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[pashmilla]

At least Ignis can't tell if he's alive or in the afterlife.

Fuck, I laughed.

Speaking of which, my favourite part of the "blind dungeon" in chapter 10 was whenever he would randomly trip and fall down, and one time he did it while standing in a knee-high puddle of water and completely disappeared. I felt bad for cackling as hard as I did.

 

[ShadowSoldier89]

A lot of the opinions i'm getting are from people that have upwards of 45+ hours into the game already.

For me, the thing really keeping this game back from being one of the greatest games in the series for me, is the fact that the story just gets barfed all over you in chapter 10-14.

The combat in the game carried it for me. I don't think it was nearly as simple as most people here believe. It's really only super simple when you vastly out level something.

the combat was super easy. I beat multiple boss fights without even getting touched. I spent a large chunk of the game not using magic because of the friendly fire, then proceeded to stop healing my teammates since they were useless, then moved on to just nuking my teammates with magic anyway since I was just letting them die regardless. Teammates became the dumbest thing to abuse easily too. Instead of properly dodging large AoE moves late in the game, I just activated a party tachnique, or hit the "Rescue" button on one of them to just let the 3-15 seconds of invulnerability eat all the biggest attacks. Other times I just grabbed a polearm and smashed things from the air where they couldnt attack me. Ifrit fucking flailed around like an idiot trying to hit me while I just spent all my MP smacking him in the chest before warping away to instantly get it all back and repeating.

Fights against multiple enemies were the dumbest, especially with large amounts of ranged enemies. So much time spent just just warp striking around to get rid of the damn gunners.

I beat the game at level 43 with barely any of the ascension grid opened. Just the air attack nodes and 1 accessory slot. Never provided any real challenge, and the only fight that was anywhere near fun was Aranea. I'm not going to bother putting the game back in to do anymore side shit as the open world was super boring and I hate this combat too much to go looking for more fights

 

[nOoblet16]

So let me get this straight.

Ardyn Lucis Caelum was kind of the Oracle a thousand years ago, healed people, fighted the daemons, cleared the Starscourge. He tried to get the god's blessing but he wasn't accepted as the chosen one no matter the sacrifices he made for the world.
Izunia was a jealous man who stole Ardyn's identity as the king (an then gave birth to Noctis' lineage? Then why is Lucis blood running through Noctis' veins?) and made people believe that Ardyn wasn't a savior, but the source of all evil?
So Ardyn got rejected by the humans who he tried to save and also by the gods who he was serving the whole time, ending up roaming the world as a being filled with the darkness

And is it true that Ifrit is the one behind the Starscourge? It's not mentioned in the game. I'm also finding out about Verstael being Prompto's father.

Ardyn wasn't a king he was just a dude living in Lucius who had the favour of Astrals and their gift. Ardyn then absorbs all daemons and becomes a hero and also immortal.

The king of Lucius then was Izunia, who got jealous and demonised Ardyn, this resulted in the Astrals rejecting him ascension. Once he was rejected, Izunia received the favour of Astrals and he took the name Lucius Caelum. Ardyn in turn took Izunia's name and did bad shitnto taint that name and his ultimate goal being wiping out the lineage of the fake Lucius Caelums...i.e. Norris's lineage.

 

[Golnei]

i.e. Norris's lineage.

I'm having a hard time deciding whether I like this or Microsoft more among the many varied ways autocorrect interprets Burial Noctis.

 

[Pygrus]

The combat in it's simple form is more than enough for finishing the main game and the superboss. It's for the super dungeons where you have to know how your weapons work and all. But many people will never get to them. Also people are so slow with the game, because they try to finish so many quests before you get all the great things which make traveling way faster. You can finish (except for the super dungeons I guess) everything in under 40 hours if you play it right. Or even less. Wouldn't surprise me if that 40 hours contain 4 hours of load times or more lol

I really think the only reason why you can sleep through a lot of what the main campaign throws at you, is because the open world segment lets you get so powerful and most people are going to end up over leveled, just because they went out of their way to do a lot of side activities.

I'm actually considering doing a new game+ of just the story missions, to just see how some of the later story boss fights are.

 

[nOoblet16]

I'm having a hard time deciding whether I like this or Microsoft more, as far as autocorrect interventions go.

Lol...I'm not gonna fix it hah.

 

[Ydelnae]

Ardyn wasn't a king he was just a dude living in Lucius who had the favour of Astrals and their gift. Ardyn then absorbs all daemons and becomes a hero and also immortal.

The king of Lucius then was Izunia, who got jealous and demonised Ardyn, this resulted in the Astrals rejecting him ascension. Once he was rejected, Izunia received the favour of Astrals and he took the name Lucius Caelum. Ardyn in turn took Izunia's name and did bad shitnto taint that name and his ultimate goal being wiping out the lineage of the fake Lucius Caelums...i.e. Norris's lineage.

But then why Ardyn and Noctis share the same powers if they are not related by blood? Noctis would be related to Izunia, which apparently wasn't of royal blood. The only explanation for this would be that Izunia was also a Lucis Caelum beforehand but he got jealous of his relative being the hero.

 

[Tyaren]

So let me get this straight.

Ardyn Lucis Caelum was kind of the Oracle a thousand years ago, healed people, fighted the daemons, cleared the Starscourge. He tried to get the god's blessing but he wasn't accepted as the chosen one no matter the sacrifices he made for the world.
Izunia was a jealous man who stole Ardyn's identity as the king (an then gave birth to Noctis' lineage? Then why is Lucis blood running through Noctis' veins?) and made people believe that Ardyn wasn't a savior, but the source of all evil?
So Ardyn got rejected by the humans who he tried to save and also by the gods who he was serving the whole time, ending up roaming the world as a being filled with the darkness

And is it true that Ifrit is the one behind the Starscourge? It's not mentioned in the game. I'm also finding out about Verstael being Prompto's father.

There are several slightly different versions of Ardyn's story online. Not sure which one is the right one. :/
As I understood it, it is slightly different to your version:
Ardyn's real name was Lucis Caelum and he was chosen by the Gods to become the Warrior of Light to defeat the Starcourge. They gave him the crystal and he was also to become the first king. He wasn't though yet.
Lucis Caelum used the crystal to absorb all daemons within himself. By doing that he became incredibly powerful but he also got tainted/corrupted in the Gods' and peoples' eyes and he lost their favor.
A man (the first oracle?) named Izunia, who was at the very front of discrediting Lucis Caelum, went against him and managed to defeat him. Izunia took Lucis Caelum's name and became the protector of the crystal and king of Lucis, spawning the line of kings that Noctis was the very last one of.
The original Lucis Caelum was immortal however and was refused to enter the afterlife or the God's realms, so he had to wander earth eternally, hatred and vengefulness building up inside him. He took Izunia's name, just as Izunia had taken his name, and called hilmself Ardyn Izunia. He also swore to end the line of Lucis who were in his eyes the real ursurpers...which they actually kinda were...

It's not the same blood that runs through Noctis' and Ardyn's veins, their connection is their name (which Noctis' forefather took from Ardyn) and the power of the crystal that both of them came in contact with. That's why they had the same powers in their end battle, summoning their swords.

 

[ShadowSoldier89]

I'm actually considering doing a new game+ of just the story missions, to just see how some of the later story boss fights are.

at level 43 with the weapons buyable from chapter 13, the end game bosses were still really easy, but ifrit was a fucking sponge. Ardyn is a joke.

 

[nOoblet16]

I really think the only reason why you can sleep through a lot of what the main campaign throws at you, is because the open world segment lets you get so powerful and most people are going to end up over leveled, just because they went out of their way to do a lot of side activities.

I'm actually considering doing a new game+ of just the story missions, to just see how some of the later story boss fights are.

I kept telling people to tackle main story while they are appropriate to their level (since that way the boss/end enemy is always above your level) rather than taking hours to finish one chapter and thereby ending up hilariously overlevelled. This was obviously going to happen.

 

[Griss]

Glad it wasn't just me that could not figure out what the fuck Ardyn's backstory was. That really required more than the five or so lines he gave it while Noct became a snack for the crystal.

HOLD THE FUCK UP.

Someone on the previous page said that all 4 of the boys died because you see them in that final blast that kills Ardyn. I didn't interpret it that way..? Are they all dead?

I just imagined that was their "energy/spirit/aura/ki/hadou" coming to assist Noctis, but that Noctis was the only one who died. Even in the campfire scene at the end, Noctis makes it clear that he is dying but the dialogue suggest that it is only he who will die.

In my mind, the boys are out there fighting the daemons to create time for Noctis to summon dat magic to kill Ardyn.

So are they all dead??

This is how I interpreted it. That it was their emotional energy that had powered Noctis through his journey, and thus he was imagining them there with him supplying that energy.

I didn't think it was obvious that they had died at all. Noct and Luna died, the others made it when Noct purified the land. That's the story I'm sticking to.

 

[nOoblet16]

But then why Ardyn and Noctis share the same powers if they are not related by blood? Noctis would be related to Izunia, which apparently wasn't of royal blood. The only explanation for this would be that Izunia was also a Lucis Caelum beforehand but he got jealous of his relative being the hero.

It's not the blood thst gives powers it's the Astrals that grant the powers. Ardyn received the power when he was chosen. While Noctis' ancestor received the power (and it passed down his line since) when he got chosen after Ardyn was denied ascension and deemed corrupted.

 

[ZeroX03]

Okay the ending was great up until the final post credit scene. That was terrible.

 

[jimmypython]

Don't be surprised to see

Ignis DLC expanding more on the Altissia invasion including some background on Luna

Prompto DLC to set in Solheim region with a focus on Tenebrae leading to his backstory and encounter with his father.

Gladio DLC might have something to do with Ravus or Cor. Either one of them should be given some exposure in the DLC.

Atleast that is my takeaway from the game.

I mean we already had a story DLC for FFXIII-2 which was actually the ending of the game

If they remade FF9 today, all the ATEs will be sold as DLC LOL....how sad..

 

[Mendrox]

Fuck, I laughed.

Speaking of which, my favourite part of the "blind dungeon" in chapter 10 was whenever he would randomly trip and fall down, and one time he did it while standing in a knee-high puddle of water and completely disappeared. I felt bad for cackling as hard as I did.

I thought that it was way funnier that Noctis told Gladio and Ignes that they should LOOK around the train if everything is okay.

 

[Holundrian]

If they remade FF9 today, all the ATEs will be sold as DLC LOL....how sad..

Nobody tell them to remake FF9 pls,

 

[Teletraan1]

You know a story is poorly told when you have to search online to try and piece it together. I am not usually one for the stories in FF games, what always drew me to the games were the gameplay systems and various activities, but this was possibly a good story just mangled by its development hell. The last couple of chapters were just a linear info dump done poorly. I am glad this game is behind them now. Hopefully they can get the next project moving without such baggage.

 

[Mendrox]

I really think the only reason why you can sleep through a lot of what the main campaign throws at you, is because the open world segment lets you get so powerful and most people are going to end up over leveled, just because they went out of their way to do a lot of side activities.

I'm actually considering doing a new game+ of just the story missions, to just see how some of the later story boss fights are.

Nya not really. If you just play the main story you will be strong enough for everything. The game throws way too much EP at your face. Also equipped weapons and the ascension are more important than levels. Except for Ifrit everything should be easy.

 

[Lights and Waves]

Okay the ending was great up until the final post credit scene. That was terrible.

Really? I think that scene was the only saving grace of that corny fairytale ending with Noctis and Luna getting married like this is the Brothers Grim.

 

[DiipuSurotu]

This is how I interpreted it. That it was their emotional energy that had powered Noctis through his journey, and thus he was imagining them there with him supplying that energy.

I didn't think it was obvious that they had died at all. Noct and Luna died, the others made it when Noct purified the land. That's the story I'm sticking to.

It's not obvious either way. Again, SE left their fate ambiguous on purpose. There is no real answer.

Okay the ending was great up until the final post credit scene. That was terrible.

That was the best part IMO.

 

[NeonBlack]

I feel like I missed a story point. Were we ever told that Noctis would sacrifice himself? It seems like his dad may have known but I don't know any story beats that suggest it till the end.

 

[jb1234]

Really? I think that scene was the only saving grace of that corny fairytale ending with Noctis and Luna getting married like this is the Brothers Grim.

I thought the music salvaged that scene. Without that glorious rendition of the Prelude, I wouldn't have given a shit about Noctis and Luna together.

 

[zeromcd73]

Prompto just disappearance while fighting that Yorgumundo thing or whatever it was called. He doesn't show up in the menu or the bottom right to show his health. Completely gone. Went to camp but as soon as I thought the game was frooze as the game was black, but it allowed me to pause. Nothing else though.

 

[Tyaren]

Glad it wasn't just me that could not figure out what the fuck Ardyn's backstory was. That really required more than the five or so lines he gave it while Noct became a snack for the crystal.

There was also the problem of Noctis grunting so loudly over each of Ardyn's five or so lines. They really have to patch that.

I feel like I missed a story point. Wee we ever told that Noctis would sacrifice himself? It seems like his dad may have known but I don't know any story beats that suggest it till the end.

At first Noctis wasn't meant to actually die. He was basically in the same shoes as Ardyn was thousands of years ago. He was the appointed Warrior of Light to defeat the Starcourge. Ardyn back than didn't die either. He actually became immortal.
It became clear that Noctis would have to die though the moment Bahamut told him that Ardyn was so powerful that Noctis would have to give his life in order to defeat him. That's why Ardyn was ultimately defeated in the afterlife and not in the courtyard of the citadel, when Noctis and him were having their one on one duel.

 

[Ydelnae]

That scene with Ardyn walking in Circles in Insomnia after the reveal and then his face turn into the creepy daemon face was so poorly edited lmao it feels like the budget ran out after the Leviathan fight was finished.

 

[Sylas]

I feel like I missed a story point. Were we ever told that Noctis would sacrifice himself? It seems like his dad may have known but I don't know any story beats that suggest it till the end.

Noctis was never told. He assumed that he was just going to get married, become king and keep on keepin' on. Then he assumes the crystal will help him and everything will be dandy. He doesn't know until Bahamut tells him that he has to sacrifice himself, and that's when the player finds out as well. It's safe to say Regis knew, too.

 

[ZeroX03]

Noctis and Luna together made no sense to me. My understanding is they don't even meet each other in person after they met as kids? So they were pen pals. Romantically entwined pen pals. It's like 'The Lake House' but somehow worse.

I understand why he loves his father, even if his father has no screentime (lemme guess Kingsglaive). His relationship with the boys was the best part, and the campfire scene was delightful. But I don't get why Luna is on part with them. He has more screentime with Iris, Aranaea & Cindy.

The final moments should've been with the relationships we actually saw in the game.

 

[jimmypython]

Noctis and Luna together made no sense to me. My understanding is they don't even meet each other in person after they met as kids? So they were pen pals. Romantically entwined pen pals. It's like 'The Lake House' but somehow worse.

I understand why he loves his father, even if his father has no screentime (lemme guess Kingsglaive). His relationship with the boys was the best part, and the campfire scene was delightful. But I don't get why Luna is on part with them. He has more screentime with Iris, Aranaea and Cindy.

The final moments should've been with the relationships we actually saw in the game.

exactly, not enough buildup. Seems they didn't learn anything from Type-0 [that supposedly emotional opening sequence still haunts].

 

[Lights and Waves]

In a world of smartphones, why did Luna and Noctis not communicate for 12 years? And why does S-E think that people find arranged fairytale marriages to be romantic and #goals?

I was honestly rooting for Iris to end up with Noctis after Luna died. Iris' voice actor did an outstanding job at bringing her character to life.

 

[Tyaren]

Noctis was never told. He assumed that he was just going to get married, become king and keep on keepin' on. Then he assumes the crystal will help him and everything will be dandy. He doesn't know until Bahamut tells him that he has to sacrifice himself, and that's when the player finds out as well. It's safe to say Regis knew, too.

Neither Regis nor Luna knew about Ardyn (not his true identity) and Ardyn was the reason Noctis would have to die.
Ardyn defeated the Starcourge too in the past and didn't die but actually became immortal.

 

[ZeroX03]

Also with the World of Ruin/King's Jester things, it was clearly a homage that Tabata wanted to make while not fully understanding why they worked so well in Final Fantasy VI. They didn't fall flat, but also didn't work as well.

Ardyn was far better than any villain in the XIII trilogy at the very least.

 

[Seven Force]

At least Ignis can't tell if he's alive or in the afterlife.

Holy shit, lol

 

[ShadowSoldier89]

In a world of smartphones, why did Luna and Noctis not communicate for 12 years? And why does S-E think that people find arranged fairytale marriages to be romantic and #goals?

I was honestly rooting for Iris to end up with Noctis after Luna died. Iris' voice actor did an outstanding job at bringing her character to life.

Iris walking quest in Lastellum I found to be better character building and subtle interest than anything with Noctis's crew. I really liked her, but then she also brings nothing to the overall plot and is partly responsible for the godawful Jarod shit.

 

[NeonBlack]

Was Iedolas in the game at all?

 

[jb1234]

Also with the World of Ruin/King's Jester things, it was clearly a homage that Tabata wanted to make while not fully understanding why they worked so well in Final Fantasy VI. They didn't fall flat, but also didn't work as well.

Ardyn was far better than any villain in the XIII trilogy at the very least.

Most of the credit goes to the voice actor. I think bad casting could have ruined that character.

Was Iedolas in the game at all?

He gets an early cutscene and then the next time you see him, you're cutting him down in a boss battle after he's been turned into a daemon.

 

[hamchan]

I've left a rubber band on my sticks to max my survival skill. Hopefully when I wake up it'll be done.

 

[kuroshiki]

Also with the World of Ruin/King's Jester things, it was clearly a homage that Tabata wanted to make while not fully understanding why they worked so well in Final Fantasy VI. They didn't fall flat, but also didn't work as well.

Ardyn was far better than any villain in the XIII trilogy at the very least.

I understand that Tabata wanted to homage the world of ruin in 6, but dear god, at least in 6 you had the whole another characters building up with ENTIRE world to visit again.

Hell it even had Celes as new protagonist.

Tabata should never touch FF again.

He gets an early cutscene and then the next time you see him, you're cutting him down in a boss battle after he's been turned into a daemon.

Not only that, the entire empire just 'fall'. As for the guy who were expecting epic showdown between small resistance vs empire fleet, I was pretty bummed to say the least.

Seriously tabata. wtf is wrong with you.

 

[Tyaren]

Was Iedolas in the game at all?

He gets an early cutscene and then the next time you see him, you're cutting him down in a boss battle after he's been turned into a daemon.

Three times as I understood it. Once alive in a short cutscene, once as a daemon that you had to defeat (but hardly anyone knew it was actually him) and once dangling dead as a doornail from the throne room's ceiling (which also hardly anyone noticed because it was only shown for a mere second).

 

[Sylas]

Neither Regis nor Luna knew about Ardyn (not his true identity) and Ardyn was the reason Noctis would have to die.
Ardyn defeated the Starcourge too in the past and didn't die but actually became immortal.

Nah, Noctis was always "The Chosen King," and from what I gleaned that meant he was always meant to end the Starscourge as it definitely seemed like a consistent threat that was kept at bay by the Oracle/King combination, but only the "Chosen King," could end for goodsies by sacrificing himself. Ardyn was just a side-quest as far as the worldwide threat was concerned and he just ushered in a more permanent starscourge--likely by removing the King and Oracle from the equation.

 

[ZeroX03]

Oh yeah so many NPCs just thrown away. The emperor dude being that random daemon battle was funny as hell. Just finding Luna's brother's dead body, no ceremony there. At least he had a daemon model that was actually him. They basically went all in on Ardyn and kind of fuck anyone else. Aranea was expanded on a little I guess.

 

[kuroshiki]

Oh yeah so many NPCs just thrown away. The emperor dude being that random daemon battle was funny as hell. Just finding Luna's brother's dead body, no ceremony there. At least he had a daemon model that was actually him. They basically went all in on Ardyn and kind of fuck anyone else. Aranea was expanded on a little I guess.

Compare to emperor? yeah.

doesn't say much though. I mean, seriously, FF15 fail so much on character department its not even funny. Even FF13 wasn't this bad.

 

[APZonerunner]

HOLD THE FUCK UP.

Someone on the previous page said that all 4 of the boys died because you see them in that final blast that kills Ardyn. I didn't interpret it that way..? Are they all dead?

I just imagined that was their "energy/spirit/aura/ki/hadou" coming to assist Noctis, but that Noctis was the only one who died. Even in the campfire scene at the end, Noctis makes it clear that he is dying but the dialogue suggest that it is only he who will die.

In my mind, the boys are out there fighting the daemons to create time for Noctis to summon dat magic to kill Ardyn.

So are they all dead??

Well, four - 50% - of the people we see in that scene are 100% definitely dead - Regis, Luna, Noctis and Adryn. Only their spirit remains in all 4 cases. The other 4 we don't see die, but we see them about to face down impossible odds to buy Noctis time. I think it's fairly safe to assume they die and like Regis and Luna hold on spiritually to assist Noctis in obliterating Ardyn in the beyond.

 

[Ydelnae]

I think Noctis finally reaching Gralia only for the Empire to have fallen was supposed to be the huge plot twist that lead up to the Ardyn reveal. But none of the characters cared and none of the players remembered that Idololas existed.

Gralea was also supposed to be infested with daemons in Versus but they just took that idea in order to hide that they had no time to actually flesh out that chapter. And they did a pretty poor job at it.

 

[NeonBlack]

Well, four - 50% - of the people we see in that scene are 100% definitely dead - Regis, Luna, Noctis and Adryn. Only their spirit remains in all 4 cases. The other 4 we don't see die, but we see them about to face down impossible odds to buy Noctis time. I think it's fairly safe to assume they die and like Regis and Luna hold on spiritually to assist Noctis in obliterating Ardyn in the beyond.

Will it's not the first time we see them take on impossible odds and come back from that. At least now they have a Ignis who doesn't need a cane anymore.

 

[Lights and Waves]

Also with the World of Ruin/King's Jester things, it was clearly a homage that Tabata wanted to make while not fully understanding why they worked so well in Final Fantasy VI. They didn't fall flat, but also didn't work as well.

Ardyn was far better than any villain in the XIII trilogy at the very least.

Hate FFXIII all you want, but you cannot tell me that Caius isn't one of the most interesting villains in all Final Fantasy. Bhunivelze was also an epic final boss for the trilogy.

 

[ZeroX03]

Hate FFXIII all you want, but you cannot tell me that Caius isn't one of the most interesting villains in all Final Fantasy. Bhunivelze was also an epic final boss for the trilogy.

I couldn't tell you a thing about Caius except I think he yelled a lot?

I don't even remember any of the final bosses. I'll give you this though, I do remember who Caius is which is more than I can say for any other villain in the XIII games. There was a woman who looked sort of like Quistis but did nothing right?

 

[SargerusBR]

Then what was he was he was doing when he was going around healing people before the jealous king betrayed him?

Where are those from?

 

[jimmypython]

Oh yeah so many NPCs just thrown away. The emperor dude being that random daemon battle was funny as hell. Just finding Luna's brother's dead body, no ceremony there. At least he had a daemon model that was actually him. They basically went all in on Ardyn and kind of fuck anyone else. Aranea was expanded on a little I guess.

If I heard correctly the Japanese dub of "daemon" was actually the term they used for Cie'th (シ&#39608 in FNC games. Seems Tabata didn't bother to change this one from Versus..

 

[NeonBlack]

Hate FFXIII all you want, but you cannot tell me that Caius isn't one of the most interesting villains in all Final Fantasy. Bhunivelze was also an epic final boss for the trilogy.

Caius? No

A slightly interesting background but that's it.

 

[ShadowSoldier89]

Hate FFXIII all you want, but you cannot tell me that Caius isn't one of the most interesting villains in all Final Fantasy. Bhunivelze was also an epic final boss for the trilogy.

I'd probably find Caius more compelling if it wasnt for me not caring about Serah and especially Noel. Bhunivelze was a great fight.

I said in my long post lamenting everything that I feel like Ardyn has a lot of potential. He has a twisted charisma, a storied history, a calling for his rampage, and great power.

However he is revealed far too soon, and his history is hard to grasp. Noctis is busy screaming when he talks about it, then the only other bit you get is if you grab the OPTIONAL conversation with the random kid with the truck in the world of ruin. Like that shit was super important, why is it an optional conversation with an irrelevant kid.

Beyond that his takeover was far too sudden to be compelling. The empire had no time to be the villain before Ardyn just smites them down to bring on his world. If we wouldve spent a long time chasing the empire for revenge, working through triumphs against them first, only then for Ardyn to be revealed as who he is. Use that extra time for some better foreshadowing on him. The climax then couldve been the final confrontation with the emperor, except Ardyn kills the emperor himself in front of Noctis and unleashes the demon hordes.