Unleashing Unprecedented Powers: A Deep Dive into Final Fantasy 16's Revolutionary Combat System

Final Fantasy 16, developed by Square Enix, is the latest installment in the critically acclaimed Final Fantasy franchise. Set in the fictional world of Valisthea, the game revolves around the power struggle between six distinct regions. These regions rely on the Mothercrystals, which grant special abilities known as Eikons to individuals called Dominants. These Dominants play a crucial role in determining the balance of power in Valisthea.

The protagonist of the game is Clive Rosfield, a young knight hailing from the Grand Duchy of Rosaria. He embarks on a quest to unravel the enigmatic powers of the Mothercrystals, all while attempting to rescue his younger brother Joshua, who is the Dominant of Phoenix. Final Fantasy 16 introduces an innovative real-time combat system that expands upon the mechanics of its predecessors, offering players a fresh and exhilarating gameplay experience.

Magic Burst

The combat in Final Fantasy 16 starts with basic melee attack options, but it becomes more exciting as players are given the opportunity to execute a Magic Burst attack in between or at the end of their melee combos. To successfully perform a Magic Burst combo, players must have precise timing when pressing both the melee and magic action buttons. This means that a Magic Burst can be executed at any moment during a melee combo, creating a seamless and fluid combat experience.

In addition, there are a few shortcuts that players can utilize to achieve a Magic Burst finisher. For example, they can perform a Phoenix Shift followed by pressing the magic button, execute a lunge and then press the magic button, or combine various aerial combos. While it may require some practice to get the timing right, mastering the Magic Burst ability will expand the window of opportunity to execute the finisher after a melee attack.

Charged Attacks

Charged attacks serve as a more impactful alternative to melee and magic attacks. By holding down the melee button, players can unleash Clive's Burning Blade ability, causing his sword to ignite with flames as he strikes his adversaries. This ability can also be utilized to deflect incoming attacks or launch lighter foes into the air with precise timing. Conversely, holding down the magic button enables players to unleash potent magical projectiles. During a charged magic attack, Clive also takes a step back, which, if timed correctly, can help him evade an enemy's incoming attack while simultaneously unleashing a formidable projectile.

Moreover, charged attacks possess the capability to break through an enemy's defense, leaving them open to follow-up combos. By honing their skills, players can reduce the charging time for these attacks. Importantly, charged attacks can be charged while Clive is engaged in other actions such as attacking, jumping, or dodging.

Eikonic Abilities

Eikonic Abilities are unique combat maneuvers that Clive can employ during battles to assist him. Each Eikon in the game grants Clive a distinct ability, ranging from offensive to defensive strategies. These maneuvers are generally more potent than Clive's regular melee and magic attacks, inflicting significant damage. As the game progresses, Clive can equip up to three Eikons and six Eikonic abilities. Consequently, players must carefully select which abilities to include in their arsenal prior to engaging in a battle.

Eikonic abilities can be further categorized into core abilities, which have no cooldown period and can be used at any time, and super abilities, which are exceptionally powerful moves that can be unlocked by upgrading the skill tree. However, these super abilities have longer cooldown periods to maintain balance. Not only do these impressive abilities enhance the complexity of Final Fantasy 16's combat system, but they also add a cinematic flair that brings the game to life. Players can swiftly close the distance between themselves and enemies by employing Phoenix's Phoenix Shift, draw adversaries closer with Garuda's Deadly Embrace, defend with Titan's Titanic Block, and much more, ensuring that every battle is an entertaining spectacle.

Dodging and Parrying

The combat system in Final Fantasy 16 differs from traditional block mechanics by offering players the options to either dodge incoming attacks or parry them. Although Clive lacks the ability to block attacks independently, players can utilize the Eikonic ability, Titan's Titanic Block, as a means of guarding against enemy assaults. Parrying, on the other hand, requires players to execute a well-timed melee attack just before the enemy strike connects. The art of parrying demands exceptional precision and technique, as failure to execute it properly can have fatal consequences.

Mastery of the parrying mechanic serves as a testament to a player's progress since embarking on their initial adventure. However, achieving a perfect parry proves to be a daunting task, as enemies unleash their attacks at lightning-fast speeds. This high-risk, high-reward mechanic successfully maintains an exhilarating level of excitement throughout the battles.

Maximizing Spoils

Players are rewarded with spoils, such as XP, Gil, and materials, for completing battles. However, the game does not explicitly inform players that these rewards can be influenced by their performance and skill utilization. A keen eye would notice that the game assigns star rankings based on certain actions performed during battles, including timing and combos. These rankings play a role in determining the amount of XP and Skill Points players earn, encouraging them to strive for stylish and smooth gameplay.

Final Fantasy 16 is available now exclusively for the PlayStation 5.