Forspoken was one of the most highly-anticipated games of 2023, and to many was the first big disappointment. The year has been strong otherwise, with Hi-Fi Rush, the remake of Dead Space, and Hogwarts Legacy all being met with critical acclaim. Promotional material for Square Enix's latest game indicated it would join the same privileged group, but criticisms have been made concerning its cartoonish dialogue, cliche story, and bland open world. This is despite wielding a promising combat system, and while Square Enix was surely hoping it would be a successful string to its bow, it's not the company's heaviest hitter in 2023, which sends a clear message for Final Fantasy 16.
It's always a big event when a new mainline Final Fantasy game is slated for release, and this year is no different. The sixteenth entry in the long-standing Square Enix property is prepping for a June 2023 launch, taking players back to a high-fantasy setting in the fictional land of Valisthea. Some news following its announcement was cause for concern, however, as the developer indicated it would not feature an open world, and instead would be a more linear affair. Open worlds are all the rage today, so it was disappointing to learn that one of the year's biggest games is adopting a different approach. However, the problems present in Forspoken may be proof that Final Fantasy 16 is right to resist the urge to be too open-ended with its level design.
Final Fantasy Can Be Linear and Amazing
Linearity doesn't necessarily mean that a game will be bad. There are plenty of examples from the past and present that prove the philosophy can work wonders in achieving good pacing, mission design, and storytelling. Final Fantasy 7 Remake is one such example, limiting players to smaller areas on a pre-set path to the game's conclusion. It only began to drag its heels when players engaged in its side missions. The way the game retold the Midgar portion of Final Fantasy 7 was well-executed, and provided a suitable template for the sixteenth game to follow with an all-new story, setting, and cast of characters.
Final Fantasy 16 not featuring an open world and having the freedom to tell a new tale is an exciting thought. It's not restricted to pre-existing and beloved components, and the lack of a large open space means it can be more carefully crafted, ensuring it's a satisfying experience from start to finish. More space means more to go wrong, as meandering around the landscape is only made rewarding when there are plenty of interesting things to do and see along the way. The swathe of open-world games in the AAA space today means it requires something truly special to stand out, whereas linear games have become more few and far between.
Forspoken's Open World is a Lesson Learned
Athia won't be confused for The Witcher 3's Continent or Elden Ring's Lands Between, as it simply doesn't have the depth needed to forge a distinctive identity. Forspoken proved that bigger doesn't mean better, as traversing around a huge map can become more of a chore to explore the larger it is, and there isn't enough to do while exploring. Games like Yakuza and Firewatch show that developers can present a smaller non-linear space that can provoke huge benefits to the overall experience.
Final Fantasy 16's dedication to linearity initially seemed like a step back for the franchise, especially after the gorgeous land of Eos in Final Fantasy 15 presented so many interesting locations and things to do. There were some well-documented issues with that game's design, but it's clear that the world it presented had more life than the one featured in Forspoken. Square Enix still has an ace up its sleeve for 2023 with the arrival of Final Fantasy 16 this summer, but the stark difference between it and Forspoken could be for the best, as Final Fantasy 7 Remake proves linear games can be as creative as more open-ended ones.
Forspoken is available now for PC and PS5.