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Throughout my playthrough of Closing Fantasy XVI, I recall a curious gate-like wreck a bit north of Eastpool. Within the distance is a big, looming tower. Clive had a throw-away line about him being interested by it, however then by no means mentions it once more. I’d spent the sport revisiting that little nook of the world, hoping that some obscure motion or story progress examine would open it. It by no means opened. 

That’s, till late final Thursday evening, when XVI’s enlargement move was revealed alongside the announcement that the primary enlargement was being shadow dropped that day. There’ll be two expansions on provide – Echoes of the Fallen, and Rising Tide. The previous is the cheaper of the 2 – and it’s accessible now.

There was no affirmation for this, nevertheless it looks like the intent is for Echoes of the Fallen to be the fight themed DLC, and The Rising Tide to be the exploration themed DLC. The trailer exhibits a model new locale, Misidia, in The Rising Tide and the implication is that this will likely be a model new Zone. For Echoes of the Fallen the primary enchantment is offering a linear story mission and a bit of additional lore particulars. If you’re a fan of XVI’s fight, that is undoubtedly value your time. As somebody who fought each final enemy within the base recreation earlier than any of the put up launch patches dropped, I can say it was undoubtedly value mine.

This DLC is a reasonably quick affair due to this, clocking in at anyplace between 3 to five hours relying on how a lot time you’re taking. I used to be a bit on the additional finish, as a result of I had frolicked lingering within the windfall of Rosaria. NPCs within the cities close to right here will touch upon the occasions of the story, involving three mysterious males operating from mercenaries over a crystal dispute, and I discovered myself compelled to take heed to as many as I might. It’s a small element, one many would possibly miss, however appreciated all the identical.

Once you get to the tower, you’re on a linear path in the direction of the Omega battle with massive quantities of Fallen in your technique to be disposed of. Like with all of XVI’s linear missions, there may be loot to be discovered off the crushed path and companions for Clive to banter with. In particular components of this dungeon will likely be kiosks to dispense lore that can make sure you entertain any who fell in love with XVI’s world. Nevertheless, I had been hoping for extra character moments. That is the uncommon alternative for Clive to have a full get together, so it could have been good to see them have some enjoyable moments collectively. These do exist, however given the stakes of the towers reawakening there’s lower than I might have preferred. 

The story outdoors of those moments isn’t a lot, it simply fills in any particulars on the Mysterious Fallen who left ruins everywhere in the continent. I personally didn’t have any questions on these and am not somebody who cares a lot for lore outdoors of it offering coloration to a piece. What is obtainable up is sweet, although, even when a bit pointless.

By shopping for the DLC you’re given a few further objects, like orchestrations and Cloud’s iconic Buster Sword from Closing Fantasy VII. It’s fairly unusual to see Clive swing the Buster Sword, let me let you know. There are additionally a number of new items of substances to be discovered in your trek up the tower, and a brand new weapon to craft after you end the hunt. In the mean time, that is certain to be the perfect gear within the recreation and offers me hope that it signifies these will likely be wanted for Leviathan in The Rising Tide.

The brand new equipment are the spotlight, with the fight really evolving in small methods due to them. They every appear to lean into particular play types. For instance, the Bombardment Bit will increase your harm with aerial assaults and can massively enhance the occasions you possibly can soar off an enemy from 2 to six. One other focuses on bettering Restrict Break. One may even change the colour of the enemy’s identify when their assaults might be parried. Given XVI’s limitations on solely having the ability to equip three equipment without delay, giving gamers six new ones that modify up gameplay this a lot and making them select which they worth essentially the most (or not utilizing them in any respect) is fairly intelligent.

Attending to Omega can have Clive face off towards a handful of mini-bosses, all of that are fairly gratifying. I’ve all the time been a fan of XVI’s fight, and though I wanted an adjustment interval to get used to all of it once more I discovered myself critically having fun with the battles on this DLC. Even with my completionist mindset for getting the sport’s greatest gear in the primary marketing campaign and leveling as much as 48, this gave me a stable problem. There’s even a brand new enemy sort within the recreation that may forged a spell of safety round them, damaging Clive if he will get close to. Vary primarily based magic fell off across the midpoint of XVI for me, so an enemy sort that requires it was an gratifying change of tempo.

The Omega battle itself is pure spectacle, one I’d actually wish to not spoil. The tidbit within the trailer would possibly even give away an excessive amount of, nevertheless it has shortly grow to be my favourite regular (as in, not enjoying as Ifrit) boss within the recreation. It’s arduous, however with XVI’s forgiving retry system not annoyingly so. Omega has a number of phases, and the quantity of AOE markers and mechanics to juggle stored me on my toes. 

After you vanquish Omega, the established order of the world hasn’t modified considerably. In a approach that is smart, for the reason that Expansions are set instantly earlier than the Closing Boss when the world is already in turmoil. Echoes of the Fallen looks like a lavish facet quest that would have been tucked away in the primary marketing campaign all alongside, however the mechanical modifications that come from these new equipment and the enemies that await you within the tower really feel reactive to XVI’s vital response. It doesn’t repair all of its faults, however should you left XVI feeling optimistic then I believe you’ll have a enjoyable time. For a DLC that’s aspirations solely prolong that far, I’d name Echoes of the Fallen a hit.

Time will solely inform if The Rising Tide will provide gamers who favor XVI’s story and characters extra to chew on than this DLC. This was a pleasant style at what could possibly be to come back, and I had a enjoyable time revisiting certainly one of my extra loved video games of 2023 after months of being away.