What a delight at The Game Awards this year, when twin DLCs were announced for the epic action RPG Final Fantasy XVI. While we’ll have to wait until Autumn 2024 for The Rising Tide DLC, Echoes of the Fallen was shadow-dropped on the day.
Keen to jump back into the world of Valisthea for the first time since reviewing it back in June (a 10/10 from me FYI), I re-downloaded the game, installed the new DLC, and dived in.
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Echoes of the Fallen
First off, with Echoes of the Fallen you receive Cloud Strife’s’ iconic Buster Sword from Final Fantasy VII as well as a classic music track. Away (1987), an 8-bit version of the Away theme that can be played via the jukebox in the hideaway.
While the Buster Sword’s stats are pretty weak compared to the end-game weapons I already had, there is an option to ‘transmog’ your sword via the Arete Stone in the hideaway. You best believe I put that Buster Sword skin over my weapon and rocked with it for the whole DLC! It’s pretty amazing how a simple sword design can hold such emotional value!
Having not revisited the game since launch, I also took the opportunity to change the outfits of my squad; an option that had been added in a previous update.
Echoes of the Fallen adds a scant piece of story to the overall FFXVI narrative, that focuses more on lore-building than character development. Set before the main games’ final battle, Clive and Co. set out to investigate the appearance of dark crystals that have appeared on the black market. It leads them to an ancient tower where the majority of the short DLC is spent.
Like Riding A Bike
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There are a few new enemy types to test your sword against, but mostly you’re fighting familiar foes. However there are a handful of cool new mini-bosses and a lengthy final battle to sink your teeth into, which aren’t for the faint-hearted. I went into the first few mini-boss fights a little rusty and got my ass handed to me pretty quickly! I was forced to knock off the cobwebs and remember how to dodge properly to make it through alive. Echoes definitely delivers on the combat front.
While the battles were challenging and exciting, I did feel they were lacking in the Ifrit department. Transforming into the fiery Eikon and going toe-to-toe with other kaiju-sized foes were some of the best parts of the main game. We know Clive will be battling the sea monster Leviathan in the upcoming Rising Tide DLC, so I imagine a big Ifrit sequence is being saved for that.
The game looks as gorgeous as ever, from flashy boss designs to their even flashier attacks; the fantastic lighting effects do a lot of the heavy lifting. Something as simple as reflections glinting off the big beautiful Buster Sword, or the shafts of grand golden sunlight shining through Fallen architecture.
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The voice acting continues to be excellent, Clive Rosfield’s quippy dialogue is once again brought to life by the fantastic Ben Starr. Jill, Joshua and Torgal are also back. Though, I cannot confirm whether new lines of dialogue were recorded for the Best Boy or not.
Good To Be Back
While it was damn good to be back spending time with these beloved characters, I was slightly disappointed in the lack of character progression and emotional storytelling; a major reason I gave FFXVI a perfect score when it first released.
While Final Fantasy XVI – Echoes of the Fallen didn’t give me more of what I loved most about the main game (character moments and kaiju battles) it’s still a fun and exciting return to the world. Its final boss fight is extensive and I’ll never get enough of that iconic Buster Sword!
Being back with Clive and friends in Valisthea is well worth the price of admission.
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Quest Daily Scores Final Fantasy XVI: Echoes of the Fallen:
8/10
Quest Daily was supplied a copy of the Final Fantasy XVI Expansion Pass by Square Enix for the purpose of this review.
