FINAL FANTASY XVI Is the Ideal Introduction to the Franchise

Even if you are completely new to the FINAL FANTASY series and are wondering where to start, the latest game in the franchise could be the perfect place and, in this article, we are going to take a deeper look at why FINAL FANTASY XVI is the right answer for such a question! We are going to go through all the important information and details that you need to know regarding this massive new Action RPG title including the storyline, main characters as well as the combat mechanics and so much more.

Even though the game released in June of last year for PS5, the title just recently dropped for the PC on the 17th of September 2024 and we decided to refresh everyone’s memory a bit about how great this SQUARE ENIX title is and our reasons for a claim like that are quite numerous!

Are you ready to explore the realms with us? Let’s start right away and not lose a single moment more!

Where Should You Begin From on This Adventure?

That is probably one of the biggest questions that gamers face when they approach the FINAL FANTASY franchise and often, they would ask themselves where to start from in this huge series. It should not come as a surprise to be a bit confused with 16 mainline games in the series; it definitely could be hard to know for sure which one you should start with initially.

One possible answer is any of them, since each game in the franchise is a standalone title, so gamers are able to start from anywhere and still have a great experience and time spent in front of the screen. What is even more exciting is the fact that FINAL FANTASY XVI has stormed the industry quite a bit and is already a proven success with console fans, so the PC players would now be able to join in on the craze as well! So, to put it short and nice: YES, you are able to start your FINAL FANTASY experience even from the latest installment in the series and it is absolutely worth it to do so! To back up our opinion, here are a few reasons to fully convince you to get on board completely!

Each Game is a Complete and Standalone Gaming Experience on Its Own

Just like we said earlier every FINAL FANTASY game is a completely standalone adventure and this has always been a leading aspect of the series - each game has its own world and a unique storyline, the characters are different and even the mechanics could vary greatly between entries in the vast FINAL FANTASY gameplay universe.

You do not need to have any other prior knowledge of the previous entries in the series in order to enjoy FINAL FANTASY XVI Steam release for the PC - actually there is no narrative connection with the other games in no shape or form. Each game tells a whole story with a beginning, middle and end, including a cast of original characters that have adventures in an amazing new world.

What World is the Latest Entry in the FINAL FANTASY Franchise Set In?

Speaking of worlds, we should throw some light about the setting that gets introduced for FINAL FANTASY XVI! The gameplay and storyline are happening in the realm of Valisthea. The once magnificent lands are the home to the Mothercrystals, the source of an abundant power named aether, on which people rely a lot in order to fuel the magicks that they are using in their life.

As the aether becomes less and less, the lifeless deadlands reach further and further across the kingdoms, and the fragile harmony between the nations in this dying world starts to diminish swiftly.

On top of that there are the ever-widening conflicts among the Eikons – known as the most mighty and deadly beasts in Valisthea. Each of these has found their home in what is called a Dominant - a man or woman that is able to carry and call upon their power when need be. Eikons are extremely dangerous and every nation sees their Dominants in a different way - in some of the cases they are regarded as rulers, while others may not have that same luxury and are exploited as weapons and instruments of war.

The Storyline is Quite the Convoluted Masterpiece You Would Expect from the Series

Since the FINAL FANTASY series usually unfold with all types of adventure storylines, from lighter tales all the way to complex sci-fi sagas this entry is no exception to the grandeur that we are used to. FINAL FANTASY XVI brings us an outstanding epic in the classical sense of the word - a tale that goes through both deep tragedy and blissful hope.

You take the role of Clive Rosfield - the firstborn son of the Duke of Rosaria, and the older brother to Joshua Rosfield who is the Dominant of the Phoenix. It was Clive that was initially expected to obtain the Phoenix’s flame and thus become the Dominant, but destiny had other plans and chose his brother Joshua to carry this burden. Clive then takes the role of the protector for his very powerful - but yet very vulnerable younger sibling.

As turmoil begins to torment their family during an unexpected attack on their home, Clive’s prominent role as the First Shield of the Ducal Army comes to an abrupt end in utter tragedy at the hands of a mysterious new Eikon: Ifrit. Clive goes on a journey set with the ultimate mission for vengeance… that is going to change the fate of Valisthea forever, taking us with him on one of the darkest stories in the FINAL FANTASY series ever.

It is all so exciting and easy to follow but also quite emotional at times as even the strongest of hearts would find it difficult to not feel something crushing and tearing as the more cruel events unfold.

If you want to get a bit more info regarding the characters, kingdoms and even the mechanics all you need to do is hold down the touch pad and activate the built-in “Active Time Lore” system and it would give details about anything in the game.

As a whole it is one of the most maturely-themed stories in the series up to this date… and a great entry point for newcomers to the series.

The Cast of Characters you would Encounter is Rich and Quite Diverse

The game is offering an interesting selection of characters that you are going to encounter and interact with. There would be those that are going to be on your side as allies as well as the ones that would be against you, but there is one thing in common that they share – they all are quite memorable and have deep and complex personalities. We would like to present to you some of them below:

We already mentioned Clive Rosfield but since he is the main character in the game, it would be impossible to skip him – Since he never obtained the position as the dominant for the power of the Phoenix, Clive really focused on getting skilled with the sword. At the age of just 15, he already was named the First Shield of Rosaria – responsible of guarding the Phoenix and also got granted the ability to control a part of its fire.

As the player you would go with him through many stages of his life and witness his growth and transformation from a naïve young adolescent to an esteemed hero and protector.

Joshua Rosfield - the second son of the Archduke of Rosaria, the younger brother of Clive. It is he that became the Dominant of the mighty Phoenix. Proving himself as worthy despite the big responsibilities that come with his powers, he still manages to treat everyone with kindness, warmth and compassion. He looks up to Clive and respects him greatly, often regretting that his older sibling did not obtain full command over the firebird’s flames.

Jill Warrick - a friend of Clive from his childhood and the Dominant of Shiva.

Even though she was born in the Northern Territories, Jill got taken away from her home at a very young age and was raised to be a ward of Rosaria. She did grow up to become quite close with Clive and Joshua and was considered as a part of the family.

When the three of them are torn apart, the powers of the Eikon Shiva awakened within her, giving her the role as dominant.

Torgal – Taken by the House Rosfield this faithful hound is yet another outcast from the Northern Territories.

When he was found abandoned and all alone in a freezing snowfield in one of Archduke Elwin's expeditions to the far North, Torgal got given to his sons as a gift upon his return. After he managed to survive the disaster that almost put an end to the Rosfield line, he did get reunited with Clive more than a whole decade later. He still serves under his master with the same devoted loyalty just like he did when he was still a little pup.

Cidolfus Telamon – Much better known as "Cid," this once soldier that became an outlaw is seeking to create a place in which the persecuted magick-wielders and exploited Dominants would be able to live and die as they prefer to.

It may seem that he is just a fighter, but he has many more talents than just that as he is also a very capable man of science. He conducts his very own research into how one might manage to live in the deadlands – just like he and his fellows need to do.

As the Dominant of Ramuh, he undoubtedly possesses a lot of power that has brought him through the ranks of the Royal Waloeder Army… where in the past he crossed paths with the next character on our list, namely Benedikta Harman.

Benedikta Harman – With her cold heart and lack of mercy, Benedikta is the Dominant of the Eikon Garuda - the Warden of Wind.

She is quite talented with the sword and is in command of Waloed’s elite intelligencers. When she was on a mission to track down the elusive second Eikon of Fire, she stumbles upon Clive and gets forced to meet with her past once again.

Next is Hugo Kupka – Years ago he was just a nameless low ranking soldier in the Republican Army, but once he awakened as the Dominant of the Eikon Titan, he got positioned at the very forefront of Dhalmekian politics.

This position as Permanent Economic Adviser turned him into one of the most powerful men in the republic, he is very much able to influence both the military and policy-making in his favor… and thus accumulate a hefty fortune in the process.

It may sound like he already has everything in his pretence, but he is aware that money and power are not all that the world has to offer…

Dion Lesage – As the Crown Prince of the Holy Empire of Sanbreque and leader of its noblest and most feared order of knights - the dragoons, Dion is also directly linked to certain might and power.

He is beloved and respected by both his people and troops, especially for the numerous times he had turned the tides of battle in their favor. There are songs of the heroism performed by the warrior prince and his own Eikon Bahamut, King of Dragons.

Not everything in the empire is going smoothly though and the fact that shadows have started gathering may be enough to quell Bahamut's bright light...

Barnabas Tharmr – Reaching the shores of Ash as a mere wanderer without any possession over land or title at all, it was the skill Barnabas has with blades that won him a whole kingdom of his own. When the local men made an attempt to riot and oppose his rule, Barnabas summoned the power of his Eikon, Odin, so that he puts an end to their unruliness personally. When he did so, he took the whole eastern continent under the Waloeder influence.

He now controls an army and navy that could rival any in Valisthea with ease, but he is still is looking to find the most challenging fight available. He goes into battle on top of his spectral steed and slashes through his foes with a trusty black blade… or you could notice him just enjoying the sheer chaos from the side with a vicious look of interest in his eyes…

The Action is Intense… But Still Manages to Remain Very Welcoming as the Same Time

Even though combat is an integral part of any FINAL FANTASY RPG, the action and fights in this one are on a completely new level of proportion and epic scale. You are going to fight against different kinds of enemies, from giant monsters to even more powerful humans, in exciting battles that are surely going to test your abilities and skills.

When playing as Clive, you will have access to a growing set of amazing Eikonic abilities, allowing you to do everything from burning enemies with your flaming claw, all the way to electrocuting them with bolts of powerful lightning. Paired with the aggressive sword mastery and evasion mechanics, each encounter becomes an adventure of its own.

Another thing to mention is the fact of how welcoming FINAL FANTASY XVI is, since it could be suited for players of all skill levels to enjoy it. For example, if you are not really skilled with intense action games, or want to mostly experience the story, you could choose to equip the special Timely Accessories and make everything much easier to manage and navigate.

You can make dodging a snap by using the Ring of Timely Evasion, or perhaps the Ring of Timely Healing that is going to let you drink potions automatically when in danger.

It is a Game for Everyone and You Could Try It Out for Free

Still on the fence if you should start with FINAL FANTASY XVI?

Well, here is the best option for you: just try it for yourself in the available FINAL FANTASY XVI DEMO.

You are able to download it even right now and it contains the entire prologue to the game… and a bit extra. You get to play the beginning of the story and have battles against some pretty serious foes and still experience the truly traumatic tragic events that transform the young and still naive Clive into a powerful hero.

All your progress could be carried over to the full version of the game, so if you like what you play you would be able to carry on later when you decide to upgrade to the full experience.

There is also another interesting section available when you finish the demo part and that is the ‘Eikonic Challenge.’ It would put you in an area from another later part of the game, with many of your abilities unlocked so that you could try out Clive’s developed combat setup. It has been made especially for the demo, so progress in it cannot be saved or loaded, but you are going to feel what the combat is like after the prologue immerses you initially.

The FINAL FANTASY COMPLETE EDITION is a bundle containing the following:

Game Content:
- FINAL FANTASY XVI Base Game
- "Echoes of the Fallen" DLC
- "The Rising Tide" DLC

Redeemable Weapons & Items:
- Buster Sword
- Curtana
- "Away (1987)" Orchestrion Roll
- "Torn from the Heavens" Orchestrion Roll
- "Through the Maelstrom" Orchestrion Roll

FINAL FANTASY XVI EXPANSION PASS

The Expansion Pass set includes both FINAL FANTASY XVI DLCs “Echoes of the Fallen” and “The Rising Tide” at a discounted price that you could add after you have purchased the main game. Here is a short description for both of them separately:

FINAL FANTASY XVI ECHOES OF THE FALLEN

As the sunset covers over the land of Valisthea, strange, dark crystals get introduced on the black market. They might be the fruit of a mysterious Mothercrystal that the world had no prior knowledge it even existed. Clive and his company go out in search for answers and they encounter a group of suspicious traders. The trail leads our hero to an abandoned fallen tower known as the Sagespire and the horrific secrets that lie within it...

Special Bonuses:

- Buster Sword - Wield Cloud Strife's iconic weapon from FINAL FANTASY VII.
- "Away (1987)" Orchestrion Roll
Liven up the hideaway with new background music track.

FINAL FANTASY XVI THE RISING TIDE

A mysterious unmarked letter gets received at the hideaway and it contains an even more curious request: the Dominant of Leviathan, long lost Eikon of Water needs rescue. To respond to this call, Clive and his group go on a dangerous journey to Mysidia - a hidden land that has a blue sky - where they would discover the tragic story of a forgotten nation of people.

New Story Quests Unlocking Conditions:
Both new quests are going to get unlocked and become available after getting Origin as a destination on the map and by completing the quests "Where There's a Will" and "Priceless."

Special Bonuses:

- Curtana - Signature weapon used by the Warrior of Light in FINAL FANTASY XIV, reimagined for FINAL FANTASY XVI.
- "Torn from the Heavens" Orchestrion Roll
- "Through the Maelstrom" Orchestrion Roll
Liven up the hideaway with new background music tracks.

Hopefully up to now you do understand that the FINAL FANTASY XVI steam release for the PC is an ideal entry point to the FINAL FANTASY franchise and could very much be an appropriate first step into the expansive world of one of the best RPG series ever made in gaming.

We are thankful you managed to reach all the way to here and wish you an amazing experience enjoying this entry in the FINAL FANTASY series, just like we are going to keep informing you about anything interesting in gaming, so stay tuned for more fascinating articles very soon!