Unveiling Final Fantasy 16's Epic Boss Fights - Prepare to Be Amazed!
Final Fantasy 16's epic boss battles captivate players with their intensity and thrilling encounters, but a perplexing inclusion of unnecessary checkpoints diminishes the satisfaction of hard-fought victories
Despite the criticism from some Final Fantasy 16 players who are disappointed with the game's emphasis on action gameplay instead of RPG mechanics, there is consensus among even its harshest critics: the visual spectacle in Final Fantasy 16 is unparalleled. The game features breathtaking boss fights that are truly unique in the gaming industry, leaving a lasting impression on players who engage in intense battles against formidable adversaries like Titan and Bahamut. However, there is one significant flaw that even the most extraordinary fights cannot overcome: Final Fantasy 16 falls short in terms of difficulty.
The difficulty of Final Fantasy 16 has sparked intense debate, and this debate is understandable. Apart from a few optional hunts, the game's major story boss encounters are the only moments that truly challenge players - granted they do not rely on overpowering accessories that essentially automate gameplay. While conquering formidable story bosses should be an exhilarating triumph, an odd design choice undermines the intensity of these battles. Specifically, the inadequate implementation of mid-fight checkpoints in Final Fantasy 16 leaves much to be desired.
Final Fantasy 16’s Boss Fight Checkpoints Are Entirely Unnecessary
With Clive Rosfield being incredibly overpowered in Final Fantasy 16, players can breeze through most fights with ease. However, it becomes even more exciting when players encounter a challenge that requires careful playing. There are a few specific encounters where this can happen - facing Benedikta without any Eikon beyond Pheonix, the grueling matchup with Odin, and the final boss battle with Ultima. Surprisingly, players are actually rewarded for dying against these formidable foes.
In contrast, other games like Elden Ring and God of War Ragnarok find the fun in failure during boss fights. The frustration of almost defeating a boss only to die is momentarily tragic, yet when players return to the fight armed with the knowledge gained from previous attempts, the eventual victory becomes incredibly satisfying. It is this sense of accomplishment that a proper boss fight should always provide. Unfortunately, Final Fantasy 16 fails to deliver this experience, as players can easily exploit the fatal weaknesses of all bosses once they have been identified.
In Final Fantasy 16, players who die during a boss fight will respawn in a later phase of the fight. This means that while the player's character, Clive, has their health restored, the boss may be close to defeat. As a result, players can easily win the fight since their abilities have cooled down and are ready to be used again. This mechanic is particularly strange in battles that are not excessively long, such as the one with Benedikta, as it undermines the purpose of the boss battle. While having checkpoints makes sense for extremely lengthy encounters like the one with Odin, there is another issue: the checkpoints also replenish potions.
If players were to respawn with only a few potions or even with a health bar in a damaged state, similar to the boss, the checkpoint system would be more understandable. However, for some reason, players respawn with a full set of potions, along with a fully recharged health bar, while the boss remains weak. Essentially, this system rewards failure, as players who let themselves die during the middle of Clive's battle with Barnabas will return just as strong as when the fight began. While Final Fantasy 16 is an excellent game with breathtaking boss fights, this peculiar choice ensures that these battles are purely for show and offer no real challenge.
This option would be beneficial for those who opt for Final Fantasy 16's story-oriented difficulty and lack the necessary expertise in action games. However, players who prefer action-oriented gameplay do not require this form of assistance. It is disappointing that challenging main story battles in Final Fantasy 16 are infrequent. Consequently, it is regrettable that players can unintentionally achieve an easy victory if they happen to die during such a fight. Ultimately, this aspect serves as an example of both successful and unsuccessful approaches when designing a boss battle. Final Fantasy 16 can be played exclusively on PS5.
