2024-04-25 10:11:09
The Rising Tide is the second and final expansion pack released for Final Fantasy. An expansion for those who play the game but want to deepen and perfect their skills. I’ll leave the details for another day, but Square Enix definitely has an ace up its sleeve this time around.
Final Fantasy XVI has never offered breathtakingly beautiful environments like this.
In the new expansion, Clive and his companions Gil, Joshua and Togar set out to sea and reach the northern region known as Mysia. A place completely isolated from the rest of the world, where the powerful Eikon Leviathan is said to rest. Here we are introduced to a brand new character, Shura, who leads the small group of Mesidians who, like Clive, want to save the people from whom Leviathan draws its power.
The story is okay and has some touching moments, but unfortunately Shura seems like a very bland and boring character who never stays quiet. How Square Enix managed to integrate the new Dominant (which owns Eikon) and what’s happening in the region are highlights. The mystery and atmosphere add to the excitement, while the addition of characters does the exact opposite.
Here is an announcement:
Compared to Echoes of the Fallen, Rising Tide offers a more interesting story.
The side quests introduced in The Rising Tide are, for the most part, completely uninteresting and feel more like a chore than something of value. The first side mission was to run a few dozen meters to collect a bouquet of flowers to give to the village blacksmith, simply because the blacksmith’s wife thought it would be a good way to introduce ourselves. It’s completely uninteresting and useless when players have now played dozens of hours of Final Fantasy XVI. Only towards the end of the three-hour expansion are a few more sensible side missions presented, in which we are tasked with killing King Tonberry to stop an invasion of Tonberry.
Square Enix’s main argument for the expansion is that of course we get the chance to control a brand new Eikon. Early in the adventure, Clive manages to absorb enough coins to harness the kelpie’s abilities, which adds something new to the game. Wind, fire, thunder, and ice are already controlled, but now we can also bombard enemies with water. With Leviathan, players are encouraged to keep their distance from their targets and bombard them with water to quickly deplete the enemy’s stagger gauge and temporarily incapacitate them. I don’t think I would appreciate these powers as much as I do. When you’ve played the game for over 80 hours and switched between the other six powers, it can be difficult for another power to make an impact. However, Square Enix has achieved the impossible. Because, as I mentioned in the introduction, developers have an ace up their sleeve.
There are new enemies to get familiar with, including the classic and deadly Tonberries.
Here is an announcement:
With The Rising Tide, not only is a completely new story presented, but also a completely new game mode, reminiscent of roguelike games. It’s called the Kairos Gate and is located at Clive’s headquarters, and when players first experience it, they receive a gift from the game’s main villain, Ultima. In other words, part of his power. So the expansion not only gives access to Leviathan’s abilities, but also Ultima’s, which almost seems a bit overwhelming, but much appreciated.
In Kairos Gate, players are challenged to pass all 20 levels, each consisting of a boss from the main game. Here your equipment is predetermined and the only thing you can change is your Eikon ability. The only way to improve is to perform well in combat (different attack patterns, timing, etc.), which will reward you in the form of upgrades and favors. The first provides permanent buffs for the specific round you’re playing, and the second gives you a level or two of benefits. I’m not going to lie: Kairos Gate is super difficult and will really test everything you’ve learned. After all, it’s something for those looking for a challenge following the game’s credits roll. Square Enix has even created a leaderboard where you can compete with other players and earn as many points as possible. The only thing I wished was to be able to save during gameplay because 20 levels take a while, but unfortunately that option isn’t available and you have to quit and start once more instead of being able to continue the level you were in.
As you would expect, the battle once morest Leviathan is epic.
The Rising Tide is a great conclusion to the Final Fantasy XVI saga, offering something the first expansion didn’t. With this, the game now seems complete and with the addition of two expansion packs, it feels like a magical journey. I really want to emphasize that if you want more and really want the challenge, this season pass is well worth the investment. The Rising Tide offers around three hours of story, with an additional two hours if you want to complete the extended side missions. However, it’s hard to say how long Kairos Gate will keep you entertained, as there is a lot of replay value. Without this game mode, the price of the new adventure would be difficult to justify, but there is now no doubt that it is definitely worth it.
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