#GamingNEWS FINAL FANTASY XVI – « Awakening » | PS5

 Final Fantasy games come in all shapes and sizes. Often the product of being developed one after the other, from the reactions of one game to the next, handled by different teams, different directors...

I can dig my share of Final Fantasy games. I've played them in all sorts of strange order. And while I distanced myself from the series (and RPGs in general) for a long while I came back to XV, which had its fair share of problems but also lots of things that resonnated in me, someone who only liked the older pre-FF8 games. Lots of FF1 influences, for an example.

Anyway, why this long introduction? Because I was hyped for a new game. I was looking forward a new FF for a while, the FF7 Remake only helped crave even MORE for a brand new experience. Loving the new direction of FFXV and the FF7 Remake. Less Lightning drama AND linear exploration, and more mini-sandbox filled with mini-hubs to explore. A return of side dungeons and bosses. Etc.

These games might not be connected, story-wise. But they are as far as development go. 

Everyone knows FFXV started as a spinoff, Versus XIII. But did you know around the movie Spirits Within flopped, Squaresoft almost went bankrupt only to become Square Enix after an acquision, and that's why they started making sequels to their games and quickly improvised X-2? The mixed reception of FFVIII made Square launch 3 teams on simulatenous projects, those would become: - a return to classic medieval FF which became FFIX, an even more modern and action-packed FF than 7 and 8 which became FFX and an online MMO which became FFXI. That's right these three started dev at the same time, which spawned the rough current three different teams that work on FF games.

I like FFXV's team. They like to explore new ideas while honoring the past. The perfect blend for modern Final Fantasy in my eyes, which worked great for FF7 Remake.

There's also the legendary Final Fantasy XII team, in my eyes the most creative, characters, lore and story-wise. They're behind the Tactics games and Vagrant Story (and it showed in XII).

And then there's the MMORPGs team (Final Fantasy XI, Final Fantasy XIV)... Which I know people love, but I don't think they fit a solo experience game.

Here's the trailer:

Square Enix provided a first look at Final Fantasy XVI during the PlayStation showcase. It’s coming exclusively to PS5 (and PC?).

 

So far? Err.. it all looks so bland and generic. I'm afraid the customizable MMORPG-ness is showing up. And I hope I'm wrong. But for now, it's a return to classic FF medieval world... and colorless and generic. The only aspect I like is this seems to hint at the passage of time and the main character growing older. It just looks like XI/XIV mixed with Dark Souls ... I'm not sold.

And the XV team had such a fun tech demo/FF pitch a few years back, the infamous "agni's philosophy demo tech":

Now that looks dope, fun and colorful! And more Final Fantasy-esque. I wish this was the new game. In fact I hope this is still on the table, maybe for a FFXVII - let's dream a bit!