Although fans are expected to learn more relatively soon, all anyone has had to go off of forFinal Fantasy 16was its initial trailer as well as some world and character details revealed shortly thereafter. Nonetheless, hype for anewFinal Fantasygamepersists, and many are eagerly awaiting their next look at the game.
After all, the trailer poses as many questions as it does answers. Perhaps one cool element of thisFinal Fantasy 16traileris how many people have interpreted it differently and proposed various theories, all of which are valid ways to view the trailer. One of the smaller, but likely most significant mysteries, is the odd marking on Clive’s face.
There’s obviously atime skip inFinal Fantasy 16, where players get to see a younger and older Clive. The older one is more rugged and clearly angrier, but one distinct mark exists on his face that didn’t before. He’s not the only one, as Clive is shown among a band of characters who have an incredibly similar, if not the exact same, face marking. The big question is why he gets that, and one fan theory for the trailer potentially explains it.
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Final Fantasy 16: Clive’s Marking and Fabula Nova Crystallis
It’s not exactly clear yetifFinal Fantasy 16is part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis collection of gamesor not, but it does appear to hint as much. One character, early in the trailer, says to Clive and his comrades that their “kind doesn’t question orders,” they follow them. This sounds incredibly familiar to the idea ofFinal Fantasy 13’s L’Cie and their role in fate—a major aspect of Fabula Nova Crystallis. That still doesn’t answer how these characters get marked this way, especially since they differ fromFinal Fantasy 16’s dominants.
One theory could explain this. One interpretation of the events inFinal Fantasy 16suggests that Clive is actually killed in the attack. This would be why Joshua loses his cool and summons the Phoenix. There are, of course, questions about the burning red figure and the summoning of thedark Eikon, Ifrit, but perhaps dark Eikons and this figure are related to death—and/or bringing someone back from death. If Joshua used Phoenix to resurrect Clive, perhaps that is what marks his face. This would mean Clive and his comrades early in the trailer have all somehow returned from death.
It’s not a stretch, then, that those who have somehow denied the fate of every breathing person are somehow special in theFinal Fantasy 16world of Valisthea. This could be used to explain what role Clive serves and his destiny—if tied to his revenge arc, then perhaps he has to do this to rest peacefully someday. There are a lot of unknowns ultimately and trying to understand what it all means is hard, but the story has plenty of room to grow.
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