Set to release on June 22 on PS5, the latest Final Fantasy 16 trailer shows off the game's diverse and impressive environments, proving once and for all that Square Enix's upcoming action RPG doubles down on high-end aesthetics. fancy.
The trailer gives us a variety of beautiful sights, many of which wouldn't be out of place in Elden Ring. Over the course of two minutes of footage, we are taken through luminous deserts, eerie ravines, lush forests and dark cities. What all of these locations have in common, however, is their stark contrast to the visuals featured in previous single-player Final Fantasy titles.
Final Fantasy 15 had its share of dynamic, open-ended locations, but it was still framed through a more modern lens. After all, Noctis and his team toured the countryside in a flying limousine, a far cry from the gritty medievalism of Final Fantasy 16. Final Fantasy 13 also offered something very different, its locations and stages adorned with the trappings of future fantasy, featuring magitech Constructions and aircraft are the order of the day.
Although visually anachronistic, Final Fantasy 16 appears to mark a new direction for the series, rooted in more grounded fantasy trappings reminiscent of The Witcher 3 and Dragon Age.
It's a whole new world
Of all Final Fantasy 16's predecessors, it seems the upcoming RPG has the most in common with the MMORPG Final Fantasy 14. Since Square Enix's Creative Business Unit 3 is responsible for both titles, they share a common creative heritage. For example: Naoki Yoshida, director and producer of Final Fantasy 14, is also a producer of Final Fantasy 16.
Both titles make liberal use of beautiful, high fantasy locations to frame their stories. However, the creative overlap doesn't stop there. Masayoshi Soken, composer of the notable and diverse soundtrack for Final Fantasy 14, also composed the soundtrack for Final Fantasy 16.
There are also similarities in the story, which could hint at a subtle interconnection between the two titles. Both Final Fantasy 14 and Final Fantasy 16 refer to the distinctive "summons" (giant magical monsters) in both games as "Eikons", suggesting a common thread that could tie the two titles together.
Since Final Fantasy 7, Square Enix's flagship RPG series has focused on cinematic spectacle. Part of the impetus behind Final Fantasy 7 Remake and its upcoming sequel Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth was fulfilling the cinematic ambitions established in the original Final Fantasy 7 reincarnation.
Since then, Final Fantasy games have strived to immerse players by creating welcoming environments with distinctive visual appeal. Judging by this trailer, it looks like Final Fantasy 16 will take that commitment to the next level, offering amazing worlds for players to get lost in. I can't wait to explore these worlds for myself this summer.