Summary
Despite some turn-based fans refusing to give it a fair shake, it seems like most gamers and critics agree thatFinal Fantasy 16is a terrific game. Tremendous performances from the voice cast, a strong story full of political intrigue, and unforgettable boss fights filled with spectacle have contributed to the positive response. Action-packed combat and memorable music are also worth citing as things to praise, though like any game,Final Fantasy 16is not without its flaws. One of the biggest is a lack of difficulty, something the upcoming DLC has a chance to correct.
While the biggest area of criticism forFinal Fantasy 16has been its side quests, one other downside is that the game is remarkably easy. Not only are there accessories that almost allow the game to play itself, but with Final Fantasy Mode tied to story completion, players will likely find themselves flying through every battle with ease on their first playthrough. This is whereFinal Fantasy 16’s DLC, which was recently confirmed by Square Enix, can come into play. While it may seem like an odd comparison, it would be best if the DLC used a trick from renowned developer FromSoftware. Specifically, the expansion should be packed full of legitimately tough boss fights.
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Final Fantasy 16 DLC Can Address The Difficulty Criticism
Final Fantasy 16’s boss fightswere as good as it gets in terms of spectacle, setting a new standard for flashiness and visual splendor. However, none of the major battles outside of Benedikta, Ultima, and Barnabas could be seen as genuinely challenging. Most players will get through the lengthy clash with Titan and the Garuda battle without dying, and the same can be said for the Bahamut. Unfortunately, even in the battles where players will likely die, death does not matter.
Final Fantasy 16’s death problemmakes it to where players are essentially rewarded for failure. Not only do players get checkpoints if they die during a boss fight, allowing them to get a leg up on the boss since its health is partially depleted, but Clive’s health is fully regenerated. Worse, all of Clive’s potions are restored, meaning that players have an incredibly easy win upon respawning. Part of the fun that comes with most video game boss fights is the feeling of overcoming a challenge, and that simply does not exist inFinal Fantasy 16.While Barnabas, Benedikta, and Ultima can take players to their limits and surprise them with a death, they are highly unlikely to kill the player twice.
Clive dominating regular enemies is completely understandable, as his identity asMythosmeans he should be immensely powerful. However, boss fights should be moments that test players’ skills.Final Fantasy 16combat has been unfairly criticized for offering nothing more than mashing one button, when in reality, the issue is that players are not given a reason to engage with the combat properly. Clive can do some incredible things if players learn how to combo and chain attacks, but because the game is so easy, gamers do not need to do anything fancy. Simply mashing buttons and hitting abilities when they cool down will be enough to win most fights.
With its upcoming DLC,Final Fantasy 16can finally push gamers to use all the combat tools they have in their arsenal. Bosses can output a lot of damage and force gamers to be careful, as if they are not, all their potions could be drained before they know it. Quicker attacks and maneuvers that are harder to dodge could also help, as would multiple phase fights without checkpoints. Though this could sound like a risk on paper,Square Enixneed only look at some of the best expansions in gaming for proof that harder DLCs can work well.
TheOrphan of Kos, Artorias the Abysswalker, Slave Knight Gael - these are just some of the names that FromSoftware fans will forever have engraved in their minds. In all of its games that have DLC, FromSoftware has gone out of its way to save the toughest fights for those expansions. This makes sense, as players will be using high level characters within the post-launch content, and the same will likely be true forFinal Fantasy 16. Square Enix went too far in the direction of makingFinal Fantasy 16easy so that players can experience the story, but with the DLC, it is time for the training wheels to come off. Numerous tough boss fights feel like a perfect way to let the combat shine, as many have yet to realize how deep the system is.
Final Fantasy 16is available now on PS5. A PC version is currently in development.
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