Final Fantasy XVI shakes off its complexes to embrace direct action. Why would a JRPG want that?

“If there’s a mismatch between big budgets and shifts, fine: make the best action game you can.”

I think you have to start with a question: why? One of the sagas that was always characterized the most by its turn-based combat seems to have, in its latest installments, certain reluctance to return to them. Final Fantasy XIV is an MMO, Final Fantasy XV action and Final Fantasy VII Remake a hybrid that mixes action with tactical breaks. But Final Fantasy XVI will be the first to seem to make this transition without compromise of any kind. Without taking refuge in turns, waiting, ATB bars or certain strategic components. The presentation trailer hinted at it and now we have confirmation from its producer, Naoki Yoshida.

And I suppose the answer is relatively obvious: because it sells more. Or, the less, it attracts more types of players. In the end, you have to do numbers. If we want to continue having a Final Fantasy with high production values, sales have to go accordingly. The almighty Persona 5 (one of my favorite games of the generation) can afford some turn-based fighting because it doesn’t aspire to handle a gigantic budget or hyper-realistic graphics. And that’s what we like about him, that he has personality and fantastic fights, but if you want to target 8-10 million units, shifts will likely never do it.

Traditional JRPG is never going to be a blockbuster genre anymoreThis is something I made peace with a while ago: traditional JRPG is never going to be a blockbuster genre anymore, the same as the traditional adventure game either. If I add shoot’em up, I have become a lover of niches. So I understand that Final Fantasy needs to get closer to the action without complexes to reach more people. Final Fantasy VII Remake, on the other hand, as it has that wild card of nostalgia, it can afford hybridization (with one of the combat systems that has fascinated me the most in recent years).

So this clarified, we open the next melon. And is that, in general, RPGs have never stood out for their combat system. In The Witcher 3 it was one of the most debated topics; the Dragon Age decaffeinated as they moved away from the tactical side; the Elder Scrolls have a lot to improve in this regard. Kingdom of Amalur, Greedfall, Risen… None seem to nail it. Or you specialize, like cRPG, Souls or Diablo-type games, which have very defined styles, or it is difficult to make a good combat system within the scope of the role.

I fantasize about the possibility of hack and slash and RPG teaming up, and I think FFXVI is going that way.So I’m glad Square-Enix saw the tremendous job you did Ryota suzuki especially with Dragon’s Dogma, because that was a brave, varied and deep battle system. Ever since I saw Dragon’s Dogma and later Nier Automata, I’ve been fantasizing about the possibility of hack and slash and the RPG making a good coalition pact and I think Final Fantasy XVI is going that way. The trailer hints that there is a lot of that spirit in the game, although I admit that I am a bit scared by Yoshida’s words speaking of “giving enough accessibility to Final Fantasy fans who do not have experience in action games.” I hope he is only talking about an accessible difficulty mode and that there is also a challenge for the more experienced player. After all, Dragon’s Dogma had its peaks of difficulty and even that expansion on Bitterblack Island that you can have nightmares about.

What I mean by all of this is that I don’t like half measures. When the developer on duty sins of being very accommodating to her fans while her interests are others. So, to assume that Final Fantasy has to appeal to action and the mass public, well dive deep into the genre and create a magnificent experience that makes us nostalgic and conservative forget how handsome the shifts were. Nothing happens, because we have sagas like Trails, Persona, Bravely Default among many others that will continue to satisfy us. As long as its other core, the narrative, is consistent, with a striking world and great character development, we can change the question that started this text for another: Where to sign?

More about: Final Fantasy XVI, Final Fantasy and Opinion.