Geek Review: Final Fantasy XVI Echoes of the Fallen DLC

Final Fantasy XVI isn’t perfect, but it does combat extremely well. It’s easy to take delight in the slick, dynamic action, with the Eikon battles – thrilling showdowns between colossal mythical beings that take after the Summons from past Final Fantasy entries – coming in as a glorious sight to behold.

The latest expansion for Square Enix’s action role-playing game (APRG), Echoes of the Fallen, is a stark reminder of its craft mastery. The first of two DLCs, it focuses heavily on epic, flashy battles and gameplay, revisiting the fun of chaining combos, perfect dodging, and combining abilities. Narrative exploration takes a backseat here, likely reserved for the second part, The Rising Tide, due to launch in Spring 2024. 

A disclaimer before diving into the meat of it – if Final Fantasy XVI isn’t your cup of tea, this add-on will change nothing. Clocking in at three hours of play at most, it acts more like a condensed adventure of the main game, with a light story that brings players through a brief romp in the wilderness and into a new dungeon called Sagespire, where new enemies, trials, and bosses await. 

Echoes of the Fallen is set just before the events of the final battle, and requires the completion of the “Where There’s a Will” and “Priceless” side questlines. After reaching the “Origin” main quest, Charon informs Clive of a strange black crystal that has started appearing on the black market, who along with Jill, Joshua, and Torgal, seek to uncover the truth behind it. 

While the story does slot neatly into the larger narrative and introduces some fresh context to the existing lore, there’s not much additional information of significant value offered. The high-octane, fun boss battles make up for this narrative gap, however, pitting players against different boss monsters with varied abilities and fighting styles, amidst the usual mob encounters.

The raid-style battle system culminates into an epic, exhilarating showdown against Omega, which promises a considerable challenge. On the one hand, the lack of the usual explosive Eikon-versus-Eikon action is a bit of a pity; on the other, it’s arguably the best battle to partake as human Clive, packing plenty of tense close calls, bullet hell glory, and an excellent, blood-thumping soundtrack. Even the taste of defeat is something to savour, with each loss proving to be a beautiful study in Omega’s attacking patterns, evasion timing, and the like. 

Outside of the combat aspect, it felt nice to be reunited with the gang again, though more interaction between them would have been appreciated. Having the Buster Sword as an exclusive reward also makes for a nice little surprise, particularly for Final Fantasy VII fans, while the new Inner Voice feature is a gem for those who are interested in the character lore, best boy Torgal included. A word of caution, though – things can get heartbreaking at times, considering the game’s tragic, sombre nature. 

Alas, the runtime of Echoes of the Fallen is too short. At S$12.50, the DLC is reasonably priced but unnecessary, with the thrill and grandeur of the final battle contributing most value, but it could do with some exploration of other elements. Knowledge of the upcoming Rising Tide expansion does soften the blow, with Square Enix seemingly priming it to be more narrative-centric, such that Echoes of the Fallen is the combat-focused precursor to something bigger and more ambitious. 

While it’s nothing incredible, shaking off the rust and getting back into the groove of things have reignited anticipation and excitement for the next chapter of Clive’s journey. Those who enjoyed the gameplay in the base game can expect a fun revisiting of the action flair and its challenges; if not, it’d be better to wait for The Rising Tide before committing to a new adventure. 

Final Fantasy XVI: Echoes of the Fallen is available on the PSN Store for S$12.50.