Final Fantasy 16: A Journey into Valisthea’s Epic World

Final Fantasy 16, one of the most highly anticipated third-party games of the year, transports players to the enchanting realm of Valisthea, a land reminiscent of medieval Europe. Departing from the open-world format of its predecessor, Final Fantasy 16 embraces an area-based design similar to semi-open-world games like Pokemon Legends: Arceus.

This decision, as explained by producer Naoki Yoshida, aims to provide players with a more immersive experience of the game’s vast and diverse world. In this article, we will delve into the story, setting, and characters of Final Fantasy 16, offering a glimpse into the epic journey that awaits players.

The Story of the Videogame

Set against the backdrop of a fading land called Valisthea, Final Fantasy 16 explores the conflict fueled by the dwindling aether of the Mothercrystals. These mystical crystals have long blessed the inhabitants with abundant aether, which powers the magicks integral to their daily lives.

As the aether wanes and the lifeless deadlands expand, the struggle for control over the remaining fragments of the Mothercrystals intensifies. However, amidst this brewing storm, a faction believes that the crystals’ influence has governed mankind’s destiny for far too long.

Valisthea: A Land Blessed by Mothercrystals

Valisthea is a breathtaking landscape adorned with towering Mothercrystals that emanate radiant auras. These crystals bless the surrounding realms, enabling their inhabitants to harness aether for magical purposes, granting them lives of comfort and prosperity.

Each Mothercrystal has become the foundation of great powers, fostering an uneasy peace between the realms. However, this peace teeters on the brink of collapse as the spread of the Blight threatens to engulf and destroy their dominions.

Eikons and Their Dominants

Within Valisthea, Eikons, awe-inspiring and formidable creatures, reign supreme. Each Eikon resides within a Dominant, an individual blessed with the ability to wield their immense power. Some nations venerate these Dominants as royalty, admiring their strength, while others fear their potential and force them into servitude as weapons of war. Dominants, born with their destiny sealed, find themselves bound to their Eikons, regardless of the cruelty and burden it may impose upon them.

Magic Without Crystals: The Bearer’s Burden

In Valisthea, most individuals rely on the Mothercrystals to access and channel their magical abilities. However, a select few are born with the innate capacity to cast magicks without relying on the crystals. Bearers of this unique gift face divergent destinies based on the realm they are born into, shaping their lives and roles within society.

The Grand Duchy of Rosaria: Bastion of Tradition

The Grand Duchy of Rosaria, located in western Valisthea, was formed through the unification of several independent provinces. Once prosperous, the duchy now faces the imminent threat of the Blight, which could bring ruin to their realm if left unchecked. Rosaria draws its aether from Drake’s Breath, a Mothercrystal situated on a volcanic island off the coast. The Phoenix, Eikon of Fire, bestows its flames upon the duchy’s Archduke, who acts as the guardian of the Mothercrystal.

Characters

1. Clive Rosfield:

   • Voice Actor: BEN STARR
   • The firstborn son of the Archduke of Rosaria.
   • Destined to inherit the Phoenix’s flames, but fate chooses his younger brother Joshua instead.
   • Devotes himself to mastering the blade and becomes the First Shield of Rosaria.
   • Tragedy strikes when a dark Eikon, Ifrit, takes away everything he holds dear, setting him on a path of revenge.

2. Joshua Rosfield:

   • Voice Actor: LOGAN HANNAN
   • The second son of the Archduke of Rosaria, five years younger than Clive.
   • Awakens as the Dominant of the Phoenix at a young age.
   • Admires Clive deeply and regrets being chosen as the Phoenix’s Dominant instead of his brother.
   • Becomes entangled in the tragic events that forever change Clive’s life.

3. Jill Warrick:

   • Voice Actor: SUSANNAH FIELDING
   • Originally from the fallen Northern Territories.
   • Taken in by the Rosaria household and raised alongside Clive and Joshua.
   • The bone-chilling power of the Eikon Shiva awakens within her.

4. Torgal:

   • Another outcast from the Northern Territories, taken in by House Rosfield.
   • Reunited with Clive after surviving a disaster that nearly ended the Rosfield line.
   • Serves Clive with unwavering loyalty.

5. Cidolfus Telamon:

   • Voice Actor: RALPH INESON
   • Known as “Cid,” a soldier turned outlaw.
   • Seeks to create a sanctuary for persecuted Bearers and exploited Dominants.
   • Also a Dominant, wielding the power of the Eikon Ramuh.

6. Benedikta Harman:

   • Voice Actor: NINA YNDIS
   • Coldhearted and ruthless, Dominant of the Eikon Garuda, Warden of the Wind.
   • Commands Waloed’s elite intelligencers.
   • Crosses paths with Clive and must confront her own past.

7. Hugo Kupka:

   • Voice Actor: ALEX LANIPEKUN
   • Permanent Economic Adviser and Dominant of the Eikon Titan.
   • Rises to prominence from being a nameless foot soldier in the Republican Army.
   • Learns that money and power are not the only things the world has to offer.

8. Dion Lesage:

   • Voice Actor: STEWART CLARKE
   • Crown prince of the Holy Empire of Sanbreque and leader of the dragoons.
   • Revered for his heroism and the power of his Eikon Bahamut, King of Dragons.
   • Faces challenges within the empire as shadows loom over his kingdom.

9. Barnabas Tharmr:

   • Voice Actor: DAVID MENKIN
   • A wanderer who became a king through his skill with a blade.
   • Commands the power of the Eikon Odin and rules over the eastern continent.
   • Fascinated by chaos and drawn to battle.

Conclusion

With its captivating story, richly detailed setting, and diverse cast of characters, Final Fantasy 16 promises an unforgettable journey through the enchanting world of Valisthea. Players will embark on Clive Rosfield’s quest for revenge, encountering allies, foes, and mythical beings along the way.

The game’s compelling narrative and dynamic combat system are sure to captivate fans of the series and newcomers alike. As Final Fantasy 16 launches exclusively on PS5, players can look forward to immersing themselves in this epic adventure for a truly unparalleled gaming experience.