A brand new PlayStation State of Play has arrived and it was focused entirely on Final Fantasy 16. We already know it is set to be released on PlayStation 5 on June 22, 2023, so this presentation was all about learning more about the game’s world, spectacular Eikon battles, combat, base camp, and more.
We are here to break down all the big news from the State of Play and hopefully give you even more reasons to be excited about Final Fantasy 16.
The Epic Battles of Eikons and Clive Rosfield
The State of Play gave us another big glimpse at the combat of Final Fantasy 16, including the showstopping battles between Eikons, which some may know as Summons from previous games like Ifrit, Shiva, Ramuh, Titan, Bahamut, Phoenix, Garuda, and more.
These epic Eikon battles change up the combat in a big way, and can be anything from a “3D scrolling shooter” to a “heavyweight wrestling match.” The scale of these battles is also unlike most anything we’ve seen in a Final Fantasy game, and some of the bigger Eikons like Titan Lost make others like Ifrit, who look massive in comparison to Clive, look like little action figures.
The battles themselves will surely be one of the big ticket items in Final Fantasy 16, but Eikons play such a huge part outside of these showcase battles. For example, many of the skills Clive unlocks will be earned through these Eikons as you encounter them. You will be able to unlock and upgrade these skills via ability points and will help turn Clive into a magical powerhouse that uses the best parts of the Eikons.
Speaking of Clive, players will only ever play as Clive. There will be companions that join you along the way, but they will be controlled completely by AI. However, Clive will have Torgal by his side for most of the game, who happens to be the goodest dog a hero could ever ask for, and they will be able to issue Torgal commands and, perhaps most importantly, give him treats.
We’ve learned a lot of this before, but Final Fantasy 16 has accessibility items that can be equipped to make the game more approachable for anyone who wants to try it out. These rings, including the Ring of Timely Focus and the Ring of Timely Strikes, will offer assists in combat. The ones mentioned here will slow down time when you are attacked so you can focus on executing a combo attack with the press of just one button.
Clive’s Hideout Is a Base Camp Filled With Characters, Side Quests, Shops, and More
Players will be traveling through the realm of Valisthea in Final Fantasy 16 and will visit incredible and varied locales, but all roads will eventually lead back to Clive’s hideout. This is a base camp of sorts that will let Clive prepare for the challenges ahead in many different ways.
Alongside standard shops that will let you purchase weapons, armor, and consumables, there will also be a blacksmith that will allow you to upgrade your equipment. One of the more exciting spots for high score chasers will undoubtedly be the Arete Stone, which at first just seems like a training mode.
This stone will transport you to a virtual training stage that is “outside of time and space.” You can set a bunch of variables in this mode to test out new combat or abilities, including which enemies you want to fight, if you want regen on, and more. However, there will also be an arcade mode that will keep track of high scores for players around the world. This mode will allow players to show all others that their Clive would reign supreme.
Clive’s hideout will also be a place to begin side quests or complete others you have gained already. With a very convenient map function, you can check your existing sidequests and travel right to them. In addition to standard side quests, players will be able to get their Witcher on by taking Mob Hunts from a friendly Moogle and proceed to take on monsters with bounties on their heads.
If you find yourself tired of combat and need a change of pace, you can visit Loresman Harpocrates to learn more about the history and customs of Valisthea. Visiting Harpocrates often will be a great thing for players to do as tales of your adventures will help him complete his Thousand Tomes, a book filled with all the knowledge he’s gathered in the realm. For an added bonus, leveling up the Thousand Tomes is done via old-school sprites and classic-style music from the series.
Vivian the Military Scholar is another person worth visiting often as she will keep up up-to-date with the state of the world and its history. Learn more about relationships between characters and events that have taken place in Valisthea. This looks like a great way to recap your adventure, especially if you need to take some time away from the game.
Final Fantasy 16 will be released exclusively for the PlayStation 5. For more, check out our hands-on impressions of Final Fantasy 16, how long it should take to complete the game, and our chat with the devs on comparisons between Game of Thrones, side quests, and representation.
Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.