During my experience with Final Fantasy XVI for our cover story, I went through the opening hours of the game, which included moments from Clive’s childhood when he was 15 and glimpses when Clive 28 years old. There, Clive meets Cidolfus Telamon, or Cid for short – because this is Final Fantasy after all. Soon after, Cid takes Clive to a place known as Cid’s hideout.
This hideout is one of the main hubs in FFXVI. Although I’m not sure where it’s located in Valsthea, the continent where the game takes place, it looks to be built into a cave structure. It has a pub where you talk to locals about what’s going on in the world, side quests to get, and a music player. I explore Valisthea exploration tracks, and while these are new from the FFXVI soundtrack, I suspect that music from other Final Fantasy games can also be explored.
Cid’s hideout
Elsewhere in the hideout, there’s a blacksmith where I can buy new weapons and equipment and upgrade what I have, and there’s a common stall to buy things like potions. I also found Harpocatres in the hideout, who I could interact with as I progressed through FFXVI to learn more about Valisthean history.
Hunter in hiding Harpocrates
Otto’s Counter is a feature of Cid’s hideout that players will interact with a lot, I suspect. Otto is the center’s types manager and his staff will be helpful in Clive’s journey. One of them is Gaute, who handles Alliant Reports. These track Clive’s ongoing relationships, and the player can interact with a special menu to read reports that scouts generate to document people in trouble across the realm. Clive can quickly travel to these locations to help them – in other words, complete a side quest.
Not far from Gaute is The Patron’s Whisper, run by Desiree. At The Patron’s Whisper, you’ll receive gifts from people you’ve helped in the form of crafting resources, Gil (the currency of Valistea), etc. These gifts are tied directly to the famous Clive earned was around Valisthea as his name and good deeds spread to everyone there. The rewards from Renown are not what you get when you complete a quest – you get them instantly – but rather the reward.
The whisper of the patron
The third major aspect of Otto’s Counter is the Hunt Board. If you’ve played Final Fantasy XII, this board is familiar because it looks and works similarly. That’s not surprising, considering the majority of FFXVI team leaders worked on FFXII. At this table, you collect bounties and go on hunts throughout Valsthea. Occasionally, you’ll stumble across a hunt with no bounty, but there’s no need to stress about picking it up. If you complete the hunt, you will receive a reward corresponding to it the next time you return to the Hunt Board.
Enemies will be boxed in a virtual arena at a Hunting location. The fight must be here – exit the arena and the hunt will be over, making it easy to escape if overwhelmed.
Separate from Otto’s Counter but inside the hideout is Clive’s room. Here, Clive can read the letters he receives. Sometimes these letters will lead to new side quests; other times they’re updates from characters you’ve interacted with, and sometimes they’re warnings. You can also add some personality to Clive’s room through the Wall of Memory, starting with shelves and empty spaces where trinkets from Clive’s journey will one day be placed like a reminder of what he’s achieved, where he’s been and who he’s helped.
Overall, the tour of Cid’s hideout that I got has been extensive, but I have a feeling there’s more to it than that and I’m excited to see it all when FFXVI launches PlayStation 5 on May 22. 6.
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