Final Fantasy 16 Both Nails and Drops the Ball With Its Cid

Clive Rosfield may be Final Fantasy 16‘s standout protagonist, but its iteration of Cid is right up there as well. Fully named Cidolfus Telamon, Final Fantasy 16‘s Cid is one of the game’s most unforgettable characters, despite possessing a significant shortcoming that the character himself is not even responsible for.

Since its release, Final Fantasy 16‘s version of Cid has been widely recognized as one of the best iterations of the recurring character. While Cid has almost always been beloved in the Final Fantasy series, Final Fantasy 16‘s Cid is on an entirely different level than the same character in past installments. Much of this is due to the depth of Cid’s character, his role in the story and Clive’s life, and strong voice acting to back up the depiction of his character. Unfortunately, there is also one major downside that comes with Final Fantasy 16‘s Cid, simply due to the game’s unconventional approach to the series’ combat.

Final Fantasy 16’s Cid Is Both Amazing and Disappointing

Final Fantasy 16’s Cid Is Arguably the Series’ Best Iteration of the Recurring Character

There are plenty of great characters in Final Fantasy 16, but it’s almost impossible to play through the game without remembering almost every interaction with Cid. It’s fairly easy to make a sincere connection with Clive Rosfield on account of his kindness and selfless heart, but that ultimately results in a deepened bond with Cid as well. Most prominently, Cid fills the role of leader and mentor to Clive, and their relationship is so tangible that it can almost be experienced firsthand by those in control of the protagonist. This is, in large part, what makes the death of Cid at the end of Final Fantasy 16‘s first act so heartbreaking, or the character’s departure might not have meant much to the story.

Cid doesn’t force his way into the role of Clive Rosfield’s mentor, which is arguably what makes the relationship between the two characters so believable. Instead, Clive almost thoughtlessly welcomes Cid into that role when he realizes the wealth of knowledge, experience, and strength that Cid seemingly so effortlessly bears. Clive is likely made doubly certain of Cid’s capabilities as a leader upon witnessing the softness of Cid’s heart shining through his gruff exterior. All of this significantly contributes to the ease with which players bond with the character, as if Clive’s certainty of Cid’s character helps to reassure players as well.

Final Fantasy 16‘s Cid is also one of the darker iterations of the character, given a deep backstory that even involves another of the game’s best characters, Benedikta Harman. His history as a noble turned rebel is actually a result of his disillusionment with the world, and it plays into his role as the leader of an underground resistance that fights against corruption and for the freedom of Dominants. Cid, himself, is the Dominant of Ramuh, which also contributes to the uniqueness of Final Fantasy 16‘s version of the character by making him one of the more powerful iterations.

Final Fantasy 16’s Cid Being Unplayable Is a Major Downside of His Inclusion

Despite being the Dominant of Ramuh during his time as a character in Final Fantasy 16, Cid is unplayable. However, it could be argued that he is playable in a sense, as Clive eventually acquires the power of Ramuh and can, therefore, use many of the skills that Cid was able to use while he was alive. This all ultimately boils down to the fact that Final Fantasy 16‘s combat system only allows players to control one character (Clive) through the entirety of its story, but it’s nonetheless disappointing since Cid has been playable in previous Final Fantasy installments.

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An epic dark fantasy world where the fate of the land is decided by the mighty Eikons and the Dominants who wield them.
This is the tale of Clive Rosfield, a warrior granted the title “First Shield of Rosaria” and sworn to protect his younger brother Joshua, the dominant of the Phoenix. Before long, Clive will be caught up in a great tragedy and swear revenge on the Dark Eikon Ifrit, a mysterious entity that brings calamity in its wake.

Systems

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Released

June 22, 2023

Engine

Proprietary Engine

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence

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How Long To Beat

36 Hours

PS Plus Availability

N/A

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OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

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