Final Fantasy XVI: Echoes of the Fallen DLC Review

Final Fantasy XVI is an incredible game. It veered further from the FF formula than I liked, but the story and characters were much more engrossing than I had come to expect. Then, with the combat being essentially as hard or easy as you want it, the game caters to us nerds that want to venture off for a crazy story and those that want a challenge.

Well, now Echoes of the Fallen has been released, the first DLC package in a two-piece expansion pass. I was eager to jump back into the world of Valisthea to see what awaited.

A little slice of DLC

The first part of the Expansion Pass isn’t the biggest chunk of DLC you will find. At three-ish hours, it is long enough to get your teeth stuck into, but not long enough for too much new story content. Basically, some mysterious crystals have been sold that work for a little bit before disintegrating. It turns out that some people making a quick buck found them and started mining them, and as they are doing so, the continent starts shaking.

It turns out there is another mother crystal, and alongside it is a giant robotic enemy to fight called Omega. Clive and the gang head off to fight it, and that’s the bulk of the story. I mean, there are some nuances, but not a lot. It is a three-hour side story after all.

Anything improved?

For the most part, it is more FF16. There are a healthy dose of enemies that use shields, so you have to use magic instead of charging in with your sword, but that’s about it. Well, that and a chaotic robotic Omega boss.

One slick and fun new addition is that you can immediately unlock the Buster Sword. This iconic blade is a great addition to the game. It wasn’t close to the power level of my sword. But I immediately equipped it and started slashing away. I mean, it’s the Buster Sword.

Is it worth getting?

At $39.95, the Expansion Pass covers this DLC and the next release, which promises to be a bit meatier. Even splitting it in half, the fun I had easily justified the $20. So in the dark on whether the second part. The Rising Tide is any good, it’s a tough thing to say. I would say, Hell Yeah but as half a package, be wary.