The Mind-Blowing and Unconventional PS5-Exclusive Feature in Final Fantasy 16 You Won't Believe!

Final Fantasy 16 truly embodies the essence of a PlayStation 5 exclusive for various reasons. Its stunning visuals, save for the debated motion blur, showcase the game's next-gen capabilities, particularly evident in epic Eikon battles like the encounter with Titan. Players are undoubtedly impressed by the remarkably swift load times, seamlessly transitioning from one area of Valisthea to another. However, it is the utilization of the DualSense controller that brings unexpected moments of humor.

To clarify, not all of Final Fantasy 16's use of the DualSense is unintentionally comical. Thoughtful haptic feedback enhances immersion, allowing players to sense hits on Clive during cutscenes and enjoy a more immersive chocobo riding experience. Yet, it is the handling of doors and levers, specifically Clive's comical struggle to conquer them, that stands out in players' minds.

Final Fantasy 16’s Doors and Levers Feel Needlessly Complex

The way Final Fantasy 16 presents the process of opening a heavy door adds a comedic touch, particularly with the protagonist, Clive, pushing open a big gate during a story dungeon. Players must follow an on-screen prompt and hold down the R2 button to interact with the door. However, the camera shifting and the use of the DualSense's adaptive triggers by Square Enix may feel unnecessary. Clive, being an overpowered protagonist, should have no trouble opening some of the doors that require an R2 button press. What adds to the strangeness of these door quick time events (QTEs) is that Clive can actually fail them if players stop midway, as if he suddenly forgets how to open the doors. However, there are other moments that make more excessive use of the adaptive triggers.

Moreover, the segments that require players to hold down R2 in order to manipulate a small lever as Clive are even more nonsensical. Despite Clive effortlessly completing the task with one hand, players are forced to endure a superfluous animation that suggests the importance of these insignificant levers. While the act of pressing the R2 button vaguely resembles Clive's downward motion on a switch, it is hardly worthy of a Quick Time Event (QTE)-style moment and feels completely unnecessary in the grand scheme of the game. Despite this glaring flaw, these doors and levers persistently reappear throughout the gameplay.

In the end, these excessively stylized door openings shed light on the imperfections of even outstanding games like Final Fantasy 16. In games like Returnal and Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, the adaptive triggers were brilliantly utilized to activate alternative firing modes for specific weapons. However, in this instance, they are employed merely to create the illusion of struggle for Clive when opening certain doors. Consequently, the triggers come across as more of a gimmick rather than an innovative feature, leaving one to ponder the missed opportunities for Square Enix to explore the full potential of DualSense Edge functionality.

Possibly, players could activate more powerful versions of Clive's spells by holding down the R2 button, creating a more realistic experience of charging up a massive fire or ice blast. Another option could be to assign the stronger melee slam, typically tied to holding Square, to one of the triggers. Although this would require a different control scheme, it would undoubtedly make the adaptive triggers memorable for the right reasons. Currently, they stand out for the wrong ones due to the unexpectedly random special animations for doors and levers. While these animations don't detract from the game, they unintentionally add a sense of humor without providing much value, making them seem like a misuse of time and resources.

Final Fantasy 16 is exclusively available for PS5.