The April 2023 State Of Play broadcast focused entirely on showcasing gameplay for Square Enix’s upcoming character-action RPG Final Fantasy XVI.
The 25-minute livestream shows a bunch of new gameplay, featuring full-fledged game UI so we can glean some new details about the game.
Here are some of the details are as follows:
- Game takes place in three different periods (Clive in his teens via flashback, Clive in his 20s, Clive in his 30s)
- Clive can equip three different Eikons, with two abilities each
- The dog, Torgal can be commanded directly- toggle between dog commands and item use on the d-pad
- It’s “High Potion” and not “Hi-Potion” like previous Final Fantasy games
- Featured Eikons include Phoenix, Ifrit, Shiva, Garuda, Ramuh, Bahamut, Titan
- Seven attribute stats (HP, Attack, Defense, Stagger, Strength, Vitality, Willpower) – no MP
- Ability unlocks are just upgrades (not a skill tree), with an auto-upgrade function to let the game unlock abilities automatically
- Timely accessories act as accessibility options which include auto-evade, slow down time before enemy attack lands on Clive, simplified button combos
- Playing on Story Focused mode has all the Timely accessories equipped from the start of the game (note: it’s not a difficulty setting)
- Final Fantasy XVI’s Cid is named Cidolfus, mentor of Clive
- Cid’s Hideaway act as game hub with shops, side quests and a place where Clive’s allies can be found
- Charon’s Toll sells gear, material and consumables
- The Black Hammer lets you upgrade weapons and gear
- The Arete Stone has a Training Mode, like any good character action game, to freely test and learn moveset
- includes “Arcade Mode” with online leaderboards
- The Patron’s Whisper gives you donations from folks based on current renown score
- Hunt Board run by a moogle for side hunts
- Loresman Harpocrates expands The Thousand Tomes (in-game lore encyclopedia) by having Clive retelling his adventures to him
- Vivian Ninetails let you see the current state of the world- and character relations- as well as Valisthea’s history
- One companion can join Clive in a party- but never directly controlled
- You can buy treats for Torgal
- More Eikon versus Eikon setpieces
- Battles where you play as Phoenix plays out like a on-rails shooter, Panzer Dragoon-style
- Final Fantasy XVI theme song is “Tsuki Wo Miteita – Moongazing” performed by Kenshi Yonezu
Final Fantasy XVI releases on June 22 exclusively on PS5.