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Whereas Closing Fantasy XVI might have ended on a quite definitive be aware, its DLC rollout explores rather more of its world of Valisthea. The primary story hinted at a couple 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 had been desirous to get again into the footwear of protagonist Clive for extra of the trendy action-RPG fight had one thing to chew on. But it surely’s the upcoming The Rising Tide DLC that can 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 sport. After enjoying by way of Echoes of the Fallen, I had an opportunity to talk with FFXVI DLC director Takeo Kujiraoka concerning the improvement of post-game content material and what it means for the way forward for this specific 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’ve got deliberately modified the balancing of fight from that of the principle sport. Particularly, we have boosted the general energy of the enemies within the DLC,” Kujiraoka said. This was abundantly clear within the boss combat in opposition to Omega, which was a deal with for Closing 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 principle story and borrows a number of complicated 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 workforce paid consideration to the neighborhood enjoying FFXVI, saying, “Partly, it is because we had set the enemy energy a little bit low in the principle sport to make sure that as many gamers as attainable would be capable to attain the ending. However, from participant reactions and streams, it appeared to me that we might possibly push that enemy energy a little bit larger.” He additionally talked about that since each DLCs open up simply earlier than the ultimate act of the bottom sport, gamers might be experienced–though, I need to admit, it took a short while 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 tips on how to 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 concerning 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 collection, together with FFXIV, for inspiration on tips on how to visualize expertise or for naming, however these are purely homages to earlier titles and a nod to the followers. Having mentioned that, it’s stunning 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 kind 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 would possibly depart a very sturdy impression? And maybe FFXIV and FFXVI really feel comparable 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 monitor. Kujiraoka offered some perception on how music got here collectively for the DLC, and advised me, “When chatting with Soken, I’d at all times clarify the state of affairs the place the piece can be used, locations the place I might wish to change the music, and so on., all while exhibiting him precise gameplay. At instances, I did specify specific 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 had been confirmed, so it looks like Soken could be very a lot part of how these tales come throughout.
Kujiraoka mentioned, “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 had 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 workforce had been allowed to only cook 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 concept of Omega.”
Nonetheless, that is not all. On the subject of the upcoming Leviathan-themed DLC, Kujiraoka advised me, “We’ve got additionally obtained the music for The Rising Tide, and every bit is improbable. You’ll be able to count on nice issues!” Possibly it is time to get “Via 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 making an attempt to flesh out Valisthea. In terms of tying lingering narrative components collectively, Kujiraoka mentioned, “All of the unfastened ends from the principle 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 the rest can be fairly tough.” That might 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’s the query of what you would possibly discover on the outer isles, throughout the seas from Valisthea–that’s one thing I am fairly considering, from the attitude of a developer and as a participant myself!” So possibly this two-part DLC arc isn’t 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.
Irrespective of which approach you chop it, FFXVI tried to include some heavy narrative themes resembling 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 facet of its politics and messages. Kujiraoka said 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 stay 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 long run 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 would possibly end up after the ending of the principle sport, with out presenting a particular conclusion. As we constructed the story, I typically spoke with the workforce about desirous to make gamers really feel optimistic that folks would be capable to go on residing in a world with out magic.”
Echoes of the Fallen is offered now and is a reasonably brief, 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, be sure you try my Closing Fantasy XVI evaluation the place I gave it a rating of 9/10 and concluded, “It could fall brief in some respects, but it surely 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.”
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