal of Final Fantasy 16. Enough had circulated online beforehand to suggest this would be the case, and lo and behold, Final Fantasy 16 appeared at the event.
Its opening is awfully reminiscent of past games, as Shiva, Titan, Chocobos, and magic litter the trailer. However, there's one thing that's clear from watching this trailer: it's nothing like Final Fantasy 15.
By now, many are likely familiar with the story and setting of Final Fantasy 15. Prince Noctis Caelum has to travel the country, gathering power to take on the empire of Niflheim and his immortal, evil relative: Ardyn Caelum. Keeping in with the general vibe of Final Fantasy 13, the game is very much futuristic sci-fi fantasy, complete with a car that can be modified to hover. The royal bloodline is a huge emphasis, as are Noctis' friends, yet what has been shown so far of Final Fantasy 16 doesn't really correlate with this.
After all, Final Fantasy 16 appears more akin to medieval fantasy, with soldiers fighting with swords instead of guns. There's a mark on some character's faces, likely making them part of some sort of selection or calling, but nothing that seems out of place. This change in backdrop is likely to be refreshing for the franchise, as many hoped FF16 would return to the series roots and focus on fantasy. And at least by this trailer, that seems to be what fans are getting.
One FF16 character, who may just be the main character or part of the game's group, shows that he isn't royalty but instead the defend, shield, and sword arm of a child named Joshua. His abilities seem somehow tied to a phoenix, which may be why the character is shown with a phoenix wing emerging in a fight. Another character is shown who appears to summon big fists in a fight, with both of these characters being presumably shown at the end. One threatens to kill the other, and the logo itself appears to show some type of phoenix in conflict with a behemoth. In other words, while Final Fantasy 15 was a story about friends on a trip, it doesn't appear that the playable characters shown so far are friendly at all.
How that manifests exactly remains to be seen. The game does contain some series staples between the two, like the aforementioned summons, chocobos, and a way of zipping around the battlefield, but at the end of the day, it seems FF16 is an all-new chapter. It's one that should be a breath of fresh air for fans, but because it seems to be a timed PS5 exclusive, where it can be played exactly remains to be seen.
Final Fantasy 16 is in development for PC and PS5.
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