I just finished watching a gameplay walkthrough of FFXV (courtesy of theRadBrad on YouTube) and it's been a roller coaster ride of emotions for me. I kinda need to write about it to soothe all the feels that are just going batshit crazy inside.
Since I don't own a PS4 or some other game console compatible with the new game + I probably won't be able to clear the game easily what with my amateur gaming skills and experience, I had to settle with watching the gameplay online.
I've always been absolutely fascinated with the Final Fantasy series simply for their breathtaking otherworldly setting and plot that always extend the boundaries of my own imagination. While I can't say I'm well-versed in all the games having only played FFXIII firsthand and reading up/watching gameplays for some of the more popular ones in the series, I do share the passionate appreciation that FF fans have for the series.
Each new game in the series always seem to endeavour (usually with success) to outdo its predecessor in the various aspects of design, graphics, plot, gameplay, extra features and even background music - in-excluding FFXV. The bar only seems to be set increasingly higher.
If I and many other players/fans have little to no imagination of what could possibly trump the latest existing game and nothing else but just great anticipation and expectation for the next game in the series, imagine the enormous challenge the creators at SQUARE ENIX are presented with. Which is why I don't really complain if the release of a game is delayed or pushed back by even a year or so, since good things are really worth the wait provided you don't die before then.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the universe of FFXV in the game, with its relatively flexible interface and extensive features compared to the older games. Graphics and character designs were detailed and enjoyable to watch - I'd sometimes pause just to admire certain scenes for a while. However I find that in boosting these aspects, the plot and character story development in the game were compromised. Of course, you can't have the best of both worlds of gameplay and plot, but I was slightly disappointed and rather unsettled about the end. I felt like I wasn't afforded the catharsis I longed for.
I'll be sectioning my posts according to the different aspects from here on to give a more elaborate review. It'll mostly be a comparison to FFXIII, since it is the latest preceding FF video RPG before FFXV (FFXIV was a MMORPG so not much for comparison in my opinion). This is also where I'd flash the spoiler alert for any soul who has wandered here and wishes to check out FFXV on his/her own first without the influence of my opinions.
Graphics and Designs
I love the amount of effort dedicated to making the FFXV universe as real and interactive as possible. I don't even mind how much the setting resembles our own world and doesn't really venture into the more ethereal or fantasy-like realm such as in FFXIII, because I simply marvelled at the beauty of the designs. For the most part of the game early on, Noctis and his crew cruise around in the Regalia (the royal car) from location to location during which you can really take in the sights. I do wish they had more "natural" settings like in Duscae, even though the cities like Lestallum and Altissia were beautiful too.
http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/finalfantasy/images/e/e5/Duscae-FFXV.png/revision/latest?cb=20150611175637
Duscae - slightly reminiscent of Gran Pulse in FFXIII
Cruising in the Regalia
The characters, especially the main four guys that the game follows for the most part - Noctis, Prompto, Gladiolus and Ignis - were well-written and complement one another really well. One of my favourite parts of the game was seeing the interaction among the four, and how various side characters or obstacles they encounter always reminded them how important their brotherhood was. My only gripe is that the overall plot of the game didn't really do much justice to these well-written characters, which is quite a waste. I'll describe in more detail in the plot section.
Gameplay
Since most negative reviews about FFXIII seemed to focus on its linearity throughout the game, it seems like the creators took that into consideration and went all out with extra features, side quests and extensive map that affords players more freedom in the game than they can imagine...at least for the early part of the game.
For those who are unfamiliar what linearity in games mean: it simply refers to how much freedom you have sometimes in relation to the progress of the game. Games like FFXIII are considered more linear in that all players generally follow the same route and take on the same main quests as dictated by the game, while in FFXV you run anywhere you want at your own time and have the choice to do whichever side quests you please along the way (of course doing so may cost or benefit you in terms of time taken to clear the game or extra EXP earned). Players may experience the game in the way that suits them, which is swell.
The combat style is really different from FFXIII. You don't lapse into a special fight arena in this one when you encounter enemies, but simply just run head on against them or avoid them as you traverse the map. The paradigm system found in FFXIII where you assign specific roles like medic or ravager to party members is also done away in FFXV. All party members are automatically engaged in combat and attack the enemy all at once (without taking turns). Without a specific medic, you have to rely a lot more on potions and phoenix downs to heal or revive members during the battle.
The combat system that affords player a lot more freedom to move about also increases the chances of blocking or parrying attacks from the enemy and launching blindside attacks on them. This is probably a lot more engaging than in FFXIII where you mostly operate your attacks from a selection menu.
In FFXIII and most other FF games, your selection of party members usually increases in variety as the game progresses and more characters join. However in FFXV you don't get to select your party members or control who leaves or replaces them along the way. Noctis is the sole playable character throughout the main game, though you can control the other characters briefly when executing combo attacks with them mid-battle.
Another thing I look forward to in FF games are the summons. However unlike in FFXIII where you can summon astrals and control what attacks they execute whenever your ATB gauge is filled in the battle, the option of summoning is only given to you according to the system's timing which is very often near the end of the battle to deliver the finishing blow. And the scale of destruction dealt by the summons are just overwhelming, with the epic BGM to top it all off.
Plot
I would say the plot is passable, though I kinda expected a more liberating end after all the tragedy the characters, especially Noctis, has been through.
Things seem to go from bad to worse for Noctis, with his dad King Regis' death, his fiance Lunafreya's death and Ignis' permanent blindness sustained from a battle injury (somehow this got me the most).
He had to make painful decisions to abandon his friends in order to do what's necessary to save the world (a good thing they didn't die). He then fell into unconsciousness to power up for ten whole years before waking up considerably aged to fight the enemy again, and eventually sacrificed his own life at the end of it all in exchange for the power that enabled him to defeat the main antagonist and final boss, disintegrating into a million crystal shards. Talk about a beautiful dissatisfaction.
The end post-credits scene shows the world restored to light, and him and Lunafreya happily and lovingly together in what appears to be the afterlife, but even that wasn't cathartic enough for me.
The general themes of intimate brotherhood, sacrifice for the greater good and growth through hardship does come through during the course of the game. However most of the events of the game don't leave much of a significant impression in my memory, unlike in FFXIII where I can still remember some events clearly. But I guess that's the result of pursuing a more non-linear gameplay.
While it is clear the game is centered on Noctis and his growth to fulfil his role as the next King, I think the stage can still be better shared with the other characters without stealing too much limelight from the main character. For example, I didn't really get to connect with or understand the appeal of Lunafreya's character well enough to make me feel grief over her death. I think that's why there's the FFXV movie Kingsglaive which depicts the events surrounding the death of King Regis paralleling the time of the start of the main game, and the five-episode anime series Brotherhood that gives more insight into the backgrounds of the Prompto, Gladiolus and Ignis to give more background to the main game.
I didn't see the need or significance for Noctis to go through a decade of sleep near the end of the game before coming back to save the day, since nothing seemed to change apart from his appearance. I do dig the older, more regal-looking Noctis better than his younger appearance that just looked so much like Sasuke from the anime Naruto. Only Noctis seemed to change the most over the decade, while the rest just grew more hair haha.
The best part is really once again the bond shared among the four guys. You'll laugh along with them when they fool around and struggle with them when attrition occurs. Even the dialogue during the fight scenes subtly expressed the deep concern they have for one another. I struggled the most emotionally whenever it came to them.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack for FF games are always great, and so is the one for this game which is composed by Shimomura Yoko. I think soundtracks are a vital part of games since they set the mood especially during the battle scenes. The FFXIII soundtrack by Hamauzu Masashi was awesome (refer to an older post where I unboxed the CD pack) so I had high expectations for this one - and I wasn't disappointed. My personal favourites are Fight Fantastica which is one of the battle BGMs and Somnus which is played at the title screen before you start the game.
Overall SQUARE ENIX has really outdone themselves again with the wonderful design and graphics, especially the non-linear nature of most of the game. While I do feel a little unsettled with the plot progression, it was truly an impactful game with lots of detail which I truly appreciate.
I doubt there'll be sequels to FFXV like in FFXIII since it's already established that Noctis has passed into the afterlife with his own sacrifice, but we can't be sure, really. FFXIII-2 opened with a revelation that the happy end shown in FFXIII was only shortlived since the main character Lightning was suddenly swallowed into another dimension with most other people save for her younger sister Serah having no memories of her - which in my opinion was quite a poor progression from the main game to the next. And in the end, Serah the main character of FFXIII-2 herself dies in the game, which leads to the third and last instalment of the FFXIII trilogy. So who knows, the writers may come up with a way to reintroduce Noctis back again.
Anyway SQUARE ENIX did something really cool and cute by creating a mystery CD to celebrate the launch of Final Fantasy XV. Basically it resembles the main game where you get to run around and interact with in-game features, just that it breaks the fourth wall by decorating the universe with bright balloons and all for an eve party literally in celebration of the launch.
What's hilarious is that the CEO of SQUARE ENIX Matsuda Yousuke makes an appearance in game as a boss you have to defeat (they actually made a game character out of him oh gosh). When he did a laser beam attack, Noctis protested that it wasn't fair to which he replies "Because I'm the CEO."
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