A humorous new Final Fantasy 16 ad replaces the game’s fearsome Eikons with cute, fluffy cats. One of the key parts of Final Fantasy 16’s lore is the Eikons, which serve as the series’ traditional summons. Each of Valisthea’s warring kingdoms has its own Eikon avatar, which is channeled by a chosen individual called a Dominant. This Dominant can call upon the Eikon’s powers in battle, and can even transform into the creature in times of true peril and lay waste to all that oppose them.This ties deeply into Final Fantasy 16’s gameplay, as main character Clive Rosfield can take each Eikon and utilize its abilities on his quest to avenge his kingdom and family. One of the major marketing points ahead of the game's launch was the Final Fantasy 16’s cinematic Eikon battles, which see the godlike beasts face off in a variety of different gameplay styles. Even in the recently released Final Fantasy 16 gameplay demo, the destructive power of the Eikons is on full display, but now Square Enix is presenting a softer, fuzzier side to the powerful elemental beings that the citizens of Valisthea know, worship, and fear. In anticipation of Final Fantasy 16’s official launch earlier today, the Japanese PlayStation Twitter account posted a funny new ad for the game that replaces Valisthea with a cardboard mock-up and the mighty Eikons with cats. Brief clips from Ifrit and Phoenix’s emotionally-charged battle at the beginning of Final Fantasy 16 are intercut by a pair of adorable felines made to resemble the beasts, though their version of this fated conflict is less a fight to the death and more of a regular play session with fluffy cat toys.
This cute and cuddly ad stands in stark contrast to Final Fantasy 16’s notably dark tone, which is made readily apparent in the first few hours highlighted in the game’s demo alone. In contrast to past Final Fantasy protagonists, Clive is a grim antihero on a quest for revenge, and the brutal battle between Ifrit and Pheonix is the catalyst for his vendetta against the forces that attacked his home and slaughtered his loved ones. Battles are also far bloodier, and Final Fantasy 16 stands as the first mainline entry in the series to carry an M rating due to its grittier world and plot.
This makes an advertisement featuring cuddly cats in the place of Final Fantasy 16’s monstrous Eikons all the more humorous. Hopefully the battle between the feline versions of Ifrit and Phoenix is less gruesome and traumatic than its virtual counterpart, which serves as the backdrop to Final Fantasy 16’s bleak tale of war and vengeance.
Final Fantasy 16 is available on the PlayStation 5.