Final Fantasy XVI: Platinum’s Dominant

Collecting PlayStation trophies is one of my favourite video game hobbies. I enjoy recording my trophy journeys in the form of scrapbook articles on Strength in Sarcasm because why not! Here’s the details on my Final Fantasy XVI platinum trophy quest.

SPOILER WARNING in case I need to say it. I’ll be talking about all the game’s trophies, which includes plot ruining details if you haven’t played the game yet.

Trophy 1: Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeift

Official Description: Land 15 Shift Strikes or Shift Shots combined (excluding battles in the Hall of Virtue).
Type: Bronze
Earned on: July 5th, 2023
Overall Earned: #2048

And thus did their journey begin! During the 2 hour beginning part where you play as young Clive, I got the trophy for landing 15 Shift Strikes while killing the goblins in the village. Yes, I shamelessly used the cheat trinkets for the whole game.

Trophy 2: Awoken

Official Description: Rise from your reverie.
Type: Bronze
Earned on: July 5th, 2023
Overall Earned: #2049

Oof. Poor Clive seems to have had a rough life. After a massive battle between little Joshua turned mighty Phoenix (after witnessing his father beheaded in front of him) and a mysterious second Eikon of Fire, it is revealed his mother betrayed the royal Rosaria family and Clive was taken as slave by the Imperials. He awakens in the present day to begin the adventure proper.

I guess this whole intro was part of a demo I never played. That cliffhanger would have sucked!

Trophy 3: A Fine Hound

Official Description: Execute and land 5 Precision Sics (excluding battles in the Hall of Virtue).
Type: Bronze
Earned on: July 5th, 2023
Overall Earned: #2050

Long story short, Clive was sent to kill Shiva’s Dominant in the middle of a massive battlefield. It turned out Shiva’s Dominant was actually his childhood friend Jill, and Clive goes rogue to protect her. A mysterious lightning-producing stranger named Cid (oh my god I love his voice) drops in to save them. Is it really a Final Fantasy game if there’s no character named Cid?

Cid is the leader of a hideaway for escaped Bearers (humans who can use magic without crystals and are treated like slaves because of it). Clive wants to hunt down the mysterious second Eikon of Fire that killed his brother Joshua on that fateful night the demo ended with. Cid helps him with the hunt.

Clive is also reunited with his childhood doggo Torgal, who has now grown into a fine hound indeed. Torgal fights stuff with you which is awesome. While wandering through the first forest area, Torgal unleashed 5 Precision Sics on the murderous wildlife.

Trophy 4: Dressed to the Fives

Official Description: Craft or upgrade 5 pieces of gear.
Type: Bronze
Earned on: July 6th, 2023
Overall Earned: #2051

Back in The Hideaway, I got my favourite cranky blacksmith, Blackthorne, to craft my 5th thing: Wolfskin Sash +1. The equipment system is super simple and I’m not complaining at all. Not having to think too hard is nice sometimes.

Trophy 5: Punisher

Official Description: Punish 10 enemies (excluding battles in the Hall of Virtue).
Type: Bronze
Earned on: July 6th, 2023
Overall Earned: #2052

The 10th punishing happened in a castle area! Clive’s target had been taken prisoner here by Benedikta, head spy lady for the Waloed faction and Garuda’s Dominant.