Final Fantasy 16 PC Review

As a lifelong Final Fantasy fan, I’ve fought against seemingly impossible odds and collected more Phoenix Downs than I’d like to admit. In fact, I think I have spent more time as Cloud and Squall than I have as myself. Not that it wasn’t expected, but the PC port kind of came from nowhere. Square Enix announced a Final Fantasy 16 PC port that mirrors the PlayStation 5 version. Naturally, as a series veteran, my excitement levels were through the roof.

Starting on a high-end rig, the game looks… better, but not by the significant margin one might expect. Sure, the distant towers have a bit more detail, and the foliage is a tad more defined, but let’s be honest here, these are the standard buffs you expect when switching from console to PC.

The opening moments of this game set the stage for an epic experience, offering a tantalizing glimpse of the intense action and breathtaking visuals that await. After a brief introduction, you’re thrust into a heart-pounding battle between Phoenix and the Infernal Eikon. This is your first taste of the adrenaline-fueled combat mechanics that define the game. As Phoenix, you unleash a relentless barrage of fireballs upon the towering Eikon, a strategy that proves essential in keeping the upper hand.

As you experience this first encounter, it’s clear that the game is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in terms of both gameplay and graphics. The question now is whether your PC can keep up with the demands. With the right hardware, you’ll find that the game runs smoothly, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the action without a hitch. However, those with older systems might need to dial down the settings to maintain performance, but even then, the core experience remains thrilling. This moment is just the beginning, promising even greater challenges and more spectacular encounters in the hours to come.

But here’s where the plot twist comes in: the image quality leaves something to be desired. Even with settings cranked to max, depth of field and specular aliasing rear their ugly heads more often than a recurring boss in an RPG. If you’re the type of player who revels in spotting every little detail—like the fur on Benedikta’s outfit—you might find yourself yearning for a classic pixelated character or two.

At least they didn’t have these kinds of problems! On a mid-to-low-end PC, the game becomes a painful grind. With a Ryzen 5 3600 and an RTX 2070, the game stuttered and stumbled and frame rates hit a shoddy 30 FPS during cutscenes, causing a serious case of visual whiplash.

The Pros and Cons

Pros:

Visual Improvements: The game looks sharper on PC, with more detailed environments and characters. It’s not the most dramatic difference, but for those with high-end setups, it’s noticeable.
Settings Menu: The menu is well-designed, offering straightforward options without the usual jargon.
Customizable Controls: The PC version offers customizable key bindings, allowing players to tailor their controls to their play style. Whether you’re a simple WASD human or prefer a unique setup, flexibility is always a plus..
High-Resolution Support: The PC version supports high resolutions up to 4K, which is always a treat if you’re playing on a high-end monitor. When the game is running smoothly, the environments and character models can look stunning, making every spell cast and sword swing feel even more impactful.

Cons:

Performance Issues: If you’re not gaming on a high-end rig, you might find yourself struggling more than Cloud with his identity crisis. Really low frame rates, relentless stuttering, and poor texture filtering make it an exhausting experience.
Inconsistent Graphics: While the game looks good, certain elements like anti-aliasing and depth of field could use more polish.
Audio Issues: Some players have reported that audio can desync or cut out entirely during intense battles or cutscenes.