Square Enix has given fans a good look at Final Fantasy 16 in action, as well as revealing some aspects of the upcoming action RPG’s story and setting. Some recent interviews with members of the development team have also revealed that there will be not one but two time jumps in Final Fantasy 16’s narrative, and this has plenty of interesting implications. It also shows how much attention to detail and work Square Enix is prepared to put into the next Final Fantasy installment, which bodes well for the yet-to-be-released title.
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The Three Periods Of Clive’s Life
Square Enix confirmed that although Final Fantasy 16 starts off with a teenage Clive, the story will jump several times to encompass his teens, his twenties, and his thirties. This is an intriguing way to approach the narrative and gives the game a lot of scope to show the consequences of player actions across the years and how the world of Valisthea will change. Although much of Final Fantasy 16’s story still remains a mystery, players do know that the teenage Clive experiences a tragedy that sets off his quest for revenge.
Showing these three periods of Clive’s life will give Final Fantasy 16 a chance to more deeply explore the character’s psyche and the long-term effects of hardship and trauma. From his teenage years to his thirties, the game will encompass some pretty foundational periods of Clive’s life, and this will mean there are lots of things that Square Enix will have to consider. Not only will Clive need three different character models, but there will probably be a whole slew of other main characters that will need distinct looks across the years as well. However, this number could be greatly reduced if a few main characters face an untimely demise throughout the story, as some players have theorized.
How This Will Affect The Game
It isn’t just about how the characters look, though. For a truly engaging and harmonious narrative, the personalities of characters should shift over time as well. Valisthea is clearly a land in turmoil, with wars and the encroaching Blight bringing death and destruction. It’s likely that Clive won’t be the only character who goes through some difficulties, and these will all shape the outlooks and characteristics of the other main players in the plot. Careful thought will have to go into how they interact with each other, and how their relationships inevitably change over the years, which all adds to Square Enix’s workload.
This won’t just affect people, either. With the shifting and turbulent political situation, regions will undoubtedly undergo change as well. While this gives the developer an excuse to reuse assets and locations that players can keep going back to in order to see how they’ve fared, there will need to be physical changes to indicate the passage of time. Conflicts will take their toll on people as well as landscapes, and Final Fantasy 16 will need to show the impact as balances of power fluctuate. The time jumps are a real chance to showcase the long-term impacts of key narrative moments, and it will be fascinating to see how it shapes the people and places, as well as the story.
There could even be more subtle changes, like the way Clive approaches combat. Although he’s an accomplished swordsman even as a teenager and impressed people with his skills enough to be given the title of First Shield of Rosaria, time may change the way Clive fights as he matures and grows in strength. These could involve slightly different attack animations as well as new moves, but that might be something that Square Enix decides to overlook in favor of more obvious changes.
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How Final Fantasy 16 Is Shaping Up
Final Fantasy 16 may still have its secrets, but players do know enough about the plot and gameplay to create a decent picture of what the game will entail. Although Final Fantasy 16 undoubtedly centers on Clive, the story also revolves around his younger brother Joshua and their childhood friend Jill. As the children of the Archduke of Rosaria, Clive and Joshua have led fairly charmed lives, but a tragedy occurs that changes Clive’s life forever. Many players have speculated that Joshua is killed by the mysterious dark Eikon Ifrit, and as Clive is not only his older brother but his sworn protector, this could lead him down a dark path of vengeance.
Clive’s quest for revenge is clearly a mission that takes multiple years if the time jumps are any indication. This shows the toll it has on his life and the far-reaching consequences of the tragic event. Players have already noted the profound change in Clive from the opening moments of the game where he is amongst his family to the later sections where he is clearly older, sadder, and more alone. This could be an opportunity for Final Fantasy 16 to explore themes of mental health and trauma with a nuanced and well-paced narrative that could add a depth of poignancy to the plot of good versus evil and political maneuvering.
Square Enix might have its work cut out for it as it tries to cohesively tell this tale with the two time jumps. There needs to be careful pacing and tangible change between the time periods so that it doesn’t just seem like an easy way to progress the story. Clive is potentially a really compelling character, and seeing how he progresses through the years could make Final Fantasy 16 an engaging and unique entry into the vast Final Fantasy franchise.
Final Fantasy 16 is in development for PS5.
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