Closing Fantasy XVI: The Rising Tide Assessment (PS5)

The Rising Tide is the second and last growth for Closing Fantasy 16, including one other worthwhile chapter to the story of Clive Rosfield. Solely accessible close to the very finish of the bottom sport, this DLC is designed to be one thing of a sendoff for the motion RPG, offering a brand new storyline that brings extra weight to the title’s world constructing, whereas additionally giving gamers a possibility to dive but deeper into 16’s slick fight system.

Clive and his cohorts discover themselves travelling to a northern area referred to as Mysidia, the place the mysterious Leviathan — the ultimate, beforehand unseen Eikon — is alleged to slumber. Whereas there, the gang encounter a marginalised individuals referred to as the Water Motes, and in sometimes heroic style, Clive chooses to assist them of their quest to proper the wrongs of their ancestors.

It is a well-told chapter in Closing Fantasy 16’s canon, because the Water Motes and their traditions shed welcome mild on the sport’s wider lore. Contemporary celebration member Shula can be one of many title’s higher characters, and, like the remainder of her individuals, she comes outfitted with with a thick Geordie (North East England) accent. Gav would really feel proper at residence.

The Rising Tide’s central questline takes roughly 5 hours to finish, however there are a bunch of aspect quests to deal with, and the area that surrounds the Water Motes’ settlement gives a good diploma of exploration. Talking of which, the environmental design on this DLC is beautiful; these are a number of the prettiest areas you may discover on PS5.

However as was the case with earlier growth Echoes of the Fallen — and the bottom sport itself — it is the boss battles which might be the true highlights of this journey. The DLC definitely does not skimp on spectacle, serving up a number of sensible, surprisingly difficult encounters throughout its runtime. One combat particularly is a real thrill, arguably pushing the fight system to a different degree.

What’s extra, The Rising Tide fingers Clive plenty of new Eikonic skills, lots of which really feel good and highly effective. Certainly, Leviathan’s abilities give our hero a set of ranged assaults that truly make Closing Fantasy 16 really feel extra like Satan Might Cry than ever earlier than, as Clive’s new water cannon permits you to stroll in regards to the battlefield, blasting baddies at a distance. It is an effective way to spherical out the title’s gameplay suite.

Every thing that The Rising Tide brings to the desk is efficient in constructing upon what the bottom sport will get proper — and that is just about all you possibly can ask of such a DLC. By the point you attain its conclusion, Closing Fantasy 16 feels extra full, and so it is an extremely straightforward advice for anybody who loved the bottom launch.

After which there’s the Kairos Gate, which solely serves to strengthen our opinion. Primarily a collection of endgame fight trials, Clive is tasked with reaching the depths of this historic coaching floor, battling via more and more lethal opponents. The purpose is to clear the entire thing in a single run, however in considerably roguelike style, you get to completely improve Clive’s stats little by little, and unlock non permanent ‘boons’, like injury buffs, with a view to make subsequent runs simpler.

Whereas the Kairos Gate is not fairly the sort of endgame grind that’ll maintain gamers coming again for one more 200 hours, it is efficient in its pursuit of showcasing Closing Fantasy 16’s fight. If, like us, you actually gel with the title’s fast-paced and flashy motion, then you definitely’ll seemingly love this addition.

Conclusion

Closing Fantasy 16: The Rising Tide is a good growth to a wonderful motion RPG, providing up one of many sport’s most intriguing and thought of chapters. With but extra memorable boss battles, an emotional storyline, and a few downright beautiful environments, it is the worthy sendoff that Clive and firm deserve.