Final Fantasy 16 has finally hit the shelves, and thousands of players have already purchased a copy of the game. The producers of the game did everything in their power in order to meet the expectations of the players, and the end result is simply amazing.
The 16th installment of Final Fantasy could have easily been a movie or an opera, and players have appreciated the studio’s attempt to go back to the basics. The story once again revolves around the bonds of brotherhood, revenge, magic, war, and peace. The one thing that is far from the original Final Fantasy principles is the battle system. Fighting your enemies feels more like Devil May Cry and less like Final Fantasy.
Have You Tried the Demo Version?
Square’s decision to release a demo version of Final Fantasy seems to have paid off, as many of the players who downloaded and played the demo purchased a copy of the full game in order to continue playing. This is not the first time a gaming provider has offered a demo version of a game.
Online casino game providers, for example, offer hundreds of free-to-play demo versions of slot games, such as the Wild-West-themed Silver Bullet, in order to give the players a taste of the game they could be playing with real money. Square did something similar with Stranger of Paradise, but in that case, offering a demo version backfired, as players did not really enjoy the studio’s attempt to revamp a Final Fantasy Origins story.
When it comes to the latest addition to the FF series, Square allowed the players to familiarise themselves with the characters, with the world of Final Fantasy 16, and with some of the key functionalities simply by offering one hour of gameplay. The battle system of FF16 cannot be categorized as a battle system of a Japanese role-playing game, of course, but it is still enjoyable.
How Was the Game Received by Critics and Players?
Most review websites have given a high grade to Final Fantasy 16, but many players would have preferred seeing a Final Fantasy that sticks to the principles of a JRPG. The story is not far from what a Final Fantasy fan would expect, but the gameplay feels more like the gameplay of an action game and less like that of a role-playing game.
The game’s level of difficulty cannot be categorized as high, as most players consider the game to be relatively easy. One of the best things about Final Fantasy 16 is the game’s music. The latest addition to the series has the best soundtrack players have ever heard on a Final Fantasy title. The music is even better than that of Final Fantasy X.
A Winning Bet but probably not the GOTY
The developers of Final Fantasy 16 worked really hard in order to rebuild the relationship of the fans with Square Enix after identifying that the 15th installment did not live up to the expectations of the wider audience.
Many things have been improved, and many things are much better than what players expected, but there are also many things that could have been done a little bit better. The game will probably sell well in the long run, and gamers will enjoy playing it, but it does seem to be a contender for a Game of the Year award.
