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Square-ENIX next installment of the popular Final Fantasy series cranks the action up to 11 and weaves an epic dark-fantasy story full of thoughtful lore, breakneck action, and characters that demands the spotlight.

The 16th mainline entry of the world phenomenon Final Fantasy series follows the life and trials of protagonist Clive Rosfield as he grows up in a world that is slowly killing itself and his journey to save his home, no matter the cost. Throughout his world hopping adventure, Clive is joined by friends and allies working to stop the tide of the Blight which kills all organisms in its wake and leaves the earth a desolate no man’s land in which nothing can survive.

In typical Final Fantasy fashion the party system is back but with some changes that may be more welcoming to series newcomers but feels a little too stripped back and bare bones for Final Fantasy and RPG veterans. Gone are the days of managing your party members based on who’s the cutest or the funniest or most over-powered. Here in XVI the game chooses everything for you, that includes party members and their equipment. Throughout the course of the story you’ll have part members swapped in and out at the game’s leisure and normally only having one or two characters (very occasionally three) accompanying you at a time. You can’t change their armor or weapons, but they do power up as you level so your party members are still useful later in the game. Plus you have Torgal. We love Torgal. Best dog in Valisthea.

Where you can tell the developers spent a lot of labor and love is how well they developed the characters in this entry. Clive is an great protagonist full of depth and trauma. Accompanied by childhood friend Jill and outlaw/mentor Cid. Memorable side characters such as Gav and the rest of the Hideaway crew provide much needed moments of levity during the heavier parts of the game.

When you’re not saving the world and punching the gargantuan Eikons, god like beings whose power manifest in chosen people across the land, in the face, there is a truck-load of side quests to partake in. They range from hunting down mythic beasts for legendary rewards to gathering flowers so the local chef can make a new dish. They aren’t all riveting tales but there is a lot of good there. Many of the side quests expand of the state of the world and can have you exploring quite dark and dour topics across the lands of Valisthea. Some highlights include helping free slaves from a cruel existence to organizing a town militia in order to fight off destruction from it’s malevolent overlords. While there is a lot of shlock, when the side quests are good, they are GOOD.

Now, the meat and potatoes, combat. The combat in Final Fantasy XVI has moved away from the turn based combat the series is known for, moving completely to fast paced action-rpg style combat. This may be less appealing to long term fans of the series but it marks a major turning stone for the franchise as a whole. While Final Fantasy XV and VII Remake featured real time combat, they also had the options to pause time, in a sense, to plan out next moves or use support items, XVI is all pedal to the metal. Weaving quick strikes with larger than life abilities it’s safe to say that XVI can fall firmly into the category of spectacle fighter. And it’s all the better for it. Every button push is recognized and Clive dances around the battlefield at the tilt of the joy stick. Combat in Final Fantasy has never felt better and Square has perfected the formula it’s been working on for years.

Now that we’ve had our meat and potatoes it’s time for dessert. The boss battles. Have you ever dreamed of piloting a giant mech or battling it out with city destroying monsters as a monstrous kaiju? Well take those dreams and tuck them away for a bit because Final Fantasy XVI has delivered. These battles take place with super-powered humans beating each other down in the arena and then transforming into giant, sometimes city consuming, monstrosities. The music ramps up and just like your favorite shonen, hero and villain power up and the result is pure endorphins. Square has perfected the art of the boss battle and it truly shows here; from the design of each boss, to the moveset and abilities each boss displays, every fight will have you begging for another second or action.

Final Fantasy XVI will sit at the top of a series that many hold dear in their hearts. There is no doubt that the well-crafted story and lore, combined with the art of the combat which crescendos into each boss fight, makes this a must play entry in the long running series. There is a some filler here and there but a lot of heart and purpose too. The lack of character and party customization might turn off some long term fans of the series but it’s streamlined to get you right where you want to be, the next fight. The game shines in a year filled with competition that can easily distract, but larger than life boss fights and a powerful story will have fans old and new remembering the tale of Clive Rosfield for years to come.

9/10