Summary
The next mainlineFinal Fantasygame has yet to be announced, but given there are usually several years between games andFinal Fantasy 16only launched last year, it will likely still be at least another year or two before anything aboutFinal Fantasy 17surfaces. Regardless, it’s worth considering howFinal Fantasy 16’s drastic shift in formula might affect the next game, as there are plenty of things it could draw inspiration from that have been both loved and hated by the fan base.
DespiteFinal Fantasy 16’s divisiveness, some parts of it are universally received. One feature, in particular, is somethingFinal Fantasy 17shouldn’t hesitate to copy, as it is beloved at large by the community and should therefore be put up for consideration as a newFinal Fantasystaple.
Final Fantasy 17’s Protagonist Needs an Animal Companion Like Final Fantasy 16’s Torgal
Torgal Is a Fan-Favorite Animal Companion From Final Fantasy 16
TheFinal Fantasyseries and its protagonists have seen no shortage of animal companions, but no installment has implemented one quite likeFinal Fantasy 16. Torgal isClive Rosfield’s lovable, furry wolf companion who remains by his side throughout the majority of the game, assisting him in combat and occasionally chiming in with a bark when spoken to. What sets Torgal apart is his unbridled loyalty to the protagonist, and his ability to fight without direction — although players can still issue commands to Torgal during combat if they wish. Since his introduction, he has become a fan-favorite character, so the only way forward seems to be to include a similar companion in the next game.
Final Fantasy 17’s Protagonist Should Have Their Own Torgal-Like Animal Companion
Now thatFinal Fantasy 16has broken ground for it,Final Fantasy 17shouldn’t forego giving its protagonist an adorable animal companion like Torgal. This would give players another round of what they got with Torgal inFinal Fantasy 16, as well as potentially expound on Torgal’s unique additions toFinal Fantasy 16’s gameplay.
The only issueFinal Fantasy 17would need to resolve is the fact that many fans weren’t happy withClive being the only playable character inFinal Fantasy 16, and that’s likely the only way the next installment could get a Torgal-like companion to work. If the nextFinal Fantasywent back to a traditional party setup where the player controls each character, a new animal companion might be nothing more than anotherFinal Fantasy 10Khumari orFinal Fantasy 7Cait Sith. As such,Final Fantasy 17would need to lean into what makes Torgal a unique animal companion in the series.
Firstly, Torgal doesn’t speak, nor does he walk upright, unlike almost every other animal companion in theFinal Fantasyseries. He is, in every way, an animal, and that is ultimately what sets him apart from the rest. Since Torgal is strictly an animal, players can bond with him in a much different way than they can with others likeFinal Fantasy 7’s Red XIII orFinal Fantasy 9’s Freya. Secondly, players can complete special quests forTorgal inFinal Fantasy 16that strengthen Clive’s bond with him and unlock his potential in combat.
This is highly unlike what players might experience with other animal companions in the series, and it is somethingFinal Fantasy 17would need to consider, should it continue the trend that its predecessor started.
It’s unclear whetherFinal Fantasy 17’s protagonistwill get their own animal companion, or whether it will adopt any ofFinal Fantasy 16’s features at all. Nevertheless, as Torgal has proven to be a fan-favorite companion among theFinal Fantasycommunity, it would be a shame not to include a similar character in the next installment. Of course,Final Fantasy 17will need to first consider what it is that makes Torgal unique among the rest.
Final Fantasy 16
WHERE TO PLAY
An epic dark fantasy world where the fate of the land is decided by the mighty Eikons and the Dominants who wield them.This is the tale of Clive Rosfield, a warrior granted the title “First Shield of Rosaria” and sworn to protect his younger brother Joshua, the dominant of the Phoenix. Before long, Clive will be caught up in a great tragedy and swear revenge on the Dark Eikon Ifrit, a mysterious entity that brings calamity in its wake.
