The game has a nice mix of action and RPG.
After 10 years in the making, Final Fantasy XV is finally here and the wait was worth it. Graphics, gameplay and an unlikely pairing of 4 oddballs make for an entertaining playthrough that creates an efficacious feeling of satisfaction that will linger long after the final credits roll.
FFXV centers around Noctis Lucis Caelum, the crown prince of Lucis enchanted with the power of the gods. With magic on his side, you can do some pretty cool stuff: Teleportation or warping, use powerful Flame/ Ice/ Lightning projectiles or weapons that your ancestors left behind, which give you extraordinary strength the cost of some HP.
The gameplay
FFXV feels like a new genre of gameplay with a blend between RPG and barely contained action. Even though there are plenty of RPG elements -- that you would come to expect from a Final Fantasy game -- that doesn't necessarily mean you have to use them. For the earlier stages, I chose a “run n gun” methodology but as I progressed and familiarised myself with the core mechanic, I switched it up a bit to favour an RPG style over hack 'n' slash. I achieved this partly by activating 'Wait Mode'. While in use, Noctis can analyze an enemy's weakness and gets much needed time to formulate a plan of attack. It is a powerful game mechanic when facing the many formidable foes scattered through this beautiful Eos landscape.
But Final Fantasy XV is not perfect. It comes with its fair share of glitches that left me laughing at how silly this game can get. One gameplay feature I'd like to see changed is how the environment interacts with Noctis. Tall trees and shrubs are extremely troublesome when fighting enemies. For instance, turning them invisible when standing amidst them would allow players to get a better understanding of what is in front of Noctis or maybe even a top angled view would make more sense.
Two key sections of the ability customisation system are the Ascension and Elemancy tabs. Ascension is your levelling system that doles out abilities. Prioritising upgrading the 'exploration' section will give you a much-needed boost in AP and EXP.
Elemancy defines what kind of magic you can use to defeat your enemies. You have three basic elements: Fire, Ice, and Lightning. Using these, you combine them with materials found in the world to create spells of your own, which you can swap between your characters to change their loadout. Aside from the weapon limitations, there’s no rigid class system this way; anyone can be designated tank or damage dealer as you choose.
Final Fantasy XV takes some getting used to. Thankfully, the game does a good job familiarising players with its combat system from the get go. At first, I was at odds with the controller scheme; holding down square to block while tapping the button will send Noctis into a dive, while keeping circle pressed will cause the anointed prince to unleash a behemoth of furious swipes. After the learning curve, which should last for about an hour, combat becomes very enjoyable.
The dungeons are where FFXV truly shines. Beautiful set pieces of gameplay will have you following a somewhat linear path until a boss fight or retrieving some of the weapons left by your ancestors.
Unfortunately, there was a lot of downtime between initiating quests and actually doing things. I ended up driving around a lot, whether it was to a specific quest or random loot scattered throughout the map. There is a quick travel option that allows traversing miles in an instant but there is a price of admission (10 Gils) which is equivalent to a full tank of gas and it is limited to a few dozen destinations. However, there is more incentive to use the Regalia (aka your sweet-looking convertible car) and some leg work when exploring the map. There are many hidden side Quests that you can only stumble on in this manner, usually strangers in need of your assistance. The game looks spectacular, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself occasionally mesmerized by the scenery you’re passing.
So much to do
As for the game's campaign, there is plenty to do. Random side quests are scattered around the map. They range from helping numerous strangers whose cars have broken down to slaying the creatures that are terrorising the townsfolk. Once I got into the swing of things, it was hard to put the controller down. Simply because there's so much to do and I wanted to finish the game in its entirety.
Those dang birds
One of the most fun things you can do in Final Fantasy XV is riding around on a Chocobo. The birds are intended to be used as means to traverse areas where the Regalia cannot go. It's a good alternative mode of transportation when compared to the car although at the cost of a few Gils (the game’s currency) a day. You'll see the first chocobo rental machine at the beginning of the game near the first outpost. However, you'll have to wait for a few chapters for Noctis and his crew to get access to the machine.
The chocobos are more than just a means of transportation. Spend enough time riding the ostrich-sized bird and your fearless companion will aid you while you fight. Besides being extremely fun, riding the Chocobos will level them up, giving the birds more stamina and other upgrades.
Sweet ride
For the most part, driving in FFXV is autonomous. There is a manual mode in which Noctis takes the wheel but, even then, the most you can do is steer left or right and the game will take the turn for you. These mechanics, become stale and boring after a few hours of gameplay and nothing is added as you progress. If you plan on taking a lot of road trips then you'll want to get the Roadrunning upgrade in your Accession tree. Think of it like converting fuel to Ascension Points.
Unlike most other action RPGs, Final Fantasy XV is not confined by either genre. It has an enjoyable storyline that has an interesting build up and keeps you motivated to see the game through. Even though there is only a single player mode -- until the expected Comrades DLC is out -- there is still at least 50 hours of gameplay to keep you riveted. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a game with a unique anime style, and a different methodology of storytelling.
What we liked: Memorising graphics, nice mix of action and RPG, leveling up system, over 50+ hour campaign, those dang birds
What we didn't like: Too much downtime between quests
Available on: PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
Reviewed on PlayStation 4
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