The producer behind Final Fantasy 16 has said winning back the trust of fans is a priority after the previous title faced a backlash.
With the latest instalment of the long-running fantasy series launching today, and it being over five years since the release of Final Fantasy 15, this game has a lot riding on it for developer Square Enix. As reported by BBC News, producer Naoki Yoshida has spoken of his hope to rectify the franchise’s previous mistakes.
Final Fantasy 15, while receiving generally positive reviews from critics, received some criticism for the story’s poor pacing and lack of screen time with the supporting characters. The lack of diversity in the cast was also condemned, with some players still threatening to boycott the latest release after it was discovered 16’s characters would be predominantly made up of white men.
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Responding to the franchise’s difficult few years, Yoshida said: "Because the Final Fantasy 15 story wasn't as well received as past titles, we needed to focus on regaining players' trust, and show them again that this series is all about the story." The plot appears to be the priority, unsurprising given the series’ longstanding themes around protecting the planet and environmentalism.
On the themes of Final Fantasy 16, Yoshida said: "I look at games as entertainment, I hope that through this entertainment players can take something away. Talking about the environment and those issues is also very important, but I think what Final Fantasy 16 also focuses on is that there is darkness in the world and darkness in ourselves. We have to accept that darkness to overcome it and move on to tomorrow.”
The game is set in the fictional world of Valisthea, based on Medieval Europe. Main character Clive Rosfield witnesses the destruction of his kingdom by Eikons monsters due to geo-political tensions and begins a quest for revenge.
While clarifying that he will leave the exact meaning of the story up to the players’ interpretation, Yoshida admitted that having a strong reaction to the game’s events will make him and the developers “very proud and happy”. Role-playing games (RPGs) seem to have increased in popularity recently, with action title Diablo 4 becoming Blizzard’s fastest-selling game of all time.
However, divisions have appeared between newcomers and long-time players over the long and repetitive gameplay which is present in many RPGs. A similar debate may occur if the latest Final Fantasy enjoys a successful launch.
Final Fantasy is a timed exclusive to the PS5. It can be purchased via Argos, Game, HMV, The Game Collection and 365 Games.
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