Through the years, I’ve dabbled with the Ultimate Fantasy franchise however by no means fairly received into it since I wasn’t one of the best with turned-based fight. Even when every installment was a stand-alone, I used to be nonetheless overwhelmed by its expansive lore and terminology, making me really feel like I used to be too late to the sport and couldn’t catch up. That’s till I dove into the extremely beginner-friendly Ultimate Fantasy 16, which nearly guides you each step of the best way.
What first drew me in was the gripping narrative of the start act, considerably harking back to the Sport of Thrones storyline, the place I discovered myself crying over characters I had simply met. It additionally helped that Ultimate Fantasy 16 really hones in on its real-time motion, beforehand proven in a number of titles. The extra I progressed in my journey, the extra I felt like I might see a brighter future for the franchise, given my higher understanding of the lore and the sleek mechanics of fight.
Now, I don’t by any means despise the previous video games; in actual fact, FF16 makes me wish to attempt my hand at the remainder of the franchise attributable to its compelling story alone. But, if the sequence used this newest entry as a basis for future video games, then you possibly can name me a bonafide fan for all times.
So, you could surprise: Why ought to Ultimate Fantasy 16 be the footing for the following part within the sequence? Properly, there’s loads of elements that come into play, however when it comes all the way down to it, it’s all in regards to the beginner-friendly mechanics, characters, and the sport’s riveting narrative.
Beginning with the user-friendly facet, the gear assortment might be probably the greatest elements of FF16 attributable to its useful options. As an example, the Ring of Well timed Strikes and The Ring of Well timed Help routinely set off advanced strikes and Torgal’s instructions with out the stress of urgent them on the proper time. Regardless of being deeper into the sport, I proceed to make use of this gear, because it makes fight really feel rather more manageable than my previous struggles with different titles.
The combating types are additionally a lot enjoyable to play whilst you zoom across the battlefield with a charged strike and ship enemies flying for an aerial assault. It virtually jogs my memory of the fluid motion of Marvel’s Spider-Man and the Batman: Arkham sequence, and it made grinding really feel much less like a trouble and extra like an entertaining initiative.
One other useful mechanic is the exploration system, by which Torgal will information gamers to their vacation spot every time they’re misplaced. I can’t inform you how usually I’ve gotten complications from not understanding the place to go in video games, but Ultimate Fantasy 16 in the end removes this fear by exhibiting you a transparent indication of the following vacation spot. Even facet quests and the Alliant Studies will mark waypoints on the map for gadgets or folks of curiosity, permitting you to finish a ton of missions rapidly.
Nonetheless, I want there have been extra challenges concerning this facet, however I consider it might make issues simpler for these simply beginning within the RPG world or Ultimate Fantasy normally.
Out of all of the mechanics, one in every of my favorites is the respawn, a system that replenishes all of your potions and comparatively retains the enemy’s well being bar in its present state moderately than restarting once more. So, in case you get knocked down throughout a boss’s stage two part, they’ll nonetheless be on this state if you return, together with a restock of your stock. That is the primary time I’ve skilled one thing as beneficiant as this, contemplating that video games typically drive you to repeat the battle course of after demise.
Except for the accessible gameplay, the lore is so much simpler to grasp via its numerous choices that may clarify sure ideas. Everytime you see a phrase or character title that you just aren’t accustomed to, you possibly can immediately study them within the Energetic Time Lore throughout cutscenes. Much more so, you possibly can discover your complete timeline with Harpocrates’ Thousand Tomes, the Scenario Map, and the Grand Forged.
Gamers received’t be as inundated with the franchise’s advanced lore by having these a number of reference factors. Ultimate Fantasy 16’s narrative can be simply plain enjoyable to look at, and I discovered myself binge-playing it to unravel the thriller of Clive’s powers and the remainder of the forged. With questions like, Why does his mom hate him a lot? Or did this character actually die? In return, it offers the participant greater than sufficient purpose to stay with the story.
On prime of that, the land of Valisthea is so energetic, whether or not it’s the quirky dialogue of NPCs or the facet adventures. The residents may also react to your actions by thanking you for serving to somebody or if you gentle up a quick journey level. Moreover, the medieval facet is a pleasant contact to the world’s environment and panorama, and it really made me really feel like I used to be residing within the Gothic age.
With all this in thoughts, you possibly can see why Ultimate Fantasy 16 ought to pave the best way for the remainder of the franchise by making it simpler for freshmen to dive in and supplying you with the data you could comply with the story. Regardless of its accessible mechanics, there’s nonetheless sufficient problem for longtime gamers of the sequence or RPG veterans, particularly with the boss battles, the later chapters, and the issue of Ultimate Fantasy Mode.
Althought some could not favor this route, it creates extra alternatives for a wider viewers the place anybody can play. Because of its user-friendly options, even somebody like me, who isn’t one of the best at RPGs nor has accomplished a single Ultimate Fantasy, was immersed within the sport. Now, I’d prefer to sort out the remainder of the franchise, regardless if I’d be good on the fight, however I can also’t wait to see extra of the sequence sooner or later if it follows the identical format as Ultimate Fantasy 16.