The Rising Tide is the second and ultimate growth 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 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 often known as Mysidia, the place the mysterious Leviathan — the ultimate, beforehand unseen Eikon — is claimed to slumber. Whereas there, the gang encounter a marginalised individuals often known as the Water Motes, and in usually heroic trend, Clive chooses to assist 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 mild on the sport’s wider lore. Contemporary social gathering member Shula can be one of many title’s higher characters, and, like the remainder of her individuals, she comes geared up with with a thick Geordie (North East England) accent. Gav would really feel proper at house.
The Rising Tide’s central questline takes roughly 5 hours to finish, however there are a bunch of facet quests to sort out, 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 gorgeous; these are a few of the prettiest places you may discover on PS5.
However as was the case with earlier growth 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 would not skimp on spectacle, serving up a number of good, surprisingly difficult encounters throughout its runtime. One struggle specifically is a real thrill, arguably pushing the fight system to a different stage.
What’s extra, The Rising Tide fingers Clive quite a lot of new Eikonic skills, a lot of which really feel good and highly effective. Certainly, Leviathan’s abilities give our hero a set of ranged assaults that really make Remaining Fantasy 16 really feel extra like Satan Might Cry than ever earlier than, as Clive’s new water cannon helps you to stroll concerning the battlefield, blasting baddies at a distance. It is a good way to spherical out the title’s gameplay suite.
Every little thing 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 straightforward advice for anybody who loved the bottom launch.
After which there’s the Kairos Gate, which solely serves to bolster our opinion. Primarily a sequence of endgame fight trials, Clive is tasked with reaching the depths of this historical 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 trend, 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 preserve gamers coming again for an additional 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 seemingly love this addition.
Conclusion
Remaining Fantasy 16: The Rising Tide is a good growth 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 gorgeous environments, it is the worthy sendoff that Clive and firm deserve.
