Final Fantasy XV
PlayStation 4
The Almighty Wisk returns again for another guest video game review
I know this blog is dedicated to mainly older video games, but with my newly acquired PlayStation 4 I feel the need to review the latest installment of Square Enix's most epic franchise - A King's Tale: Final Fantasy XV. With a franchise that's been around since 1987, it has been 30 years since a dying video game company flourished into a genre staple and the definition of the role playing community.
With simple beginnings, Final Fantasy was one last attempt for Squaresoft before they went bankrupt. The release of the game put them on the map, and served as a staple of the role playing genre. If you're a gamer, Final Fantasy is a household name. On a realistic note, Square Enix did get lazy with Final Fantasy in previous years and relied on familiarity and scenery to get past the horrific gameplay, but it seems they got their act in order and decided to try something fresh and new while maintaining that Final Fantasy feel.
Final Fantasy XV opens with the dialogue on the screen: "A Final Fantasy for fans and first timers." I wasn't sure what that meant, how can someone who's been playing since 1992 relate to a first timer? I was wary when I hit that X button and saw the title screen. The first thing you see is a series of options when you start the game. New game, Load, options, and then I saw another one: tutorial. I was waiting for the game to install, so I decided to click on tutorial. Instantly I was thrown into battle in a large open area in front of a gigantic castle. I was confronted by a Final Fantasy staple: imps. Every game they are the weakest monsters.
You are able to freely move about, hacking and slashing. Occasionally a screen pops up explaining battle techniques, attack, casting magic, defending, parrying, and something brand new: warp points and warp strikes. The battle system is quite simple to understand. Circle to attack, square to defend and dodge, R1 to lock on to enemies, and R1 and triangle to Warp strike enemies. Warp striking lets you lock on to an enemy and teleport to them with an attack that lets you easily get out of danger.
Don't let the simplicity fool you, there's much more here than meets the eye. You can break an enemy's defense or blindside an enemy from the back for extra damage. Fleeing is still an option. You are given a wide range field to battle that has a big red circle on the HUD in the top right corner. Once you leave that red zone the battle is over. A short section this is just with one character. Then there are 3 party members with you, adding to the battle system and making it both wonderful in depth and simplistic.
The game installed, I hit the new game button and was treated to a dramatic battle from the get go - flames burning, controlling a character who seems to be hurt, walking towards a demon of some sort. While short, it ends abruptly and a message on the screen says "Before the fall." You find out that the character was Prince Noctis, heir to the throne of Insomnia. Noctis is your main protagonist and is speaking to his father the king about leaving the kingdom to marry a princess while he signs a peace treaty with the Imperials. Noctis is joined by 3 bodyguards: Gladios, Ignis, and Prompto, who will be your party members throughout the game.
Your father gives you a gorgeous car called the Regalia and sends you on your way. Gaining control of your character Noctis, the first thing that happens is the car breaks down and your first mission is to push it to the nearest garage.
The game introduces outposts, "safe zones" that are free of monsters and have people around. This is how you save, buy items, refill the gas tank, and accept side quests. Keeping this review spoiler free, I am not going to give away plot points. So I will do my best to just go over the pros and cons while keeping it entertaining. The reason they have outposts, is because you have freedom everywhere in this world. Everything is explorable, everything. The game is trial and error. In my first playthrough, the first time it became dark I decided that I could handle it and went out. HUGE mistake. I ventured out from the lights and had a run in with the Daemons (demons) that haunt the night. A level 30 Iron Giant and a level 30 bomb, and I was level 1. I reloaded my save and decided to turn in and wait until morning in game.
I reached a camper to rest. My surprise was that you have an experience multiplier depending on where you stay. It turns out a camper was 1.2 experience boost, an inn is a 1.5, and specialty hotels that have 2x and 3x boost experience but at insanely high prices. I also learned why I wasn't leveling up: your experience accumulates throughout your playing until you rest. So with that 1.2 experience boost I reached level 4 quickly.
I was given the option to save photos when I turned in for the evening. Turns out one of your party members likes to take pictures. Each character has their own skill to level up. Noctis is fishing, Gladiolo is survival, Ignis is cooking, and Prompo is photography. Noctis is self-explanatory, but survival is running around the map and cooking. There are campsites that act as outposts in the wild where your character cooks for you and you gain stat boosts for the day depending on what you make. Photography is automatic, it snaps shots of you as you play throughout the day.
The game play is smooth. You take long road trips with your partners, lots of witty banter along the way. The game sets the tone that these 4 individuals are close friends, and the rhythm of the game becomes clear a few hours in. Ride in the car, do side quests, beat baddies, and occasionally progress the story. The game isn't without its faults: while the battle system is great, the camera angles at times leave much to be desired. Occasionally you will be swinging at nothing. The enemies can and will gang up on you, leaving you battered and beaten while you are frantically trying to click for a link strike.
Final Fantasy XV opens with the dialogue on the screen: "A Final Fantasy for fans and first timers." I wasn't sure what that meant, how can someone who's been playing since 1992 relate to a first timer? I was wary when I hit that X button and saw the title screen. The first thing you see is a series of options when you start the game. New game, Load, options, and then I saw another one: tutorial. I was waiting for the game to install, so I decided to click on tutorial. Instantly I was thrown into battle in a large open area in front of a gigantic castle. I was confronted by a Final Fantasy staple: imps. Every game they are the weakest monsters.
You are able to freely move about, hacking and slashing. Occasionally a screen pops up explaining battle techniques, attack, casting magic, defending, parrying, and something brand new: warp points and warp strikes. The battle system is quite simple to understand. Circle to attack, square to defend and dodge, R1 to lock on to enemies, and R1 and triangle to Warp strike enemies. Warp striking lets you lock on to an enemy and teleport to them with an attack that lets you easily get out of danger.
Don't let the simplicity fool you, there's much more here than meets the eye. You can break an enemy's defense or blindside an enemy from the back for extra damage. Fleeing is still an option. You are given a wide range field to battle that has a big red circle on the HUD in the top right corner. Once you leave that red zone the battle is over. A short section this is just with one character. Then there are 3 party members with you, adding to the battle system and making it both wonderful in depth and simplistic.
The game installed, I hit the new game button and was treated to a dramatic battle from the get go - flames burning, controlling a character who seems to be hurt, walking towards a demon of some sort. While short, it ends abruptly and a message on the screen says "Before the fall." You find out that the character was Prince Noctis, heir to the throne of Insomnia. Noctis is your main protagonist and is speaking to his father the king about leaving the kingdom to marry a princess while he signs a peace treaty with the Imperials. Noctis is joined by 3 bodyguards: Gladios, Ignis, and Prompto, who will be your party members throughout the game.
Your father gives you a gorgeous car called the Regalia and sends you on your way. Gaining control of your character Noctis, the first thing that happens is the car breaks down and your first mission is to push it to the nearest garage.
The game introduces outposts, "safe zones" that are free of monsters and have people around. This is how you save, buy items, refill the gas tank, and accept side quests. Keeping this review spoiler free, I am not going to give away plot points. So I will do my best to just go over the pros and cons while keeping it entertaining. The reason they have outposts, is because you have freedom everywhere in this world. Everything is explorable, everything. The game is trial and error. In my first playthrough, the first time it became dark I decided that I could handle it and went out. HUGE mistake. I ventured out from the lights and had a run in with the Daemons (demons) that haunt the night. A level 30 Iron Giant and a level 30 bomb, and I was level 1. I reloaded my save and decided to turn in and wait until morning in game.
I reached a camper to rest. My surprise was that you have an experience multiplier depending on where you stay. It turns out a camper was 1.2 experience boost, an inn is a 1.5, and specialty hotels that have 2x and 3x boost experience but at insanely high prices. I also learned why I wasn't leveling up: your experience accumulates throughout your playing until you rest. So with that 1.2 experience boost I reached level 4 quickly.
I was given the option to save photos when I turned in for the evening. Turns out one of your party members likes to take pictures. Each character has their own skill to level up. Noctis is fishing, Gladiolo is survival, Ignis is cooking, and Prompo is photography. Noctis is self-explanatory, but survival is running around the map and cooking. There are campsites that act as outposts in the wild where your character cooks for you and you gain stat boosts for the day depending on what you make. Photography is automatic, it snaps shots of you as you play throughout the day.
The game play is smooth. You take long road trips with your partners, lots of witty banter along the way. The game sets the tone that these 4 individuals are close friends, and the rhythm of the game becomes clear a few hours in. Ride in the car, do side quests, beat baddies, and occasionally progress the story. The game isn't without its faults: while the battle system is great, the camera angles at times leave much to be desired. Occasionally you will be swinging at nothing. The enemies can and will gang up on you, leaving you battered and beaten while you are frantically trying to click for a link strike.
Picking up items and opening doors has never been more irritating. This wouldn't be an issue if X wasn't already linked to the jump button. Cooking is highlighted in the game, but you NEVER get to use it - it's exclusive for campsites. The game discourages you from going out at night, so most of the time you're in an outpost and can't use the cooking ability. While the battle system is complex and easy, it can get mundane from time to time. Hit circle, hit circle, hit circle, hit circle, occasionally hold square so you can hit circle more.
Overall the pros outweigh the cons. This game will put Square Enix back on the map. A review, while nice, cannot and will not compare to playing the game yourself, so if you have a PS4 expect at least 35-40 solid hours of gameplay and even more if you do the side quests. Well worth the money dished out.
THE GRADE:
A-
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