Throughout the course of Final Fantasy 16's development, producer Naoki Yoshida (aka Yoshi P) has provided fans with insight as to just how much Final Fantasy 16 will attempt to move the franchise forward by abandoning what many have come to expect. Perhaps the most dramatic departure from the series' past is FF16's switch to real-time action combat instead of turn-based battles, but recent interviews have also indicated that Final Fantasy 16 is doing away with the traditional party system.
The recent hands-on play test and upcoming demo for Final Fantasy 16 confirm that it will primarily focus on protagonist Clive throughout three separate periods of his life. As a result, only one or two party members will come and go to aid Clive on his quest for revenge. While most titles in the series have featured a dedicated group of party members, this new approach to companions is a direct contrast to Final Fantasy 15, which saw the hero Noctis accompanied throughout the entirety of his journey by his three best friends. Alongside other changes that Final Fantasy 16 is making, shifts away from what players saw in Final Fantasy 15 may be one of its greatest assets.
Leaving Behind Final Fantasy 15's "Boy Band"
The "close-knit group of friends getting bitten by the wanderlust bug" approach to Final Fantasy 15's narrative and party structure served the game well, bringing levity to a series known for brooding male protagonists on a world-saving mission. That said, Final Fantasy 16 is already revealed to be a tale about revenge that spans decades, providing context to their quest in the process.
Under this pretense, having a fixed group of companions could potentially cheapen the narrative and risk making Clive an unlikeable hero. Revenge is a deeply personal motivator, and glimpses of Final Fantasy 16's story indicate that the relationship between Clive and his brother might be the catalyst for a darker turn. With a person's choices often clouded by a singular drive to get even, having a consistent party question Clive's motivations and choices might distract from the intended narrative.
Although Final Fantasy 15 dabbled with real-time combat and AI-controlled party members, Final Fantasy 16 represents a full embrace of the character-action model that has been compared to Devil May Cry - an apt comparison, given the game's inclusion of Ryota Suzuki as combat director. Since players are given more agency and control over the main character during combat than in any previous entry, it makes sense that the game would focus on Clive as a solo protagonist who is occasionally joined by fully AI companions. Having to switch between Clive and the party to issue commands (as in Final Fantasy 15 or Final Fantasy 7 Remake) would disrupt the flow of combat, leading to concessions when it came to combat encounter design.
Final Fantasy 16 Introduces Man's Best Friend
While Final Fantasy 16 is abandoning the series' traditional party system and turn-based combat, the title will feature a series first: a canine companion named Torgal who can be issued commands to assist in battle. While much is still being kept under wraps about Torgal, the use of a dog as Clive's one consistent companion could mean that players form a deep connection with him in the same way that the hero does.
Final Fantasy 16 has several departures for the series, and after the rocky development of Final Fantasy 15 led to a mixed reception from fans, these departures could very well be a risk for Square Enix that pays off in the long run by introducing players to a series that, according to Yoshi P, was considered "fossilized." How much of an improvement Final Fantasy 16 is over Final Fantasy 15 will be apparent when the game releases this summer, but the willingness to change and experiment could end up serving as a watershed moment for the 36-year-old franchise.
Final Fantasy 16 releases on June 22 for PS5.
