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[rubik's dude]

Originally played the game on release, and quit around chapter 3. Went back recently and played through the Royal Edition, plus Episode Ardyn, plus I watched Kingsglaive. What a mess. While playing through the main game, it felt like there was a story happening around you that you're never fully privy to.

Characters go through full story arcs completely offscreen. There's one where the first time you meet them, they're a boss battle working for the bad guys, but the literal next time, they're on your side helping refugees and working against the bad guys, because they went through a journey that only ever gets alluded to.

Speaking of the bad guys (Empire) who were the main villains from the movie and for 3/4ths of the game, they get completely offscreen wiped out after a certain point and you never hear from them again. You find this out from some throwaway dialogue (not even a cutscene) from a random character that appeared 10 chapters previously.

And then you have the DLC that attempts to flesh out the story more, like Episode Ardyn. Played through that, but apparently I was supposed to watch an anime special called "Episode Ardyn: Prologue" beforehand, which I didn't do.

And if four DLC, a movie, and two anime (another anime, FFXV Brotherhood) weren't enough, apparently the story still wasn't finished. They planned three more DLC that got scrapped and turned into a book that's supposed to have the "true" ending.

I knew FFXV was held together by duct tape, but jesus christ, I didn't think it was this bad.

 

[Loomy]

While playing through the main game, it felt like there was a story happening around you that you're never fully privy to.

There literally is. There's a full scale global invasion happening while Noctis and his friends are trying to go meet his girlfriend. Honestly, for the shitshow of a development that FFv13/15 went through, it's a miracle we got something at all.

Still has one of the best music and ending cinematics of all FF though.

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

I love how you learn about your kingdom being invaded by reading the newspaper at some little resort you're staying at.

 

[Draugoth]

Originally played the game on release, and quit around chapter 3. Went back recently and played through the Royal Edition, plus Episode Ardyn, plus I watched Kingsglaive. What a mess. While playing through the main game, it felt like there was a story happening around you that you're never fully privy to.

Characters go through full story arcs completely offscreen. There's one where the first time you meet them, they're a boss battle working for the bad guys, but the literal next time, they're on your side helping refugees and working against the bad guys, because they went through a journey that only ever gets alluded to.

Speaking of the bad guys (Empire) who were the main villains from the movie and for 3/4ths of the game, they get completely offscreen wiped out after a certain point and you never hear from them again. You find this out from some throwaway dialogue (not even a cutscene) from a random character that appeared 10 chapters previously.

And then you have the DLC that attempts to flesh out the story more, like Episode Ardyn. Played through that, but apparently I was supposed to watch an anime special called "Episode Ardyn: Prologue" beforehand, which I didn't do.

And if four DLC, a movie, and two anime (another anime, FFXV Brotherhood) weren't enough, apparently the story still wasn't finished. They planned three more DLC that got scrapped and turned into a book that's supposed to have the "true" ending.

I knew FFXV was held together by duct tape, but jesus christ, I didn't think it was this bad.

Game restarted development three times. It never really stood a chance

 

[jshackles]

Game is definitely one that you have to just commit to enjoying "as-is", because nobody really understands all of it - probably not even the people who made it. It's like Kingdom Hearts, in that individually each piece of media is pretty good, but collectively it's story is trash.

 

[rofif]

It is a hot mess but it's amazing.
This is a prime example of a game that's more than sum of it's broken parts.
Also - objectively amazing graphics and some of best music in video game ever... and animations

 

[HRK69]

I always loved that moment where you get to look back at all the photos you took during the journey

 

[rofif]

I always loved that moment where you get to look back at all the photos you took during the journey

Dude I cried on the ending like a baby

 

[rubik's dude]

Still has one of the best music and ending cinematics of all FF though.

Meh, the ending is trash.

After Episode Ignis, they show you there was a path where everyone can live. Plus, with the book and the dev interviews for their original plans of the additional three DLC that never happened, it wasn't even supposed to end like it did in the game.

The true ending is them defeating Bahamut, defying fate, and Ardyn turning good:

 

[Dacvak]

This is the FF with the bros, and the intro is them pushing a broken down car to Stand By Me, right?

Literally this was my favorite Final Fantasy. I haven't played it since it came out, so I don't remember much of the story. But I remember loving the gameplay/combat and the overall "hangin with the boys" vibe.

Maybe I have bad tastes in FF games, but this was probably my favorite.

 

[KimDongHwan]

After FFX all Final Fantasies have struggled to find its place, and its because they have not made the decision to either acknowledge its roots and just be a full blown JRPG (a la Persona series) or just become a Naughty Dog game, since they try to do both you end up with this highly cinematic, weird stories and sprinkles of RPGs systems that do not make any sense on the game (for instance, levels not doing anything at all in the game)

 

[Fbh]

Yup.
I only played it at launch which basically felt like early access, and it's a mess.
All the interesting stuff in the story basically happens off screen. You could argue focusing more on an interesting personal story instead of the larger events is a unique approach, but what you actually get to see isn't even an interesting personal story, it's a basically just some anime tropes going on a roadtrip.

The Pitioss Ruins were great though

 

[rubik's dude]

because nobody really understands all of it - probably not even the people who made it.

I thought this as well after finishing the game and reading up on the book. It felt like they didn't quite know what they wanted to do with the story. Each new thing they added retconned something else.

 

[Doom85]

I honestly thought a mainline new FF game couldn't disappoint me more than XV did.

Then XVI said:

 

[Investor9872]

I loved FFXV. Thought I was the only one.

 

[FatallyYours]

I did a replay a few months ago too, followed a reddit post as to when to read/watch/play certain things and it definitely made the story & game better, but it's weird that there's so much that makes you quit the game for hours to catch up on stuff

It'd be better if the film and cartoons were available via the menu page, at least keep you in the game, rather than going off to YouTube and netflix

Was it an attempt at transmedia?
It didn't work at release, and by the time it had all come out, I think they'd lost a lot of people

I have to say though that I really liked the game. If they did a remaster with everything included, in the right place, I'd play it again

 

[Pasta la Vista]

Worst FF game hands down. The Cup Noodle product placement was pretty hilarious though.

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

I didn't think this was a great game but I enjoyed it for what it was. I'd take XV over XVI any day.

You can tell they cobbled it together from bits and pieces of a different game.

Also from the various leaks and rumors, it really sounded like Square-Enix were surprised at how well the game reviewed + sold

 

[March Climber]

I honestly thought a mainline new FF game couldn't disappoint me more than XV did.

Then XVI said:

I had a feeling someone was still going to try to make this about 16. Took 14 posts.

 

[Clear]

I enjoyed it. I thought the focus on the core characters made it stand out.

Its one of those games that if you focus on what's there, there is actually a lot to enjoy. But fixating on what's missing is -as it always is, if you aren't looking to add it back in yourself- a loser's game.

 

[rubik's dude]

Was it an attempt at transmedia?
It didn't work at release, and by the time it had all come out, I think they'd lost a lot of people

I don't think it was an honest attempt at transmedia, I think it was just the only way they could complete as much of the story as possible.

It's funny though, I do recall FFXV was originally supposed to be FFvXIII, and both that and FFXIII were supposed to be a part of a transmedia/MCU-type franchise.

So they did end up doing that I guess, but for the wrong reasons, and because they were kind of forced to.

 

[Fbh]

I honestly thought a mainline new FF game couldn't disappoint me more than XV did.

Then XVI said:

See the sad part is that with XV you can at least tell it went through a troubled development. You can tell Tabata and his team were given the bones of some failed Nomura project and then struggled to make something coherent with it, you can tell it's sort of like 2-3 different games poorly mashed together.

With XVI you get the impression they made exactly the game they wanted to make... it just sucked.

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

See that sad part is that with XV you can at least tell it went through a troubled development. You can tell Tabata and his team were given the bones of some failed Nomura project and then struggled to make something coherent with it, you can tell it's sort of like 2-3 different games poorly mashed together.

With XVI you get the impression they made exactly the game they wanted to make... it just sucked.

I dunno, I think the game they wanted to make was some linear DMC-style FF spinoff game that was like 15 hours long. Then the higher-ups decided they wanted to make it into the next mainline game so they pumped it full of generic MMO filler so they could justify calling it Final Fantasy XVI.

 

[Loomy]

Also from the various leaks and rumors, it really sounded like Square-Enix were surprised at how well the game reviewed + sold

I think part of that was people genuinely excited for a new mainline game. How 15 turned out probably explains the sales and muted level of excitement towards FF16.

Meh, the ending is trash.

After Episode Ignis, they show you there was a path where everyone can live. Plus, with the book and the dev interviews for their original plans of the additional three DLC that never happened, it wasn't even supposed to end like it did in the game.

The true ending is them defeating Bahamut, defying fate, and Ardyn turning good:

That sounds like a "happy ending" not necessarily a better one.

 

[rubik's dude]

Its one of those games that if you focus on what's there, there is actually a lot to enjoy. But fixating on what's missing is -as it always is, if you aren't looking to add it back in yourself- a loser's game.

You can't not focus on what's missing. The most important parts of the story are either missing, never told to you, or told to you in some unceremonious way.

3/4ths of the game (closer to 13/14ths actually) are spent fighting against the empire, and then they get offscreened, and you get a single line of dialogue from an unimportant character telling you about it.

 

[Neilg]

I really liked what they were trying to do by making a very personal small scale road trip plot while the events of the world went on around them at vast scale - it's a really interesting way to tell a story, and when it lands it's great and offers an incredible sense of scale.
They did not stick the landing - but I appreciate the fact they had a go.

 

[YOU PC BRO?!]

I'm with you OP. Wanted to love the game as there are things it does very well. Typically, in other games, I'm never really made to care all that much about party members but the bro dynamic hits different in this game.

Truly, the story is a disaster. Things just aren't explained well at all. You routinely find yourself in the dark cause you forgot to talk to an NPC or straight up lost the opportunity as a random cutscene was inexplicably triggered during exploration. Its such a shame as there are a number of fantastic moments that just don't hit as well as they should due to the haphazard means the developers choose to relay key info. Moments like Noctis being trapped away or Lunafreya biting the dust were so anticlimactic.

Such a shame as the game had all the pieces required to be an absolute banger.

 

[rubik's dude]

That sounds like a "happy ending" not necessarily a better one.

Maybe, but in either case, I don't think they knew how they wanted to end FFXV, or what they even wanted the story to be. It changed with each new thing they added.

Any ending, whether it's the one in the main game, the one in Episode Ignis, the one in the book, or the one they planned for the canned DLC, is trash because it lacks scruples or authorial intent, because the story doesn't have a backbone.

 

[rofif]

I loved FFXV. Thought I was the only one.

I loved it too. Such a unique game

 

[Generic]

FF12 had similar issues, but without DLCs to fix the writing.

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

I think part of that was people genuinely excited for a new mainline game. How 15 turned out probably explains the sales and muted level of excitement towards FF16.

I'm not so sure. I honestly think people enjoyed it for whatever reason. It had really long legs and sold very well on PC despite launching like a year and a half after the PS4/X1 version. And it got a bunch of expansions.

 

[Clear]

You can't not focus on what's missing. The most important parts of the story are either missing, never told to you, or told to you in some unceremonious way.

3/4ths of the game (closer to 13/14ths actually) are spent fighting against the empire, and then they get offscreened, and you get a single line of dialogue from an unimportant character telling you about it.

The heart of the story literally is the relationship between the boys. That's the game. You either enjoy the road-trip with its odd psuedo-1950's vibe, or you don't.

In real-life you aren't there for every impactful world event, but it doesn't make it less significant.

 

[Judge Magister]

Wasted potential, nowhere near what Nomura promised us.
Story is a mess, Noctis and Luna interaction ends up being nothing, train journey it's cool but ends fast too. Disjointed DLCs and other stuff.

There's some cool lore, world, characters, art direction, and soundtrack in it. Combat is okay, i spammed Magitek Suits in those dungeons.

FF12 had similar issues, but without DLCs to fix the writing.

I partially disagree. Imo the problem with FFXII story is that it's told slowly, gets good and then at a certain point they have to rush it and end it abruptly.

 

[Perrott]

The game fucking sucks. I'm fond of it because I like the idea of Versus XIII though.

 

[rubik's dude]

I'm not so sure. I honestly think people enjoyed it for whatever reason. It had really long legs and sold very well on PC despite launching like a year and a half after the PS4/X1 version. And it got a bunch of expansions.

I know for me at least, one reason why I quit playing on the PS4, but picked it up again on PC, was the loading times and performance. I felt like I was unfairly judging the game because it ran poorly, so that's why I double dipped.

Turns out the game sucked anyway.

The heart of the story literally is the relationship between the boys. That's the game. You either enjoy the road-trip with its odd psuedo-1950's vibe, or you don't.

In real-life you aren't there for every impactful world event, but it doesn't make it less significant.

There is no character development between the guys. All of that is missing because it happened outside the game. In the game itself, all they do is mindlessly banter the same lines of dialogue repeatedly.

Why did they bother making four DLC, a movie, multiple anime, and a book, if it's just supposed to be a story about the boys on a road trip? It's not about how "in real-life you aren't there for every impactful world event." It's because large chunks of the story are missing, and it feels that way while you're playing it.

 

[Loomy]

The game fucking sucks. I'm fond of it because I like the idea of Versus XIII though.

Lucky you! Kingdom Hearts 4 is coming out soon.......

Tetsuya Nomura needs a vacation lol

 

[Gordon Fearman]

Meh, the ending is trash.

After Episode Ignis, they show you there was a path where everyone can live. Plus, with the book and the dev interviews for their original plans of the additional three DLC that never happened, it wasn't even supposed to end like it did in the game.

The true ending is them defeating Bahamut, defying fate, and Ardyn turning good:

So in a game that's obviously about themes of sacrifice and the idea that how you deal with death is at least as important as how we deal with life, the true ending is "everyone lives happily with no consequences"? That's like saying the true ending of Wrath of Khan is that Spock lives and then gets into a bare knuckle brawl with Khan on top of a flying car, screams a lot, nearly beats him to death, and then only stops because Khan's blood is the cure to death.

"She died for who she was and who she loved. She fell where she stood. It was sad. And it was beautiful. And it is over."

 

[N30RYU]

I was so bored with going from A to B in the game i played the pocked version instead...

 

[Kataploom]

Even then, it's my favorite one... It just has some "magic" to it, not sure what it is, but I really loved playing that game... It's a shame for its development hell ruining its possible perfection

 

[Clear]

/pThere is no character development between the guys. All of that is missing because it happened outside the game. In the game itself, all they do is mindlessly banter the same lines of dialogue repeatedly.

Why did they bother making four DLC, a movie, multiple anime, and a book, if it's just supposed to be a story about the boys on a road trip? It's not about how "in real-life you aren't there for every impactful world event." It's because large chunks of the story are missing, and it feels that way while you're playing it.

Don't care. I had fun. More fun in fact than a few other FF titles I could mention!

As to the other stuff, yes it was a mess cobbled together from the ruins of Versus XIII. Its well known and understood what the issues were in its production.

That being said, then skeleton they built out from with the boys on a road trip, I actually enjoyed a fair bit. Cooking and photography gimmicks included. Ardyn was an above-average villain, and I liked that they tried a few new things for the franchise with the DLC.

Is it an all-time favourite of mine? No, but I can't fault it for that given its troubled production.

 

[Doomtrain]

Far and away the most misogynist FF game. I can't believe the GooberGrapers in charge didn't include more playable womyxn. Fuck Noctis and his Patriarchy Bros.

/s

 

[fatmarco]

I loved the game despite its flaws. Great music, great vibes, and the character dialogue/banter (outside of cutscenes) was actually pretty good for a Japanese translated game.

I cannot remember anything from the story which I guess says a lot, but I do remember campside meals with your party the end of the day.

 

[poodaddy]

FF hasn't been good since XII, and I'm not sure it ever will be again.

Fortunately, I finally started playing Octopath Traveler 2, and goddammit it's really good. It's what I wish FF still was, and what it will never be again.

 

[Hashassin]

Ultra, mega ass.

I tried playing it a long time ago, when final fantasy was still in my heart, desperately recuperating after the &¥¶§! that was 13.

Was in the arena while it installed, and immediately got floored by the lamest hit sound effects in existence. Removed it and never looked back.

 

[Griffon]

It'll only be remembered as an utterly butchered version of Versus 13. What a fucking mess.

 

[Insanemaelstrom]

The story wasn't anything special, yes. But the game is definitely better than some of its parts.

Hunting monsters, the gameplay, the roadstip elements with cooking and camping, character interactions, etc were all top notch.

Honestly one of the favourite games. It's just brilliant as a roadtrip game. Also, doing a minato and teleporting to your sword never gets old.

 

[buenoblue]

Yeah the game was i. Development he'll hor 10 years.

 

[Myths]

I will never bring myself to play this game. It will be the only entry I skip in this life.

 

[nowhat]

I love how you learn about your kingdom being invaded by reading the newspaper at some little resort you're staying at.

Hey, at least you get Cup Noodles!

 

[Lambogenie]

Another FF thread for me to request a remake of it. I didn't love it but the potential was there. The DLC and other content could fit in a remake.

Just give it to a newer team to train their skills.