Final Fantasy 16: Approachable action, spectacular cinematic boss fights
During my hands-on experience with Final Fantasy 16, I find myself immersed in an intense battle against the enormous winged Eikon, Garuda. The colossal summon dominates the scene, overshadowing protagonist Clive Rosfield. Garuda’s wind-infused powers generate a vortex, drawing me closer while her large talons swipe at me from various directions. Fortunately, as Clive, I can harness my own Eikonic abilities in combat. In the demo, I can switch between three different Eikon skill sets using the real-time action system, including Garuda’s powers – which prove quite helpful when fighting her. After inflicting enough damage, I utilize the special Deadly Embrace move, acting as a grappling hook to topple the mighty Eikon, allowing me to unleash a barrage of attacks.
Garuda’s imposing presence and the dynamic action fully capture my attention. However, just as the battle seems to be nearing its end, a dramatic shift occurs. After exchanging numerous blows, a cutscene plays, depicting Clive’s transformation into the fiery, devil-horned Ifrit. Now controlling an Eikon, I instantly notice the difference; the PS5 DualSense’s haptic feedback conveys the immense weight of the colossal Eikon as I charge forward. The scene resembles something from Attack on Titan, with two gigantic adversaries hurling elemental powers at each other.
The final moments of the battle between the Eikons unfold through a QTE sequence, reminiscent of God of War. The encounter feels grand and cinematic, complete with the over-the-top flair I adore. This fight, along with others I engage in, perfectly showcases Final Fantasy 16’s real-time action battle system, which strikes a balance between accessibility and satisfaction.
Helping Hand
Before my epic showdown with Garuda, my initial encounter with Final Fantasy 16’s combat occurs in a garrison courtyard where the session starts. I employ sword-based melee attacks up close and launch magical bursts from a distance while evading enemy strikes. The available Eikons include Garuda, Titan, and Phoenix, each providing a variety of powers with cool-downs and a unique ability or defensive move. I spend considerable time experimenting with the abilities and diverse combos, switching Eikons to eliminate a group of soldiers. I eventually reach the top of a tower, where I find Benedikta, a Dominant – individuals capable of channeling Eikon powers – accompanied by my faithful canine ally Torgal and Cidolfus Telamon, a significant character in Valisthea who serves as an AI party member.
After defeating numerous soldiers, I encounter armored enemies with a ‘Will’ gauge. Depleting this gauge staggers foes, allowing me to inflict significant damage in that moment. Although Final Fantasy 16’s real-time action system deviates from the traditional turn-based approach of previous games, its Eikonic abilities, magic, and sword-based melee attacks retain the quintessential Final Fantasy essence. What I appreciate most is the developers’ efforts to make Clive’s combat style accessible. To accommodate diverse players, interchangeable ‘Timely Accessories’ rings support combat in various ways.
For instance, if you tend to neglect healing during battle, there’s a ring that automatically uses a potion when your HP drops below a certain threshold. Another ring automates the actions of the loyal canine companion Torgal in battle, eliminating the need for issuing commands. With numerous combos available in combat, a ring enables you to execute complex ability combinations by simply pressing the square button – an excellent accessibility option. My personal favorite is the ‘Ring of Timely Focus’, which slows down time before an evadable attack, providing an opportunity to dodge using R1.
While I enjoy action-oriented games, I confess I’m not always the most confident player. Although the game lacks specific difficulty settings, there is a story-focused mode that automatically equips various rings from the outset. These accessories proved to be invaluable aids in areas where I needed assistance the most, and I left the session feeling capable of mastering the combat and enjoying the experience.
Upping the Scale
During my combat-focused demo session, I didn’t delve much into the story, but it allowed me to experience the flow of battles within it. Cinematic cutscenes and fight sequences transition seamlessly into combat, with no loading times in between, showcasing the power of the PS5. The demo also enabled me to witness and, more importantly, feel the unique nature of each major battle. As Clive, I confronted various enemies, ranging from garrison soldiers on equal ground to two large-scale blockbuster battles and a mini-boss fight.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Final Fantasy 16’s real-time action combat system. The influence of Ryota Suzuki – who previously contributed to Devil May Cry 5 and Dragon’s Dogma – is evident in shaping Clive’s battle system, as is the impact of PS5 development on delivering grand, cinematic battles designed to captivate players.
Throughout my experience with Final Fantasy 16, I particularly appreciated the developers’ efforts to make the action feel approachable and rewarding. In a brief period, I felt like I had truly mastered the system, and the accessories provided support where I needed it most. I envision this as a Final Fantasy game that players of all skill levels can comfortably dive into – and with the June 22 release date fast approaching, we won’t have to wait much longer to do just that.
