4.5/5 ★ – SpookyCris's review of Final Fantasy XVI.

The gameplay is a 5 out of 5. The visuals are a 5 out of 5. The music 5 out of 5. Production feels 5 out of 5. The bosses are 7 out of 5. Truly a remarkable game. The story is a 5 out of 5….until the last third when it drops to a 3 out of 5. The introduction of the “true” final boss ruins the pace of the game when it feels like fantasy world political thriller suddenly turns into a cataclysmic event featuring gods and the sky turning red. The games necessity to feel connected to previous entries via crystals and certain characters and magic hold down from what truly feels like a remarkable game where story certainly takes the front seat but does not hold back gameplay in any way. What does hold it back its pacing where the game took me around 40 hours to beat and maybe 20 of those were cutscenes alone. 10 of those were within the first 15 hours of the game. The game feels longer than it is and in no part is that aided due to the games worst part: the side quests. The side quests are a 2 out of 5, 1 for the most part. The issue with side quests are the initial do not favor in what the side quests should have been used for, to expand the lore and allow the player to further their knowledge of the world and specific characters. Instead those initial quests are mundane tasks both in terms of what you are actually doing gameplay-wise and what you are accomplishing in the world. Clive Rosfield is a once in a lifetime video game character. His portrayal, thanks to Ben Starr, takes him across a journey of betrayal, of unity, of friendship, of loss and strengths, had me feeling connected to him unlike 99% of the video games I have played. I root for Clive’s success I empathize with his emotions i ache for his relations to work out. A move swordsman with god-lil abilities and powers. A narrative dissonance is created when this super being has to go pick up dirt or deliver meals to members i his base. The side quests that were exciting were the ones that took characters wet met along the journey and fleshed them out. Having reveals that still connected to Clive and felt personal for him, and in doing that, felt personal to the player. Unfortunately these are drown out by side quests that have Clive going to beat random monsters as if he is the only one capable of doing so. ‘I just took down a mountain-sized behemoth, I think I can do fine against a rogue chocobo.’ Despite the negatives being present, and they very much are present and spread throughout the game, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Final Fantasy XVI. The game is will stand the test of time for its production, for Clive, for its gameplay and its boss battles. It is a journey worth taking, even when lost. There is so much of the game that it unmatched but unfortunately held only slightly down from being a masterpiece of a game.