Whereas Final Fantasy XVI could have ended on a fairly definitive notice, 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 have been wanting to get again into the footwear of protagonist Clive for extra of the trendy action-RPG fight had one thing to chew on. However it’s the upcoming The Rising Tide DLC that can spherical out the entire bundle, letting you wield Leviathan as an Eikon energy and answering extra of the questions left behind by the bottom sport. After taking part in by way of Echoes of the Fallen, I had an opportunity to talk with FFXVI DLC director Takeo Kujiraoka in regards to the growth of post-game content material and what it means for the way forward for this explicit 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. “Now we have deliberately modified the balancing of fight from that of the primary sport. Particularly, we have boosted the general energy of the enemies within the DLC,” Kujiraoka said. This was abundantly clear within the boss battle in opposition to Omega, which was a deal with for Final Fantasy sickos (particularly of the MMORPG selection) but in addition a stunning problem that took me a number of tries to complete. It was harder than any boss you encounter in the primary story and borrows lots of advanced mechanics that jogged my memory of Final Fantasy XIV’s raid bosses, and that helped the fight system shine as soon as once more.
Kujiraoka stated that the group paid consideration to the neighborhood taking part in FFXVI, saying, “Partially, it is because we had set the enemy energy a bit of low in the primary sport to make sure that as many gamers as doable would have the ability to attain the ending. However, from participant reactions and streams, it appeared to me that we might possibly push that enemy energy a bit of greater.” He additionally talked about that since each DLCs open up simply earlier than the ultimate act of the bottom sport, gamers shall 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 issue that left an impression, however how acquainted the method felt in studying how one can beat the boss. There’s some resemblance to the Omega boss fights within the MMORPG that got here by way of in FFXVI’s model. So, I needed to ask in regards to the potential cross-pollination, contemplating the umbrella of Sq. Enix’s Artistic Enterprise Unit III, which developed each video games.
“We’d draw from previous installments from the sequence, together with FFXIV, for inspiration on how one can visualize expertise or for naming, however these are purely homages to earlier titles and a nod to the followers. Having stated that, it’s stunning what number of extra gamers than anticipated really feel the affect of FFXIV in FFXVI,” Kujiraoka stated. And I suppose that is true given the character of the MMORPG being a form of Final 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 lots of expertise are portrayed in 3D. Maybe meaning these appearances in FFXIV would possibly go away a very robust impression? And maybe FFXIV and FFXVI really feel related as a result of they share some frequent 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 by which he remixed the Omega boss theme “eScape” from FFXIV right into a chaotic, trance-like drum ‘n’ bass monitor. Kujiraoka supplied some perception on how music got here collectively for the DLC, and advised me, “When talking to Soken, I might at all times clarify the state of affairs the place the piece can be used, locations the place I might need to swap the music, and so forth., all while exhibiting him precise gameplay. At instances, I did specify explicit 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 clear from the soundtracks for all of the FFXIV expansions. With out understanding 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 by way of within the background theme as you ascend the dungeon the place the DLC takes place. And my suspicions have been confirmed, so it looks like Soken could be very a lot part of how these tales come throughout.
Kujiraoka stated, “There have been instances the place Soken may need determined it could work greatest to have one other piece [of music] inserted between the 2 that have been requested, and we’d find yourself getting again extra tracks than we ordered. I belief him, so I left these varieties of choices to him.” Basically, Soken and the sound group have been allowed to only prepare dinner. As Kujiraoka confirmed, “This was additionally the results of Soken’s personal pondering: constructing upon the ambiance of Echoes of the Fallen and his thought of Omega.”
Nonetheless, that is not all. On the subject of the upcoming Leviathan-themed DLC, Kujiraoka advised me, “Now we have additionally obtained the music for The Rising Tide, and every bit is incredible. You’ll be able to count on nice issues!” Possibly it is time to get “By means of the Maelstrom” and “Blinding Indigo” from the FFXIV OST again into my music rotation.
Whether or not they be embedded in referential materials from Final Fantasy video games of the previous, FFXVI’s DLCs are very a lot making an attempt to flesh out Valisthea. In terms of tying lingering narrative components collectively, Kujiraoka stated, “All of the free ends from the primary sport that we left ourselves to make DLC with have been picked up by the primary and second DLC, so I really suppose that making anything can be fairly tough.” That may 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 a whole 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 approach you narrow it, FFXVI tried to include some heavy narrative themes corresponding 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 elements 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 for the reason that second DLC has not but been launched however did contact on the topic. “In each DLCs, there’s an underlying theme behind the primary tales: the query of how individuals will dwell in a world with fewer crystals or one the place they can not 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 with out a useful resource that damages the very world you reside in. Kujiraoka echoed that sentiment, saying, “We have included a lot of snippets that give a glimpse into how the world would possibly end up after the ending of the primary sport, with out presenting a particular conclusion. As we constructed the story, I typically spoke with the group about eager to make gamers really feel optimistic that folks would have the ability to go on residing in a world with out magic.”
Echoes of the Fallen is obtainable now and is a reasonably quick, however difficult, expertise that’ll take roughly two to a few hours to finish. And it leads into The Rising Tide DLC, which is ready to launch someday in Spring 2024. Nonetheless, in case you’ve but to leap into the bottom sport, make sure to take a look at my Final Fantasy XVI evaluate the place I gave it a rating of 9/10 and concluded, “It might fall quick in some respects, however it ought to be celebrated for its most gorgeous moments and the characters who embody them. FFXVI succeeds and earns its place throughout the Final Fantasy pantheon as one of many nice entries, and does so by itself phrases.”