Preview: Hands-on with 'Final Fantasy XVI'

'Final Fantasy XVI' arrives on PlayStation 5 in June. — Square Enix/TNS

I’ve played every single Final Fantasy game since the storied FF VII (which came out, what, a half-century ago? Yes, that long). And I’ve never played a Final Fantasy game quite like this.

I’m midway through my demo of Final Fantasy XVI, which arrives on PlayStation 5 in June. And at the moment, this feels very Pacific Rim. I’m playing as a giant fire-wielding behemoth, Ifrit, taking on a massive, long-limbed bird, Garuda. It’s a slugfest battle, a brawl, a wrestling match-type showdown.