Summary
WithFinal Fantasy 16,Square Enix brought the franchise into new gameplay territory while also firmly keeping to its long history of creating elaborate and stunning worlds, complete with intricate lore and history behind it. Switching to a real-time combat system and focusing largely on a single protagonist, Clive Rosenfield,Final Fantasy 16was truly a modern iteration of the series, and though some fans were off-put by the changes, its tale of political intrigue, ancient civilizations, and personal tragedy was compelling throughout.
Final Fantasy 16’s land of Valistheaimmerses players in a darker high fantasy setting, and while investigating the truths behind its inner workings, a major mystery regarding one of its core plot elements is hinted at, but never fully answered. The Rising Tide focuses on this subplot, finally providing answers to it and more, while also giving players some incredible new powers to use in the fight to restore Valisthea.
Although The Rising Tide was set to be its second and final expansion, producer Naoki Yoshida has recently stated there is a very small possibility of a third DLC forFinal Fantasy 16.
The following contains spoilers forFinal Fantasy 16and The Rising Tide DLC.
Final Fantasy 16’s The Rising Tide DLC Story and Ending
Final Fantasy 16’s Leviathan the Lost
WithinFinal Fantasy 16’s particular brand of magic, gods, and related elements, entities known as Eikons—incarnations of powerful natural forces who manifest in human hosts known as Dominants—are integral to its plot. A number of important characters are avatars for these Eikons, including lead Clive and some of his close circle of friends and allies.
Among the pantheon of Eikons, it is established and well-known inFF 16’s lore that the Eikon of Water, Leviathan, has not been seen or heard from for nearly a century, and the reasons behind its absence are shrouded in secrets and half-truths. The Rising Tide peels back the curtain on this thread, revealing what really happened to Leviathan, and allowing Clive and his group to rectify the situation.
The Rising Tide Provides Satisfying Closure to One of Final Fantasy 16’s Biggest Mysteries
Clive, Joshua, and Jill journey with newcomer Shula to her hidden village in Mysidia. As she explains on the way, it is veiled and protected by a glamour sustained by a network of magical beacons, which is why it was previously unknown and inaccessible. Shula divulges that years ago, her tribe, the Motes of Water, nomadically wandered through various regions, eventually being persecuted by thetheocratic empire of Sanbreque, forcing them to seek refuge in Mysidia and hide themselves away.
Shula shares that, similar to theevents ofFinal Fantasy 16’s Echoes of the Fallen DLCwhere the ancient civilization endeavored to create their own mothercrystal and experiment with its capabilities, her tribe’s ancestors attempted the same.
After discovering a method to do so, they needed a way to power it. An infant named Waljas manifested as Leviathan’s Dominant, and tribal leaders heartlessly sought to use Waljas as a sort of magical perpetual battery, to sustain their version of a manmade mothercrystal.
Leviathan itself, sensing what was happening, lashed out at those attempting to exploit Waljas, resulting in it summoning an enormous wave that would’ve destroyed the entire village. In a desperate last-minute move, the tribe cast a dangerous spell, which froze Waljas and the wave in time, and both have remained trapped in that state ever since. Shula also reveals that she has a family lineage with Waljas, and as guardian of the Motes, has taken the responsibility of watching over him the best she can.
Once the party has been informed of the situation, they attempt to relieve Waljas of his burden, andClive clashes with Leviathanto calm its rage induced by Shula’s ancestors. After Leviathan is tamed and its power safely absorbed by Clive, Shula adopts and ceremoniously initiates Waljas into the Motes of Water, vowing to raise and protect him henceforth.
With the storm quelled and the village secured, Clive and friends then continue on their quest to prevent Ultima’s machinations from coming to fruition. The Rising Tide gives fans more great story and gameplay content, tying up one ofFF 16’s major loose ends by connecting it seamlessly to the main plot.
Final Fantasy 16
WHERE TO PLAY
An epic dark fantasy world where the fate of the land is decided by the mighty Eikons and the Dominants who wield them.This is the tale of Clive Rosfield, a warrior granted the title “First Shield of Rosaria” and sworn to protect his younger brother Joshua, the dominant of the Phoenix. Before long, Clive will be caught up in a great tragedy and swear revenge on the Dark Eikon Ifrit, a mysterious entity that brings calamity in its wake.
