Final Fantasy 16: Unveiling an Inspired Introduction That Honors the Series' Legendary Origins

Final Fantasy 16's introduction pays tribute to the original game in the series by incorporating a beloved melody that first appeared in Final Fantasy 1. As the long-awaited sixteenth installment in the renowned Square Enix RPG franchise finally arrives, Final Fantasy 16 has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, largely due to its nostalgic nods to earlier entries.

The inaugural Final Fantasy game holds a significant place in gaming history, as it was a groundbreaking achievement that laid the foundation for the franchise as fans now recognize it. This title introduced key elements that would become synonymous with the series, such as the powerful Crystals representing the four elements, diverse Job classes, and the memorable prelude theme. Particularly, the Prelude sequence in the first game is widely regarded as an iconic moment, happening after the player emerges victorious over the first boss and the expansive world unfurls before them, accompanied by the appearance of the title once the player crosses a bridge. In a subtle yet meaningful manner, Final Fantasy 16 recreates this pivotal moment within its own introductory sequence.

Original Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi commented on this moment by posting a screenshot of the intro for Final Fantasy 16 on his Twitter account. Translated by industry insider Genki, Sakaguchi noted that the game opens with the iconic prelude theme, similar to Final Fantasy 1. However, the sixteenth game's rendition of the theme has a more melancholic tune, played in a minor key, which reflects the darker tone of the story compared to the first game's more optimistic and adventurous opening.

The decision to open Final Fantasy 16 in this nostalgic way was influenced by its producer, Naoki Yoshida, also known as Yoshi-P. He has expressed that the first game in the franchise is his favorite, so it is understandable that he wanted to pay tribute to it in such a beloved and recognizable manner. Additionally, the appearance of the title screen in Final Fantasy 16 after approximately two hours of gameplay was also inspired by the original game. In the original Final Fantasy, players would spend about two hours in the opening segments before reaching the title card.

In Final Fantasy 16, numerous elements pay homage to previous installments of the franchise, including the adversaries, diverse nomenclature, and the beloved recurring character Cid. Despite the significant alterations made to this latest installment, the essence of the Final Fantasy series remains intact.

Experience the captivating world of Final Fantasy 16, exclusively on PlayStation 5, now accessible for play.