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Final Fantasy XVI – Full Review
An Action RPG of colossal scale.
Final Fantasy XVI is the latest installment in Square Enix’s long running RPG franchise and this time we are taken to the land of Valisthea. Despite being the sixteenth entry, the game does well very to mix up the old formula and to make itself feel fresh and very accessible to newcomers and veterans alike. Of particular note is the transition to a fully action-based combat system. Another highlight is the truly epic boss fights which really utilise the full potential of the PS5. From start to finish, I was truly captivated. The game kept me on the edge of my seat, wanting to know what would happen next for the full 50 hours it took for me to complete the main story. It definitely lived up to my expectations and represents one of the best times I have had with a new Final Fantasy release in recent memory.
Gameplay.
As stated above, Final Fantasy XVI makes the transition to a full action-based RPG. The game transitions seamlessly into battles, and you are free to attack, dodge and use all the special attacks in your arsenal to defeat enemies. Towards the start, you will unlock many useful abilities associated with your main ‘eikon’ Ifrit such as a charged up attack. There are also more powerful moves associated with your eikon. By gaining experience in battle, you can unlock an increasing number of these moves. As the story progresses, you will then unlock new eikons. All these elements really combined well to a create a very satisfying gameplay experience. It was good challenge trying to dodge all the attacks. The ability to choose which eikons and special moves suit your playstyle also really added depth and variety to the battle system. Another thing I really appreciated was the difficulty level. Final Fantasy XVI does very well to cater to new and experienced players alike. There is a story based mode, ideal for casual players and a more difficult action mode. Even on the action mode, the game has checkpoints during the boss battles. If you are defeated, you often don’t have to restart the whole battle. In addition, the game also replenishes your supply of potions. Not only this, but there are several accessories you can equip to make the battle system easier, if you so wish. Overall, I really enjoyed the battle system. It was one of the highlights of the game for me, and I did appreciate the easier difficulty level, especially in comparison to some of the earlier games in the franchise.
Outside of combat, the other part to the gameplay concerns the exploration. Final Fantasy XVI, isn’t an open-world title, but you will still get to explore some quite large and expansive areas. During the main missions, there is often a set path you must follow. Sometimes you have to interact with objects and climb to higher areas with the press of a button. Apart from this, the exploration is fairly simple, but it never felt tedious or cumbersome. For a game mostly focused on it’s story and combat, the exploration was perfectly acceptable, and it was never difficult to navigate the areas and to know where to go. There are markers on the map, and your pet companion ‘Torgal’ can also show you where to go by simply holding down the L3 button.
Story and Presentation.
The story is another area where Final Fantasy XVI really shines. There were many twists and turns, and the way the story is presented was really top notch. The cinematic scenes looked extremely good, especially during the main story quests. In addition, I found the main cast to be very likeable. I was able to connect with the characters well, and all their stories and backstories were very well written. The darker tone along with a more medieval setting is also something I really appreciated. The game felt like a breath of fresh air from previous entries in this way. In addition to all this, the game was also paced very well and kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Lastly, Final Fantasy XVI also has a lot of side quests to keep you occupied and to help pad out the adventure. This is one of the only areas I found to be a more mixed bag. Some of the optional missions provided interesting backstories to some of the side characters you will frequent. However, certain side quests seemed more mundane, and the quality of the cinematics and cutscenes are noticeably lower most of the time during these quests. Nevertheless, I found myself still motivated to finish the majority of them, and although not as interesting as the main story, they still mostly kept my attention.
Graphics and Performance.
The graphics are another very strong point to this game. Final Fantasy XVI really takes full advantage of the power of the PS5. The cutscenes are very detailed and some of the open environments are breath-taking. In addition, the game even features ray-traced shadows to make the environments seem all the more realistic. The boss battles are also a highlight from a visual aspect. They are a true marvel to witness with all the particle effects, and with the sheer size and scale of some the bosses. It is really amazing what Square Enix was able to achieve on the PS5 here. In terms of the performance, there is a resolution and a frame-rate focused mode. The resolution mode runs well very at it’s target of 30 FPS. It is stable and presents a native resolution ranging from about 1080p to 1440p. I played in this mode and I had no major issues with the performance. The frame-rate mode however targets 60 FPS, but largely fails to reach this figure except during combat. In combat, the resolution takes a dive in order to reach 60 FPS. In this mode, image quality is therefore quite heavily sacrificed with lows of 720p often seen during the fights. It is clear that Final Fantasy XVI is a very taxing game for the PS5 and overall I would recommend the resolution mode, which is the mode I personally played in.
Verdict.
Final Fantasy XVI is a fantastic action RPG that keeps you hooked from start to finish. Despite being the sixteenth entry, it does amazingly well to set itself apart and to accommodate new and old players alike. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the game, from the exciting combat to the beautifully presented cinematics. It really lived up to my expectations. There are few major criticisms I have against this latest entry. Perhaps some of the side quests could have been more interesting, but I still find this to be one of the best Final Fantasy games in recent memory. If you enjoy Action RPG’s, I would highly recommend you to play this game.
9.0 out of 10.
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Major Video Games Releases For July 2023.
By Nintendo – https://www.dekudeals.com/items/pikmin-4?utm_source=nt, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73976907
We are now half way through 2023. It has been a spectacular year for gaming so far. As we go into the second half of 2023, things seem to be just as auspicious. There are a huge amount of titles to look forwards to in the next 6 months. In this article, I will focus on biggest releases coming out in July 2023.
14/07/2023 – Exoprimal (PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX, PC)
Exoprimal is an online third-person shooter being developed and published by Capcom. The game mainly involves donning powerful exosuits with unique abilities and fighting hordes of dinosaurs. It sets itself apart from many online games in that it is mainly a PvE title (Player vs Enemy) rather than being PvP.
21/07/23 – Pikmin 4 (NS)
The next entry in the long-running Pikmin franchise is out on 21st July for the Switch. Much like previous games in the series, you must raise an army of pikmin to defeat enemies and to achieve various other objectives. There are some new features this time around. For example, you can have a custom character for the first time. There will also be an adjusted day and night cycle, allowing you to explore freely after dark.
25/07/23 – Remnant 2 (PC, PS5, XSX)
Remnant 2 is an upcoming third-person shooter being developed by Gunfire games. In the game, you select an archetype and fight your way through procedurally generated levels. Unlike the first game in the series, not only the levels, but also the storyline, quests and many other elements are also procedurally generated this time.
26/07/23 – Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart (PC)
The latest game in Insomniac’s Ratchet and Clank franchise comes to PC on 26th July. This latest entry had very positive reception and really made good use of the PS5’s hardware capabilities including it’s SSD. It is a very captivating intergalactic adventure, full of fast-paced combat and well executed humour. It’s definitely a game not to overlook for PC users.
31/07/23 – F1 Manager (PC, PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX)
F1 Manager 2023 is the second instalment in the series, and being developed and published by Frontier Developments. Unlike it’s predecessor, it will now feature a new race replay mode. It will also include all the tracks in the 2023 season along with commentary from multiple well-known TV presenters.
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Dr Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine – Full Review
Puyo Puyo mixed with Super Meat Boy.
Dr Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine is an indie title by Headup Games. The game represents a unique spin on the puzzle genre. You control a number of characters from the Super Meat Boy franchise and you have to match them up and form chains to proceed in the level. This all sounds simple, until you factor in the saws and and the other deadly weapons and traps you must avoid during your character’s descent.
The gameplay elements are where this game really shined for me. All the aforementioned weapons and traps really help set this game apart from other similar titles. It adds a good level of challenge. Not only do you have to match the characters and form chains, but you must also steer clear of all the obstacles and weapons in your way. If you collide with one, your character will die and it will affect your score at the end of the level. Throughout the game, there is a great variety of traps that you must avoid, and this really makes each level feel different and not too similar to the last. As you progress through these levels, you will eventually which a boss stage. This presents it’s own unique challenges and is another thing that kept this game interesting and not too predictable. There are 6 different boss levels, along with 6 different worlds and I found this to be a good length for a game of this type.
The game can be rather difficult. At times, it is punishingly so, but it never fails to keep you coming back for more. The unique spin that it takes on it’s respective genre hooked me from the offset and had me constantly wondering what was to come next. The gameplay is easy to understand, but difficult to master. As a result, Dr Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine has a surprising amount of depth and re-playability. It is something that I really appreciated from this title.
Verdict
Dr Fetus’ Meat Machine is a very fun puzzle game that successfully mixes Super Meat Boy with Puyo Puyo style gameplay. It represents a fresh take on the puzzle genre and was entertaining from start to finish. This is the perfect game for anyone looking for a unique, challenging puzzle title. It has more than enough to keep you coming back for more, and it does very well to set itself apart from similar games in it’s genre.
9.0/10 – Amazing
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Final Fantasy XVI Demo – First Impressions.
The launch of Final Fantasy XVI is imminent and we have been gifted with a demo for the upcoming title to tide us over until then. The demo consists of around 2 hours of early gameplay, and helps you ease into the game’s mechanics and story. It does very well to set up the premise and I highly appreciated the ability to carry over your save data from the demo into the full game.
In terms of the overall presentation, the demo really impressed me. It features a lot of grandiose and stunning cinematic sequences. They are very well executed and it really helps to amplify the storytelling that Final Fantasy is so well known for. This demo also introduces us to many of the main characters and features a plot twist that really helps establish the story for the main game. I found it engaging and entertaining from start to finish, and was definitely left wanting to know what was going to happen next.
Another part worth commenting on is the combat. The demo featured multiple combat tutorials and I had a good feel for the battle system by the end. You can dodge, parry, lock on, attack. All the standard moves found in an action RPG are here. However, you can also close in on enemies and perform special attacks with your equipped ‘eikons’. Another element I appreciated is the ability point system. In brief, you can learn new abilities and new moves from levelling up and gaining these points. All these mechanics when combined really do make Final Fantasy XVI feel like a true Action RPG and it is something I very much welcomed. In terms of the combat difficulty, I found it to be very forgiving so far and there were multiple ways to make it easier, such as by equipping special items the game gives to you, or by obviously choosing the story mode.
Lastly, I was very content with the performance of the Demo. As promised, there is a 60 FPS mode with a lower resolution, as well as a resolution mode running at 4K. I opted for the 60 FPS mode and noticed few frame drops. The experience was smooth overall and the visuals were still very impressive.
All in all, I came away from the Final Fantasy XVI demo feeling more excited than ever about playing the full game. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with it. The game felt like a welcome return to a series I know and love, while also managing to set itself apart from earlier entries. The opening two hours were extremely promising, and so I can’t wait to experience the rest of what Final Fantasy XVI and the world of Valisthea has to offer.
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Major Video Game Releases for June 2023
By https://store.playstation.com/en-gb/concept/10002100, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=65736387
Summer is coming, and along with it there are a huge host of new releases to look forward to. I will list them once again in this article, starting with the five releases I consider to be the most significant along with five honourable mentions.
02/06/23 – Street Fighter 6 (PS4, PS5, XSX, PC)
Street Fighter 6 is the next big instalment in this long running franchise by Capcom. This iteration of Street Fighter will feature a more open world approach to the story mode. It will also have many returning characters as well as some new ones. Another notable addition is that of a real time commentary mode. Overall, this game promises to be the most complete Street Fighter game yet and is a must play for fans of the fighting genre.
06/06/23 – Diablo IV (PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX, PC)
The next entry in the critically acclaimed Diablo series. This is an action RPG by Blizzard Entertainment. The main gameplay element revolves around getting stronger and stronger equipment by defeating increasingly powerful enemies. Diablo IV will be set 30 years after the third game and will focus more around the people of the Sanctuary. The game will be set in a fully open-world. Based on the popularity of the Beta in March, this is a must buy for fans of the previous title.
16/06/23 – F1 23 (PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX, PC)
The newest iteration of the F1 series developed by Codemasters and published by EA Sports. The ‘Braking Point’ story mode from F1 21 will see it’s return in this title, this time being called Breaking Point 2. In addition, the game will have overhauled driving physics and as well as an overhauled User Interface. F1 23 has been teased as a new start for the series and as such is expected to contain a lot of new changes and additions compared to previous to it’s predecessors.
20/06/23 – Crash Team Rumble (PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX)
This is an upcoming online multiplayer title by Toys for Bob and Activision. It is largely inspired by the classic party game Crash Bash for the PS1. As such, it features a multitude of minigames. You will compete against other online players while playing as many of the classic characters we have come to know and love from the Crash Bandicoot franchise. The game will feature a battle pass with multiple cosmetic skins to unlock. There will also be multiple seasons with a new battle pass each time in addition to other new content coming in the future. All in all, this title looks to be great fun and for fans of online multiplayer titles, it is definitely worth checking out.
22/06/23 – Final Fantasy XVI (PS5)
This is the most anticipated game of the month for many. The next main entry in the long running JRPG franchise, Final Fantasy is finally on the horizon. It is set in a medieval-like world known as Valisthea. Valisthea is divided between six nations and tensions are at an all time high in the game due to a disease called the Blight that is consuming everything in it’s path. You play as Clive Rosfield on his quest for revenge that involves finding the Eikon Ifrit.
Honourable Mentions
01/06/23 – Killer Frequency (PC, NS, PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX)
01/06/23 – Homebody (PC, NS, PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX)
06/06/23 – Amnesia: The Bunker (PC, PS4, XBO, XSX)
20/06/23 – Aliens: Dark Descent (PC, PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX)
30/06/23 – Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (PC, NS, PS4, XBO)
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After Us – Review
After Us is a platformer developed by ‘Piccolo’ and published by ‘Private Division’. It is set in a surrealist, dystopia. You play as Gaia, who is tasked with finding spirits and vessels before returning them to the Mother Ark.
The general story of this game revolves around the degradation that humans have had on the planet. The environment reflects this and it is a real highlight to the overall experience. The visuals are beautiful and striking and they really add to the sombre atmosphere this title tries to portray. It ties in very well with general dystopian tone seen here. During the story, there are numerous spirits to find with each representing a different animal. This plotline sets up many meaningful and emotional moments during the game. It was also very rewarding to find each spirit and it is something that kept me engaged and wanting to see more throughout my time playing.
In terms of the general gameplay, I found the platforming to be solid. I soon became used to the controls and there are a variety of different moves at your disposal to navigate through the levels. You can run, do a single or double jump, ride along vines, climb up certain walls and perform a boost in mid air. The combat however was a bit less impressive. It consists of shooting your life force at the human enemies called ‘Devourers’. It was fairly one-dimensional since you only have one way of attacking the enemies while trying to dodge and outrun them. Another area of the game that sometimes frustrated me was the general progression. I found it hard to know where to go next at times and I would have liked there to be some kind of waypoint to keep me on track.
When it comes to performance, there is a 4K 30 FPS mode and a 1440p 60 FPS mode on PS5. I played on performance mode. I feel like the performance was okay, but not perfect at this point. There are occasional frame drops and stutters, but nothing bad enough to seriously detract from the experience.
Verdict
Overall, I enjoyed my time with ‘After Us’. It presents a stunningly well realised dystopian world along with some very meaningful and deep messages. Saving the spirits and vessels was rewarding and had me wanting to keep playing. Despite, certain lacklustre areas such as the combat and at times performance, I would highly recommend this title if not just for the amazing visuals alone. It was definitely a memorable experience with enough redeeming qualities for me to confidently recommend this to anyone who likes platformers.
8 out of 10.
Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this product from https://keymailer.co
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Major Video Game Releases For May 2023
Image: Nintendo – Fair use.
May 2023 promises to be yet another full month of big video game releases. In this article, I will once again list the top five games to keep on your radar this month along with some honourable mentions.
02/05/23 – Redfall (XSX/S, PC)
Redfall is an upcoming first person shooter developed by Arkane Austin and published by Bethesda. It is set in a fictional town going by the same name of the title. You play as one of four survivors tasked with fighting off vampires and as well as human enemies. The game has both support for both single and multiplayer modes of play.
12/05/23 – The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (NS)
Tears of the Kingdom speaks for itself. This is the sequel to the one of the most critically acclaimed titles of all time. As normal, you play as Link on his quest to save Hyrule in an expansive open-world environment. Tears of the Kingdom is expected to build upon its predecessor Breath of the Wild and looks very promising from what we have seen so far. If you are a fan of open-world titles with lots of exploration and puzzle solving, then I highly recommend you to keep an eye out for this game.
16/05/23 – Humanity (PS4, PS5, PC)
This is an upcoming third person puzzle game. You play as a Shiba Inu who is must command large crowds in order to solve the various challenges in this title. The overall premise is quite unique and very intriguing indeed. It is worth noting that Humanity will be available as a day one release on the PS Plus Extra game catalogue.
19/05/23 – Lego 2K Drive (PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX, NS, PC)
This is an upcoming Lego-based racing game. It is set in the fictional world of Bricklandia. During the game players will be able to compete in a multitude of races and challenges outside of the main story. It will also be possible to create your own Lego vehicle with as many as 1,000 Lego pieces.
25/05/23- The Lord of the Rings: Gollum (PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX, PC)
To finish off this list, we have The Lord of the Rings: Gollum. This is another highly anticipated title to keep on your radar. It is an action-adventure game that will tell an original story about Gollum. It is set in between the events of the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings.
Honourable Mentions
11/05/23 – Death or Treat (PS5, XSX, PC)
11/05/23 – TT Isle of Man: Ride On The Edge 3 (PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX, NS, PC)
23/05/23 – Amnesia: The Bunker (PS4, XBO, XSX, PC)
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DE-EXIT: Eternal Matters – Full Review
De-Exit: Eternal Matters is a game developed by SandBloom Studio and published by HandyGames. It is a gorgeous looking voxel based title with an interesting plot around the theme of death. The basic premise is that you have to fix the plane of memory by collecting soul fragments. The main adventure is then split into five chapters and you will gradually gain new abilities as you progress.
One of the things I appreciated most from my time with this game was the general gameplay. This title contains a variety of puzzles to be solved, as well as some stealth elements. The puzzles are rewarding and provide a good amount of challenge. One early example is a puzzle involving a set of windmills that need to be move into the correct position. It involved some trial and error, but never became frustrating or monotonous. I was also impressed with the stealth mechanics. The game first introduces you to them during the prologue. You have a light that you can use to reveal the position of the enemies. It is then necessary to sneak past them at the right time and to use the grass as cover.
Another thing that left a lasting positive impression on me was the overall presentation. The game has a great art style and the story is well told through the cutscenes. It also does well at explaining the basic controls and mechanics during it’s prologue, in addition to setting up the premise. When it comes to the visuals in particular, the voxel based render system really helps to differentiate this title. It looks pleasing to the eye and it was enjoyable exploring the world and just taking in the different areas found in this game.
Finally, I found this game to be really unique in it’s exploration of death. It is a theme that the game does well to address. The way in which death features in the game made this a very fascinating game to play with plenty of depth to it. The only downsides to the experience I found is that it can be hard to know what to do next. I would have liked for there to be more guidance, maybe in the form of a mini-map or way-marker.
Overall, De-Exit: Eternal Matters is a fascinating and entertaining title that is definitely worth playing. Unfortunately, it seems to have flown under the radar of a lot of gamers. If you do decide to check it out though, you will be in for a treat here. This title made for a fascinating and intriguing experience, and as such it deserves more attention.
Recommend = 8 out of 10
+ Beautiful Voxel Style Visuals
+ Interesting plot
+Entertaining Gameplay
– Can be hard to navigate through the puzzles without hints or guidance
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Steam Hardware Survey Results for March 2023 (RTX 3060 is the New King!!)
This month has been a very interesting one indeed when it comes to the latest hardware survey. There have been some MAJOR changes since last month and, yet again, I will summarise them all below.
System RAM:
Most Popular = 16 GB at 56.92% (+5.18%)
Biggest Increase = 32 GB at 22.41% (+8.57%)
CPU Speeds:
Most Popular and Biggest Increase = 2.7 to 2.99 GHz at 25.13% (+12.75%)
Physical CPUs:
Most Popular and Biggest Increase = 6 CPUs at 45.78% (+13.70%)
GPU
Most Popular and Biggest Increase = RTX 3060 at 10.44% (+6.90%)
VRAM
Most Popular = 8 GB at 32.16% (+5.09%)
Biggest Increase = 12 GB at 16.46% (+7.78%)
Primary Display Resolution
Most Popular = 1920 x 1080 at 64.28% (-0.55%)
Biggest Increase = 2560 x 1440 at 20.72% (+9.66%)
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Major Video Games Releases for April 2023
By Dambuster Studios, Fair Use, Media – Dead Island 2 April 2023 is set to be another big month for the video game industry. There are numerous releases slated in what promises to be another exciting month for video games fans alike. Below, I will list the top 5 games to keep an eye on, in my opinion, along with some honourable mentions.
04/03/2023 – Meet Your Maker (PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX/S, PC)
Meet Your Maker is an upcoming first-person shooter/level editor title by Behaviour Interactive. The premise revolves around constructing and defending your own base and raiding those of other players. It is worth noting that this game will be available for free on release for everyone with PS Plus. Overall, the concept behind this title is very interesting and I look forward to seeing more of it in action.
07/04/23 – EA Sports PGA Tour (PS5, XSX/S, PC)
EA Sports PGA Tour will be releasing next month to coincide with the real-life Master’s Tournament. This title is definitely worth checking out for fans of golf. This years’ edition includes a grand total of 30 courses at release and will have a roster of many of the greatest golfers out there to play as.
18/04/23 – Minecraft Legends (NS, PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX/S, PC)
This is a spin-off of Minecraft and acts an action-strategy title being published by Xbox Game Studios. The premise is that piglins have invaded from the Nether causing the Nether to spread corruption across the Overworld. It is up to the player to help defend their home from this corruption. This title will have both cooperative and competitive multiplayer.
21/04/23 – Dead Island 2 (PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX/S, PC)
Dead Island 2 is the sequel to the original 2011 game. This title has been in development for a long time and even switched studios to Dambuster around 4 years ago. Regardless, Dead Island 2 is finally within touching distance and it looks stunning. It takes place in sunny Los Angeles as well as in San Francisco. Similarly to the original title, there are multiple different survivors that you can choose to play as. The game also retains a first-person camera and there is more focus than ever on the gore system. For fans of the original, this is definitely not one to miss!
28/04/23 – Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (PS5, XSX/S, PC)
Developed by Respawn Entertainment and Published by EA, the highly anticipated sequel to 2019’s Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is finally out on 28th April. This title follows the story of Cal Kestis five years after the events of the original game. It will follow his battle to stay one step ahead of the evil Galactic empire and to prevent the last remaining Jedi Knights from being eliminated. Respawn entertainment has made the jump to current gen platforms with this title and for this reason, the game is expected to take full advantage of the power of the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Honourable Mentions
04/04/23 – Road 96: Mile 0 (PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX/S, PC)
14/04/23 – Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection (NS, PS4, PC)
19/04/23 – Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores DLC (PS5)
21/04/23 – Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp (NS)
25/04/23 – Strayed Lights (NS, PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX/S, PC)
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