![Final Fantasy XVI: The Rising Tide Review - Screenshot 1 of 3](https://images.pushsquare.com/screenshots/147203/900x.jpg)
The Rising Tide is the second and closing enlargement for Remaining Fantasy 16, including one other worthwhile chapter to the story of Clive Rosfield. Solely accessible close to the very finish of the bottom recreation, this DLC is designed to be one thing of a sendoff for the motion RPG, offering a brand new storyline that brings further weight to the title’s world constructing, whereas additionally giving gamers a chance to dive but deeper into 16’s slick fight system.
Clive and his cohorts discover themselves travelling to a northern area often called Mysidia, the place the mysterious Leviathan — the ultimate, beforehand unseen Eikon — is claimed to slumber. Whereas there, the gang encounter a marginalised folks often called the Water Motes, and in sometimes heroic vogue, Clive chooses to help them of their quest to proper the wrongs of their ancestors.
It is a well-told chapter in Remaining Fantasy 16’s canon, because the Water Motes and their traditions shed welcome gentle on the sport’s wider lore. Recent social gathering member Shula can be one of many title’s higher characters, and, like the remainder of her folks, she comes outfitted with with a thick Geordie (North East England) accent. Gav would really feel proper at house.
![Final Fantasy XVI: The Rising Tide Review - Screenshot 2 of 3](https://images.pushsquare.com/screenshots/147196/900x.jpg)
The Rising Tide’s central questline takes roughly 5 hours to finish, however there are a bunch of aspect quests to sort out, and the area that surrounds the Water Motes’ settlement provides a good diploma of exploration. Talking of which, the environmental design on this DLC is beautiful; these are among the prettiest areas you may discover on PS5.
However as was the case with earlier enlargement Echoes of the Fallen — and the bottom recreation itself — it is the boss battles which can be the true highlights of this journey. The DLC definitely does not skimp on spectacle, serving up a number of good, surprisingly difficult encounters throughout its runtime. One battle particularly is a real thrill, arguably pushing the fight system to a different degree.
What’s extra, The Rising Tide fingers Clive various new Eikonic skills, lots of which really feel good and highly effective. Certainly, Leviathan’s expertise give our hero a set of ranged assaults that really make Remaining Fantasy 16 really feel extra like Satan Could Cry than ever earlier than, as Clive’s new water cannon allows you to stroll concerning the battlefield, blasting baddies at a distance. It is an effective way to spherical out the title’s gameplay suite.
![Final Fantasy XVI: The Rising Tide Review - Screenshot 3 of 3](https://images.pushsquare.com/screenshots/147192/900x.jpg)
The whole lot that The Rising Tide brings to the desk is efficient in constructing upon what the bottom recreation will get proper — and that is just about all you’ll be able to ask of such a DLC. By the point you attain its conclusion, Remaining Fantasy 16 feels extra full, and so it is an extremely simple suggestion for anybody who loved the bottom launch.
After which there’s the Kairos Gate, which solely serves to bolster our opinion. Primarily a collection of endgame fight trials, Clive is tasked with reaching the depths of this historic coaching floor, battling by way of more and more lethal opponents. The aim is to clear the entire thing in a single run, however in considerably roguelike vogue, you get to completely improve Clive’s stats little by little, and unlock short-term ‘boons’, like injury buffs, in an effort to make subsequent runs simpler.
Whereas the Kairos Gate is not fairly the sort of endgame grind that’ll preserve gamers coming again for one more 200 hours, it is efficient in its pursuit of showcasing Remaining Fantasy 16’s fight. If, like us, you actually gel with the title’s fast-paced and flashy motion, then you definately’ll probably love this addition.
Conclusion
Remaining Fantasy 16: The Rising Tide is a superb enlargement to a superb motion RPG, providing up one of many recreation’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.