Final Fantasy 16's Astounding Success Raises the Stakes for FF7 Rebirth: A Gaming Revolution Awaits!

Highlights

Final Fantasy 16 took a bold step away from its turn-based RPG roots, embracing action RPG gameplay that resembles Devil May Cry.

Final Fantasy 16 remained faithful to the narrative traditions of the series and garnered praise from fans, even with its genre shift. It successfully delivered thrilling combat encounters that were epic in nature. Conversely, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth predominantly embraces the RPG genre. It may encounter difficulties in replicating the scale and pacing of Final Fantasy 16's boss battles while still maintaining its own strengths in combat and storytelling.

Content must be written in English:

Final Fantasy 16 marked a significant departure for the long-established franchise as it moved away from its turn-based RPG roots. Instead, Final Fantasy 16 embraced a more action-oriented RPG style, drawing inspiration from character action game Devil May Cry rather than its traditional predecessors. Despite this drastic change, the game remained loyal to its narrative traditions and incorporated familiar tropes. This genre shift was carefully executed and well-received by most fans, allowing the developers to create some of the most exhilarating and extravagant combat encounters in the series.

On the other hand, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, released in 2020, takes a different approach by leaning more towards the RPG genre. This means that matching the epic boss battles of Final Fantasy 16 may prove to be an impossible feat. However, FF7 Remake offers fans a fresh and innovative interpretation of the beloved Final Fantasy 7. It surpasses the original game in various ways, including its combat system, which delivers a fast-paced action RPG experience. While skill and quick reactions are key to surviving battles, FF7 Remake retains its RPG elements, where character progression and weapon choices directly impact combat. Players also have the added challenge of managing their party members, utilizing their unique abilities, and keeping track of ATB gauges during real-time combat. This intricate gameplay mechanic sets FF7 Remake apart from the action-focused combat of Final Fantasy 16.

Final Fantasy 16's Simplicity Is Its Strength

Compared to the complex network of action RPG mechanics in FF7R, Final Fantasy 16 takes a more straightforward approach to its character action/RPG combat. The combo system grants a remarkable level of freedom, requiring precise timing, but the sense of challenge is distinct, aligned with its action game identity. This fundamental distinction allows for massive combat encounters, where Clive can transform into Ifrit, resulting in battles reminiscent of Kaiju movies. The simplicity of the game's systems puts the spotlight on the action, making boss encounters in Final Fantasy 16 fast and monumental.

Final Fantasy 16's boss fights stand out as some of the greatest in the action genre, with a scale and pacing that would be incredibly difficult to replicate in any other action game, let alone an RPG. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth falls short of achieving the same level of pacing and scale in its boss encounters without sacrificing the depth of its RPG mechanics, its deliberate combat mechanics, or its focus on the ensemble cast. These elements were key in resonating with fans of Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and it would be regrettable to let them go. Rebirth cannot surpass the boss fights in FF16 without fundamentally altering its core, so instead, it must aim to offer a different experience.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Finds Fun In Other Places

Given that players have control over multiple characters in the FF7 remake series, the battles become more intricate in terms of mechanics, requiring careful strategies and planning. Although these fights may not be as visually striking or fast-paced, they can still be equally engaging. Moreover, the Final Fantasy games offer more than just boss battles. In Rebirth, the map seems to have a more expansive, less linear structure. Furthermore, both Final Fantasy 7 Remake and FF16 had underwhelming side quests, so this new game has the potential to greatly improve in that aspect.

While Final Fantasy 16 may have set an impossibly high standard for boss battles, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth could excel in other areas. While FF16's party system made sense for Clive's narrative, long-time fans of the series will likely be thrilled to see a return to a full ensemble cast in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. This return to tradition, combined with a more open world and a more action-oriented RPG combat system, will differentiate this new game from FF16. The Final Fantasy franchise has reached a point where it can delve into various types of games, and although this may result in some aspects overshadowing others, it also grants players a wide range of choices and experiences.

Final Fantasy 16 is available now on PS5.