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[Zakalwe]

In my opinion, The Witcher 3 rides off The Bloody Baron story for the majority of the game. It's the best story mission in the game. But it's also the first story mission in the game. Everything else after just feels like your standard fantasy stuff. And with that combat, it makes it somewhat of a chore to go through a lot of the missions.

With FFXV the combat greatly helps in getting through missions so far since it's so good. So even if the story points aren't as impressive as The Witcher 3, I feel like as an overall package, it might still be more enjoyable.

I think there are moments of greatness later in the game, but the BB and the interlocking sub plots surrounding that quest line are absolutely the game's highlight in terms of storytelling.

And I think I agree, I'm just finding this game so much more appealing to play than TW3. While the latter engrossed me often with its excellent story, it never came close to the utter joy of FFXV's traversal and combat.

One of the main things I look for in an RPG is combat that can be repeated for hours at a time and still be fun. I used to grind like crazy in older titles in the series while exploring the various upgrade/enhancement systems. FFXV has I've me that and I didn't realize how much I'd missed it. The last time I felt it was FFX (and to an extent FFXIV).

It helps the open in FFXV feels so rewarding to explore. Random encounters with powerful foes, hidden prices of exposition and character development, treasures and collectibles that have purpose, dungeons, etc...

It really is a joy to play.

 

[Brandon F]

On my third day of play, having come in totally blind:

* Combat sure is tough, and confusing. I'm glad I tried the tutorial first, and even then it's a little fast for my taste. Any disadvantages to choosing "Wait" mode?

* Is Justice Monsters Pinball meant to be this easy? I'm probably missing something and it's supposed to be more challenging and faster paced... I only played once, survived for *one whole hour*, and got a reward that is far better than any accessory I'm now carrying.

I like Wait mode, but there are two major issues I do have with it so far:

-When active it auto-locks to enemies while in wait time, so right stick ONLY switches between targets when paused, making panning around looking for warp-restore points impossible unless you resume and manually look for one in real-time. Not sure you can't toggle lock on/off while in wait to regain free control?

-When you warp to a restore point that ISN'T a hanging spot to fill up MP and HP(like the top of a rock or squatting behind a wall), wait-time activates if standing still. Thus you have to like feather the stick around to keep the pause from happening to reap the benefits of recovery from those points. If hanging though, its all good.

Both of these issues are easily fixable but really start to irritate as you deal with more formidable encounters. Shows a lack of polish and refinement but you deal I suppose.

Oh and Justice Team 5 or whatever. I forced myself to quit after 20 minutes of tedium. Seemed impossible to lose myself and without a proper tutorial I just couldn't get the hang of "slicing" or whatever. Figured out swapping the puck for elemental bonus damage, but beyond that, it sucks. Got the trophy for giving it a try, will never touch again.

 

[poipoipoi9]

Are all of Ignis' recipes found in Lucis or are there some in Altissia? Plan to collect all of them before passing the point of no return.

Also, where is Iron Shelf vol.5? It's the only one I'm missing. So far, I've yet to unlock the barricade surrounding the Vesperpool, are there any recipes there?

 

[sora87]

Why can't you mark things on the map at night, why do they have such a big problem with you doing things at night?!

 

[Seik]

Why can't you mark things on the map at night, why do they have such a big problem with you doing things at night?!

Because danger roams in the shadows...

See my previous post in this thread.

 

[Son Of Sparda]

Is there a limit to the amount of xp you can hold until you cash in at a camp or hotel? i'm currently sitting on 30k exp and will bank at hotel with the x2.0 modifier but tempted to see how far I can go...

That's actually a great idea...

 

[Zakalwe]

I can't say I'm a huge fan of running toward waypoints in an FF game, but I suppose it's somewhat unavoidable in an open world game and necessary.

You ran towards waypoints in older games In the series too, but those games were set in linear environments.

Just imagine the path to the waypoint as one such linear environment and the surrounding open world as a traditional world map but an integrated one.

What I'm saying is that it's a matter of perception and, really, not much has changed.

 

[Gynemaniac]

About 10 hours in, and weirdly enough the game reminds me of Deadly Premonition. Has that good Japanese jank I can't get enough of. Hope I'll be able to play more of it later today .

 

[Dunan]

Two quick questions: (1) how do you cook, and (2) how do you fast-travel?

The first time I stayed at an inn (well, a trailer park), Ignis cooked some food for us again. On subsequent times lodging I haven't been able to discover how to do it again.

And also, I somehow discovered how to automatically travel to quest points, but now I've forgotten. From the Options-button screen I can only travel to the place I last rested at.

Help?

 

[Zakalwe]

Two quick questions: (1) how do you cook, and (2) how do you fast-travel?

The first time I stayed at an inn (well, a trailer park), Ignis cooked some food for us again. On subsequent times lodging I haven't been able to discover how to do it again.

And also, I somehow discovered how to automatically travel to quest points, but now I've forgotten. From the Options-button screen I can only travel to the place I last rested at.

Help?

You cook when you camp. When you pay to stay at an Inn you don't get to cook.

You can fast travel to known Parking spots (if known and selected it will give the fast travel option for 10 Gil), the car, or to the last place you rested (camp or inn). I believe these are the only ways.

 

[Risev1]

Two quick questions: (1) how do you cook, and (2) how do you fast-travel?

The first time I stayed at an inn (well, a trailer park), Ignis cooked some food for us again. On subsequent times lodging I haven't been able to discover how to do it again.

And also, I somehow discovered how to automatically travel to quest points, but now I've forgotten. From the Options-button screen I can only travel to the place I last rested at.

Help?

You cook by resting at camps, instead of resting in inns

For fast travel, this is how it works: You can click the right stick and fast travel to the last place you rested at, or fast travel to your car's location. You can also have Cindy tow your car to Hammerhead, and fast travelling to your car will get you to hammerhead.

Otherwise, you can fast travel using your car to locations you've already been to before. Just go into your car --> Auto --> Parking or quests --> any destination you've been to before can be fast travelled to.

 

[Brandon F]

Two quick questions: (1) how do you cook, and (2) how do you fast-travel?

The first time I stayed at an inn (well, a trailer park), Ignis cooked some food for us again. On subsequent times lodging I haven't been able to discover how to do it again.

And also, I somehow discovered how to automatically travel to quest points, but now I've forgotten. From the Options-button screen I can only travel to the place I last rested at.

Help?

Ignis only cooks at a campsight.
Hotels/trailers/motels don't give you cooking buffs(go to restaurants nearby for that) but they give XP multipliers for using them that you don't earn at camp sights. So it may be worthwhile to stay at an inn if you have a lot of XP to dump over a camp sight. Just also keep in mind that camp sights are free, while the inns and motels cost gil(bigger xp multipliers obviously are more expensive).

 

[ViciousDS]

who the fuck shops at gamestop?..........it was a pre-order bonus so.....yes, I won't be able to experience it

 

[Gynemaniac]

Two quick questions: (1) how do you cook, and (2) how do you fast-travel?

The first time I stayed at an inn (well, a trailer park), Ignis cooked some food for us again. On subsequent times lodging I haven't been able to discover how to do it again.

And also, I somehow discovered how to automatically travel to quest points, but now I've forgotten. From the Options-button screen I can only travel to the place I last rested at.

Help?

I don't think Ignis can cook anywhere but at campsites, and for fast travel I believe it's going back to the Regalia and having Ignis drive while selecting a place you've already been to before.

 

[Toki767]

who the fuck shops at gamestop?..........it was a pre-order bonus so.....yes, I won't be able to experience it

I'm sure they'll probably release it digitally for $10.

 

[Wagram]

I wish that Noctis still had the techs the way he did in Duscae. I have no idea how to do combos, they happen randomly.

 

[zkorejo]

Is there a limit to the amount of xp you can hold until you cash in at a camp or hotel? i'm currently sitting on 30k exp and will bank at hotel with the x2.0 modifier but tempted to see how far I can go...

No limits. I did it twice with more than 50k.

 

[ebil]

I apparently completely missed an optional dungeon. It never ends.

 

[Gbraga]

For those who finished the game, please tell me there is a good reason (story related?) for this:

What's the point of having a separate character (Cindy) for car upgrade besides to having a sexualized eye candy? I see no problem to have Cid do the job?

Im currently only in Chapter 3 (20 hours in lol)

As far as reasons for her design, there aren't any, and I dislike it a lot too, but if you actually want to know about why she's there as a character, it's said that Cid was getting too old for this, and with his son's accident, there was doubt on whether or not Hammerhead would even stay open, but Cidney took up the mantle and is running Hammerhead instead.

I'm assuming the idea was to pass down the shop to his son, and later for Cidney, but with his son's death, Cidney had to adapt and become head mechanic way sooner than expected.

Once upon a time there was an overarching theme of "sleep" to the game that has since been lost to development hell .

The theme is still there. Most likely not what it was back then, but I think that's also true for almost every element in the game.

 

[GwyndolinCinder]

I apparently completely missed an optional dungeon. It never ends.

 

[Socivol]

Is there a limit to the amount of xp you can hold until you cash in at a camp or hotel? i'm currently sitting on 30k exp and will bank at hotel with the x2.0 modifier but tempted to see how far I can go...

The only limit is finishing a chapter. I made this mistake and was pissed.

 

[Zakalwe]

I wish that Noctis still had the techs the way he did in Duscae. I have no idea how to do combos, they happen randomly.

Which types of combos?

For a comprehensive guide to weapon combos, see the video I quoted above.

Links activate if you're close to a teammate while you successfully counter. You can get accessories that make the distance these can trigger larger.

You manually activate your teams' tech moves.

 

[TheExodu5]

I'm struggling to see the fun in the combat. Given all of the comparisons with TW3, it seems worse than TW3 in every way.

- sluggish, non responsive
- poorly telegraphed enemy attacks
- hold to dodge
- cover to heal
- R2 to win (techniques). They're not engaging and just serve to make the combat even less fluid.
- complete lack of fluidity in the combat

Wait mode seems like a complete afterthought:
- doesn't make sense that you can only Libra using wait mode
- why does Libra take time to use?
- why is there a timer at all for wait mode? It's generous enough and just seems pointless
- wait mode makes the game easier. Specific tree for wait mode
- why can't I activate wait mode using a button instead of stopping to move.

Given that the story is poorly told, the side quests are repetitive and not engaging, and that exploration isn't really meaningful in any way, I'm struggling to identify any redeeming aspects to the game st this point.

Granted, I'm still in chapter 2...maybe my impressions will change with time. But as of now...not very good.

 

[xviper]

i'm at chapter

Spoiler

9

, how many hours do i need to finish the game if i skipped the side quests ?? i'm lvl 49, is it okay if i skipped the side quests at this point or the game will get harder ??

i can't stand it anymore i just want to finish it, it's boring me to death, biggest disappointment of the generation by far, even Fallout 4, MGSV and uncharted 4 doesn't get near as disappointing as FFXV

 

[Trace]

I'm struggling to see the fun in the combat. Given all of the comparisons with TW3, it seems worse than TW3 in every way.

- sluggish, non responsive
- poorly telegraphed enemy attacks
- hold to dodge
- cover to heal
- R2 to win (techniques). They're not engaging and just serve to make the combat even less fluid.
- complete lack of fluidity in the combat

Wait mode seems like a complete afterthought:
- doesn't make sense that you can only Libra using wait mode
- why does Libra take time to use?
- why is there a timer at all for wait mode? It's generous enough and just seems pointless
- wait mode makes the game easier. Specific tree for wait mode
- why can't I activate wait mode using a button instead of stopping to move.

Given that the story is poorly told, the side quests are repetitive and not engaging, and that exploration isn't really meaningful in any way, I'm struggling to identify any redeeming aspects to the game st this point.

Granted, I'm still in chapter 2...maybe my impressions will change with time. But as of now...not very good.

If you think it's unresponsive and has no flow you're probably doing it wrong.

 

[Athreous]

Guys/gals, do you think that we'll have more story content in future dlcs? like new cities for example?

 

[Jarmel]

For however much I hated Chapter 13, I loved Chapter 14 by the same amount.

 

[Ricker]

You move the right stick in different directions while locked on.

Okay I will try that and try to lock on the horns(appendage) I guess...I am trying to understand and mix up combat in the first area,even though most ennemies are easy for now...best time to try stuff instead of just mashing since its easy(playing on normal and wait mode)

 

[SilverArrow20XX]

Did the guy who said there's a Prompto scene while staying at an inn say which inn yet?

Prompto scene is at a campsite East of Hammerhead station. It doesn't appear on the map when talking to the Restaurant owners. Should be pretty easy to spot though. There's also an Ignis scene at the campsite North of Hammerhead and there are more at specific sites throughout the game but I haven't gotten to those yet.

 

[sora87]

Because danger roams in the shadows...

See my previous post in this thread.

Hahaha, they're so easy to run away from though!

 

[Rad-]

Just few hours in but I have to say I'm very disappointed so far. Story is non-existent and it's clear that the game's "hook" seems to be combat and exploration. Exploration is pretty good so far: in the first hour I already found a nicely powerful great sword that I still use (it has around 140 power). The combat hasn't really clicked with me yet though and it doesn't feel very fun. I can see why some people like it. It looks pretty flashy but I feel like it doesn't have much depth.

And am I blind or where is the gambit system? I swear I remember hearing that FF15 has it. That would make the combat much more fun because I like tinkering like that.

 

[yunbuns]

Guys/gals, do you think that we'll have more story content in future dlcs? like new cities for example?

Probably not but it would be really cool. There will be story dlc for the bros though, that's been confirmed. I hope we get Luna dlc too.

 

[SPAW]

Prompto scene is at a campsite East of Hammerhead station. It doesn't appear on the map when talking to the Restaurant owners. Should be pretty easy to spot though.

That scene is the best. Hoping for more stuff like that further down the road (on my way to. Caem now). 35 hours and going strong, but the story sure is sparse....

 

[SomTervo]

For however much I hated Chapter 13, I loved Chapter 14 by the same amount.

This sort of feedback reminds me a lot of The Evil Within. Super divisive on a chapter-by-chapter basis.

 

[Dunan]

You cook when you camp. When you pay to stay at an Inn you don't get to cook.

You can fast travel to known Parking spots (if known and selected it will give the fast travel option for 10 Gil), the car, or to the last place you rested (camp or inn). I believe these are the only ways.

You cook by resting at camps, instead of resting in inns

For fast travel, this is how it works: You can click the right stick and fast travel to the last place you rested at, or fast travel to your car's location. You can also have Cindy tow your car to Hammerhead, and fast travelling to your car will get you to hammerhead.

Otherwise, you can fast travel using your car to locations you've already been to before. Just go into your car --> Auto --> Parking or quests --> any destination you've been to before can be fast travelled to.

Thanks; this is just what I wanted to know. Somehow I had forgotten that we only cooked when we camped; looking back, when we stayed at the trailer, we ate at the restaurant nearby.

And now I see that fast travel is fundamentally different depending on whether or not you're in your car. I think last time I tried it, I was wandering around, far from the car, and was only able to get back to an inn that I didn't want to go to.

 

[Gbraga]

For however much I hated Chapter 13, I loved Chapter 14 by the same amount.

This seems to be a very popular opinion on both chapters, which is good. Well, 13 sucking isn't good, but the fact that everyone seems to like 14 at least gives me something to look forward to when I reach the worse chapter.

 

[Griss]

I'm struggling to see the fun in the combat. Given all of the comparisons with TW3, it seems worse than TW3 in every way.

- sluggish, non responsive
- poorly telegraphed enemy attacks
- hold to dodge
- cover to heal
- R2 to win (techniques). They're not engaging and just serve to make the combat even less fluid.
- complete lack of fluidity in the combat

Wait mode seems like a complete afterthought:
- doesn't make sense that you can only Libra using wait mode
- why does Libra take time to use?
- why is there a timer at all for wait mode? It's generous enough and just seems pointless
- wait mode makes the game easier. Specific tree for wait mode
- why can't I activate wait mode using a button instead of stopping to move.

Given that the story is poorly told, the side quests are repetitive and not engaging, and that exploration isn't really meaningful in any way, I'm struggling to identify any redeeming aspects to the game st this point.

Granted, I'm still in chapter 2...maybe my impressions will change with time. But as of now...not very good.

I agree with all of this.

Wait until you're in a tiny corridor in a jungle breing attacked by three wasps who confuse you, reversing your controls, and then obscure your view with a mist attack while the camera freaks out due to lack of space. You will rage. Thank god god bailed me out of that one.

 

[Zakalwe]

I'm struggling to see the fun in the combat. Given all of the comparisons with TW3, it seems worse than TW3 in every way.

- sluggish, non responsive
- poorly telegraphed enemy attacks
- hold to dodge
- cover to heal
- R2 to win (techniques). They're not engaging and just serve to make the combat even less fluid.
- complete lack of fluidity in the combat

Wait mode seems like a complete afterthought:
- doesn't make sense that you can only Libra using wait mode
- why does Libra take time to use?
- why is there a timer at all for wait mode? It's generous enough and just seems pointless
- wait mode makes the game easier. Specific tree for wait mode
- why can't I activate wait mode using a button instead of stopping to move.

Given that the story is poorly told, the side quests are repetitive and not engaging, and that exploration isn't really meaningful in any way, I'm struggling to identify any redeeming aspects to the game st this point.

Granted, I'm still in chapter 2...maybe my impressions will change with time. But as of now...not very good.

You have to embrace the automation.

Holding attack puts you into auto-attack state. Each weapon has different combos, you need to learn at which points these combos can be fluidly broken to enter your defense state efficiently. Some weapons are easier to transition between states than others (generally, lower damage faster attack rate weapons have easier transitions).

You hold block to enter defensive state and let the game auto dodge for you. You can use this time to read the battle field and choose your next move.

When a square prompt appears, enter defensive state and let the game auto defend for you until you're presented with further opportunity.

Time your team tech moves to abuse their invincibility frames to give yourself a breather or to finish off enemies or damage them when they give an opening.

Also defensive moves like Iggy's Regroup are excellent ways to re-position for spell cast or just to take stock.

Also remember each weapon has additional combos tied to the left analog direction. So hold down the attack button to auto attack and mix up the directions to suit. Some weapons s have lunges forward and back to aid positioning.

This battle system is more about managing automated states and timing than is is precision control. You need to embrace this to find the fluidity.

 

[Joelstinton14]

Chapter 5 is great. Really settled into the game with this chapter. Really atmospheric, dialogue is ramped up story wise, lots of awesome happens, and the area really is beautiful.

 

[jimmypython]

As far as reasons for her design, there aren't any, and I dislike it a lot too, but if you actually want to know about why she's there as a character, it's said that Cid was getting too old for this, and with his son's accident, there was doubt on whether or not Hammerhead would even stay open, but Cidney took up the mantle and is running Hammerhead instead.

I'm assuming the idea was to pass down the shop to his son, and later for Cidney, but with his son's death, Cidney had to adapt and become head mechanic way sooner than expected.

oh nice. was this actually explained well in the game as a proper story/character arc? If so this would justify her existence, extremely well i would even add, with the "passing the torch" theme and all.

 

[ViciousDS]

Wtf at the bioblaster.......how the hell you even effectively use the damn weapon it's like a short range cannon and it takes for ever to shoot

anyone on whether or not this weapon is worth using lol


also do the aircrafts slow down in terms of spawning on you. I was doing a map quest and while searching for the spot I literally had 3 shis drop soldiers in the span of 10 minutes. They need to lower the encounter rate on them a bit.....its a little insane

 

[TheGreatDirector]

Can someone compile a list of all the different moves each weapon has in combination with the left analog stick? Specifically, can they list the moves for the spears?

 

[names2hard4you]

I'm struggling to see the fun in the combat. Given all of the comparisons with TW3, it seems worse than TW3 in every way.

- sluggish, non responsive
- poorly telegraphed enemy attacks
- hold to dodge
- cover to heal
- R2 to win (techniques). They're not engaging and just serve to make the combat even less fluid.
- complete lack of fluidity in the combat

If there is one thing I've been noticing in terms of the combat is that (I'm including myself here too), you just gotta git gud. There are some amazing exhibitions of what the combat can really look like when you know what you are doing out there on Youtube, and my god if it isn't miles ahead of anything The Witcher did in that department, and I loved that game mind you.

 

[orthodoxy1095]

Going into Chapter 5, is this supposed to make any sense?

Spoiler

Empire steals their car, and dumps them back into the wild. Yes, but why. Why steal their car and just let them go. None of this makes any sense and seems like it has "PLOT CONVENIENCE" hanging over it with a neon sign.

 

[Rynam]

Is there a way to replay the "green" missions (Don't know how the name for the category is in english, in german it's 'Streifzug') that can trigger on some sanctuaries? I feel bad for Prompto after the answer i gave in one of them.

 

[ebil]

Given that the story is poorly told, the side quests are repetitive and not engaging, and that exploration isn't really meaningful in any way, I'm struggling to identify any redeeming aspects to the game st this point.

Granted, I'm still in chapter 2...maybe my impressions will change with time. But as of now...not very good.

I don't necessarily disagree with your other points but I don't agree with this one. There's plenty to explore and you can get your hands on amazing rewards by doing so. It's by far my favorite thing in the game, but it only became apparent to me when I finished the story and started exploring for real.

 

[Gbraga]

oh nice. was this actually explained well in the game as a proper story/character arc? If so this would justify her existence, extremely well i would even add.

I'm not sure if there's more, since I didn't start her questline yet, but that bit of information I mentioned you get in the diner, through the customers' dialogue.

 

[Griss]

Going into Chapter 5, is this supposed to make any sense?

Spoiler

Empire steals their car, and dumps them back into the wild. Yes, but why. Why steal their car and just let them go. None of this makes any sense and seems like it has "PLOT CONVENIENCE" hanging over it with a neon sign.

I laughed my ass off at that. Feels like every chapter has one of these moments. Where you just shake your head and say 'Wtf, was there a scene missing there? Did I press skip by accident?'

 

[Zakalwe]

Chapter 5 is great. Really settled into the game with this chapter. Really atmospheric, dialogue is ramped up story wise, lots of awesome happens, and the area really is beautiful.

Very much agreed. Everything starts to come together well at this point (I'm here now).

I'm a little worried about some of the later impressions of the story (it's been said it becomes more disjointed in latter chapters but comes together well in the end), but so many said the early game was just as bad in this regard and so far I've found it very enjoyable.

Maybe I just have utterly different expectations. I didn't follow this game's development religiously and kept my exposure to a minimum. This could be a reason why I'm enjoying it while many aren't.

(Of course, I'm well aware many of you simply dislike the story regardless of the above for other legitimate reasons).

 

[_Legacy_]

No limits. I did it twice with more than 50k.

Niceeeeee.... Thanks