TheFinal Fantasybrand has been in a strange rut recently. Ever sinceFinal Fantasy 10, fan response for the mainline games has been generally favorable but tinged with disappointment.Final Fantasy 11is an experimental MMO that still has fans, but it did not draw the same attention as its competitors.12felt like an effort to combine an MMO’s structure with a JRPG, and some decisions regarding Vaan and Penelo’s prominence did not impress players.Final Fantasy 13and its sequels are controversial for many reasons, andFinal Fantasy 14, despite its current runaway success, launched as a disastrous failure.Final Fantasy 15’s development woes are portrayed by its odd content omissions, andeven theFinal Fantasy 7 Remakemade some bold story choices that did not sit well with some originalFF7players.
Despite that, the series is still going strong, with numbered titles performing well andFinal Fantasy 14serving as a pillar of modern Square Enix. Plenty of spin-offs are also coming out, including games likeWorld of Final FantasyandChocobo GP. These also contribute toFinal Fantasy’s odd state, however, with reasons ranging fromChocobo GP’s pricing schemeto the rough state ofFinal Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Editionat launch. Just beforeChocobo GP, there was another spin-off released from Koei Tecmo’s Team Ninja. This wasStranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, and while it turned out better than fans feared, it still feels like it’s setting the stage for the potential slam dunkFinal Fantasy 16could score.
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Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is an Awkward Game
To understand whyFinal Fantasy Origincould be paving the way forFinal Fantasy 16, one must first understandFFOitself.Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Originis a Souls-like action-RPG developed byNiohdeveloper Team Ninja and is meant to be a reimagining ofFinal Fantasy 1. The game shares many similarities withNioh 1and2, also being a Souls-like with strong action and loot collecting elements.Stranger of Paradiseis akin to aNioh 3, evolving the series formula by adding many mechanically different classes that the player can upgrade separately and switch to on the fly. The difficulty is still somewhat high, but with multiple difficulty levels and a variety of options for encounters, players should have no trouble completing the game.
Theaction gameplay inFinal Fantasy Originis generally agreed to be its strong point, and that’s enough for its fans. It’s far from a perfect game, however, and its problems quickly become apparent as soon as one looks at it. The game possesses modern visual fidelity but is held back by several technical issues. Dataminers have discovered that some problems are caused by extremely unoptimized assets, but other issues remain unexplained. There is no way at the moment forFinal Fantasy Originto hold a high resolution and a high frame rate, and players are forced to pick between the two. The art direction for the main characters does not help matters either, reminding many of generic shooter protagonists from the PS3 and Xbox 360 era.
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This specific comparison is brought to life by the behavior ofmain character Jack, who is written in an exaggeratedly angry fashion that rarely lets up, even if the game does occasionally poke fun at him. Many have been reminded of the embarrassing macho edginess that some of the aforementioned seventh-gen shooters upheld. Jack’s constant reiteration of wanting to find and kill Chaos robs the name of any meaning and makes many scenes laughable. For those who enjoy cheesy B-movies, this could be called a positive, but it isn’t likely to go down well with mainstream audiences. Once again,Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Originis a flawed but enjoyable action game that awkwardly celebrates the franchise’s 35th anniversary. However,Final Fantasy 16has the chance to show it up in every respect.
Final Fantasy 16 Could Execute Final Fantasy Origin’s Goals Better
Final Fantasy 16is an action-RPG produced byFinal Fantasy 14director Naoki Yoshida and developed by theFinal Fantasy 14 Heavenswardteam at Square Enix Creative Business Unit 3.Niohmay be a proven series from an esteemed developer, but the pedigree ofFinal Fantasy 14and itsHeavenswardexpansion, in particular, is hard to understate. With the alleged help of aDevil May Cry 5combat designer,Final Fantasy 16seeks to complete the franchise’s journey into action thatFinal Fantasy 15began.
It’s too soon to compareFFOandFF16’s gameplay, and they will likely end up feeling very different. However,FF16seems to be set up to have a much wider appeal thanStranger of Paradise. Multiple difficulties have already been alluded to, though the base gameplay will probably be more forgiving thanFFO’s Souls-like tendencies. The game’s performance and visuals may also be significantly better thanStranger of Paradise. TheFF16reveal trailer was stated by Yoshida to use unfinished visuals, which should mean that the “seventh-gen” complaints that doggedFFOshould be avoided. With16only targeting the PS5 at launch, it will also be able to tune itself for one reasonably strong console rather than several.
While Jack’s bad attitude and tendency to interrupt villains like the lead ofAsura’s Wrathcan be entertaining,Clive Rosfield’s story inFinal Fantasy 16will likely be told in a more balanced and graceful manner. Players will get the chance to experience Clive’s life before, during, and after tragedy strikes him, and could end up with a lot more empathy for his mission of vengeance than Jack’s. HelpingFinal Fantasy 16will be the expectedFinal Fantasystaples mostFFgames reuse, making it feel like a series celebration even if it misses the 35th anniversary. There is a lot of hope right now forFF16, and if it can set right whatStranger of Paradisegot wrong, then it could stand withFinal Fantasy’s greatest hits.
Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Originis available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.Final Fantasy 16is in development for PS5.
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