Square Enix’s first showing of Final Fantasy 16 has only given fans a glimpse of the next installment in the long running series, but some of these hints might show more about what the developer has planned. One of these details is the introduction of the Eikons, Final Fantasy 16‘s summons, which could indicate that this next evolution of the classic mechanic may be finally giving players a whole new level of control.
The new summons have quickly become some of the most notable imagery to come out of what Square Enix has shown of Final Fantasy 16 so far. Specifically speaking, it’s the way that the summons seem to be both an integral part of the story, as well as the combat, with players seemingly even given the chance to control these Eikons.
At the moment, the exact way that Final Fantasy 16‘s combat will look and feel is mostly up to speculation, as only a few quick clips of gameplay were revealed at the initial showcase. However, from what has been shown, players can assume a few things about what Square Enix is planning for this new title, including modern action combat similar to Final Fantasy 15 and 7 Remake. One mechanic that appears to have been slipped into the gameplay footage is the use of what may be special attacks or a temporary enhancement that utilizes the power of these Eikons against enemies.
The theories of the way that Eikons can affect combat come mostly from the appearance of classic summons like Phoenix in Final Fantasy 16, followed by a short clip of the main character attacking with flaming orange wings extending from his body. Beyond the infusion of the Eikons’ powers into attacks, the trailer also shows off two more classic summons, Shiva and Titan, fighting each other on a massive scale. This is where some players have begun to wonder if Square Enix is looking to take the summoning mechanic from Final Fantasy 15 and give the player more agency in how these powerful entities are used.
Summon mechanics have evolved in a huge way since they were first introduced in Final Fantasy 3, starting out as single use attacks that cost a large amount of MP to deal massive damage to all enemies. This changed in Final Fantasy 10, when the mechanic shifted from being cast like a spell to giving players control of a new, separate character with unique combat abilities only available to the game’s Aeons. Since then, as Final Fantasy‘s combat trends further away from the older turn-based systems to a more action-heavy style, the summons have become temporary companions that players can order to attack, but don’t have complete control of.
Final Fantasy 16 now has an incredible chance to finally give players control over these summons, both as the smaller Phoenix enhanced attacks, alongside giving more direct control of massive Eikons like Shiva and Titan. While Final Fantasy 15‘s summons were an incredible sight when Ramuh or Leviathan first appeared and obliterated every enemy in sight, the spectacle eventually wore off thanks to the lack of control in both when they were available and what they did. So, with the next Final Fantasy preparing for a next-gen release, Square Enix now has the chance to push the summon system to new heights, quite literally in the case of some of these Eikons.
One of the most impressive ways that Sony has shown off the capabilities of the PS5 is with the Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart demo that shows off how the new system can seamlessly load completely new areas in almost no time at all. Square Enix has similarly shown that it can attain a similar effect for exploration with the open-world of Project Athia being developed under the Luminous Engine for next-gen consoles. With development preparing Final Fantasy 16 as a PS5 exclusive of some sorts, this open-world style could extend not only to exploration, but also for transitioning combat from the ground floor to high in the air with the Eikons.
Previous titles like Final Fantasy 15 obviously had limitations from the systems that the game originally launched on, meaning that players were never able to take full control of the summons. However, next-gen consoles are being marketed on pushing the limits of gaming technology, and as a result, Square Enix now has a chance to build on previous games and keep the next title familiar while making sure Final Fantasy 16 isn’t too similar to Final Fantasy 15 and can instead stand on its own.
As had previously been the case for the series when work began on Final Fantasy 9, Square Enix is often aware of the need to continue to hold onto the fantasy roots of the earlier games. While titles like Final Fantasy 7 built intricate, sci-fi worlds, every few games in the series have maintained the legacy of medieval fantasy that made the first six games so iconic. This call back to Final Fantasy‘s roots is apparent in Final Fantasy 16 and has previously been hugely successful for more recent titles like Final Fantasy 14 and the new Crystal Chronicles remaster.
In this same way that looking back has continued to help the series move forward, seeing the successes of Final Fantasy 10‘s summoning mechanic and the set backs within Final Fantasy 15‘s similar feature can show Square Enix the best path for the future. So, finally giving players the ability to control the summons the way that Aeons were commanded in battle like any other character could be exactly what Final Fantasy 16 needs to get the most out of the Eikons. It may often be the case that players don’t entirely know what they want, but considering the success of Final Fantasy 10, granting player wishes in Final Fantasy 16 could be for the best. After all, large-scale battles would be a definitively powerful next-gen experience, however rare it actually occured.
Final Fantasy 16 is in development for PS5.
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