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

[IkaraGreydancer]

https://www.ign.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-review

"RPG elements feel a little underdeveloped"
"Status ailments are basically completely absent"
"there’s no real system of elemental strengths or weaknesses very little in the realm of buffs and debuffs"
"loot seems like an afterthought"
"I never once felt incentivized to explore either the corners of the linear main levels, or the more open fields of the interconnected overworlds."

Much like modern FF14, FF16 dazzles and bedazzles, but it is all style, no substance. Much like modern FF14, FF16 uses its story to cover up its uninteresting RPG systems.

The moment they give more in depth rpg system yall will complain about balance.
Status ailments are absent...do you even play xiv? Like at all?
Who tf wants elemental strength in ffxiv?
Loot is an afterthought eh? I guess that's why folks are running dungeons n raids everyday for loot...oh wait...
You not wanting to explore dungeons via the feature is a you problem. I personally like going in and reading the lore of places like Ktisis n such. Overworld? I could kind of see though isn't Aether..what's it called? The orbs you need to fly pretty much your exploration?

For a game that's all style n no substance you look foolish paying for something like that monthly. Just saying

[Atelier-Bagur]

As someone who is a literal fanboy of the FF series having played every mainline FF game and most of the side games to death. Im just laughing at the whines and cried of people here saying that FFXVI isnt an FF game.

Its an FF game. Seems to me that people are just desperately trying to use that as an excuse for not liking the game so they try to validate or justify that opinions by demeaning the product to make themselves feel better.

Look its not my favorite game (yet I still have yet to finish to formulate that opinion yet), I still regard FFIX as the best one but FFXVI is still a FF game.

[thevanguard]

As someone who is a literal fanboy of the FF series having played every mainline FF game and most of the side games to death. Im just laughing at the whines and cried of people here saying that FFXVI isnt an FF game.

Its an FF game. Seems to me that people are just desperately trying to use that as an excuse for not liking the game so they try to validate or justify that opinions by demeaning the product to make themselves feel better.

Look its not my favorite game (yet I still have yet to finish to formulate that opinion yet), I still regard FFIX as the best one but FFXVI is still a FF game.

W...who said FF16 isn't an FF game...

?_?

Find better bait next time

[Atelier-Bagur]

W...who said FF16 isn't an FF game...

?_?

Find better bait next time

Does it loo like I was speaking to you with this post? Im referreing to thee general conversation surrounding FFXVI

[Payadopa]

So far I'm enjoying it because I also really like DMC and Bayonetta but as an FF I'm disappointed by the lack of meaningful discoveries and anemic side-quests. The lore is great but all I do is walk from A to B and all I find is crafting materials and 2 Gil. No secret bosses so far either. I'm sure they'll come eventually. Also, why are there no RPG elements? I wasn't too sure ... until I killed a bomb with a fire attack. Sigh. It's like XIV all over again.

I like the game, I enjoy the dark tone, the combat is great but... as an FF it's barely anything I come to love about the series. The last good FF was XII, honestly. I was hoping for something similar but with DMC but... I kinda stopped exploring. A sword that's +2 Str or crafting stuff is not worth my time.

As a game, great. As an FF... I'm very divided.

[R041]

I'm aware that completing the game on normal mode first is required to unlock hard mode. Thanks for clarifying that you haven't been able to beat the game yet even on easy mode yet. Got it. You're not in a position to judge just how hard the game can be then, are you?

You're right, I don't have a PS5 so I can't play the game. I'm limited to watching others who are playing it and sharing those playthroughs online. They have the things they like. They have things they don't like and they're honest about them. But overall, they're really enjoying the game and they are doing those side quests because they are getting rewards they feel worthwhile, even that gil you say is useless because there are things they want to buy and collect such as the orchestrion rolls. They're also looking forward to going through the content on hard mode once they've got it unlocked.

Strange how my friends who are playing the game are enjoying without complaint as well. I can't watch them as they play since they don't stream, though.

Try getting back to us once you've completed the game on hard mode and then start complaining about how baby easy the game is. Or better yet, walk away from CBU3 games altogether since it's clear you've already made up your mind that you are not going to like any game it produces.

You just want to argue with me for sake of argument - Unfortunately I don't really consider your opinions from watching Streamers valid because you don't have first hand experience with the game. After 30 hours of PLAYING, I imagine someone would have an OK understanding and can make a judgement on a game. That's about 20 hours past tutorial for FF standards. 10 hours for XIII. lol

It's not that XVI is an absolutely horrible piece of shit, if you think I'm saying that, then you're misunderstanding and aren't paying attention. It has so many cool systems that each of them just need to be pushed slightly forward to make a fucking masterpiece. It's like Variant Dungeon - It's so close to being amazing, but it's pretty clear the design is super micro managed and something or someone cut costs just to get the systems out. Story focused, but content diminished.

After 30 hours, I've killed a pretty wide variety of shit, I've done most side quests, I have most equipment. It was only AFTER I even finished story stuff that I went back to do these side-quests, because they weren't even worth doing unless you wanted more story from a mannequin shaking their hands.

You're contradicting yourself saying you watch people saying they have things they like/don't like, but also tell me how your friends have no complaints? Okay.
You have 2nd hand experience from watching someone else, and you're also assuming you know everything they're thinking about the game. I'm telling you from first hand experience how I'm finding XVI as an FF + DMC player.
You don't know the feeling of running to a glowy drop in the distance only to be met with 2gil. Over and over and over. It makes your heart sink. It teaches you to stop wanting to do that thing.

And now you need me to beat the game, in order for me to find the pacing of the game and story good? I don't understand - Are you reading what I'm saying? Most story events that occur, like 30 minutes of buildup, usually end in 2 seconds where I AoE everyone in a melted puddle.

Also all of the RPG elements, I can sit here and argue that they're bad, which they.. Kinda are, they're super sub-par, but if you just removed them from the game entirely, I probably wouldn't have been as frustrated.

"Gil is worth it because Orchestrion Rolls" bro this isn't an MMO.. Those should have been challenges, not gil sinks.

You are gullible, because you told me you watch Streamers do all the side-quests because they're apparently worth it. 90% of the time they're not. You try doing those side-quests with no rewards and tell me if you don't fall asleep. lol

These aren't uncommon complaints either. After playing a ton, I decided to start reading some player reviews. Not Journalists. Not Streamers. Players. It's pretty obvious my problems aren't niche, and that's not because Final Fantasy. It's because game design.

Anyway - I'm positive 'Final Fantasy Mode' will have better pacing, it's just unfortunate I have to beat the game first to experience a decently paced story + game combination, when they gave us an easier mode, AND easy rings, making it seem like the Normal mode would be even somewhat challenging.

I genuinely believe people are having a blast with XVI, I'm mostly being picky. So don't take my word as the game as a whole being horrible. Again I said the story is about a 9/10 for me right now. Combat is getting a little better, but I still instantly kill non-stagger enemies, which is super frustrating when you've played DMC and know how things should go. Mah Combos

[R041]

The moment they give more in depth rpg system yall will complain about balance.
Status ailments are absent...do you even play xiv? Like at all?
Who tf wants elemental strength in ffxiv?
Loot is an afterthought eh? I guess that's why folks are running dungeons n raids everyday for loot...oh wait...
You not wanting to explore dungeons via the feature is a you problem. I personally like going in and reading the lore of places like Ktisis n such. Overworld? I could kind of see though isn't Aether..what's it called? The orbs you need to fly pretty much your exploration?

For a game that's all style n no substance you look foolish paying for something like that monthly. Just saying

It's like you're so close to understanding the complaints, but refuse to believe that's what FF and older XIV is. lol

You know Stagger? Are you even playing the game? You know this is an XVI thread right? Anyway - These are basically elemental decision making systems. Without the elements.. You're again so close to understanding critical decision making in games, but refuse to believe they should be a thing? You make Damage oriented attacks Fire and Stagger Ice and it's basically the same thing. People just want wider variety of interaction and reaction, that's all.

You forgot FFVII:R exists and is pretty highly praised.. Itemization, Equipment, Party Synergy.. Except for the time ghosts. Fuck those guys. Combat is phenomenal and should be new gold standard.

Honestly if they made something where it was a mix of VII:R and XVI, like you hot-swap between characters and they had their own lil combos and Eikon abilities. That would be fucking awesome.

I'm not a 'purist', and anyone that acts like FF needs to be something specific is mostly wrong. I just think XVI kinda missed the mark on some great things they could've done better. It's okay to criticize this shit, and you all need to be more comfortable with criticism or we'll just keep getting garbage.

The lore system, the world building, the characters.. Most of that shit in XVI is AMAZING. Oh my god, I go talk to the lady that gives me historical details, and I can check all of the character connections with each other over the years. Then of course the live lore details. Whoever decided to make these is the GOAT.

[JamieRose]

https://www.ign.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-review

"RPG elements feel a little underdeveloped"
"Status ailments are basically completely absent"
"there’s no real system of elemental strengths or weaknesses very little in the realm of buffs and debuffs"
"loot seems like an afterthought"
"I never once felt incentivized to explore either the corners of the linear main levels, or the more open fields of the interconnected overworlds."

Much like modern FF14, FF16 dazzles and bedazzles, but it is all style, no substance. Much like modern FF14, FF16 uses its story to cover up its uninteresting RPG systems.

You can't spell ignorant without IGN!

[R041]

So far I'm enjoying it because I also really like DMC and Bayonetta but as an FF I'm disappointed by the lack of meaningful discoveries and anemic side-quests. The lore is great but all I do is walk from A to B and all I find is crafting materials and 2 Gil. No secret bosses so far either. I'm sure they'll come eventually. Also, why are there no RPG elements? I wasn't too sure ... until I killed a bomb with a fire attack. Sigh. It's like XIV all over again.

I like the game, I enjoy the dark tone, the combat is great but... as an FF it's barely anything I come to love about the series. The last good FF was XII, honestly. I was hoping for something similar but with DMC but... I kinda stopped exploring. A sword that's +2 Str or crafting stuff is not worth my time.

As a game, great. As an FF... I'm very divided.

Yeah that's exactly what a lot of people are saying.. I put my FF hype down for a minute and think about what I'm playing. Realize some things just don't feel good unfortunately. Some of the game design is questionable. I can only be so excited for +5HP, 2 gil, Blood Hide, Fangs so many times.. It feels like fluff. The FF stuff feels like they're tacked on you know? Like they shouldn't really belong, so in some scenarios it'd be best to just not have them at all.

There are some high highs, but these lows and thoughts of what could have been are kinda.. Eh.. It don't feel good in the heart. Still a good game overall, but I don't think $70 is worth the gameplay when I know people would enjoy it almost just as much as if they watched it. Maybe more to be honest. Like if Jojo over here is having a blast watching it? Maybe that's the way to go. Can't be disappointed in a game only giving you 2gil for exploration if you just watch it as a movie. lol

[Atelier-Bagur]

Yeah that's exactly what a lot of people are saying.. I put my FF hype down for a minute and think about what I'm playing. Realize some things just don't feel good unfortunately. Some of the game design is questionable. I can only be so excited for +5HP, 2 gil, Blood Hide, Fangs so many times.. It feels like fluff. The FF stuff feels like they're tacked on you know? Like they shouldn't really belong, so in some scenarios it'd be best to just not have them at all.

There are some high highs, but these lows and thoughts of what could have been are kinda.. Eh.. It don't feel good in the heart. Still a good game overall, but I don't think $70 is worth the gameplay when I know people would enjoy it almost just as much as if they watched it. Maybe more to be honest. Like if Jojo over here is having a blast watching it? Maybe that's the way to go. Can't be disappointed in a game only giving you 2gil for exploration if you just watch it as a movie. lol

I would have to disagree with some points made here, especially the FF stuff. Without the iconic well....eikons and aether and crystals then the story wouldnt really work.

Remember, how come its completely ignored how the most popular game in the franchise....that being FFVII which arguably has more merit to be the less of an FF game is being argued as a "true FF" game than the more fantasy elements of FFXVI? You can seriously try to argue this point. What? Is it because of how its gameplay is still the same as the other games?

Now I agree that the solo character experience with only playing as Clive is very jarring in a series rooted in playing a cast of characters and its not a design choice I wouldve taken. But everything else about it such as your abilities, limit breaks, skill system is still intact with what came before.

I will also somewhat agree with the loot system being uninteresting but the numerous crafting materials you get from shinies and chests contributes to your gear upgrades which at least in spirit it serves with character progression.

Also people who argue about the 5gil drops ooooooooh boy let me tell you about a little game called FF2 where most of the treasure is littered with trash just like that. How about try finding only 1 gil in a treasure chest in that game!!!

Yeah know your series history my man.