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[orthodoxy1095]

So I just finished.

That was uh. A thing. Maybe I'll write a post-mortem on my feelings later.

 

[Conezays]

I'll be writing up a post summarising my thoughts once I finish the game but overall I've been very pleasantly surprised with a variety of aspects. One thing I'd like to point out, which is arguably spoilerish, concerns reviewers comments regarding linearity in the second half. My point isn't *that* spoilerish but I will use spoiler text regardless.

Spoiler

You can speak to Umbra who lets you return to Lucis (or Altissia) near immediately once you arrive at Altissia or later on once you've completed the Leviathan section, etc. I've heard some reviews and podcasts mention that you have to wait up to 5 hours for said feature.

I don't mind people liking or disliking the game but reporting egregious misinformation is frustrating.

 

[n0razi]

I have to say even though Witcher 3 might technically be a 'better' more polished game, FF15 takes the cake for me... its the little FF charms and aesthetic that Witcher just cant match

 

[Kysuke]

for the people who played early.

anyone have some of their trophies not obtained? a lot of the trophies i got earlier isnt unlocked.

 

[brawly]

Think of it as two automated states:

Hold to attack
Hold to defend

While you're learning, always hold defend while yore not attacking. Noct will dodge automatically as long as you have MP, you can take your eyes off him entirely and read the battle field.

Choose a target, hold attack to automate a combo, then switch back to holding defend.

This is basis of combat. Timing offensive and defensive automated states.

Each weapon has multiple combos assigned to attack + left analog direction.

Example:

Sword.
Attack + left analog back = double backflip and forward thrusting air combo.

Greatsword.
Attack + left analog back = charge attack, hold to increase damage.

There's also a fifth combo activated by holding attack, releasing attack, and holding it again.

Proximity to target can also change the combos.

If you see a 'defend' prompt appear, enter defensive state and stay in it until either:

A. You get the option to counter.
B. The prompt disappears (meaning the attacking enemy has been interrupted/killed).

Make sure to abuse team tech moves for their invincible frames if you get in a bind. Make sure to unlock Iggy's Regroup tech asap as it basically turns him into a healer.

Camera and lock on can be dodgy at times. Setting camera to Far in settings will help )with outside battles at least).

Remember you can lock on and scroll through targets with the right analog, so if you lose your lock and need to pick out a target in a brawl just hold defend and take your time.

Battles look hectic but you can play them slowly, take your time, embrace the automation, realise this is more about switching between various automated states/animations than it is pixel precision control.

I really hope it clicks for you.

Believe it or not I actually know all of that. Like, I get the system. I get the combos. It just won't flow for me, especially when there's lots of enemies.

I should change the camera to far however. Maybe take it slower. And abuse team moves.

 

[Jarmel]

Castlemark took years off my life.

 

[MissCauthon]

Believe it or not I actually know all of that. Like, I get the system. I get the combos. It just won't flow for me, especially when there's lots of enemies.

I should change the camera to far however. Maybe take it slower. And abuse team moves.

Doesnt taking it slower result in crap exp?

 

[DrROBschiz]

Combat is janky... But lots to love and lots to do

I hope FF7 is still turn based somehow

Not sold on tether combat in 3d action rpgs

Wait mode reminds me of VATS

 

[LotusHD]

What's the next 333 skill I should get after Airdance? Impervious, or is there something considered better than that?

 

[PshycoNinja]

About 7 hours in, fucking love it. So much soul in this game, which is lacking in 90% of games these days.

I tried some hashtags on twitter and I read some comments on fb and I would say about 95% of people, if not more, are loving it.

All the negative comments are mostly GAF lol

Thank you for playing and I am jazzed so many are enjoying it.

Though, I do feel it necessary to listen to those who do take up issue. I may not respond to them, but I do listen. Even if I don't work at Square Enix at the moment.

It's a fun game and I'm still having fun on the post game 35 hours in, but it's still not exactly what I want from a Final Fantasy entry. It's specially frustrating how much potential the game had. The years long development hell really hurt the final package. It's very noticeable in the second half of the game.
It's hard not to compare it with MGSV.

Huh. Well, I am glad you are still finding enjoyment in the game!

Oh really, I appreciate your efforts into delivering our enjoyment. Which two if I may ask. I assume XV is one, what's the other?

Much easier question to answer. Worked on XIV and XV. With XIV, I specifically worked on later patch content of ARR, worked on the expansion Heavensward, and did early patch work for that expansion.

 

[Zakalwe]

Believe it or not I actually know all of that. Like, I get the system. I get the combos. It just won't flow for me, especially when there's lots of enemies.

I should change the camera to far however. Maybe take it slower. And abuse team moves.

Good luck then.

I really think slowing things down is the best advice to anyone finding it lacking in flow.

I think many will try and play it like a hack and slash/character action game, and if you do that it's going to be clunky as hell.

Doesnt taking it slower result in crap exp?

Taking it slower doesn't mean being slow. It's more a mindset thing.

You can do this and still hit A+ across the board.

 

[Lilseb93]

I really enjoy this game. I suppose it was never going to live up to all the hype, but it's a 9/10 to me. I really like the characters. I love the whole road trip idea with friends. The game has a lot of soul. I mean the game starts with Stand By Me and pushing a car. I never thought I would see that in a FF game. It can get a little annoying, but forcing players to do things like get gas and rest at night makes it feel realistic as if it's a real road trip. The game is also very beautiful to look at. I love driving or riding a Chocobo around, and looking at all the background scenery. It feels like a real breathing world. The best aspect is the combat. It's a lot of fun. It plays similar to Kingdom Hearts. Although the combat is a bit frustrating some times when I fight in closed spaces. The camera doesn't cooperate with me at times. The music is amazing. It may end up being one of my favorite FF soundtracks.

Some negatives: The side quests are pretty redundant. After a while, I just started to just do the main missions only. I got tired of traveling across the whole map to fight the same enemies and do another collection quest. The story is fine and straightforward, but I wish they explained some things more. It requires knowing too much lore at times. But the story is still straightforward enough to follow.

Overall, as a big FF fan, I love this game and I've enjoyed my time playing it.

 

[Jarmel]

Just a warning to everyone, bring five times as many potions as you think you need if you plan on doing Castlemark.

If you thought the sewer dungeon was hard...

 

[Papercuts]

Believe it or not I actually know all of that. Like, I get the system. I get the combos. It just won't flow for me, especially when there's lots of enemies.

I should change the camera to far however. Maybe take it slower. And abuse team moves.

A few things I think helped me:

The core of this game is weaknesses. Give Ignis Analyze if he doesn't already have it and see the weapons/magic enemies are weak to and just use that. You do waaaaaaay more damage and that's basically enough right there. Just weave in some back attacks beyond that, use Techs when things get too chaotic since they seem to make everyone immune for the animation so I just use them to make space.

It's fairly simple at its core that way. I don't think combos or weapon switching really matter much at all. The main annoyance comes with the automation of Ignis because he sometimes just doesn't scan, in that case you can see the color of the damage numbers(purple means they're strong, orange is what you want) though it's a lot more clunky.

 

[Griss]

Chapter 13 here... how on earth was this game allowed out the door in this state.

People at Square Enix have to have a serious long hard look at themselves here. This would be mediocre game design back in the PS2 era, poor in the PS3 era. In 2016 it beggars belief.

Anyway, I need help in this chapter. I missed a tutorial prompt and it has fucked me. Anyway:

Spoiler

What is the third spell? How is it activated? I'm on type C controls. How do I deal with this spider? Currently I can only block and do the drain life spell. Neither works at all.

 

[Caim]

Tried out the fourth version of each spell and they are basically stronger version of the -ga level spells, but they can break damage limit.

Was hoping for a new animation for them.

Chapter 13 here... how on earth was this game allowed out the door in this state.

People at Square Enix have to have a serious long hard look at themselves here.

Anyway, I need help in this chapter. I missed a tutorial prompt and it has fucked me. Anyway:

Spoiler

What is the third spell? How is it activated? I'm on type C controls. How do I deal with this spider? Currently I can only block and do the drain life spell. Neither works at all.

While locked on hold Triangle.

 

[F0rneus]

Just checking in. How's everyone enjoying the game?

Very good rpg, and a good Final Fantasy game. I enjoy it a lot more than I expected. I love the combat especially. It's simple but has it's own depth to it. Starting to get more and more finesse. I love the world. It's so alien, yet so realistic. I love driving around and seeing the sights. And the dungeons are fantastic too. Just great stuff.

I mostly enjoy the story so far, despite having spoiled myself a lot of things. There's more cutscenes than I expected. This isn't a MGSV situation as I was fearing pre-release. It still feels somewhat choppy though. Feels like chunks we should have seen...happen offscreen and it's very jarring.

And I've beat that horse to death, but the bromance isn't really working for me. Gladio and Ignis are kind of dull as shit, and IMO the tone and story don't justify the lack of meaningful female characters out and in of combat. I've already met ladies that I'd put in the party, over Ignis and Gladio anytime. That would bring a different flavor to the random banter. But I can't and so I have a lack of attachment to the 4 guys. Like I'm not out there exploring WITH them. I'm out there exploring in spite of being stuck with them. Since a lot of the game hinges on you loving these 4...can't say the game is firing on all cylinders for me.

But despite all that, I'm 30 hours in, still loving it and will platinum that sucker. FFXIII this is not! Very good game.

Edit. Oh shit I thought I had posted my spoiler review here and panicked a day later.

 

[jrush64]

How many cities are in the game? No spoilers please as I'm in chapter 3. Im about to reach Lesatallum.

Are you able to visit Altissa? or Crown City?

 

[JudgeN]

Holy shit I just realized you can add items to your magic to make better spells. I gotta pay better attention. Good thing i'm only on chapter 2.

 

[Zakalwe]

A few things I think helped me:

The core of this game is weaknesses. Give Ignis Analyze if he doesn't already have it and see the weapons/magic enemies are weak to and just use that. You do waaaaaaay more damage and that's basically enough right there. Just weave in some back attacks beyond that, use Techs when things get too chaotic since they seem to make everyone immune for the animation so I just use them to make space.

It's fairly simple at its core that way. I don't think combos or weapon switching really matter much at all. The main annoyance comes with the automation of Ignis because he sometimes just doesn't scan, in that case you can see the color of the damage numbers(purple means they're strong, orange is what you want) though it's a lot more clunky.

Combos matter in that many of them are handy for positioning (the Sword backflip to air combo is a great example of this), but mostly it's just more fun to have more variety.

And you need to switch weapons to exploit weaknesses if you're up against a mix of enemies.

 

[DrROBschiz]

Interesting

Ive only had a couple hours with is but I currently find the combat unappealing while the other aspects are good

Ill have more impressions tomorrow. I need more time to process and get the hang of things

 

[Griss]

Tried out the fourth version of each spell and they are basically stronger version of the -ga level spells, but they can break damage limit.

Was hoping for a new animation for them.



While locked on hold Triangle.

Spoiler

Is there any prompt to show that it's working? Because it's not for me. Is it something you have to wait for? You just mean standard L1 lock on, right?

 

[Zesh]

Chapter 13 here... how on earth was this game allowed out the door in this state.

People at Square Enix have to have a serious long hard look at themselves here. This would be mediocre game design back in the PS2 era, poor in the PS3 era. In 2016 it beggars belief.

Anyway, I need help in this chapter. I missed a tutorial prompt and it has fucked me. Anyway:

Spoiler

What is the third spell? How is it activated? I'm on type C controls. How do I deal with this spider? Currently I can only block and do the drain life spell. Neither works at all.

Also, note that

Spoiler

Death affects enemies even if you can't cast it to completion in one shot. You can cast Death, dodge an attack, and resume casting to pick up where you left off.

 

[Dougieflesh]

Chapter 13 here... how on earth was this game allowed out the door in this state.

People at Square Enix have to have a serious long hard look at themselves here. This would be mediocre game design back in the PS2 era, poor in the PS3 era. In 2016 it beggars belief.

Anyway, I need help in this chapter. I missed a tutorial prompt and it has fucked me. Anyway:

Spoiler

What is the third spell? How is it activated? I'm on type C controls. How do I deal with this spider? Currently I can only block and do the drain life spell. Neither works at all.

Lock-on+Warp. Does a big AOE spell that kills mostly everything on screen at the cost of full MP.

 

[Damerman]

Okay i made it to chapter 9... sigh. The game was rushed.

Spoiler

This new world map is nothing like we saw in the old one where lucis and accordo are in one continent. We dont really get to explore altisia fully, much less all of Accordo. What is this bullshit about umbra making us travel through time? I'm really disappointed. Lucis has like 8 million outposts, could they not have split them in half between accordo and lucis? I havent beaten the game yet but im assuming the only open world aspect of the game is lucis. So the flying regalia is only for lucis?

When are we going to get a proper planet sized overworld in a final fantasy with proper airships and 0 invisible walls? At this point i want rockstar to make final fantasy xvi.

I feel like i was cheated out of my money.

 

[Timeaisis]

So how does this armiger thing work.

 

[Zesh]

How many cities are in the game? No spoilers please as I'm in chapter 3. Im about to reach Lesatallum.

Are you able to visit Altissa? or Crown City?

I suppose it depends on your definition of "city," but I would say

Spoiler

one: Altissia.

 

[LotusHD]

Lol, the trend of people inadvertently revealing spoilers while venting gets tiring real quick.

 

[SlasherJPC]

Just checking in. How's everyone enjoying the game?

Absolutely loving it. I'd prefer if the story aspects were a bit better connected or explained but otherwisw, I feel you all nailed it. The open word exploration reminds me of explore continents on older games. I can only imagine another FF with this style of over world and perhaps more areas and continents. People talk about side quests being repetative but I find that most of the prior games side quests only revolved around side bosses, weapons, etc and that's basically all here with hunts, add in the side quests, and dungeons and it feels right at home with the series. I always remember spending time to find the next story location or side content and it feels that way here. I am hooked and this is by far the most addicting FF for me.

 

[jrush64]

I suppose it depends on your definition of "city," but I would say

Spoiler

one: Altissia.

As long as its the open world or dungeons. A simple town or city.

 

[Caim]

Spoiler

Is there any prompt to show that it's working? Because it's not for me. Is it something you have to wait for? You just mean standard L1 lock on, right?

Spoiler

You may have to be standing still to do it, but I hold R1 + Triangle and it works. The area will start glowing with blue particles and it'll trigger.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

I guess I'm dumb or something but how the hell do you fish in this game? I cast the line, the fish just sits there.

 

[Caim]

Huge thanks to hypodrmage for sending me a blazefire/gormand dlc code earlier.

Not having to keep pressing sprint when exploring is a godsend and makes it a lot more fun just running around.

Can someone tell me, what are the color shards for?

I just got spent 3k to unlock the "advanced" colors at Hammerhead and I thought with alllllllll of these color shards I have been getting I'd unlock some new color schemes for the car but nope, they all require ore and NOT shards.

So now I am baffled at what in the heck you do to get ore and what use are these color shards? They say to mix with others to create "new colors" but that's it...

Go to Cindy and you should see a bunch of colors with the required color ore to unlock it.

 

[SuperSaiyanAkuma]

Spoiler

Just killed Adamantoise maaaaaan that was a long battle.

 

[Papercuts]

Combos matter in that many of them are handy for positioning (the Sword backflip to air combo is a great example of this), but mostly it's just more fun to have more variety.

And you need to switch weapons to exploit weaknesses if you're up against a mix of enemies.

Yeah, for mixes of enemies you would, but I meant in the sense that it isn't like a bayo/DMC type game. I think some people see the instant weapon switching and try to link together midweapon switch combos on the same enemy which isn't really what you want to be doing.

 

[Aeana]

I guess I'm dumb or something but how the hell do you fish in this game? I cast the line, the fish just sits there.

If you don't have an appropriate lure, they probably won't bite. But you can wiggle your line a bit with R2 to draw some attention if it at least notices you.

 

[UpDownLeftRight]

Just checking in. How's everyone enjoying the game?

I like it but it doesn't deliver on it's potential. It's very unusual in the sense that it's a great game, definitely deserving of it's score. You can see just how much they wanted to do but didn't have time for but also that the tech is finally up to the task now. In essence it's a good game as it is but it could have been up there with the biggest games of all time had they fully realized their vision in my opinion.

 

[Freezasaurus]

Maybe I'm not understanding an essential game system, but my HP is at about half right now after fighting an enemy twice my level and won't heal beyond that aside from increasing at a rate of 1HP/sec. How do I get it back to actual max?

 

[AzureFlame]

I like it but it doesn't deliver on it's potential. It's very unusual in the sense that it's a great game, definitely deserving of it's score. You can see just how much they wanted to do but didn't have time for but also that the tech is finally up to the task now. In essence it's a good game as it is but it could have been up there with the biggest games of all time had they fully realized their vision in my opinion.

Exactly my thoughts.

 

[The Last One]

Just checking in. How's everyone enjoying the game?

I just finished chapter 7 and I'm speechless. My GOTY so far.

 

[Meowster]

I've always liked Ignis but Chapter 10 warmed me up to him even more.

 

[jiggle]

Just checking in. How's everyone enjoying the game?

I want to say I'm hating it
But I'm 30 hours in and still in ch3
So there must be something I like?

Feels like bottom tier FF though, so far

Maybe I'm not understanding an essential game system, but my HP is at about half right now after fighting an enemy twice my level and won't heal beyond that aside from increasing at a rate of 1HP/sec. How do I get it back to actual max?

Rest
Or items
Of if you are playing easy mode, Die

 

[MissCauthon]

Is there a purpose to the pictures promto takes? Or is it simply for fun? I have 150 pictures saved will i use them for something with Vyx the fat guy or isit justfor personnal enjoyment?

 

[Zesh]

Maybe I'm not understanding an essential game system, but my HP is at about half right now after fighting an enemy twice my level and won't heal beyond that aside from increasing at a rate of 1HP/sec. How do I get it back to actual max?

Elixirs restore your maximum health.

 

[Sioul]

Question about chapter 9:

Spoiler

Is entering Altissia a point of no return?

 

[SuperCambot]

At my current rate of play, I'll finish this game in... let's see...carry the three, ummmm....


2076.

 

[The Last One]

To anyone who finished chapter 7.

Spoiler

Did you guys think that the boss was TOO easy? Such a waste for such a great design, the battle lasted like 30 seconds lol I'm level 38 BTW.

 

[Meowster]

Just checking in. How's everyone enjoying the game?

It's imperfect but something about it speaks so strongly to me. I've just been having a blast. The freedom to do whatever you want really works well within this game. This will probably sit up there with me by the time I'm done. Kinda feels like if XII and Dragon's Dogma had a baby.

 

[Killer Queen]

Just checking in. How's everyone enjoying the game?

One of my favorite games of all time. But it's my first Final Fantasy and there's so so much to love here. 37 hours in and I'm only on chapter 6 because I don't want this journey to end. It's not absolutely perfect but I really do love it, the world, it's characters, the gameplay, the art, the music. You guys have made something really great.

 

[Ishida]

I want to say I'm hating it
But I'm 30 hours in and still in ch3
So there must be something I like?

Feels like bottom tier FF though, so far

You are hating it yet you have played for 30 hours and counting?

Well, that's one way of hating something.