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[Rayxb @Rayxb2]

@li_t7nk @Jilllyyyy I think this side quest gives a lot of hints. Clive encourages this NPC to see that the names of the fallen/dead live on. The NPC responds by saying he wants to write a book about them. I think this is what gives Clive the idea to write it under Joshua’s name.

[Rayxb @Rayxb2]

@li_t7nk Hopefully we’ll get some more hints in the lore book!

This thread does a really good job of explaining the ending that I think makes the most sense. It definitely helped me put my mind at ease. It is in English though!

https://t.co/R6Z1GMZRy3

[Justin @TheJustinMacRae]

*Spoilers*

FF16 Ending Clarity and Symbolism

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@annalazy14 @withmylodestar @__vima__

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@withmylodestar @__vima__ @annalazy14 Joshua chooses this so Clive can live on. He dies entrusting Clive to this. And I think taking away that choice from Joshua hurts his character.

It’s ambiguous so you can believe what you want but I really don’t think it’s against Clive’s character if he dies.

[Rayxb @Rayxb2]

@withmylodestar @__vima__ @annalazy14 Joshua doesn’t make any plans for the future. Unlike Clive, he doesn’t promise he will take back the throne, travel the world, spend his life with Jote, etc.

The game doesn’t hype him up for a return like they do with Clive. Instead he’s constantly seen as sick and dying.

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@NotFestaFanatic Which sounds great at first but then you realize that in order for Clive’s arc to be ambiguous they also gave hope that Joshua lives. And I really think they should have given Joshua’s death the closure it deserves. Instead, it’s just festering false hope for Joshua (imo).

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@NotFestaFanatic 100% agreed. I also believe he lived, not because I don’t like sad endings but because it just fits the narrative much better. It’s very obvious they just picked this ending so people would talk about it. Another point is I think they wanted the players to have hope he lived.

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@Snow910412 I personally think Joshua stayed dead and Clive wrote the book in his name. There’s tons of side quests that support this and even though he had Ultima’s power when he was healing Joshua, it was shown to be Phoenix feathers falling which we know can’t revive the dead.

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@MoreLimitless_ @RipYa3NewOnes @PrinceNoctis38 It’s not balanced at all. And the ambiguity at least for me, doesn’t feel earned. It has no build up, It’s shock value for the sake of shock value and doesn’t really add importance to the story. It’s only there to facilitate online engagement.

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@MoreLimitless_ @RipYa3NewOnes @PrinceNoctis38 I disagree. Clive’s character arc is never shown to be finished and yet, it’s so important. You’re told time and time again the importance of Clive needing to save himself. The game sets up Joshua’s sacrifice perfectly. Yet at the end you’re left to choose.

[Rayxb @Rayxb2]

@_finalheaven_ Alive. To me the ending is about putting you In Jill’s shoes, being devastated but then looking at the rising sun and remembering her side quest where he always comes home and having hope he does.

There’s so much evidence of him living on to write the book in Joshua’s name.

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@feral_croc Yeah, I get what you mean and I agree a bit. I don’t….hate it, but I was left very very unsatisfied and I wish they had went a non ambiguous route.

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@blobasaur_ Not delusional. There’s some other hints that he wrote it too.

Joshua’s name is on the book but so is Clive’s insignia.

Jill’s side quest about the dawn and how Clive returns.

Torgal’s quest about never giving up hope looking for him.

Etc

[Rayxb @Rayxb2]

@yotsuyuu After playing the game for the second time and reading what the dev’s had to say about it, it’s the only ending that logically makes sense and fits the themes of the game.

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@yotsuyuu It is ambiguous. The dev’s have stated multiple times in multiple different interviews that it is. It feels like cope but there’s a lot of evidence to suggest Clive wrote the book at the end.

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@PollyRumina @MoreLimitless_ Yeah that was a bit strange of him to say, it doesn’t match the scene at all. Neither one “moves on”, Jill is left hoping he returns and Clive plans on returning regardless if he actually does.

Both the dialogue and inner thoughts support this.