The tiny slice ofFinal Fantasy 16that Square Enix has shown fans so far with the latest demo is filled to the brim with references hearkening back to the origins of the series. However, one reference to thePS1 classicFinal Fantasy Tacticscould lay the path for how this latest title in the series will handle the long-running character Cid, known more formally as Cidolfus in this latest entry.
Considering that this latest Cid will be joining the party as a combat companion for a time, the reference could be good news for the character inFinal Fantasy 16. This could then speak volumes for Cid’s expected role as the Dominant of Ramuh, which is what grants him access to his powerful thunder magic.
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Thunder God Cid
The lastFinal Fantasyto expand Cid’s full name out to Cidolfus wasFinal Fantasy Tactics, where the character went by a handful of aliases, mostly related to his mastery of thunder magic. In that title, the character was more notably referred to as Thunder God Cid, or T.G. Cid, and had a unique set of skills that couldn’t be replicated by any of the other classes available to regular NPCs. This has since made him a favorite among fans that are hoping to see Cid return in apossibleFinal Fantasy Tacticsremake.
Thunder God Cid does also come with his own set of pros and cons inFinal Fantasy Tactics, as having him on the team could often trivialize fights that were supposed to be some of the most difficult in the game. The character’s unique skill set and high stats make him such an essential part of any party that some would rather choose not to use him in order to get more out of the rest of the party dynamic. In this case, the overpowered nature of this original Thunder God Cidolfus could mean thatFinal Fantasy 16’s Cidcould eventually be just as powerful of a companion as his and Clive’s abilities continue to grow.
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Cidolfus, Dominant of Ramuh
It goes without saying that not only has this most recent Cidolfus inherited his name from the version inFinal Fantasy Tactics, but he also uses the same type of magic. Being related to Ramuh, Cidolfus also has access to powerful lightning magic that he’s ready to use in most fights, and during a stellar cutscene shown off in therecentFinal Fantasy 16demo. So, the character’s access to this boosted mode, which is reminiscent of Clive’s own Limit Break, could spell for Cid to be one of the most powerful party companions available.
Given that companions haven’t been shown to be all too powerful in what has been shown ofFinal Fantasy 16so far, having Cidolfus become the powerhouse of his namesake could be great for the party dynamic. Similar to how theprevious version of Cidbecame his own easy mode when brought into difficult scenarios, this new version of the character could help players breeze through some more complicated situations. This could go well with the difficulty options already available to makeFinal Fantasy 16as difficult or accessible as any given player needs the game to be.
The original Cidolfus' backstory could also give fans a head start on what to expect fromFinal Fantasy 16’s Cid as the new game’s story unfolds. While the demo doesn’t allow players to see the Active Time Lore entry for Cid, it appears so far that he shares some of the original’s backstory of having fought for an empire, but changing sides after meeting the protagonist. It’s a great nod that does a lot of work to ensure that fans still see howFinal Fantasy 16still relates to the ongoing series, even if the combat system has shifted.
Final Fantasy 16is set to release on June 22, exclusively for PS5.
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