A bit unreal, isn't it? To be sitting here, in 2016, writing - or in your case, reading - a review round up article about Final Fantasy XV. Noctis and his pals are finally hitting the road tomorrow as the role-playing release launches worldwide - but has Square Enix made the most of the last ten years, or has the game's troubled development had a negative impact on the final product?
Eurogamer - No Score
In chasing that scale the bigger picture can sometimes get a little obscured, but importantly Final Fantasy 15 retains that love of smaller stories, the ones that often prove to be so much more memorable.
Gamespot - 8/10
While it's safe to assume fans and outsiders will find some aspect of Final Fantasy XV disappointing--be it the shallow story or finnicky Astrals--it would be hard for anyone to deny that Final Fantasy XV is a fascinating game after giving it a chance. Where its characters fail to impress, Final Fantasy XV's beautiful world and exciting challenges save the day.
US Gamer - 4/5
Stick with it even if you find yourself rolling your eyes at the opening hours: You may be surprised by how much you end up enjoying yourself.
Kotaku - No Score
Another grand adventure, another gang of worthy heroes; another tale of crystals and magic and betrayal and love, all beautiful melodies and lush scenery and the finely honed complexity of carefully choreographed combat.
Game Informer - 8.5/10
It succeeds and struggles in finding its unique stance, but a few problematic designs don't hold it back from being a hell of a journey. Just days after playing it, I find myself reflecting on it fondly.
Destructoid - 9/10
In a way it's silly that Square spent 10 years making this, and it feels like a really shiny version of something it would have actually made 10 years ago. While a complete overhaul of the genre would certainly suit someone's needs, XV suits mine just fine.
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Sadly, you're going to have to wait a little bit longer for our own review - but until then, let us know if you're happy with how the title appears to be doing in the comments section below.
Comments 52
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...
I don't really know if I should buy it after quickly reading 2 reviews!
I'm really on the fence...
@AFCC yes you should buy it.
IGN gave it a 8.2/10
Pretty good reviews across the board. Sorry we couldn't have a review for you lot before launch. I'll try and get through it as fast as I can!
@themcnoisy I'm itching for a new JRPG...but after playing the demo I felt like the combat was the most boring thing I've ever played. Did they change it some bit or no? That's what I need to know...
The demo we got was boring as hell!
Too many other good games out at the moment for this to get a look in with me.
Waiting for the download before starting!
Saving this for crimbo along with Dishonored 2
@AFCC yes they have changed it. Go buy it.
@AFCC Combat on Judgement Disc was a lot better than the Platinum Demo.
@AFCC Eurogamer mentions that the combat is enjoyable for the most part, but magic is a bit crap and the poor camera and lock on system can spoil the fun.
@ShogunRok Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Take your Rok, savor the experience...............its not every day that a game like FFXV comes out.
I'm looking forward to your impressions but please make sure to pay attention to the small details.
For anybody in the US still on the fence it's currently $50.99 on Amazon. that's the regular price, it's $47.99 w/ Prime.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DBF829C/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1
Plus you can get some cool items by playing the weirdest minigames ever on their RoadTrip website.
https://www.roadtrip.finalfantasyxv.com/dashboard
So as mad as I am about the delay, the season pass, and the additional DLC, Amazon gave me enough incentive to get it despite all that. Also, it's the main reason I bought a PS4 Slim, so waiting on the game now seems a bit odd. And there's the movie and webisodes to watch, and I already ordered the hardcover guide book as a gift to me from my mom, same as I did last year w/ the XCX hardcover guide.
@xXDibbs I'm a massive Final Fantasy fan so trust me, I'm really going to be taking a hard look at this one after waiting 10 years to play it. I'll probably write up an impressions article or two just to get my initial thoughts across before the final review is done.
@Dakt Nah, we didn't get review code - but we should have our copy tomorrow.
@ShogunRok yeah the camera is TERRIBLE on the biggest enemies from what've seen, but I don't think that is a problem if the combat is fun.
@kyleforrester87 Only played the first demo, but I trust your word!
@themcnoisy Ok dude xD
I was put off this game after finding out it takes 72 real-time hours to defeat one creature (3 frickin days). And although you can "drive" the car, you're restricted to acceleration and braking. So no off-roading. Also, you can't skip the journey, so you're stuck, bored until you reach your destination. Now don't get me wrong, I know that's not the only means of transport, but it's the main one. And yes, I know eventually the car flies, but that's too little too late for me. I'm sure these are minor niggles to others who are fans of the franchise though, especially after waiting 10yrs to play it. So, enjoy folks, but I'll be giving it a pass until it's at a considerably reduced price.
It definitely seems worth buying to me. Can't wait for Push Square's review.
@blakey78 That's the usual way FF handles these things, though - cars for one thing, chocobos for another, flying ship for another, mostly arbitrary (FFIX being the best example of having a flying chocobo and a flying ship(s) but not being able to land on all 'surfaces' with either).
@blakey78 Where did you get that from? The game can be finished in 30 hours. Maybe it would take you 72 hours to fight a boss way under levelled but the same could be said for any RPG like that.
In terms of the car I think it's great that you can't go off road - it's not a rally game. If you want off road transport, ride a Chocobo. And I'm pretty sure you can fast travel.
Really your complaints sound odd, but that's your call so fair enough.
@blakey78 from what ive read I don't think the car journeys are meant to be boring, cause there's lots of banter between the main characters
@kyleforrester87 "Maybe it would take you 72 hours to fight a boss"
The Conan vid from a couple of weeks back touched upon it, apparently it's one of those "Extra" bosses that always pop up in FF games that are freaking impossible to kill but give the final forms of weapons. I can't imagine it taking 72 real world hours, I would guess 72 in game hours is more like it, but it could just be in there for the Japanese gamers, they like their endless grinding Monster Hunter games.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXJFbsQBvLw
@kyleforrester87 what I meant by offroad was drive where you want, not restricted to on-rails. I watched the clueless gamer episode with conan o'brian and he was told that the huge creature in the game took 72 real-time hours
@finalstan @Miles_Edgeworth I meant there was little to do other than accelerate and listen to the banter.
I probably will get this game at some point as I'm not saying these "issues" are game breaking for me. I'm just saying that right now, it's not on my radar enough to purchase day 1
@blakey78 "Also, you can't skip the journey, so you're stuck, bored until you reach your destination."
There's a back catalogue of some of the greatest ever game compositions on the radio. But if your not into that then errr yes you would be bored.
@themcnoisy One of my most enjoyable things to do when playing the witcher 3 (and to some extent fallout 4) was traverse the world. I honestly found the journey between quests/missions to be one of the best part's of the game(s). So, it's not going to ruin the game for me, it's just the lack of interactivity that concerned me.
@Bliquid I didn't know that, well, aside from fast travel of course. I got most of my "concerns" from the clueless gamer video here.......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXJFbsQBvLw
Pretty good review across the board ! Good job Tabata
@rjejr Wait? You finally have a ps4?
I am addicted. It took me about 7 hours to get fully into it and now I can't get enough. The only real annoying thing so far is the camera, which only becomes a problem when the fight gets pushed into a tight corridor but that doesn't make it unplayable, just a few seconds of annoyance. I was also disappointed at first about not being able to go wherever I may roam with the Regalia but it makes the Regalia and chocobos have their own purposes. Regalia for when traveling from town to town then chocobos for traversing the fields and woods. Even though you can only go a certain top speed in the car its much faster then a chocobo. Also I like the chocobo rental system where you can rent them days at a time and call upon them when you need them. I am currently about 17 hours in and its getting harder and harder to walk away each time I stop.
@SonuvLiberty All sounds great! Can't wait. Wish I didn't have to work all week.
@Xaessya really not surprised about IGN haha
Turn based combat, haircuts, kids going on about believing in themselves, and "Banter"?
I'll stick to skyrim for my rpg fix.
@THRILLHOU The combat isn't turn based....
@Sanquine Well yes and no. Yes, I bought 1 a couple of weeks ago at Target, almost gave Sammy a heart-attack, but no b/c it's a family Christmas gift so nobody gets to see it until Christmas morning. Waiting sucks, though this game being delayed makes the wait easier or I might have had to buy the PS4 myself for my birthday, this way I get most of the Christmas shopping done for the whole family. My 1 son is getting R&C and the other DQH, those were $10 each at Gamestop (new, I'm not so cheap that I buy my kids used gifts for Christmas, just cheap enough to buy them on sale.) R&C kid is also getting a NES Mini that he really wants (got 1 in store at MSRP) and the other kid is getting the Crash & Dr. Cortex Skylanders game on PS4, normally $99 but got it for $39 at Target. So yeah, in another 28 days we'll be part of the family, 5 games and the console - counting the bundled U4. Then I can finally spend more time gaming and less time shopping.
And yes, I did gt the cheaper Slim, not the Pro, I got the Slim U4 bundle for $218 at Target but I was having difficulty finding any good bundles and sales for the Pro, and I don't have a 4k TV anyway. When PS5 releases in a few years maybe I'll get a 4k TV then.
@Bliquid yeah I guess the issue I have is the tone mainly. I played FFVII on release and liked it, but still found it odd that people were having long conversations about feelings when they could be going round battling monsters.
I played XIII and was genuinely angry at some characters, they tend to be incredibly grating and have zero appeal to me. Vanille. I mean Vanille. Oh and that kid was unbearable as well. Felt like giving him a slap. Mopey little sod. I mean you've got metal panthers turning into motorbikes one minute and the next you're forced to watch Vanille whimper for 45 minutes. I just don't get it. Maybe it's a cultural thing, maybe it's just poor translations, maybe the acting is just poor. Whatever it is, I just can't get into these games. Oh and Leona Lewis. Come on!!!!
@THRILLHOU Im really hyped for FF15, and generally love anything FF.. But there's hardly a single positive thing I can say about the characters in 13. All awful!
FF9, though..wow. Zidane, Dagger, Vivi? Steiner and Beatrix? Right in the feels bro.
@Neolit
@THRILLHOU I'm not a FF fan...but Skyrim triggers me so so much xD Most overrated game last gen!
@kyleforrester87 You'll be playing it before you know it!
I also wanted to mention too that the magic isn't that bad either IMO. You basically gather magic from sources out in the wild then make yourself a bomb(kinda), or you can mix multiple elements and throw in an item for various effects. Magic already saved me once out of tight spot against a final tough enemy after what was left after an onslaught of enemies. Everyone except myself were all dying and I was without any potions, elixirs or pheonix downs but I had a mixed spell from earlier called a healer thundercast (or something...basically thunder and an elixir mixed). Well the enemy just happened to be vulnerable to thunder so it was just enough to knock the baddie on his back and finish him off while I slowly came back from the brink.
Loved XIII so really looking forward to this one.
Just gotta complete S&M, YKW2, DQ7 and FE:Fates.
@Bliquid
Bro Villiers annoyed me so much, I think that's the main reason i stopped playing. That plus the jpop soundtrack. Then the nonsensical story.
I did like Lightning though as a protagonist.
It's incredible that in like two weeks, both Final Fantasy XV and The Last Guardian will be out. What a time to be alive.
Didn't most of these sites also give FFXIII scores of around 8-9?
@ApostateMage Yes, but we don't talk about that any more. It's like how we all used to champion Tony Blair in the '90s. We didn't know everyone was going to end up hating him.
@johncalmc Haha. Word.
@ApostateMage Final Fantasy games are subjective. Some people love XIII and dislike X, others think VII is the best game of all time but hate the rest of the series. Plenty of people (like myself) really enjoyed the XIII trilogy. When it comes to Final Fantasy, take scores with a grain of salt; instead, focus on the review content.
Great to see they didn't muck it up here's hoping for similar success for the Last Guardian.
The scores are looking good and I am pretty pleased with the result. I saw one site on metacritic give it a 6 though which is weird when all other reviews range from 8 upwards. My copy arrived but I have to avoid spoilers until I am back from holiday!
@THRILLHOU I won't defend FFXIII. That game was terrible. Try FFXII when the remaster comes out: it has a lot of exploration, a really interesting battle system that reminds me of older WRPGs, and a minimum of adolescent character drama. The first protaganist is a bit annoying, but the other characters practically forget he exists by midgame.
I'm too old to play a game with characters like this...
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