During the event where Sony revealed the price and release date of thePlayStation 5,Square Enix dropped a surprise, though heavily rumored, reveal trailer forFinal Fantasy XVI. While no release date or concrete details were given about the project, the video shows a lot more than one expects from an announcement of a particular game in the long running franchise.
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While the game looks to significantly change up what fans have to come to expect from the franchise, it is still unmistakably aFinal Fantasyadventure, thanks to the series staples present in the trailer, the ten most notable of which are listed below.
10Chocobo
Instead of horses,most games in the series utilize Chocobo, fictional giant birds players often ride on at least once during the journey. The animal is heavily on display in the most recent trailer, even being used during an intense battle sequence. Given the action-packed look of the combat, one wonders if they will be utilized during battles in some unique ways.
9Summons
Summonsare not always called by this moniker, but they do always make an appearance inFinal Fantasy.The reveal trailer heavily showcases this series staple, implying them to play a huge role in the narrative, which also would not be a first for the series. Four of these creatures are displayed prominently in the video: Shiva, Ifrit, Phoenix, and Titan. Whether they will all be playable is a mystery, but they all tower above players and look more beautiful than ever.
8Malboro
Numerous types of enemies show up in almost everyFinal Fantasy. During the trailer, one sees a character take on a Malboro in what looks to be gameplay. This classic enemy is known for inflicting status ailments on characters with its signature move, Bad Breath.
Related:10 Weirdest Enemies Found In The Final Fantasy Series
Depending on the game, its difficulty and frequency of appearance changes. InFinal Fantasy VII Remakethe enemy was reserved for the battle arena, because Malboro are not traditionally found in the Midgar slums.
7Dragoons
While dragoons are not exclusive toFinal Fantasy -they show up in most high-fantasy stories - their appearance in the trailer does remind one of some of the series' most iconic characters. Kain fromFinal Fantasy IVwas a dragoon.Cid fromFinal Fantasy VIIdid not have the attire, but his move set and spear all mimicked the class. InFinal Fantasy XVI, the dragoon appears to be an adversary.
6Crystals
Ever since the first game in the series, crystals have always played some sort of role in the plot. Even inFinal Fantasy VIIMateria could be seen as a stand in for the objects of mystical power. Crystals once again make an appearance inFinal Fantasy XVI,with one character stating “the legacy of the crystals has shaped our history for long enough,” implying characters will be fighting against destiny or the natural order of things.
5Imperial Army
Upon defeating the dragoon in the trailer, the characters comment about an imperial army. While recent stories in the franchise have shied away from the concept, those who played the older NES andSNEStitles will remember an empire of some sort often playing a huge role in the plot. This can be attributed to the influenceStar Warshas had on the series, especiallyFinal Fantasy II.
4Coeurl
Malboro are not the only enemy making a comeback forFinal Fantasy XVI. The catlike creatures with extremely long and deadly whiskers will be familiar to anyone who has played just about any game in the series. Coeurl often paralyze enemies with their deadly stare, possibly a nod at how cats intimidate in real life by staring into the eyes of their adversary.
3Magic
This is probably the least surprising one on the list. Being an RPG, one would expect magic to come into to play in one form or another. In addition to the summons, some of the brief glimpses of gameplay appear to show a character utilizing magic spells. If it is RPG set anywhereexcept for a post-apocalyptic wasteland, one can expect magic to show up. It is still a mystery how it will factor into battles and how MP will work, however.
2Medieval Setting
Starting withFinal Fantasy VII,and even showing traces of it inFinal Fantasy VI, the series strayed away from medieval settings, an understandable move considering five mainline entries had already passed using the same aesthetic.
Related:10 Great RPGs That Aren’t High-Fantasy Or Science Fiction
After a long time away from it,Final Fantasy XVIappears to be once again embracing some of the look of a Tolkien-inspired look. It would not be surprising to still see some steampunk elements pop up, most notably an airship.
1The Final Fantasy Main Theme
Music is just as important of a factor in game design as anything else. The sounds ofFinal Fantasywere established by legendary composer Nobuo Uematsu, and the trailer showcases a beautiful new arrangement of the franchise’s main theme, which was written all the way back in 1987 for the originalFinal Fantasy. No doubt the final game will feature more rearrangements of iconicFinal Fantasymusic.
Next:5 Things We Learned About Final Fantasy 16 (And 5 Questions We Still Have)
