There aren’t many story beats thatFinal Fantasyhasn’t explored in its 36 years of existence, as its litany of protagonists have all embarked on epic journeys for a variety of reasons. FromCloud’s begrudging following of Avalancheto Noctis' betrothal to Lunafreya, the series has used a vast range of motivations to push stories forward.Final Fantasy 16promotional material has indicated that it may take a dark approach, with the narrative showing main character Clive at two distinct points in his life, pushed by the simple thirst for revenge. It is unclear what it is aimed towards, or even if this is the case, but should this be the main motivator, it could add yet another string to the Square Enix franchise’s impressive bow.
Revenge is a dish best served cold, and preferably with a great story to make it feel justified. One recent game that achieves this isThe Last of Us 2, which puts players in the role of an older Ellie as she grapples with the feeling of overwhelming loss and how to set right the wrongs of the past. This leads her down a path of revenge, and drastically alters her character’s make-up. Naughty Dog’s most recent outing presents plenty of learning points – both good and bad – thatFinal Fantasy 16can use to its advantage to make it one of the best entries to date.
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Final Fantasy 16’s Darker Tone Implies Tragedy Will Strike
Final Fantasy 16seems to tell the story of Joshua and the playable character, Clive. The pair are brothers, and Joshua is a Dominant of the Eikon, Phoenix, meaning he can wield the primal’s abilities and harness its power. Clive has mastered the sword and has taken the role of Joshua’s fierce protector. It’s clear from trailers that once the characters are established, there is a tragedy that seesClive embark on a vengeful journey, and it would be an intelligent guess to wager this is a result of something that happens in the game’s early stages.
Revenge is an interesting motivator for a main character, as it shows a level of naivety and clouded judgment that adds to their complexity. The player knows that their reasoning for pushing forward doesn’t come from good intentions, so when they learn the lesson of morality it feels like substantial character growth has taken place.Final Fantasy 16has the opportunity to make Clive a truly great character because of this, whereasEllie inThe Last of Uswas already beloved, so her vengeful quest felt like it tainted her innocence.
The Last of Us 2 is a Flawed, But Beautiful Representation of Revenge
While some have criticized its narrative direction,The Last of Us 2makes no apologies about its brash approach to revenge, taking Ellie to the rundown but utterly gorgeous Pacific northwestin search of Abby. Her journey is a result of Joel’s brutal death during a moment of rare compassion for the character, and as it startled audiences everywhere, it would later have a significant toll on Ellie’s emotional state as she tirelessly hunts down the person that took away Joel. That quest for revenge clouds her judgment and robs her of her identity. The song that Joel plays to her in the opening perfectly serves as the canary in the coal mine for the game’s main theme.
Ellie’s path comes to an end on the farm with Dina, living a quiet life raising a child away from the madness of the rest of the world. She’s happy, until a new lead and past trauma sparks something in her to reignite the search for Abby. It’s a complex journey, but one that is a true reflection of human emotion.Clive inFinal Fantasy 16doesn’t have to follow the same route, but Square Enix learning from how Ellie was guided by revenge could be a huge benefit to the story of the sixteenth mainline game.
Final Fantasy 16launches June 22 on PS5.
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