Faisal Ghaffar 
The Final Fantasy series has about 16 mainline entries and a number of spinoffs, but none of the games will be anywhere close to Final Fantasy 16. It is the latest addition in this legendary series and instead of the RPG foundation, the game is more about the character action genre. The story lasts for over 50 hours and it is quite powerful, thanks to unforgettable characters, a wonderful soundtrack, incredible world-building and some truly spectacular moments.
The story
Final Fantasy 16 starts off from where Final Fantasy 14 left off and it takes a stroll down the high fantasy lane, while taking some inspiration from Game of Thrones. The story is based in Valisthea, spanning over decades of history of the land known for its death and beauty alike. Due to an encroaching blight, the neighborhood kingdoms begin to battle over the untainted resources, which include five Mother Crystals that are main source of magic in the realm.
Clive Rosfield is the character you play, who is at the center of the story. He is a well-rounded and fantastic protagonist, the kingdom of Rosaria’s eldest prince and his brother, Joshua’s protector. Actor Ben Starr has truly brought him to life and over the course of the story, his character undergoes a lot of development and change. Nonetheless, he remains relatable and likeable and can also be a badass when the situation calls for it, which it does.
The cast
The other characters are just as good as the protagonist himself. Susannah Fielding plays the character of Jill, who has been friends with Clive since childhood and proves to be an excellent companion. She is able to empathize with him on an emotional and deep level and as their relationship grows, the moments between them are always worth noting.
A new Final Fantasy character that will become your favorite is Cid, who is voiced by Ralph Ineson, but his vibe is more like a young Liam Neeson. He is filled to the brim with charm and charisma and possesses natural leadership skills. It is immensely easy to rally behind a character like Cid, which you will end up doing.
New feature
One of the best things about the story in Final Fantasy 16 is that it will not drown or overwhelm you at any point. The world is a massive one, as there are five kingdoms and each of them have their own ideals, religions, rulers and governments. There is also a ton of terms specific to the realm like Dominants, Eikons, bearers and more. How can you keep up with all of it?
This is where Active Time Lore comes in, which you can bring up by holding down the DualSense touchpad. It provides you a concise entry about a character, term or even location, so you remain up to speed and do not have to worry about keeping track of everything. The entries are updated with the story as it happens.
Likewise, the combat in Final Fantasy 16 is absolutely incredible. Every time these encounters take place, they are nothing less than spectacles.
The Verdict
Final Fantasy 16 is probably a turning point in this series because the combat gives it the status of a complete action game and the captivating and dark tale makes it more interesting, not to mention the Active Time Lore feature that should become standard for all games with detailed stories.
