Current Events > What's wrong with Final Fantasy XV?

(+) Yeah! (+)

While I didn't hate the game it's not a good thing when my favorite part of the game is being able to listen to the soundtrack of every other final fantasy. Plus while that was always a feature in the car the portable music player was a later addition to the game. So you couldn't even walk around with classic FF music in early releases.

Everything is wrong with it.

Really basic combat. Hardly any skill or depth to it whatsoever.

plus really bad story pacing - there is a great story in there somewhere but it feels like the game is missing about 10 hours of exposition. The ardyn dlc is fantastic though.

Idk about the game itself, but the food looks delicious

https://i.imgur.com/kzsGPc9.png

It's an uninspired single player MMORPG with a mediocre story.

seems like after moving nomura off the project they just wanted the shit released asap. like none of the stuff in the 2013 trailer is in the game. cut our losses type of situation. they only had like 2-3 years of actual game dev on it.

TC don't trust anyone who thinks 15 is a better game than 13

Its an earlier attempt at a combat system that was refined in FF7R. Everything interesting in the story happens off-screen. Other than that its fine, I enjoyed it for what it was.

eaglei3 posted...

I found the game tried to merge open world, with action elements and RPG elements. All 3 of them were mediocre.

And it's not even an open world anymore after chapter 9. After that it's a REALLY REALLY mediocre action RPG.

For me, and this is just me, I have a few key issues. Keep in mind, this was based on the launch version of the game, not the current version so things may have changed.

1 - The story sucks. If you look at what Tabata released compared to even the short points of what Nomura had, its an entirely different experience. The major issue for me is the disconnect between the party, which was done extremely well, and the other characters of the game. We are told to care about Character X but no reason is actually given to show why we should care about them. Unless you consume the stuff leading up to the game like Kingsglaive and Brotherhood.

2 - To go along with point 1, some characters from Kingsglaive and Brotherhood are randomly given far less importance. So if you never saw that media, you would assume they are just random less important passing npcs, not realizing that hey, they are actually major story characters in the world.

3 - On the release version, Chapter 12 or 13 wasn't finished. So at the time, the chapter lasted maybe 10 minutes and it was an autoscroller. To go along with this, major characters from prior chapters were not only not mentioned, they didn't show up at all.

4 - Empty World. On release, the world itself was extremely empty. You might see monsters if it becomes night time, but by that time, if your not prepared, you are in for a world of hurt as they are scaled far worse than they should be. This ends up making call items become ridiculously important (items that call enemies to a location). Hunts are pretty much the only time you'll see consistent monsters in an area.

5 - Big chunks of the world are missing/undeveloped. Some areas in the game were just unfinished. There is a map online of how much was unfinished, but its surprisingly large.

6 - The wrong director took over the project. Up until that point, Tabata was a relative unknown in the company. He worked on a lot of side/spinoff projects, but never a numbered Final Fantasy. Had they picked someone like Yoshida, I think the game could have been salvaged. But it was clear he was over his head.

7 - Finally, parts meant for certain characters were instead written for other characters. This mainly deals with Noctis's love interest Luna. Another character Iris seemed like a much better match overall and was given far more character development within the game to actually want the two characters to fall in love together, despite the age gap.

That's just my 2 cents. I still think 12 is the worse game overall. While 15 had its problems, 12 was a finished game, and they still managed to mess up the story, by adding characters that had no business being there.

it's directed by someone who loves to kill the main character in the end.

R_Jackal posted...

It's an uninspired single player MMORPG with a mediocre story.

12 fits this description more than 15 does.

isn't the canon "true" ending only in a book?

Oubliettes posted...

isn't the canon "true" ending only in a book?

I don't know, but that sounds like something that World of Warcraft would do.

R_Jackal posted...

It's an uninspired single player MMORPG with a mediocre story.

We are talking about FFXV not Final Fantasy XII. XV is the uninspired open world action RPG with a mediocre story.

Oubliettes posted...

isn't the canon "true" ending only in a book?

Yeah from what I understand the cut DLC was going to include a new "true" ending and instead was released as a book.

At launch it was really incomplete and unfinished along with too many sides to blame for it's production (if that's the right way to say it)

All the important stuff happens off screen and setup for dlc. Story is all over the place, open world needed more work, can't play as the others unless you play their dlc etc.

Other than that game had plans for more dlc but got cancelled in their announcement sadly. With the way it is now I think it's fine with how much stuff is added into it imo.

The novel's "true ending" was really only conceived after how poorly received the actual game's ending was. I don't think it was something they initially ever had in mind until later, when they were playing damage control and trying to salvage the mess the story was for the fans that still cared.

The novel's true ending does fix a lot of things, though, and is overall a better read, imo, compared to what we got in the game. But most of it is built upon the "retcons" and changes they had added to the game's story post-release through the DLC, so it might feel like it came out of nowhere if you jumped to it straight from the base game.

The novel also included the stories for all the scrapped DLC that was supposed to come out as well, focusing on Aranea and Lunafreya, which was great since they got shit all of nothing in the game proper. Luna especially, wasn't really given a single notable character trait or hobby (besides loving Noctis) until the novel, so it was nice to see her finally fleshed out. Would've been nicer in the actual game, but whatever.

Savoots posted...

I wasn't talking to you, Keith mind your motherfucking business.

Make me.

creativerealms posted...

We are talking about FFXV not Final Fantasy XII. XV is the uninspired open world action RPG with a mediocre story.

It fits both, they're both structured in an almost identical way. I give FFXII a little more credit for the party actually being a party and not existing just to be a glorified QTE in combat, and having basically no relevance outside of it.

R_Jackal posted...

I give FFXII a little more credit for the party actually being a party and not existing just to be a glorified QTE in combat, and having basically no relevance outside of it.

Yeah, I agree with this. Say what you will about the 13 cast but at least they had personalities.

Rharyx211 posted...

The novel's "true ending" was really only conceived after how poorly received the actual game's ending was. I don't think it was something they initially ever had in mind until later, when they were playing damage control and trying to salvage the mess the story was for the fans that still cared.

The novel's true ending does fix a lot of things, though, and is overall a better read, imo, compared to what we got in the game. But most of it is built upon the "retcons" and changes they had added to the game's story post-release through the DLC, so it might feel like it came out of nowhere if you jumped to it straight from the base game.

The novel also included the stories for all the scrapped DLC that was supposed to come out as well, focusing on Aranea and Lunafreya, which was great since they got shit all of nothing in the game proper. Luna especially, wasn't really given a single notable character trait or hobby (besides loving Noctis) until the novel, so it was nice to see her finally fleshed out. Would've been nicer in the actual game, but whatever.

I swear she was notable in Kingsglaive as a character. Also TC never came back to the topic I think lol. Is he going to give it a shot?

Shadowplay posted...

Thinking about buying the complete edition for $20, but I seem to recall a lot of people griping about it though. Was it a length issue? Did it fail to meet expectations?

It's a great game that the only nitpick I see being legitimate is side story's that fall into the main story are cut out and made dlc. Only Ingnis story seems relevant to the main plot though. Prompts just has one detail revealed in his that explains something that otherwise comes off as lazy writing.

The game is easy but so was final fantasy 7 which people loved. Hell I died more in this game I believe.

Despite what people say the anime or movie isn't needed to understand the story. I never watched either.

I hear it was shittier at launch. Being stuck playing only noct originally probably sucked. I find prompto and Ingnis very fun to play.

I'd recommend the super cheap dlc that gives a recipe for pizza. Requires no ingredients but gives unlimited stamina which is a nice easy choice when you don't need the big buffs from other recipes.

Makeveli_lives posted...

I swear she was notable in Kingsglaive as a character. Also TC never came back to the topic I think lol. Is he going to give it a shot?

I've been lurking my own topic, lol. I honestly couldn't figure out what to say since this topic exploded and a few people started arguing. But yeah, I pulled the trigger and got it since I was buying it with gift money. I figure that even people here that hated it have played worse; I can just laugh at the game and its story if I don't particularly care for it. And also, holy fucking shit at the game being over 100 GB.

Sufferedphoneix posted...

It's a great game that the only nitpick I see being legitimate is side story's that fall into the main story are cut out and made dlc. Only Ingnis story seems relevant to the main plot though. Prompts just has one detail revealed in his that explains something that otherwise comes off as lazy writing.

The game is easy but so was final fantasy 7 which people loved. Hell I died more in this game I believe.

Despite what people say the anime or movie isn't needed to understand the story. I never watched either.

I hear it was shittier at launch. Being stuck playing only noct originally probably sucked. I find prompto and Ingnis very fun to play.

I'd recommend the super cheap dlc that gives a recipe for pizza. Requires no ingredients but gives unlimited stamina which is a nice easy choice when you don't need the big buffs from other recipes.

it isn't needed but you miss out on a TON of context. I bypassed a main character from Kingsglaive in the game thinking he was just a random npc. Same with The Emperor later in the game. Randomly turns into a monster off screen.

Makeveli_lives posted...

I swear she was notable in Kingsglaive as a character.

Oh yeah, she was good in the movie. Granted, she was basically a different character in the movie. Since the movie was being made before the game ironed out its story with rewrites, I don't think Luna was even the Oracle in the movie, just a standard princess. So there's some weird disconnect.

Personally, I think her design was better there too, since she was modeled after a real person and didn't just look like a standard blond anime girl.

Shadowplay posted...

I figure that even people here that hated it have played worse; I can just laugh at the game and its story if I don't particularly care for it. And also, holy fucking shit at the game being over 100 GB.

Yeah, 100+GB is super wacky for how little is actually in the game. A lot of it comes from the DLC. I swear everything is held together with rubber bands and glue.

And yeah, I wouldn't say I "hated" it outright, it's just super disappointing. But it's a comforting game to play if you're not really expecting anything crazy out of it. Just kick back and drive around the desert with your boys, listen to some FF music, and beat up some monsters.

Ivany2008 posted...

it isn't needed but you miss out on a TON of context. I bypassed a main character from Kingsglaive in the game thinking he was just a random npc. Same with The Emperor later in the game. Randomly turns into a monster off screen.

People would legit claim its needed.

They also claimed the dlc was needed but it really wasn't. The main story is all about noct. What happens with the other 3 off screen is not relevant. Woulda been nice if they made a hint towards what happened to Ignis though.

The open world made it a bit too barren. The story that was there was good, but there wasn't much story there. Needed way more cut scenes, more development for the villains, and generally just... more.

The game was 80% busy work, 20% good shit. If it had been more like 60% good shit and 40% busy work it could have been truly great.

It's my second favorite numbered ff but it's got plenty of issues

Sufferedphoneix posted...

People would legit claim its needed.

They also claimed the dlc was needed but it really wasn't. The main story is all about noct. What happens with the other 3 off screen is not relevant. Woulda been nice if they made a hint towards what happened to Ignis though.

I wouldn't say the movie is "needed" but what it covers is legitimately the impetus for the game's story. It's like removing the first chapter of a book and then plopping the main characters into a story that's already begun. Yeah, they give a quick recap on what happened (even then, I think that recap was patched in), but it's still a really messy way to tell a story.

As for the bros, what happened in their DLC should've just been in the main game from the start. Yeah, the story's about Noct, but there's no point in having three other protagonists if they're not going to do anything beyond being party members.

Rharyx211 posted...

I wouldn't say the movie is "needed" but what it covers is legitimately the impetus for the game's story. It's like removing the first chapter of a book and then plopping the main characters into a story that's already begun. Yeah, they give a quick recap on what happened (even then, I think that recap was patched in), but it's still a really messy way to tell a story.

As for the bros, what happened in their DLC should've just been in the main game from the start. Yeah, the story's about Noct, but there's no point in having three other protagonists if they're not going to do anything beyond being party members.

Gladious and promptos dlc had almost nothing to do with the main plot. They where pretty much their own story.

A definitive edition that weaves them into the main story like catwomans dlc in arkham city would be cool though.

Base-game chapter 13 anyone?

Sufferedphoneix posted...

People would legit claim its needed.

They also claimed the dlc was needed but it really wasn't. The main story is all about noct. What happens with the other 3 off screen is not relevant. Woulda been nice if they made a hint towards what happened to Ignis though.

As someone who again played the base version, I really would say it was needed. The importance of what is going on in the world sets the stage for the journey. Not to mention it actually develops Luna as a character. Her presence within 15 is overshadowed by Iris in nearly every single way. Had they changed Iris's age from 15 to 18, I doubt I would have even cared that Luna existed.

Meanwhile, if you go back and read the storyboards for Versus 13, where Stella is introduced, her personality, story and everything else is entirely different than Luna. From what I remember, she wasn't a love interest, she was more or less a counterpart to Noctis.

Stella was a better female lead than Luna just from the, like, three trailers she was in. Truly tragic.

Had to Google Iris to remember who she was but was Stella in the game? I never played the dlcs to completion after beating the base game.

No, Stella was only in Vs13 and was reworked into Luna. Kinda. But not really.

Makeveli_lives posted...

Had to Google Iris to remember who she was but was Stella in the game? I never played the dlcs to completion after beating the base game.

She was the base for what Luna became. The difference between the two was quite big though. She was brash, bold and up front from the trailers. Luna is the opposite.

I think Nomura said at one point that he would like to revisit that game if possible to rework it to his original vision.

Rharyx211 posted...

Stella was a better female lead than Luna just from the, like, three trailers she was in. Truly tragic.

She was literally nothing but a concept character. VS 13 was nothing but a concept Nomura fumbled around with for like half a decade until others had to come in and actually make a game

Ivany2008 posted...

I think Nomura said at one point that he would like to revisit that game if possible to rework it to his original vision.

That could make a good FFXVII

This is what we wanted and were promised:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcUSXub_ypU

Instead we got something that is a complete joke.

Blue_Inigo posted...

She was literally nothing but a concept character. VS 13 was nothing but a concept

Yeah, and she was still better than Luna.

It's pretty much the culmination of everything wrong with modern FF games.

So much time, money, resources and effort poured into what is essentially a....... meaningless one off games.

FFX was on the right track but since then they've dropped the ball.

Prismsblade posted...

It's pretty much the culmination of everything wrong with modern FF games.

So much time, money, resources and effort poured into what is essentially a....... meaningless one off games.

FFX was on the right track but since then they've dropped the ball.

Final fantasy has always been one offs. And atleast graphically they've always poured a decent amount of money in. I seem to recall someone from square saying they felt they put too much a priority on graphics.

Sufferedphoneix posted...

Final fantasy has always been one offs. And atleast graphically they've always poured a decent amount of money in. I seem to recall someone from square saying they felt they put too much a priority on graphics.

It's not just graphically but worlds, designs and lore are things they usually put alot of effort into as well, more so then most other gaming companys. But for continuous ones off games eventually become pointless time sinks.

Prismsblade posted...

It's not just graphically but worlds, designs and lore are things they usually put alot of effort into as well, more so then most other gaming companys. But for continuous ones off games eventually become pointless time sinks.

I like final fantasy for always being one offs. The ocassional sequel is nice. I've over all enjoyed 7 compilation. 10-2 was fun but not needed from a story perspective. Never played 12s sequel. 4 the after years was just ok. 13-2 was good. Never finished lightning returns. Yeah I'd rather have the one offs for the most part.

Sufferedphoneix posted...

I like final fantasy for always being one offs. The ocassional sequel is nice. I've over all enjoyed 7 compilation. 10-2 was fun but not needed from a story perspective. Never played 12s sequel. 4 the after years was just ok. 13-2 was good. Never finished lightning returns. Yeah I'd rather have the one offs for the most part.

I can see the appeal. But while it worked for a while that's clearly not the case anymore. Retaining fans is nigh impossible if they enjoyed one installment, but not the next radically different sequal and then some.

Eventually They just give up and walk away for good once they realized that specific game isn't coming back.

Prismsblade posted...

I can see the appeal. But while it worked for a while that's clearly not the case anymore. Retaining fans is nigh impossible if they enjoyed one installment, but not the next radically different sequal and then some.

Eventually They just give up and walk away for good once they realized that specific game isn't coming back.

If you are saying we live In a age of people too dumb to be appealed into new things I guess you are right considering even Hollywood can't do new shit it seems