Final Fantasy XVI: The Rising Tide

Final Fantasy XVI: The Rising Tide is an excellent addition to an already great story that fits seamlessly into the world of Final Fantasy XVI. Clive’s latest quest is challenging but rewarding, and it allows him to grow more as a character as he continues serving the people around him.

Simply put, The Rising Tide is a fitting end to Final Fantasy XVI. It delivers more stellar gameplay and an interesting narrative, all while further solidifying the legacy of the franchise's sixteenth title. While it may play it safe with the characters, bosses and story, it makes up for it with the addition of Leviathan and Kairos Gate. Furthermore, the DLC is a perfect sendoff to the game, lending itself well to what was established and giving fans a chance to return to Clive, Torgal, Jill and Jonathan one last time. Those who enjoyed the base game will find The Rising Tide to be an enjoyabl...

The Rising Tide is the second and final expansion for Final Fantasy 16, adding another worthwhile chapter to the tale of Clive Rosfield. Only accessible near the very end of the base game, this DLC is designed to be something of a sendoff for the action RPG, providing a new storyline that brings additional weight to the title's world building, while also giving players an opportunity to dive yet deeper into 16's slick combat system.

Adding DLC to a story as complete as FFXVI comes with some risks. Stories have their own momentum, after all. It can feel very weird to try and come back to a finished tale and sort of putter around. The apocalypse is in the skies, the mood is grim, and certain characters are patiently waiting to die. To be clear, The Rising Tide does not avoid this problem. And how could it? FFXVI is a well-oiled rollercoaster. You can’t extend the thrills by adding more track on the end, no matter how it twists about. But, this second DLC release does manage to have a bit of fun while it lasts.

That being said, it’s still an enjoyable journey and adds plenty of playtime thanks to the multitude of cinematics, lengthy main story, and generous helping of sidequests. The Rising Tide is definitely a step up from the meager offerings of the boss rush mode that was Echoes of the Fallen. If you’ve been looking for a reason to return to Valisthea, this is it.

The Rising Tide DLC does finally reveal the fate of Leviathan, but it's somewhat lackluster. Coupled with simple side-quests and a small region, this DLC doesn't add too much to FFXVI. The post-game content is well worth it for fans of FFXVI's combat.

Final Fantasy XVI: The Rising Tide ties up the base game quite nicely, resolving one of the key mysteries of the base game. The face-off with Leviathan is one of the most memorable Eikon battles yet, with a beautiful score and challenging fight. However, The Rising Tide still suffers from the same problems the base game had. It also only provides a few hours of story content, which makes it somewhat of a hard recommendation at its current price point.