Whereas Remaining Fantasy XVI could have ended on a quite definitive be aware, its DLC rollout explores way more of its world of Valisthea. The principle story hinted at a number of issues that weren’t addressed by the point the credit rolled, so the chance for added content material was fairly clear. With the primary of two DLC expansions, Echoes of the Fallen, launched in December 2023, those that had been desperate to get again into the sneakers of protagonist Clive for extra of the fashionable action-RPG fight had one thing to chew on. But it surely’s the upcoming The Rising Tide DLC that can spherical out the entire package deal, letting you wield Leviathan as an Eikon energy and answering extra of the questions left behind by the bottom recreation. After enjoying via Echoes of the Fallen, I had an opportunity to talk with FFXVI DLC director Takeo Kujiraoka in regards to the improvement of post-game content material and what it means for the way forward for this specific entry within the storied franchise.
The very first thing that stood out was how participant suggestions was accounted for quickly after the sport’s launch. “We’ve got deliberately modified the balancing of fight from that of the principle recreation. Particularly, we have boosted the general power of the enemies within the DLC,” Kujiraoka said. This was abundantly clear within the boss struggle in opposition to Omega, which was a deal with for Remaining Fantasy sickos (particularly of the MMORPG selection) but additionally a stunning problem that took me a number of tries to complete. It was harder than any boss you encounter in the principle story and borrows quite a lot of complicated mechanics that jogged my memory of Remaining Fantasy XIV’s raid bosses, and that helped the fight system shine as soon as once more.
Kujiraoka mentioned that the group paid consideration to the group enjoying FFXVI, saying, “Partially, it is because we had set the enemy power a little bit low in the principle recreation to make sure that as many gamers as doable would be capable of attain the ending. However, from participant reactions and streams, it appeared to me that we may possibly push that enemy power a little bit larger.” He additionally talked about that since each DLCs open up simply earlier than the ultimate act of the bottom recreation, gamers can be experienced–though, I have to admit, it took a short time to shake off the rust from returning to the sport after months.
As a long-time FFXIV participant who takes half in Savage raids, it wasn’t simply the diploma of problem that left an impression, however how acquainted the method felt in studying easy methods to beat the boss. There’s some resemblance to the Omega boss fights within the MMORPG that got here via in FFXVI’s model. So, I needed to ask in regards to the potential cross-pollination, contemplating the umbrella of Sq. Enix’s Inventive Enterprise Unit III, which developed each video games.
“We’d draw from previous installments from the sequence, together with FFXIV, for inspiration on easy methods to visualize abilities or for naming, however these are purely homages to earlier titles and a nod to the followers. Having mentioned that, it’s stunning what number of extra gamers than anticipated really feel the affect of FFXIV in FFXVI,” Kujiraoka mentioned. And I suppose that is true given the character of the MMORPG being a kind of Remaining Fantasy theme park–FFXIV director and producer Naoki Yoshida’s phrases, not mine. Kujiraoka continued, “FFXIV options all types of enemies from the sequence as a complete, and it is also the primary time that quite a lot of abilities are portrayed in 3D. Maybe which means these appearances in FFXIV would possibly depart a very sturdy impression? And maybe FFXIV and FFXVI really feel comparable as a result of they share some widespread components in the best way they add variation to how battles unfold and the way they place significance on the narrative.”
That is not the one similarity the action-RPG shares with the MMO–composer Masayoshi Soken was in his bag with the Echoes of the Fallen DLC during which he remixed the Omega boss theme “eScape” from FFXIV right into a chaotic, trance-like drum ‘n’ bass observe. Kujiraoka supplied some perception on how music got here collectively for the DLC, and informed me, “When talking to Soken, I might at all times clarify the scenario the place the piece can be used, locations the place I would need to change the music, and so forth., all while exhibiting him precise gameplay. At instances, I did specify specific moods and genres. However from that time onwards, the composition team–first and foremost Soken himself–had absolute freedom to work on the music.” Music is integral to how these worlds are constructed which is obvious from the soundtracks for all of the FFXIV expansions. With out realizing the place Echoes of the Fallen was going, I had this assured feeling it revolved round Omega judging from the music alone. The leitmotifs from the FFXIV model come via within the background theme as you ascend the dungeon the place the DLC takes place. And my suspicions had been confirmed, so it appears like Soken may be very a lot part of how these tales come throughout.
Kujiraoka mentioned, “There have been instances the place Soken may need determined it will work greatest to have one other piece [of music] inserted between the 2 that had been requested, and we might find yourself getting again extra tracks than we ordered. I belief him, so I left these sorts of selections to him.” Basically, Soken and the sound group had been allowed to simply prepare dinner. As Kujiraoka confirmed, “This was additionally the results of Soken’s personal considering: constructing upon the ambiance of Echoes of the Fallen and his thought of Omega.”
Nonetheless, that is not all. As regards to the upcoming Leviathan-themed DLC, Kujiraoka informed me, “We’ve got additionally obtained the music for The Rising Tide, and every bit is incredible. You’ll be able to anticipate nice issues!” Possibly it is time to get “By the Maelstrom” and “Blinding Indigo” from the FFXIV OST again into my music rotation.
Whether or not they be embedded in referential materials from Remaining Fantasy video games of the previous, FFXVI’s DLCs are very a lot attempting to flesh out Valisthea. On the subject of tying lingering narrative components collectively, Kujiraoka mentioned, “All of the unfastened ends from the principle recreation that we left ourselves to make DLC with have been picked up by the primary and second DLC, so I really assume that making the rest can be fairly tough.” That might give the impression that The Rising Tide DLC can be the ultimate bow on FFXVI as we all know it, however he additionally said, “There may be the query of what you would possibly discover on the outer isles, throughout the seas from Valisthea–that’s one thing I am fairly fascinated with, from the angle of a developer and as a participant myself!” So possibly this two-part DLC arc will not be an entire finish to the world of Valisthea, and maybe leaves a little bit of a gap to seek out causes to revisit the setting.
Regardless of which means you narrow it, FFXVI tried to include some heavy narrative themes similar to enslavement, abolition, and rebellion, and did so to various levels of success. So, as Echoes of the Fallen is extra involved with the summary facets of the setting’s historical past, I needed to ask if The Rising Tide DLC would revisit the grim aspect of its politics and messages. Kujiraoka said that he cannot say a lot because the second DLC has not but been launched however did contact on the topic. “In each DLCs, there’s an underlying theme behind the principle tales: the query of how individuals will stay in a world with fewer crystals or one the place they cannot use crystals.”
Even within the lead as much as FFXVI’s launch, producer Naoki Yoshida likened the crystals, which grant magic skills, to fossil fuels in our personal world. Because it turned out, local weather change was an overt theme of FFXVI’s story, and at instances, it confirmed that the longer term will not be so grim and not using a useful resource that damages the very world you reside in. Kujiraoka echoed that sentiment, saying, “We have included plenty of snippets that give a glimpse into how the world would possibly end up after the ending of the principle recreation, with out presenting a particular conclusion. As we constructed the story, I typically spoke with the group about desirous to make gamers really feel optimistic that individuals would be capable of go on dwelling in a world with out magic.”
Echoes of the Fallen is on the market now and is a reasonably quick, however difficult, expertise that’ll take roughly two to 3 hours to finish. And it leads into The Rising Tide DLC, which is ready to launch someday in Spring 2024. Nonetheless, in the event you’ve but to leap into the bottom recreation, you should definitely try my Remaining Fantasy XVI overview the place I gave it a rating of 9/10 and concluded, “It might fall quick in some respects, however it must be celebrated for its most gorgeous moments and the characters who embody them. FFXVI succeeds and earns its place inside the Remaining Fantasy pantheon as one of many nice entries, and does so by itself phrases.”