Unlock the Thrilling Action: Inside Final Fantasy 16's Dynamic Gameplay

Final Fantasy 16 has sparked discussions focusing on its deviation from the norm. Unlike Final Fantasy 15's attempt at an open world action-RPG, FF16 has fully embraced the action genre. However, it still incorporates elements of customization, prioritizes storytelling, and incorporates RPG design trends that have a long history. These differences have garnered a range of responses, with FF16 steadily gaining support since its release.

One reason for the game's growing popularity is the expertise behind it. Final Fantasy 16 was developed by Square Enix Creative Business Unit 3, known for their work on the acclaimed Final Fantasy 14 Heavensward expansion. Additionally, several key members from the FF14 team have contributed to FF16, including director Naoki Yoshida, who now serves as producer, and composer Masayoshi Soken. Notably, Ryota Suzuki, the combat director of Devil May Cry 5, is also involved in the project, attracting attention from fans of character action games. Understanding the concept of "character action" sheds light on what makes Final Fantasy 16 unique.

Where Character Action Came From

Character action, also known as stylish action, refers to combat-focused games that emphasize style and intricate mechanics. This genre often includes high skill ceilings, challenging difficulty levels, visible scoring systems, or a combination of these elements to encourage player improvement. Key franchises in the character action genre include Capcom's Devil May Cry, Platinum Games' Bayonetta (developed by ex-Capcom developers), Team Ninja's 3D Ninja Gaiden titles, and Sony's God of War franchise. While the genre's inception is credited to the classic Devil May Cry released in 2001, the origins of character action games run deeper than meets the eye.

In 1999, UEP Systems, a developer known for snowboarding games, released Rising Zan: The Samurai Gunman, which coincidentally shared many traits with Devil May Cry. Both games featured charismatic protagonists wielding swords and guns, as well as character action staples like forward-moving melee attacks, challenging parries, and named style rankings after every level. They even featured super modes and unlockable content to enhance replay value. The major distinction between Dante's adventures and Zan's was the former's refined gameplay and the latter's use of cinematic quick time events. However, the techniques pioneered by each game continue to be utilized in modern character action games.

Where Final Fantasy 16 Fits Into The Character Action Genre

This brings the spotlight to Final Fantasy 16. Clive embodies all the traits of a modern character action protagonist, including elements reminiscent of DMC such as a versatile sword and magic projectile that both have charging abilities, the iconic forward-sliding Stinger move, launchers, animation cancels, and a form of style switching. Interestingly, Final Fantasy 16 breaks up its gameplay with short action levels and setpieces, a departure from the consecutive missions found in Devil May Cry's interconnected environments. Furthermore, FF16 reserves its style rankings for Arcade mode, which is reminiscent of the simplicity seen in Rising Zan.

Character action is a broad term that encompasses various genres, resulting in hybrid creations like the third-person shooter Vanquish and the rhythm game Hi-Fi Rush. Final Fantasy 16 presents a fresh take on this genre, not only through its AAA RPG framework but also through the incorporation of multiple influences. Development support from Platinum Games has brought the epic scale of Bayonetta into FF16 through Eikon battles, while the Stagger system, originally pioneered by FF13, is now represented similarly to the Break Gauge in Team Ninja's Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin. Additionally, many of Clive's special moves rely on cooldowns, a feature rarely seen in games outside the recent God of War titles. Final Fantasy 16 exhibits varying degrees of resemblance to the foundational franchises of the character action genre, and within such a diverse genre, the end result seamlessly fits in.

Final Fantasy 16 is available now on PS5.