Rising Tide Addresses the Game’s Biggest Complaint

By and large, Final Fantasy 16 has been a highly divisive installment, with its combat system being at the height of that controversy. Rather than having the turn-based combat system the Final Fantasy franchise is known for, Final Fantasy 16 is the first true-action RPG of the series, allowing players to engage in non-stop action during combat. Furthermore, whereas almost every Final Fantasy game allows players to have some form of control over each character in their party, Clive Rosfield, Final Fantasy 16‘s protagonist, is the only controllable character in the game. These controversial design choices have severely divided veteran fans of the series, even though Final Fantasy 16 still manages a positive reputation.

When it comes to Final Fantasy 16‘s combat, perhaps the biggest complaint has been that it is too easy. In some cases, that proves to be true, especially for those who take advantage of the game’s accessibility rings. With these special rings equipped, players can perform almost every maneuver in the game by simply pressing one button repeatedly. Even Final Fantasy 16‘s boss fights, which have undeniably set a standard for video game boss fights, can be too easy. Fortunately, Final Fantasy 16‘s latest DLC expansion, The Rising Tide, addresses that criticism with some of the game’s most challenging boss fights and its new Kairos Gate mode.

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How Final Fantasy 16’s Rising Tide DLC Addresses Criticism of the Base Game’s Difficulty

Leviathan Is One of Final Fantasy 16’s Most Difficult Boss Fights

Final Fantasy 16 doesn’t shy away from boss fights, and rightfully so. This particular installment has managed to pull off a cinematic display in its boss fights unlike any the series has ever seen, and future RPGs would do well to follow it as an example. The Rising Tide includes two new major bosses in Clive’s clash with the Timekeeper and Leviathan, with Leviathan being arguably a much more difficult battle than any other boss fight in the base game.

The fight with Leviathan in The Rising Tide is challenging enough in Action-Focused Mode, but that difficulty increases all the more in Final Fantasy Mode. This difficulty truly comes into play when Leviathan begins casting Troubled Waters during his Phase 3 DPS check. In Final Fantasy Mode, players can’t afford to waste one second by using the wrong skill or getting out of their regular rotation. Otherwise, Leviathan will cast Tidal Wave and destroy the village Clive is fighting to protect.

Timekeeper and Kairos Gate Also Serve as Formidable Challenges

The Rising Tide’s Timekeeper boss fight and the new Kairos Gate mode are two additional ways the DLC addresses the base game’s biggest complaint. Though it isn’t a fight between Eikons as the Leviathan fight is, Timekeeper utilizes brand-new time-altering mechanics that are difficult to avoid. Even with the game’s accessibility rings equipped, players can still get caught in the middle of Timekeeper’s most devastating attacks, leaving them with little choice but to use Potions and High Potions to stay alive.

Kairos Gate is an optional mode in The Rising Tide where players can once again face off against the base game’s bosses. The only difference this time is that each fight is a race against the clock. Kairos Gate also has a scoring system attached to it that will ultimately determine the rewards that players receive, along with whether they will ever get to experience the final secret boss fight after obtaining an S rank in all twenty of the boss fights leading up to it.

It’s currently unclear whether the team behind Final Fantasy 16 plans to release more DLC, but The Rising Tide is likely the last. Nevertheless, it certainly proved its worth as one of the more challenging additions to the game, addressing the base game’s biggest complaint in the process.

Final Fantasy 16

Final Fantasy 16 is an action RPG developed by Square Enix. Set in the land of Valisthea, six different factions are on the brink of war due to a spreading disease known as the Blight. Much of the plot revolves around summoned monsters called Eikons, who are controlled by unique humans called Dominants. 

Released

June 22, 2023

Genre(s)

Action RPG

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence

How Long To Beat

36 Hours

Metascore

87

PS Plus Availability

N/A