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The first major decision you’ll make when hopping intoFinal Fantasy XVIis selecting what graphical mode you want the game to utilize. Like the majority of current-gen releases, Final Fantasy XVI has a mode that prioritizes pushing image quality and asset detail, and a mode that focuses on delivering higher performance for a smoother experience with less latency. On paper, this is how each mode is supposed to function:
Of course, what’s happening in-game doesn’t fully correlate to what’s supposed to happen on paper. So, which mode should you choose?
What’s Going on with Cutscenes?
First off, it’s important to note that cutscenes only come in one flavor: graphics. Final Fantasy XVI’s impressive real-time cutscenes push graphical detail and limit the frame rate to 30fps regardless of if you’ve chosen Performance mode. They’re extremely impressive, though, and a real treat to witness.
Graphics Mode
That excellent attention to detail provided in cutscenes extends to the Graphics Mode, which prioritizes resolution and visuals over performance. Despite that focus of image quality and graphical detail, Graphics Mode still delivers a solid and stable performance.
In practice, Graphics Mode delivers a target resolution of 1440p, which it manages to hold well. While it does dip below that in graphically intense areas, Square Enix’s image reconstruction does a fantastic job at preserving detail in the right areas. Due to this, the image quality remains high with little artifacting, unless the screen does get busy.
Despite how busy and visually stunning Final Fantasy XVI can get, the Graphics Mode remains nearly locked at 30fps. There are occasional dips in heavily populated areas, but they’re so miniscule and last for so little time you may not even register them. More concerning for parts of the community is the motion blur, which has been affecting people’s senses differently. It’s most intense in Graphics Mode and the lack of a toggle to turn it off is this mode’s main kryptonite if you’re heavily affected by motion blur.
Performance Mode, or a Tale of Two Performance States
Final Fantasy XVI’s performance mode is supposed to take a hit in resolution and image quality to boost performance. It does do that, but the cost is high. The resolution is capped to 1080p, but frequent dips can see it drop to as low as 720p. Unfortunately, the reconstruction can’t keep up with it producing noticeable artifacts.
The benefits gained from performance are a mixed bag and vary depending on what you’re doing. When exploring the world, the frame rate is inconsistent and remains marred in the 40s. Unfortunately, it falls out of the VRR window, meaning a VRR-enabled TV won’t be able to smooth away this mess. Things are different when in combat, though. AsDigital Foundrynotes, when entering combat, the game drastically drops environmental detail to boost the frame rate to a solid 60fps. Once the battle is over, it restores environmental detail, and the frame returns to the 40fps range. It’s an interesting choice that produces the best and worst way to play.
The increased frame rate also helps take the sting out of the motion blur. Those who find it makes them nauseous will have a much easier time playing in Performance Mode.
What should you choose?
As of today, the Graphics Mode is the most consistent way to play Final Fantasy XVI. Its image quality, resolution and asset quality are top-notch, while its ability to maintain a solid 30fps means you’re getting a great performance. The fact that cutscenes are also locked to 30fps means there’s no crazy jump up or down in frame rate when the action switches to a cutscene and then back to gameplay. The only downside is that if the current implementation of the motion blur makes you nauseous, there’s no way to negate that.
Performance Mode does deliver the best combat experience at 60fps, but it comes at a high cost. The inconsistency outside of combat is massive, and there’s no way to smooth it out with VRR. The hit to the resolution, image quality and asset quality is massive. In our opinion, that hit to the presentation and the performance instability outside of combat makes Performance Mode a tough sell. The only real benefit is that the higher frame rate in combat negates the motion blur nausea some may have in Graphics Mode.
Future Options
Square Enix and Creative Business III have yet to comment on any future optimization or features coming to either mode. It would be nice to see a few things implemented, however, including a toggle mode for the motion blur. It might also be nice to see a 40fps mode for high refresh rate TVs. Similar toRatchet and Clank: Rift Apart, this mode would allow Final Fantasy XVI to target higher resolutions and asset quality while delivering a smoother framerate. It might also be nice to see more optimization put into the Performance Mode and lock down a more stable framerate when exploring. Of course, we’ll just have to wait and see what Square Enix has planned for the future of Final Fantasy XVI.
