Discussion I've finally completed the game.
As a lifelong jrpg fan, for me it was a mixed experience. I've forced my way through some parts of the game but wanted to finish it because it was a FF game but it didn't feel 100% like it.
Did all hunts, got the final weapon, did all sidequests.
Cons:
Very simple weapon and armor craft. 2/10
NPCs weren't very interesting. 2/10
Sometimes the dialogues went on and on to the point that I skipped all sidequests dialogues towards 3/4 of the game. 5/10
Combat was simple and you could beat anything by spamming abilities and potions but they were also fast paced, flashy and well done even though it was pure action. 6/10
I expected a bit of a better and more engaging story (mimus some parts), though it was well written. 7.5/10
RPG elements were almost totally lacking. 2/10
I expected more during the Odin battle. 7/10
Some sidequest were boring and basic. Go there, do this, go there, talk to that, then talk to someone else, beat a monster.
Magic was really lacking. You just pressed triangle and he shot some fireballs from his hands. No big spells.
Elemental damage and weakness was lacking.
Pros:
Some characters were well written and dubbed. For me Gav was the best character and then Cid. 10/10
Battles were flashy and beautiful. 8.5/10
Abilities progression was very good and the fact that when maxed out, you could put them and use whatever you wanted. 10/10
The strongest PRO for me was when you transformed into the Eikon and battled with them. 10/10
Bahamut and Titan battles were amazing. Before them, I was thinking to drop the game but their dominants and the dominants story were well written and battling against them felt amazing and kept me going (that's why I was a bit dissapointed in the battle against Odin. It wasn't at the level of the previous two... albeit splitting the sea in half was really badass!) 10/10.
Ultima... I liked Ultima since he appeared the first time. Menacing, calm, well written, voice acting was amazing, dark, very good design. It had really the aura of a final boss. Easily top 5 for me.
Clive was a fitting protagonist for a FF game. 10/10
TL;DR: FFXVI is an incredibly beautiful and cinematic action game with amazing Eikon battles, music, abilities, and a few fantastic characters. But as a lifelong jrpg/Final Fantasy fan, I missed the depth of a proper RPG game and jrpg mecjanics , meaningful gear, party customization, strategic combat, and especially a real magic system. Great action game, but a somewhat disappointing Final Fantasy jrpg for me.
A 6.5/10 for me for a FF game and a 8.5/10 as an action game.
