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If there’s one video game world I’ll never get tired of visiting, it is Valisthea. Final Fantasy 16‘s story made such a big impression on me that returning to its world with this last expansion is like going back to your hometown after years. You have that nostalgic feeling of seeing the people you love and hearing the characters that made your first journey so impactful, all woven in a tapestry that I didn’t know could get better but did. Whether it is your first time in FF16 or you’re returning to control everyone’s favorite Dominant, this is the best time to visit Valisthea.
The Ifrit and The Omega
As I finally sat down to fire up Echoes of the Fallen for FF16, I went in blind with high expectations and pumped with excitement. I knew Final Fantasy 16 would eventually get its DLC, but I tried to avoid anything that would spoil the experience. Going in blind is what I did for the base game, and I don’t regret it one bit. Color me surprised when I realized the first expansion was a full-on fan service-fueled adventure featuring one of my favorite bosses of the whole Final Fantasy series: Omega.
Initially, I was worried. If there’s one thing I didn’t like about Final Fantasy 16, it’s its pacing. It doesn’t surprise me anymore, but it bugs me at times. After 3,000 hours in FFXIV, I know how Yoshi-P and his team work, so I don’t mean that in a bad way. However, this time, the expansion’s pacing surprised me, as it ran as smooth as butter.
The DLC begins with a trio of miners or smugglers, label them as you want, who are digging some crystals from an unknown and Mothercrystal-like structure. I was confused since Echoes of the Fallen occurs before the base game’s final fight. Ifrit punched the everliving aether out of all Mothercrystals, what’s going on? That’s for you to discover because I won’t spoil it. What I will sort of spoil is the road leading to that discovery and the boss guarding the big reveal.
Into The Sagespire
You enter a tower that’s been in Valisthea for a long time, but due to plot reasons, it became relevant just now. Since the land is trembling harder than when Titan sits down, Clive and friends rush to it to see what’s going on. With a few shenanigans caused by the trio of miners, everyone’s favorite group faces enemies from Valisthea’s ancient civilization. This is the bread and butter of the DLC. And the fighting — Oh, how I longed to control Clive again to pull off all sorts of combos with Eikon skills and more. It was spectacular.
I won’t lie to you; it is challenging. Maybe it was even more so because I was rusty. After crying my heart out by finishing Final Fantasy 16, I put it down. I had to take a break from the emotional damage. So yes, I got my Eikonic butt kicked several times. Still, it was worth it. When I reached the tower’s final floor, my jaw dropped. It was the one and only Omega. Many of you might have other bosses and villains you like more. I respect that. But Omega is big for me. It was one of the toughest fights I faced in Stormborn, and any Final Fantasy 5 fan will remember this otherworldly creature fondly. I’m no exception.
Overall, FF16’s first expansion is great. It isn’t the best in the package but adds more flavor to an already great dish. I wasn’t a big fan of the plot, as it is just there to justify the fighting. However, each encounter was amazing. It felt like a boss rush where I re-learned the game while also experiencing some new challenging fights. I’m glad I played both of FF16’s DLCs together because The Rising Tide came crashing like a wave of perfection.
An Eikonic Flood
When Echoes of the Fallen felt like an entrée, The Rising Tide was the main dish combined with the dessert at the finest restaurant. When I finished the first expansion, it was a bit short but left a good taste in my mouth. So, I naturally expected the same with the following DLC. Fighting Omega felt great, but that feeling didn’t last long and was extremely brief. On the other hand, FF16’s second expansion was lengthy, full of lore, memorable characters, and a fight that eclipses most of the base game.
Right off the bat, The Rising Tide‘s plot is much more engaging. You have a mysterious letter summoning Clive to investigate Leviathan’s Dominant, who has been absent from Valisthea for years. Here, we finally learn why. After meeting a member of a long-hidden tribe, we take a skiff and travel to Mysidia, a land untouched by war and the most beautiful zone in the game by a long shot.
Frankly, I had mixed feelings about the story as a whole. On the one hand, the reasons behind Leviathan’s Dominant disappearance are fantastic and justify some of the things we see in the game. On the other hand, the character who holds our hand through this new area is incredibly bland. Still, this drawback didn’t take away from my enjoyment. On the contrary, I was so hooked and enamored by the new locale that I did every optional quest, despite my “pacing trauma” with FF16.
Clash of Eikons
Let me tell you about the cherry that topped the expansion’s experience: Leviathan’s skills. In this DLC, I expected the classic Eikon to grant Clive some of its power. However, we have two new Eikons in FF16 with many new skills, but I’d rather focus on the first one for now. Basically, Leviathan turns Clive into a machine gun. It is a ranged-focused Eikon with a double dodge system, destructive whirlwinds, and other water shenanigans. It all works quite well against the expansion’s foes and boss fights.
Speaking of boss fights, Ifrit versus Leviathan is the crescendo of this orchestra. It increases in intensity as the battle rages on, and it is a masterpiece to watch and experience. You have Clive, who, by this point in the game, has come to terms with who he is and uses Ifrit to beat some sense into the water Eikon. This Pacific Rim-esque encounter takes you from fighting inside a whirlwind to landing on water and trying to stop a tsunami with fire in the most epic bout I’ve seen.
After the story, you get to play a Palace of the Dead-like instance called Kairos Gate. In it, Clive goes through the circles of Valisthea’s hell in a fantastic endgame scenario. You get Ultima as an Eikon, which is a great addition. It focuses more on mid-air and melee combos and pairs well with any build. I didn’t finish my whole Kairos Gate run, but you can bet your elemental crystals I’ll do my best to get a spot on that leaderboard.
So Long, Valisthea
While Yoshi-P mentioned something else might come to FF16, he also said we shouldn’t expect it. So, if this is my last time in Valisthea, I leave this place with a smile. While the stories of both expansions aren’t mindblowing, they work well enough to justify the epic fights. I liked that a lot. They fit the story organically and aren’t too big to eclipse what’s happening in the main plot. Yes, I’m sad the whole group is still as flat as a tortilla when it comes to party dynamics, but it didn’t matter to me because each encounter and set piece was phenomenal.
While I have some gripes about the missing RPG depth of FF16 and complaints about the pacing issue, the DLCs reminded me of why I fell in love with this installment. The worldbuilding, Clive’s journey as a character, and the looming threat of the crystals against this war-torn land are all there. It is a great way to send off one of my favorite games. And for those playing this for the first time, do yourself a favor and try the expansions before you finish the game. They add meaningful things to the base game that you’ll remember fondly once Clive’s journey comes to a close.
