Though there have been 15 mainline games to use the same title and fall under the same umbrella, each Final Fantasy game is often drastically different from the last. Final Fantasy 7 adopted a steampunk setting to overwhelming critical and commercial praise, and Noctis' adventure in Eos in FF15 has a more western influence and light-hearted vibe, with modern twists being fused with more traditional inclusions. Final Fantasy 16 looks to be going back to basics with a more medieval-inspired setting, and excitement is building ahead of its June release.
The tone feels more closely reminiscent of the franchise's roots, with technological advances kept to a minimum in favor of high-fantasy intrigue. However, Final Fantasy 16 looks to be darker still, with Clive and Josh's story shrouded in tragedy across multiple points in the former's life. This could be a revitalizing idea for the franchise, but perhaps more interestingly it could help the game stand out among a growing list of PlayStation exclusives that are using futuristic elements to make their stories and presentation feel interesting.
Final Fantasy 16's Medieval Setting Has Endless Potential
Valisthea and its dark, medieval atmosphere is a big departure from what fans have become accustomed to in recent years. It perhaps shares similarities with Final Fantasy 14's Ishgard in the Heavensward expansion with gothic spires and armored inhabitants, but it still satisfies a niche that Final Fantasy hasn't filled in some time. It could be the perfect place for a more mature narrative to unfold, and the apparent lack of any real modern influences could do wonders for the game's ability to provide escapism.
Final Fantasy 16 is a Sony exclusive at launch, and won't be available on other systems for months after its appearance on PlayStation 5. This continues a trend that started in 1997 with Final Fantasy 7 launching on the original PlayStation as opposed to the Nintendo hardware that the first six games found a home on. The partnership has been going strong and in 2023, Final Fantasy's next offering could help add diversity to Sony's catalog moving forward, as it's abandoning an idea that most of its first-party franchises aren't equipped to take on.
PlayStation's Exclusives Look to the Future
The stark difference between Final Fantasy 16's direction and other games in the series is huge, but its impact could reach Sony's exclusive games at large. Save for a few examples like God of War and The Last of Us, the consensus seems to be that futuristic presentational and story elements are helpful to tell a great tale. Horizon is a franchise that sees humanity retreat into tribal communities, with Aloy's origins being humble and intrinsically tied to nature. However, this is because of the machines from Horizon's Faro Automated Solutions, in a merging of the hyper-futuristic and the very fundamentals of human life.
Ratchet and Clank, Spider-Man, and Death Stranding have future themes rather than focusing on the past, and Final Fantasy 16 using swords instead of guns and medieval inspiration instead of technological advancements to tell its tale makes it feel increasingly fresh and exciting. The melee-centric combat could be similar to other games, but spending time in a setting that seems to be so steeped in history and medieval influence could be a welcome change, and help the veteran series find a new way to keep contributing to the gaming industry and a list of Sony exclusives that are always offering innovation.
Final Fantasy 16 will launch on June 22, exclusively for PS5.