Final Fantasy 16 Xbox Series X Review – Eikonic

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It’s well-known that Final Fantasy XVI faced some initial hurdles. Although it is the next major installment in one of gaming’s most illustrious series, its shift to the character action genre left some long-time fans a bit cold, and its exclusivity to PS5 restricted its accessibility for potential newcomers. Nonetheless, when we ignore the real-world factors, the game demonstrates a clear creative direction and dedication from the developers, as it fully committed to its real-time combat system.

The game showcases an immersive, detailed environment backed by stunning visuals and exceptional performances from the leading actors, all tied together with a sophisticated gameplay system for characters that promotes experimentation, appreciates precision, and delivers amazing feedback. Approaching its second year since release, Final Fantasy XVI is now available on Xbox following its debut at the Xbox Games Showcase. Although the game remains essentially the same in its porting, joining a new platform allows for more players to experience a groundbreaking character action game.

After two years since its debut, it’s now official that Final Fantasy XVI will be playable on Xbox, following a surprise unveiling during the Xbox Games Showcase.

In line with the conventional style of its genre, Final Fantasy XVI unfolds as a sweeping fantasy saga, drawing numerous thematic comparisons to contemporary societal concerns. Within the realm of Valisthea, the source of magic lies in colossal mothercrystals, and those who can wield this power, known as Bearers, are predominantly subjected to slavery across the kingdom, forced to utilize their abilities for political gain.

As the strength of the mother crystals weakens, leading to the spread of Blight throughout Valisthea, a fierce struggle for power, magic, and liberty erupts across the kingdom. Each region of Valisthea, under different leaders, experiences its unique conflicts, with rulers often making hasty and dubious decisions driven by their personal shortcomings. You find yourself amidst some of this world’s most influential figures, gaining insight into their motivations for decision-making and observing how they grapple with the consequences as events unfold.

Enhancing the complexity, we encounter entities called Eikons – colossal magical beings that channel basic elemental forces such as Fire, Wind, Lightning, and more. These Eikons reside within specific individuals, known as Dominants. These individuals can conjure these Eikons and utilize their power for personal use.

In various parts of the world, numerous political and royal figures exhibit dominant traits, and the story unfolds following the demise of the Phoenix, a symbolic figure known as the Eikon of Fire. The last dominant, Joshua Rosfield, is the son of the monarchy in Rosaria, with his brother, Clive Rosfield, being the playable character portrayed by Ben Starr. Initially, Clive is merely a Bearer, but after an unfortunate event, he’s enslaved for 13 years until he gains his freedom. During this liberation, he encounters another Eikon of Fire and uncovers his unique ability to control multiple Eikons’ power.

“Rarely does Final Fantasy XVI feel like it’s dragging out its runtime.”

The game explores themes such as systemic oppression, racial disparities, and power struggles, albeit not always delicately when tackling complex subjects. Yet, its grand scope and consistent quality in portrayal set it apart as one of the most impactful video game worlds in recent years. It frequently shocks with sudden revelations or significant developments, and manages to make these heavy topics accessible and comprehensible for players.

Seldom does Final Fantasy XVI seem slow-paced due to its running time, as even when engaged in smaller, less critical main missions, you encounter chances to meet intriguing characters such as Cid or Jill, or traverse breathtaking and frequently dilapidated environments. As the action intensifies, the game consistently heightens tension visually, reaching a climax in an unforgettable third act that showcases some of the most striking gaming moments from recent times.

Despite being somewhat detailed, the narrative flow and environment setup are thoughtfully crafted, providing a wealth of resources for grasping the storyline and lore within this universe. A notable feature here is Active Time Lore, an innovation that lets you halt gameplay at virtually any moment in the world or during cutscenes to gain insights about the characters or settings featured in the scene.

Beyond returning to your sanctuary which serves as your home base, you’ll find comprehensive accounts of events leading up to and within the game. This could help deepen your comprehension of the game’s background or catch you up if you missed something along the way. This feature is a subtle yet impactful innovation that many games have since emulated, and it remains an ideal blueprint for how games can present their backstory. If you seek more than just the main storyline, you can also traverse Valisthea and take on side missions or bounties similar to other games. However, these additional tasks often feel routine compared to the main campaign, with content that typically doesn’t offer much beyond fetch quests or bounties that seem less integral to the overall narrative.

In Final Fantasy XVI, the combat system shines because it consistently keeps you engaged by rewarding creative combinations of attacks and actions, ensuring there’s always something exciting happening.

In contrast to other Final Fantasy games, Final Fantasy XVI sets itself apart through its innovative combat system, specifically its real-time character action setup. As the protagonist Clive, you’ll utilize conventional sword and ranged magic attacks, but the game’s unique feature lies in your ability to summon multiple Eikons. This allows you to wield special abilities from up to three Eikons simultaneously, providing you with a diverse array of powerful moves that can either focus on a single enemy or take down groups at once.

The standout aspect of Final Fantasy XVI‘s combat system is its knack for keeping things interesting by encouraging creative combinations of attacks or moves, ensuring no fight feels monotonous. Unlike numerous games with class-based gameplay mechanics, I found myself proactively seeking ways to enhance my Eikon abilities’ synergy and discovering the most effective combos to deal maximum damage without having to endure lengthy cooldown periods for multiple abilities simultaneously. Additionally, you can boost your regular attacks, dodge, or make use of a variety of movement skills that enable continuous action even during cooldowns or strategic pauses.

In this game, you’ll find a mechanic called Stagger, similar to what was used in previous games within the same genre. When enemies are staggered, they become vulnerable to intense attacks from you and your team. As more attacks are landed, a multiplier accumulates to boost the damage of subsequent strikes until the enemy recovers. It’s crucial to get enemies into this state as often as possible, making it essential for you to master your weapon collection and learn the optimal sequence of attacks to deal maximum harm. Over the 40 hours of gameplay, discovering new moves and choosing your favorites remains exciting, while executing everything flawlessly creates a rhythmic, almost musical experience.

In contrast to certain games that boast more complex combat systems, Final Fantasy XVI stands out with its breathtaking graphics and gratifying responses to player actions. Each strike, whether it’s a simple sword swing or an Eikon’s most potent attack, delivers a sense of fulfillment that is hard to beat, thanks to captivating visual effects and tactile controller feedback that truly sets it apart from its peers.

As you progress deeper into the game, the action becomes more intense and the stunning visuals intensify the thrill of combat. The climactic battles with bosses, which are undeniably the highlights, are massive in scale and visually impressive. The game does a fantastic job of keeping you informed about what’s happening and involved in the fight. It doesn’t intrude often with scripted moments, and even when it does, I can usually overlook the Quick Time Events due to their sleek and stylish execution.

One exciting aspect of Final Fantasy XVI launching on Xbox is the opportunity for a larger audience to experience a groundbreaking title within the character action game genre.

The main issue with shifting to a character action system is that battles might appear too effortless on normal mode. After getting accustomed to it, executing precise dodges becomes less challenging since they nullify all damage. There are instances when the game itself takes control to enhance the visual spectacle. Moreover, your health items fully restore at each respawn, making death seem like a prize and resulting in me rarely having to battle a boss more than once. However, for those seeking a challenge, higher difficulties and New Game + modes are accessible, providing fresh reasons to replay the game.

One exciting aspect of Final Fantasy XVI appearing on Xbox is that a wider audience can now experience a groundbreaking character action game, as it redefines the genre with its unique gameplay mechanics. Despite differences from previous installments,

The setting is equally ambitious and thoughtful, offering a gripping narrative about human rights and systemic societal issues. It offers an extensive collection of dark fantasy lore and world-building, and incorporates some unique elements typical of the genre. The visual spectacle is stunningly impressive, keeping you engaged and consistently outdoing itself at every turn, heightening each moment. Whether you’re a fan of the genre or action games in general, Final Fantasy XVI represents the best of its inspirations and stands as a solid recommendation among the top action games of the generation.

This game was reviewed on Xbox Series X.

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2025-06-19 19:12