“The legacy of the crystals has defined our history for too long” is a sentence that appears right at the start of the site and shows that Final Fantasy XVI is another entry that uses “crystal mythology”. That said, you may be wondering what this means. Basically it means that (as a rule) all the magic and fantastical elements of the world come from the magic of the crystals… they are practically gods in Crystal form. Check the description:
“Valisthea: a land blessed by the light of the Mothercrystals
The land of Valisthea is studded with Mothercrystals: mountains of glittering crystal that rise above the realms around them, blessing them with aether. For generations, people have headed to these sites to benefit from their blessings, using aether to conjure magicks that allow them to live in comfort and plenty. Great powers have grown around each Mothercrystal, and an uneasy peace has long reigned among them. However, now that the spread of the Blight threatens to destroy their domains, that peace wavers even more.”
Another curious fact is that the team behind this new Final Fantasy is the same one responsible for saving Final Fantasy XIV and making it one of the best MMOs today! Now let us talk more about the game’s aspects. Below I will put Square Enix’s own official description of the game’s aspects
The game’s world is called Valisthea, “the land blessed by the light of the Mothercrystals”. In this world there is a class of extremely powerful and deadly creatures called Eikons (basically the name given to the “summons” of the other Final Fantasy games in this one), and each of these creatures lives within a Dominant (who can be either a man or a woman). And like everything people don’t know, “they worship or fear it”: in some realms, Dominants are treated as kings and queens and are admired… in others they are treated with great fear and destined to serve as weapons of war.
The game brings a good variety of realms; below is the description of each of them:
The Grand Duchy of Rosaria
Long ago, a group of small independent provinces in western Valisthea discovered the strength of unity and formed the Grand Duchy of Rosaria. After years of relative prosperity, the duchy now finds itself threatened by the spread of the Blight, a danger that, if ignored, will undoubtedly lead the realm to ruin. Rosaria draws its aether from Drake’s Breath, a Mothercrystal located on a volcanic island near the coast. The Dominant of Phoenix, Eikon of Fire, ascends to the throne as archduke when coming of age.
The Holy Empire of Sanbreque
Sanbreque is the greatest theocratic power in Valisthea. The capital of the Holy Empire, Oriflamme, was built around Drake’s Head, the Mothercrystal that blesses the nearby provinces with a great amount of aether. The people gladly benefit from it, living in comfort and safety under the watchful eye of the holy emperor, revered as the incarnation of the one true deity. The Dominant of [name hidden by Square Enix to avoid spoilers] acts as the empire’s champion, marching onto the battlefield in times of war to defeat its enemies.
The Kingdom of Waloed
Waloed considers all of the Ash, the eastern half of Valisthea, as its domain. The kingdom’s control over the continent has been tested many times by orcs and other beastmen who live there, but the kingdom’s current ruler — Dominant of [name hidden by Square Enix to avoid spoilers] — has succeeded in quelling these rebellions. Using the power of Drake’s Spine, the kingdom’s Mothercrystal, this new king created a powerful army, which now seeks to probe the borders of its neighbors.
The Republic of Dhalmekia
The Republic of Dhalmekia is made up of five states, from which come the members of the parliament that governs it. Drake’s Fang, its Mothercrystal, is half-hidden inside a mountain range, and the republic’s control over it and its aether ensures the obedience of much of southern Valisthea. The Dominant of Titan, Eikon of Earth, was appointed special adviser to parliament and has considerable influence in decision-making.
The Iron Kingdom
A small archipelago near the coast of Storm, the western half of the twin realms of Valisthea. Here crystalline orthodoxy reigns supreme, a fervent belief that venerates the crystals. The Iron Kingdom controls Drake’s Breath, the Mothercrystal at the center of one of its islands, the source of a long dispute with the neighboring land, Rosaria. Isolated and indifferent to the continental nations, the Ironborn speak a language of their own. Orthodox doctrine judges Dominants as profane abominations, and anyone unlucky enough to be born on these islands is executed.
The Crystalline Dominion
The Crystalline Dominion lies in the heart of Valisthea, built around the tallest of all the Mothercrystals, Drake’s Tail. Many bloody battles took place for control of this small area because of its strategic importance, until the warring realms finally agreed to an armistice. As part of the peace agreement, the islands surrounding Drake’s Tail became an autonomous territory led by a council of representatives from the neighboring nations, with each realm enjoying the Mothercrystal’s blessing equally. No Dominant lives there.
Now that we know more about the fantasy medieval world (I love this theme) of Final Fantasy XVI, let us take a look at the protagonists!
Clive Rosfield
The firstborn son of the archduke of Rosaria. He was expected to inherit Phoenix’s flames and awaken as its Dominant, but fate chose Joshua, his younger brother, to carry that burden. Seeking a purpose for himself, Clive dedicates himself to mastering the sword. His practice pays off when, at fifteen, he wins the ducal tournament and is named First Shield of Rosaria, tasked with protecting Phoenix and honored with the ability to wield part of its fire. Unfortunately, Clive’s promising career comes to a tragic end at the hands of Ifrit, a mysterious Eikon of darkness, which puts him on a dangerous path toward revenge.
Joshua Rosfield
Second son of the archduke of Rosaria and five years younger than Clive, Joshua awakened as the Dominant of Phoenix shortly after being born. Despite his noble upbringing, Joshua treats all of his father’s subjects with kindness and affection — especially Clive, whom he deeply admires. Joshua often laments that it was he, the younger, frail and studious son, who received control of the firebird’s flames, and not his stronger and braver brother. While Clive faces any danger without hesitation, Joshua shrinks even at the sight of a carrot on his plate. However, carrots become the least of his worries when he too is swept up in the tragic events that will change Clive’s life forever.
Jill Warrick
Born in the defeated Northern Territories, Jill was taken from her homeland as a child to be placed under Rosaria’s care, ensuring peace between the two enemy nations. The archduke insisted she be raised alongside his sons, and now, at twelve years old, she is as much a part of the Rosfield family as Clive and Joshua. Always kind, graceful and modest, Jill has become a loyal confidante to the brothers.
And lastly, here is a letter from the developers to the fans:
Hello! This is Naoki Yoshida speaking, producer (that is right, just producer) of FINAL FANTASY XVI. Did you like the trailer? The exclusive footage shown, with battles and cinematic scenes, represents only a fraction of everything our team has accomplished since the start of development of this new FINAL FANTASY game. In that time, the team has grown from a handful of key members into a full unit, which continues to refine and build on what we have created so far. All to offer players an unmatched experience in terms of story and gameplay.
Our next big information reveal is scheduled for 2021. So, for now, I hope everyone enjoys their speculation, because we have plenty of news in store — not only for the newest game in the series, FINAL FANTASY XVI, but also for FINAL FANTASY XIV. Needless to say, I am working hard on both!
Producer
Naoki Yoshida
SavePoint Team
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