Final Fantasy XVI is one of the most anticipated games releasing in the next year. Since its announcement in September 2020, the excitement surrounding the upcoming PlayStation 5 exclusive grows with every new reveal. This fervor stems from the developers acknowledging and rectifying the failings of the previous entry, Final Fantasy XV.

Final Fantasy XV released November 2016 for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Despite generally positive reception, it received several complaints from fans that held FFXV back from the highs the long-running JRPG franchise is known for. Most critiques centered around the game's incomplete plot, empty world, and simple combat. Luckily, FFXVI's developers heard those complaints and appear to be addressing them in the upcoming game.

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FF16 Seems to Have a More Concise Story

Noctis Lucis Caelumm, the protagonist of Final Fantasy XV, with a weapon.

During the development of Final Fantasy XV, Square Enix released various supplemental media to flesh out the game's world, including the online anime production Brotherhood: Final Fantasy XV and the film Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV. Kingsglaive in particular informed much of FFXV's vital backstory. It tells the story of protagonist Noctis' homeland in the lead up to the game, setting the stage for many of FFXV's twists. Unfortunately, the film was poorly received by both the general audience and Final Fantasy fans. Those interested in Final Fantasy XV were forced to choose between finishing up the equivalent of homework to play it or risk being confused when they started the epic RPG.

Final Fantasy XVI will not be requiring this. Currently, no spinoff games or cross-media promotions have been announced, so players will be able to enjoy FFXVI's story by itself with all the required knowledge obtainable in-game. With the game appearing to be a fantasy epic in the vein of Game of Thrones, a strong narrative will be critical to enjoying the adventure. Not only are the developers streamlining the methods of story delivery, they are ensuring its focus by restricting the world to keep players on the right path.

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FF16 Won't Have FF15's Empty Open World

Hooded figure from Final Fantasy XVI Ambition Trailer Still(2)

A majority of Final Fantasy XV involves the party traveling around the world of Eos in their car, the Regalia. This road trip structure was a high-point for FFXV, as it allowed players to bond with the cast of characters. Unfortunately, this open-world was also heavily criticized for being pretty empty. While there were gorgeous landmarks and locations, these areas lacked substance. Their purpose was simple to give players something to look at without offering any gameplay or challenges. Ahead of FFXV's release, players were expecting to explore a massive world with surprises at every turn and interesting battles to conquer. Instead, they got a nice screensaver of views as the car drove itself.

Final Fantasy XVI is abandoning the open-world format to improve the quality of the game. By providing a specific path to follow, the developers can tell more meaningful stories based on what players have already seen. Gone are the repetitive and inconsequential side-quests, replaced with stories that will provide character development or lore expansion. While FFXVI's world will be smaller, it will feel more developed with every aspect of it being deliberate. The side-quests that are available should also be more thrilling with the revamped combat system.

FF16 Is Learning From FF15's Mediocre Combat System

Final Fantasy XVI Odin vs Bahamut Cover

Final Fantasy XV was the first mainline entry to have a full real-time battle system. After years of refining and experimenting with turn-based combat, FFXV's gameplay was left feeling overly simplistic by the sudden shift. Many actions were accomplished by simply holding down different buttons, which made epic confrontations feel mundane with players holding the "Blitz" button to win. Furthermore, Summons, which were some of the most interesting aspects of previous entries were completely randomized, removing any strategy from their use.

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If the trailers are any indication, Final Fantasy XVI will have a much stronger, more intricate combat system. It was designed by Devil May Cry 5 combat director, Ryota Suzuki, which seems to be a wise move based on what's been shown so far. The game looks to have a fast-paced combat system that would not be out of place in a stylish action game like Bayonetta. This will require more involvement from players and provide a sense of accomplishment when they overcome the game's toughest challenges.

Summons are also receiving an overhaul, as seen in the PlayStation Showcase "Dominance" Trailer released in June 2022. The trailer shows off two massive summons trading blows in combat with health bars at the top of the screen that look like something from a fighting game, not a JRPG. These intense confrontations detail a much broader scope than summons' use in Final Fantasy XV where players hoped they would get the option to use them and then watch a cutscene.

Every entry in the Final Fantasy series faces intense scrutiny due to its status as a pioneer of the JRPG genre. Final Fantasy XV's tepid reception was due to these heightened expectations. While it was not a bad game, fans were disappointed by its scattered story, empty world, and effortless combat. Based on what has been shown so far, Final Fantasy XVI has a good shot at meeting or exceeding fan expectations by learning from the mistakes of its predecessor.