Whereas Closing Fantasy XVI could have ended on a reasonably 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 extra 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 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 may 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 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. “We have now 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 acknowledged. This was abundantly clear within the boss struggle towards Omega, which was a deal with for Closing Fantasy sickos (particularly of the MMORPG selection) but in addition a shocking problem that took me a number of tries to complete. It was harder than any boss you encounter in the principle story and borrows a number of advanced mechanics that jogged my memory of Closing Fantasy XIV’s raid bosses, and that helped the fight system shine as soon as once more.
Kujiraoka mentioned that the staff paid consideration to the neighborhood enjoying FFXVI, saying, “Partly, it’s because we had set the enemy power a bit low in the principle recreation to make sure that as many gamers as attainable would be capable of attain the ending. However, from participant reactions and streams, it appeared to me that we may perhaps push that enemy power a bit increased.” He additionally talked about that since each DLCs open up simply earlier than the ultimate act of the bottom recreation, gamers will likely be experienced–though, I need 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 how you 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 would draw from previous installments from the collection, together with FFXIV, for inspiration on how you can visualize expertise or for naming, however these are purely homages to earlier titles and a nod to the followers. Having mentioned that, it’s shocking 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 type of Closing Fantasy theme park–FFXIV director and producer Naoki Yoshida’s phrases, not mine. Kujiraoka continued, “FFXIV options every kind of enemies from the collection as an entire, and it is also the primary time that a number of expertise are portrayed in 3D. Maybe meaning these appearances in FFXIV may depart a very sturdy 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 wherein 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 could be used, locations the place I might wish to change the music, and many others., 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 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 by way of within the background theme as you ascend the dungeon the place the DLC takes place. And my suspicions had been confirmed, so it looks like Soken may be very a lot part of how these tales come throughout.
Kujiraoka mentioned, “There have been instances the place Soken might need determined it will work finest to have one other piece [of music] inserted between the 2 that had been requested, and we’d find yourself getting again extra tracks than we ordered. I belief him, so I left these sorts of choices to him.” Primarily, Soken and the sound staff had been allowed to only cook 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 concept of Omega.”
Nevertheless, that is not all. With reference to the upcoming Leviathan-themed DLC, Kujiraoka informed me, “We have now additionally obtained the music for The Rising Tide, and every bit is incredible. You may count on nice issues!” Perhaps 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 Closing Fantasy video games of the previous, FFXVI’s DLCs are very a lot attempting to flesh out Valisthea. In the case 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 truly suppose that making the rest could be fairly difficult.” That may give the impression that The Rising Tide DLC could be the ultimate bow on FFXVI as we all know it, however he additionally acknowledged, “There’s the query of what you may discover on the outer isles, throughout the seas from Valisthea–that’s one thing I am fairly excited about, from the angle of a developer and as a participant myself!” So perhaps this two-part DLC arc shouldn’t be an entire finish to the world of Valisthea, and maybe leaves a little bit of a gap to search out causes to revisit the setting.
Regardless of which manner you narrow it, FFXVI tried to include some heavy narrative themes akin 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 points 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 acknowledged 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 folks 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 talents, 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 numerous snippets that give a glimpse into how the world may prove after the ending of the principle recreation, with out presenting a particular conclusion. As we constructed the story, I typically spoke with the staff about desirous to make gamers really feel optimistic that individuals would be capable of go on residing in a world with out magic.”
Echoes of the Fallen is offered 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 about to launch someday in Spring 2024. Nevertheless, for those who’ve but to leap into the bottom recreation, you should definitely take a look at my Closing Fantasy XVI overview the place I gave it a rating of 9/10 and concluded, “It might fall quick in some respects, nevertheless it needs to be celebrated for its most gorgeous moments and the characters who embody them. FFXVI succeeds and earns its place inside the Closing Fantasy pantheon as one of many nice entries, and does so by itself phrases.”