The gameplay experience of Final Fantasy 16 doesn’t end when you beat the game. The developers provide a game mode that offers additional content for fans of action games.
With various benefits and additional challenges, New Game + offers an enticing opportunity for players.
Do you want to be challenged by a tough enemy and test your skills against more challenging versions of memorable bosses of FF16?
This article will delve into the mechanics of New Game + in Final Fantasy 16, including what carries over and how the Final Fantasy Mode works.
What Do You Carry Over?
In Final Fantasy 16’s New Game +, players use their Clear Data, which is the save file after completing the main story.
Clive’s level, stats, unlocked abilities, equipment, and item inventory are all transferred to the new playthrough.
Additionally, Clive’s potion capacity and healing upgrades remain, ensuring a smoother progression through the game.
It’s worth noting that the enemies in New Game + remain at the same level as in the base game, making most encounters relatively easy if players retain Clive’s most powerful gear.
However, things are different if you try Final Fantasy 16’s hard mode. The so-called Final Fantasy Mode is only available once you beat the game.
Final Fantasy Mode
This mode can only be accessed through New Game +, presenting players with an increased level of difficulty.
Players can delve into a fresh and demanding adventure by selecting Final Fantasy Mode instead of the usual Action-Focused or Story-Focused options.
In Final Fantasy Mode, Clive’s level, stats, unlocked abilities, equipment, and item inventory from the previous playthrough are carried over.
Furthermore, Clive’s level cap is increased to 100, granting access to even greater power.
All enemies are stronger and possess increased levels and stats, requiring players to employ advanced strategies and tactics.
The dungeons are also changed. Enemy placement will be different, and you might have some surprises along the way.
For instance, not only can the enemies be much more aggressive than you’re used to, but they can be something else entirely. In other words, some areas present enemies that you’d not usually find there to increase the challenge.
For instance, you will face a Chimera early in the game instead of the Wyvern you’d typically fight with Cid in the forest.
Additionally, the Chronolith Trials are made significantly more difficult in Final Fantasy Mode, providing a unique challenge for players to overcome.
While New Game + in Final Fantasy 16 does not introduce any changes to the story or side quests, it offers a fresh perspective on gameplay and character progression.
The mode motivates players to try out Clive’s existing abilities and gear while facing more formidable opponents.
The Ability Masteries become more meaningful in this hard mode since you might need really odd combinations of skills to win against certain enemies.
This is especially true if you are going after all creatures in the Nektar’s Hunt Board.
Is Final Fantasy Mode That Hard?
Although Final Fantasy Mode is considered the game’s hard mode, its perceived difficulty will depend on a number of factors.
For instance, if you didn’t grind your level or got the best weapons during the first playthrough, you might find the enemies considerably more challenging.
However, suppose you have either maxed Clive or are already good at action games. In that case, this new difficulty might not seem as difficult to you.
There’s no denying that Final Fantasy Mode is more challenging. Still, it is nothing like what you see in the hardest difficulties of games like God of War or Devil May Cry.
Nonetheless, it is a fun and fresh experience, especially considering the enemies are different in the locations you already know.
Not only that, but you can naturally acquire skill points to customize Clive in any way you want.
Whether players choose to relive the story or test their skills in Final Fantasy Mode, New Game + will have something to offer.
Either a much easier time or a much more engaging action-focused experience.