Final Fantasy fans got to take a deep dive into the world of its latest installment, Final Fantasy 16, yesterday, with a major gameplay presentation from developer Square Enix. The demonstration provided great insight into the upcoming PlayStation 5 exclusive’s RPG mechanics, along with a few scattered surprises.
One thing that particularly stood out was the game’s more action-oriented combat. It has more of a focus on timing-based combos and counters than traditional Final Fantasy titles, and the demonstration showed off a variety of weapons, locales, and enemies. Players can switch their loadout to match their playstyle, so they can make up their own unique fighting style as they progress through the game’s epic story.
Another highlight of the presentation was the character design. Final Fantasy games are known for their unique NPC characters, and Final Fantasy 16 looks like it will live up to the series’ standards. Square Enix showed off a plethora of NPCs with memorably silly names, such as the barmaid Moira the Magnificent and barber Zellius Zoolinezo. It looks like Final Fantasy 16 is sure to feature plenty of humorous and memorable moments.
Square Enix also showed off some of the game’s environmental features. Filling the backdrop of its mythical world are towns and fields full of lush vegetation, ruins and lushly detailed buildings, and even an erupting volcano. The game’s visuals look incredibly impressive on the PlayStation 5’s hardware, and the sheer scale and detail that went into the game’s design was readily apparent to viewers.
Even though Final Fantasy 16 doesn’t have a concrete release date yet, yesterday’s presentation gave a lot for fans to be excited about. With a gorgeous presentation and engaging combat, as well as some charming NPCs, the game is looking like another fantastic entry into one of gaming’s most iconic franchises.
