IGN FF16 review is almost like a critique of FF14's own issues

[R041]

I've been waiting, and hype for XVI since we knew it was a thing - I'm unfortunately not enjoying it as a game.

It's been a pretty cool movie, but the balance for everything is whack. It doesn't feel engaging or good to me. It's clear a lot of the new design philosophies with XIV the past few expansions are just a CBU:III trademark at this point. Lack of diversity, lack of itemization, gearing, exploration, difficulty. All of it - Both games suffer tremendously for nearly the exact same reasons.

It's wild to me that, even given the opportunity to not be held down by their MMO gimmicky standards, they're still strapped to them and don't know how to balance a single-player game. I thought it was just an MMO thing, but it's actually a CBU:III thing.

5+ damage every new upgraded weapon? Costs 1.5k? I have 100k? Orchestrion Rolls 20k? +5hp when I have 1500hp? Fangs and 2gil as drops everywhere? MSQ gives 100x rewards of any exploration? Combat is a 1 minute blip in the sea of Cutscenes?

I see a big monster in the distance, and a gold shiny behind it? I should just grab the shiny and run.. Oh, it's 1 hide. Okay, maybe the monster has something? Kill it, takes 5 minutes of button spam, my hand hurts now.. 10xp 5gil. WHAT IS GOING ON.

This game seriously needs a re-balance. Who's in charge of this whack balance for XIV and XVI. It's not fun, it's just cinematic. XVI actively teaches you to avoid anything not MSQ, just like XIV.

I'm only playing it for the MSQ now, and if 'Final Fantasy Mode' just means more hp, then I don't think my lil carpal tunnel wrists can take it. I wanted challenge, not spam.

Also a huge DMC fan, so this should have resonated with me the hardest, but it just isn't a good DMC or a good Final Fantasy. It's weirdly weak versions of both in terms of gameplay. :/
But again, I think the core value is definitely there, it just needs adjustments.

And no I'm not using the ez baby rings, with how easy the game is already - You put on those rings and you may as well just give the controller to your dog or something. lol


5/10 game
9/10 movie