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Final Fantasy XVI – final hands-on gameplay

Our last big look at the game before its June 22 launch.

Sal Romano
0
May 22 2023 / 9:00 AM EST

Earlier this month, Square Enix invited members of the press to a final hands-on gameplay session with Final Fantasy XVI ahead of its June 22 launch on PlayStation 5, this time from the start of the game up until about three hours into the story. This is the most we have seen of Final Fantasy XVI so far, and covers the game’s opening hours, Hideaway, The Greatwood, and Three Reeds Field.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time Final Fantasy XVI. I had to end my demo earlier than I would have liked due to personal time constraints, but still ended up leaving 45 minutes later than planned as I was so absorbed that I lost track of time. Everything I played, from the story to the world, gameplay, voice acting, visuals, and so on, felt extremely well polished and detailed. There is really little else left to say other than, at least in its opening few hours, Final Fantasy XVI delivers, and I cannot wait to experience the full game come June.

Gameplay Contents

  • Opening Hours
    • Training Grounds Cutscene
    • Active Time Lore Gameplay
    • Morbol Battle Gameplay
  • Hideaway
    • Introducing the Hideaway with Goetz
    • Meeting Blackthorne
    • Meeting Otto
    • Meeting Lady Charon
    • Orchestrion Gameplay
  • The Greatwood
    • Clive, Cidolfus, and Torgal’s First Expedition
    • Attacking Enemy Mobs #1
    • Attacking Enemy Mobs #2
    • Fafnir Encounter Cutscene
    • Attacking Enemy Mobs #3
    • Animal Sensing with Torgal
    • Obtaining Treasure
    • Fafnir Battle #1
    • Fafnir Battle #2
  • Three Reeds Field
    • Field Walkthrough #1
    • Field Walkthrough #2
    • Bighorn Field Battle
    • Gigas + Goblics Field Battle
    • Scorpion Field Battle

Opening Hours

Training Grounds Cutscene

Active Time Lore Gameplay

Morbol Battle Gameplay

Hideaway

Introducing the Hideaway with Goetz

Meeting Blackthorne

Meeting Otto

Meeting Lady Charon

Orchestrion Gameplay

The Greatwood

Clive, Cidolfus, and Torgal’s First Expedition

Attacking Enemy Mobs #1

Attacking Enemy Mobs #2

Fafnir Encounter Cutscene

Attacking Enemy Mobs #3

Animal Sensing with Torgal

Obtaining Treasure

Fafnir Battle #1

Fafnir Battle #2

Three Reeds Field

Field Walkthrough #1

Field Walkthrough #2

Bighorn Field Battle

Gigas + Goblics Field Battle

Scorpion Field Battle

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Final Fantasy XVI

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