As a hardcore FF fan who has sunk countless hours into the series, Final Fantasy 16 intrigues me by offering two selectable gameplay modes suited for different audiences. Let‘s analyze Story vs Action in depth so you can best experience this incredible game.
Introductory Decision Point
When first booting up FF16, you choose between:
- Story Mode: Accessible combat with helpful accessories and weaker enemies. Focus on narrative.
- Action Mode: Hardcore combat without any hand-holding. Enemies hit brutally hard.
This key decision depends on your level of experience with Final Fantasy and action RPGs overall.
Ideal for Story Mode
- New to Final Fantasy games
- Prefer story over challenging gameplay
- Tried the FF16 demo and found combat too intense
- Generally play JRPGs rather than action games
Ideal for Action Mode
- FF veteran craving a battle test
- Savvy with hack-and-slash combat systems
- Want to fully earn the epic story progression
- Prefer games with hardcore combat difficulty
So weigh those factors first. Fortunately, you can adjust settings later if the initial mode proves overwhelming or too simple.
Story Mode‘s Automation and Forgiving Enemies
Story Mode helps you blast through enemies with the narrative itself taking center stage. Two key assists are automatically activated:
- Ring of Timely Strikes: Automates complex combos into one-button attacks.
- Ring of Timely Evasion: Dodges enemy attacks without manual input required.
You can also equip two additional accessories to further simplify combat:
- Ring of Timely Assistance: Uses your equipped summon creature‘s powers on your behalf.
- Ring of Timely Focus: Slows down time, giving you longer to dodge or counterattack manually if desired.
These reduce the execution challenge substantially, allowing you to primarily enjoy the cinematic presentation and storyline. RPG beginners need not worry about mastering the real-time battle system‘s nuances.
Enemies are also rebalanced to be less threatening compared to Action Mode:
| Enemy Stat | Story Mode | Action Mode | Intensity Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATK (Attack Power) | -20% | Baseline | +20% stronger in Action |
| DEF (Defense) | Baseline | +30% | -30% tougher to damage in Action |
| HP (Health Points) | -15% | Baseline | +15% more HP in Action |
So foes deal less damage per hit while also falling quicker compared to Action. You‘ll slaughter hordes with ease and may rarely need to manually heal after battles since incoming attacks pose little risk.
This reduced challenge lets the narrative take the spotlight. The development team confirmed that Story Mode aims at fans there just for the epic fantasy saga rather than hardcore combat difficulty. You‘ll feel like an unstoppable hero of legend, free to focus on plot and characters without needing much gaming skill.
Action Mode‘s Brutal Enemies and Lack of Assistance
Veteran Final Fantasy fans and seasoned action/RPG players craving a battle test, on the other hand, should select Action Mode from the start. This offers no timely accessories by default – you need to manually input combos, execute dodges/counters skillfully, and summon creatures.
Plus enemies hit much harder compared to Story:
| Enemy Stat | Story Mode | Action Mode | Intensity Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATK (Attack Power) | -20% | Baseline | +20% stronger vs Story |
| DEF (Defense) | Baseline | +30% | 30% tougher to damage |
| HP (Health Points) | -15% | Baseline | +15% more HP |
So choosing Action means battling foes that can KO you faster if you fail to avoid attacks. You‘ll need to study enemy patterns closely to counter properly. Battles also take longer on the whole since baddies have larger health pools.
This creates an intensely satisfying risk/reward loop for seasoned gamers. The additional challenge also makes story events feel more earned – you battled ferociously just to trigger the next breathtaking cutscene. Action mode will test your real-time combat capabilities and game literacy thoroughly.
In community interviews, FF16‘s director says this appeal to series veterans helps preserve what made previous entries so rewarding. So Action Mode wears its old-school design inspiration on its sleeve by refusing to hold your hand. If you ultimately triumph, you can wear it as a badge of honor.
Changing Modes Mid-Game
Don‘t fret if your initially chosen mode starts feeling too intense or too boring a few hours in. You can tweak settings via the System > Game Settings menu. Under Gameplay Options, simply:
- Switch from Action to Story if you require more combat accessibility.
- Switch from Story to Action if you crave more hardcore battles.
So it‘s simple to recalibrate FF16‘s challenge and accessibility mid-playthrough. The development team built this in as an olive branch to fans who hesitated between Story and Action when first starting.
New Game+ Amped Intensity After Clearing Either Mode
Completing FF16 on either Story or Action mode the first time unlocks New Game+, letting you carry over gear/levels to a fresh save file. This also intensifies difficulty parameters to provide veterans a greater challenge:
- Enemies receive +50% ATK/DEF buffs
- Rare items with higher stats appear earlier
- Special "Bonus Dungeons" are available offering epic gear
So finishing on Story first lets you gear up safely to tackle these amped NG+ fights on Action later. Or completing on Action unlocks the hardest Chaos Mode difficulty. Veterans can push themselves further against souped enemies.
Which Mode is For You?
If you want to prioritize FF16‘s epic narrative, choose Story Mode. Automation accessories and weaker enemies help the plot, characters, and set pieces shine. You‘ll feel plenty powerful blasting through levels even with minimal combat fundamentals.
If you crave a hardcore battle challenge, pick Action Mode. Removing assists forces you to manually master combat mechanics against harder-hitting enemies with larger health pools. Triumphing provides a huge adrenaline rush here.
Final Fantasy 16 Offers Incredible Flexibility
Gone are the days where picking "Easy" vs "Hard" difficulty locks you in perpetually. FF16 bending typical convention here pays off beautifully. Story and Action modes cater to different audiences rather than skill levels per se.
So whether you‘re a newcomer drawn in by FF16‘s jaw-dropping graphics or a curmudgeon series veteran doubting the switch to real-time combat, choosing your preferred mode helps you customize the experience. FF16 encourages playing in a way that satisfies you.
