Summary
Final Fantasy 16has been one of the most divisive games in theFinal Fantasyseries with its mature narrative, dark themes, and drastically evolved combat. It’s unclear yet to what extent this unconventional approach to traditionalFinal Fantasyhas impacted the franchise as a whole, or whether it has impacted it at all, as the next mainline installment in the series has yet to be revealed. Nevertheless, there are plenty of things thatFinal Fantasy 16got “right,” including its standout protagonist,Clive Rosfield, who has been almost universally deemed one of the best protagonists in the entire series.
Clive wasn’t the only thingFinal Fantasy 16did well, as it has also been highly praised for its boss fights. These cinematic-driven encounters are spectacles to behold, as massive Eikons (Final Fantasy 16’s version of the series' summons) come head to head in clashes of epic proportions. These boss fights wouldn’t be near the demonstration that they are without one key characteristic, however, and it’s something thatFinal Fantasy 17could stand to take note of. Specifically, never before has theFinal Fantasyfranchise seen such stunningly detailed designs for its iconic summons asFinal Fantasy 16managed to accomplish, setting the bar higher than ever for the nextFinal Fantasyto deliver in that area.
Final Fantasy 17’s Summon Designs Need to Be Off the Charts
Final Fantasy 16 Features Intricately Detailed Versions of the Series' Summons
TheFinal Fantasyfranchise has many recurring elements— such as Chocobo, Moogles, and crystals — but that is especially true of summons. Throughout theFinal Fantasyseries, summons have been called many different things.Final Fantasy 13, for instance, calls them “Eidolons,” whereasFinal Fantasy 10refers to them as “Aeons.” Regardless, they generally serve the same purpose: powerful beings who can either be summoned to help players in battle or who appear as fierce enemy bosses to slow players' progress. While not everyFinal Fantasyincludes all the franchise’s summons, they generally appear in one form or another.
Final Fantasy 16introduces its version of the series' summons, Eikons, in a big way. Most ofFinal Fantasy 16’s most explosive boss fightstake place between Eikons, and their outstanding design contributes to each encounter’s cinematic appeal. This is, at least in part, thanks to the modern hardware that allows such stunning designs to even exist in the first place, but those visuals still wouldn’t be there without the artists behind them. As summons are meant to be some of the most powerful beings in theFinal Fantasyuniverse,Final Fantasy 16’s Eikons live up to that in their otherworldly and god-like design.
Final Fantasy 17 Should Use Final Fantasy 16’s Summon Designs as a Starting Point
AssumingFinal Fantasy 17plans to use some form ofFinal Fantasy’s iconic summons, it should look no further thanFinal Fantasy 16as a starting point. The series has struggled at times with making these beings appear as powerful as they truly are, andFinal Fantasy 16accomplishes that with aplomb. At the very least,Final Fantasy 17needs to take note of this core aspect ofFinal Fantasy 16’s Eikonsand ensure they look just as mighty as they are intended to be. This will likely involve a painstaking design process, but it will be worth it in the end.
It could certainly be argued thatFinal Fantasy 16’s summon design matches the game’s tone. WithFinal Fantasy 16being quite a bit darker and more mature than most games in the series, the summons at the heart of its major conflicts had to be just as ominous. As such, futureFinal Fantasygamescould certainly go in a different direction with their summon designs. However, they will arguably still need to be just as meticulously detailed asFinal Fantasy 16’s, andFinal Fantasy 17currently stands as the gatekeeper for the rest.
Final Fantasy 16
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An epic dark fantasy world where the fate of the land is decided by the mighty Eikons and the Dominants who wield them.This is the tale of Clive Rosfield, a warrior granted the title “First Shield of Rosaria” and sworn to protect his younger brother Joshua, the dominant of the Phoenix. Before long, Clive will be caught up in a great tragedy and swear revenge on the Dark Eikon Ifrit, a mysterious entity that brings calamity in its wake.
