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[ForsakenLotus]

This game is very perplexing yet I keep wanting to play instead of doing other things. I just wish the story was more fleshed out, better paced, and didn't seem so confusing. I'm about to start Chapter 8 and people seems to really like the next few chapters.

It's just weird though because I'm probably halfway through the story and it feels like I've done absolutely nothing except make acquaintances that I don't understand at all.

Love the relationship between the boys though. They did a fantastic job with the incidental dialogue.

 

[Moaradin]

Well, I beat it. Story is a giant mess but I liked the final few scenes so I guess it has that? Honestly not sure what to make of this game right now. I played over 70 hours so obviously I must of liked a lot of things about it. It's just that there's equally as many things that are fucking baffling.

 

[thetrin]

Did Chapter 9-12 last night. Oh god, I cried. I'm a big baby, but I cried. Oh god, everything has gone horribly wrong. Oh jeez.

 

[JeffZero]

It's just weird though because I'm probably halfway through the story and it feels like I've done absolutely nothing

Yeah, this was my fear heading into this game and unfortunately it's apt. The story picks up tremendously after where you currently are, but I mean, I didn't even like how Xenoblade was very back-loaded. I prefer back-loaded over front-loaded when it comes to stories, sure, but I game for a more even disbursal. I game for stories with intrigue and ample twists and turns the whole ride through. This isn't quite my cup.

I like FFXV, especially as it goes on. Warts and all. And I'm excited for the additional cutscenes en route via patches as well as the DLC episodes.

But it's going somewhere in the middle of the pack for me.

 

[Killer Queen]

This game is very perplexing yet I keep wanting to play instead of doing other things. I just wish the story was more fleshed out, better paced, and didn't seem so confusing. I'm about to start Chapter 8 and people seems to really like the next few chapters.

It's just weird though because I'm probably halfway through the story and it feels like I've done absolutely nothing except make acquaintances that I don't understand at all.

Love the relationship between the boys though. They did a fantastic job with the incidental dialogue.

Chapter 9 onwards is really where the story starts to pick up. Like, a lot.

Bit of anyone at Square is listening, I really hope you guys do fix the story, because what you have here is quite good but the execution is incredibly poor which is unfortunate. I love the game (Chapter 13 aside) but more cutscenes and context added throughout the entire game would work wonders for the story and i think that if you're going to patch in some story stuff you might as well go all out and do your best to fix all of it.

I understand it's hard to have a sense of urgency in an open world game without restricting you from doing things but i think the motivations of your protagonist should be clear in the first 6 chapters

Spoiler

finding the summons and asking for their blessing to defeat the nifs

and also in those chapters you guys should be foreshadowing later story stuff a lot harder rather than thrusting it all on you in Chapter 13

Luna and Ravus need a LOT more screen time and need to be fleshed out more

And start hinting at the

Spoiler

Ardyn

stuff a lot sooner rather than having it be

Spoiler

here's this mysterious stranger helping us!

for the first half and then

Spoiler

oh shit, something is going on and yeeuppp he's hella evil alright

This coming from someone that thinks Ardyn is really great

 

[Septimus Prime]

So, I'm still in Chapter 1, but I just ran into some level 52 d-bag samurai in the mines. I was able to take him to about half, though, so I'm going to try to power through him.

 

[Vorheez]

So, I'm still in Chapter 1, but I just ran into some level 52 d-bag samurai in the mines. I was able to take him to about half, though, so I'm going to try to power through him.

Holy shit, how? I didn't even get close to touching him. I got absolutely decimated.

 

[Strafebogey]

Double post.

 

[pLow7]

So guys! I Really wanna do a Lot of sidestuff like all of the Major hunts etc. But i also wanna finish the Story! Im at Chapter 11 atm lvl. 41. Should i finish the story and then do the stuff including post game?

 

[Lord of Castamere]

Boss knocks me out of combat circle, gains half of it's health back.

Get hit while trying to summon, lose summon.

Quality game design. 10/10.

 

[Strafebogey]

Chapter 15. Steyliff Dungeon. 4 hours.

I'm not sure I wanna try Crestholm or Costlemark if Steyliff is already this hard. Tried Costlemark and was killed immediately.

Spoiler

Not allowed to use items means that I'll have to use the Ignis's and Gladio's "Regroup" and "Royal Guard" respectively to quickly heal up and defend.

Time to farm APs to prep for this.

Finished all the

Spoiler

Randolph hunts

, including the

Spoiler

Level 120 Naglfar

, and I find them so much easier than that 4 hour torture in Steyliff. The

Spoiler

Naglfar

battle is the only thing challenging in that string of quests

Spoiler

Randolph

gave.

 

[Killer Queen]

So guys! I Really wanna do a Lot of sidestuff like all of the Major hunts etc. But i also wanna finish the Story! Im at Chapter 11 atm lvl. 41. Should i finish the story and then do the stuff including post game?

I'm level 45 and I'm getting absolutely destroyed on chapter 14 so I'd say go for it.

 

[Lunafreya Nox Fleuret]

I'm level 45 and I'm getting absolutely destroyed on chapter 14 so I'd say go for it.

Just run to the last boss. Easier than the enemies.

 

[Shahadan]

Just because you choose not to use all the combat tools available at your disposal doesn't mean they don't exist. Combat is as deep or shallow as you want it to be. You have magic, character abilities, multiple weapons, enemy weaknesses in addition to warping. If you just want to button mash that's fine but don't try and fault the game for you choosing to play that way.

If the game allows you to win while doing the same simplest thing over and over and over and never tries to create situations where this strategy doesn't work, it's definitely the game's fault. That's like design 101

 

[Ruff]

Lmao, my goddd. I finished the game and I only just realize from watching a streamer that you can activate armiger once and then then again to do a different harder hitting chain attack.

ffs I thought chain referred to the skill itself as you fly around missing all your hits :L

 

[InternHertz]

I should focus on fishing to get the Rank 10 trophy, and in turn the Platinum but I'm still focusing on sidequests right now.
I finished all the rescue missions, so tonight I'll be tackling at least all "Car Repair" and Scrap of Mystery quests.
If I have time I'll do some other quests too.

There's a lot left to do, damn.

I'm really waiting for the NG+ feature. I hope it will let you keep anything in the inventory (apart from story key items) and all Astralsphere unlocks, and only reset quest progression and levels.
Also have it so that NG+ can go into NG++ and so on.
No inherent difficulty change though unless you want it (unlock a Hard mode)

 

[autumnleaf]

Just because you choose not to use all the combat tools available at your disposal doesn't mean they don't exist. Combat is as deep or shallow as you want it to be. You have magic, character abilities, multiple weapons, enemy weaknesses in addition to warping. If you just want to button mash that's fine but don't try and fault the game for you choosing to play that way.

I think you're being very generous. I never had to do anything but use Noctis' Engine/Ultima Blade, I never once used daggers, shields or anything else. Default weapon for the entire game, I never had to switch strategies and rely on magic or any kind of tactics. Every single boss was beaten the same way. Give me a boss that has a shield around it that makes warp strikes bounce off or something, anything.

In chapter 10 or 11, when your powers stop working, I thought for a second I was going to have to battle through the train using just magic but no I just had to run away past all the enemies.

 

[Killer Queen]

Just run to the last boss. Easier than the enemies.

I tried and I ended up back at the beginning. I have no idea what I'm doing.

If the game allows you to win while doing the same simplest thing over and over and over and never tries to create situations where this strategy doesn't work, it's definitely the game's fault. That's like design 101

It doesn't matter if you can do it, it matters that there are numerous more effective options which is a good thing. If you want to coast and take the easy way out that's up to you, but you can do it quicker and better if you properly utilize all your available tools which is the point.

I mean, technically you could beat Dark Souls by light attacking once then running away. But you're going to get things done faster and better by utilizing the combat system effectively, that doesn't mean Dark Souls has poor combat because technically you can beat it that way.

I think you're being very generous. I never had to do anything but use Noctis' Engine/Ultima Blade, I never once used daggers, shields or anything else. Default weapon for the entire game, I never had to switch strategies and rely on magic or any kind of tactics. Every single boss was beaten the same way. Give me a boss that has a shield around it that makes warp strikes bounce off or something, anything.

In chapter 10 or 11, when your powers stop working, I thought for a second I was going to have to battle through the train using just magic but no I just had to run away past all the enemies.

I think you're being too reductive. The point isn't that you're unable to do it that way, the point is there are far more effective ways to do things. But obviously you wouldn't know that since you've never tried.

 

[Shahadan]

It doesn't matter if you can do it, it matters that there are numerous more effective options which is a good thing. If you want to coast and take the easy way out that's up to you, but you can do it quicker and better if you properly utilize all your available tools which is the point.

I mean, technically you could beat Dark Souls by light attacking once then running away. But you're going to get things done faster and better by utilizing the combat system effectively, that doesn't mean Dark Souls has poor combat because technically you can beat it that way.

I understand what you mean but it's not really appropriate here. The "penalty" for using even weapons enemies are resistant to is very minimal. You can brute force your way everywhere and that's not how it should be. You even waste more time going into the menu to equip the right weapon if you don't have it assigned than just brute forcing the resistant enemy.
The best example I think are the Flans enemies. Their whole purpose is usually to force you to use magic (or at least a different approach) since they're resistant to weapons. Here I just destroyed them with my sword and very quickly at that. It's either poor design or they acknowledge that their magic system is shit and not usable in all situations.

In that case why have flans at all, and why not have something else trying to make you change your approach. There is none of that.

 

[JBwB]

Literally finished chapter 13 just now.

What the hell was the fuss about exactly? I came out of that pleasantly surprised.

The whole chapter was a tense, yet fun experience.

 

[Ruff]

Literally finished chapter 13 just now.

What the hell was the fuss about exactly? I came out of that pleasantly surprised.

The whole chapter was a tense, yet fun experience.

IMO it's twice as long as it needs to be with the wandering around cut'n'paste corridors (This game has such dull uninspired level design in dungeons omg), but I agree.

 

[Killer Queen]

Literally finished chapter 13 just now.

What the hell was the fuss about exactly? I came out of that pleasantly surprised.

The whole chapter was a tense, yet fun experience.

Because it drags on and on and on and its very carrot on a stick-ish. If they were going to have any chapter be this long I wouldve rather it be 11 or 12

I understand what you mean but it's not really appropriate here. The "penalty" for using even weapons enemies are resistant to is very minimal. You can brute force your way everywhere and that's not how it should be. You even waste more time going into the menu to equip the right weapon if you don't have it assigned than just brute forcing the resistant enemy.
The best example I think are the Flans enemies. Their whole purpose is usually to force you to use magic (or at least a different approach) since they're resistant to weapons. Here I just destroyed them with my sword and very quickly at that. It's either poor design or they acknowledge that their magic system is shit and not usable in all situations.

In that case why have flans at all, and why not have something else trying to make you change your approach. There is none of that.

I don't disagree with you. But the person I'm quoting is trying to argue that the combat system consists purely of button mashing and that's not the case.

 

[Lord of Castamere]

Yeah. All of the menus involved with the combat system just seems odd. Like it clearly wants to be an active, visually impressive system, but then also wants to limit and force you through menus in all of those systems. The fixes seem so easy too. A secondary freeze menu that lets you select wepapons, techniques, and summons without mutiple pause menu clicks.

The wepaon switching isn't too bad, but the techniques, magic, and summons are poor. Techniques should be real time. You should have more bars, so you can chain techniques. Like Graviton and Impulse, for example. You should be able to select every technique without pausing and re-equiping. I'm not sure how to fix magic. I just want regular FF magic. I don't know why it had to be radically different. I guess to justify picking things up, which justifies the open world. Summons need a bar that fills for activation(clear showing of how to summon), and my choice of the summon, for element weakness. Also add a damn filling circle to the l2 prompt.

 

[Harmen]

Ending

Spoiler

The former Kings all attacking Ardyn is basically Knights of the Round isn't it.

Warp, mash circle, warp point, warp, mash circle repeat and throw in a healing item every now and then.

That was all I had to do for literally every battle in the game. You say all FF games have simple battle systems but other games have strategy from the number of characters and spells you control and the various powers of the enemies. There is no strategy needed in this game and you barely even have to care about what the other three characters do, just occasionally call Ignis' regroup and never think about them other than that. It's very repetitive and I think it was a mistake to rely on item healing so much and not have one of the characters be a healer.

I fought trough a massive amount if classic FF battles by just mashing X to atrack each turn, with a (cure) spell or summon every now and then. It is not like strategy or depth was required for most of the turn based battles back in the day. Just like with FFXV, certain strategies can end battles much quicker, but getting trough a fight on itself rarely absolutely required any grand strategy when on a decent level.

 

[Falk]

I don't disagree with you. But the person I'm quoting is trying to argue that the combat system consists purely of button mashing and that's not the case.

I think the issue here isn't the system in general. Button mashing does damage. Utilizing other tools like using the right weapon for the right enemy, linkstrikes, knowing how to warpstrike, knowing when the openings are to stagger, using Magic, etc, also do damage, albeit at a much higher rate. However, the difference of a 4 or 9 on an efficiency scale of 10 doesn't matter if 3 will beat content.

This is basically true of the main run of the game

Spoiler

if you run past optional enemies in Ch14

and that's fine, games need to be somewhat accessible yadda yadda.

My point is the fact that button mashing will let you beat the main game, and there's a lot more nuance to it for harder (mostly optional) encounters, aren't mutually exclusive facts.

 

[Blastoise]

Chapter 3 was great for grinding and doing side-quests. However the next few chapters were very fast and flew by.

Does the game get back to being more like chapter 3? I heard chapter 8 is similar?

 

[Yu Narukami]

Any tips for leveling up fishing faster? I read somewhere that Vesperpool was the best place but it is still taking a lot of time.

 

[Renmyra]

I think the problem is 50 gil potions acting like Phoenix Down while actual Phoenix Downs are there to avoid game over. There's not enough of a penalty for taking hits straight on. Doesn't help that the game basically forces Elixirs on you through Gladio as well.

 

[HTupolev]

"This one's pretty good!"
"I know, I dig it too!"

it is a completely black screen

 

[ramyeon]

I love this game but farming the Last Spiracorn quest for that item unearths so many flaws in the battle and camera system. It's a pain in the arse mostly because I can never consistently break their horns before killing them. Worst shit ever.

 

[Tyaren]

Edited because probably too spoilery...

 

[Killer Queen]

Ok so where do I fight that damn bird

 

[Septimus Prime]

Holy shit, how? I didn't even get close to touching him. I got absolutely decimated.

I slowly chipped away at him and phased and countered what I could, and then I would warp to a ledge when my MP got low. I didn't know you can't phase through his ground spike attack, though, so that's what got me, and I was out of Phoenix Down. I also spammed Tempest when Gladio wss still alive, but that didn't last long.

I'm going to try to grind out a few more levels (I'm 13 right now) and try again.

 

[Papercuts]

I love this game but farming the Last Spiracorn quest for that item unearths so many flaws in the battle and camera system. It's a pain in the arse mostly because I can never consistently break their horns before killing them. Worst shit ever.

Yeah, I had a similiar experience. Specifically locking onto the horn is a pain in the ass with the enemies there, and even without it ping-ponging off of them even just directly aiming at one target it can be finicky to get it on the head.

To say nothing of the camera being blocked by trees and bushes.

The post-game content also exposes more issues to me. The most pressing is that in basically any hard encounter or boss fight your party is just dead weight that gets massacred by every AoE attack. They aren't worth the items to keep them alive so you can basically brute force whatever and let them die. The best you can do here is try to abuse i-frames of the techniques to dodge some attacks but in the end it basically is just buying some time before they all die anyway.

 

[Blastoise]

I love this game but farming the Last Spiracorn quest for that item unearths so many flaws in the battle and camera system. It's a pain in the arse mostly because I can never consistently break their horns before killing them. Worst shit ever.

Use the mother and child rice bowl to increase drop rate. Kill the little unicorns first. Then use wait mode to target the horns of the big unicorns. Took me two tries.

 

[ramyeon]

Use the mother and child rice bowl to increase drop rate. Kill the little unicorns first. Then use wait mode to target the horns of the big unicorns. Took me two tries.

I'm killing the Duplicorns before their horns break.

 

[Blastoise]

I'm killing the Duplicorns before their horns break.

You must be way too strong then. What level are you?

 

[ramyeon]

You must be way too strong then. What level are you?

Only 32. They're going down ridiculously quickly.

 

[Blastoise]

Only 32. They're going down ridiculously quickly.

I was around the same level. Best thing I can tell you is to give everyone in your party shit weapons too lower strength. Other than that it may just be bugged. Sorry.

 

[ramyeon]

I was around the same level. Best thing I can tell you is to give everyone in your party shit weapons too lower strength. Other than that it may just be bugged. Sorry.

Will definitely try out giving them some weaker weapons - feel like they were taking them out too quickly as opposed to the damage I was doing.

 

[ForsakenLotus]

Yeah, this was my fear heading into this game and unfortunately it's apt. The story picks up tremendously after where you currently are, but I mean, I didn't even like how Xenoblade was very back-loaded. I prefer back-loaded over front-loaded when it comes to stories, sure, but I game for a more even disbursal. I game for stories with intrigue and ample twists and turns the whole ride through. This isn't quite my cup.

I like FFXV, especially as it goes on. Warts and all. And I'm excited for the additional cutscenes en route via patches as well as the DLC episodes.

But it's going somewhere in the middle of the pack for me.

I've tried to avoid media coverage of the game, have they announced that they are doing Story DLC or patching in more cutscenes?

 

[JeffZero]

I've tried to avoid media coverage of the game, have they announced that they are doing Story DLC or patching in more cutscenes?

Actually, yes, yes they have! The game will feature several DLCs, three of which are confirmed to include additional story content for your party members. Conversely, Tabata's team will patch in additional cutscenes to the vanilla game in the coming months.

 

[InternHertz]

Ok so where do I fight that damn bird

Do you mean Zu, the double winged one you see in the beginning ?
If so, there's a hunt for him that sends you to its nest

Spoiler

on the top of the Rock of Ravatogh

 

[MagicWithEarvin]

Do you mean Zu, the double winged one you see in the beginning ?
If so, there's a hunt for him that sends you to its nest

Spoiler

on the top of the Rock of Ravatogh

And you can farm it for its beaks for that awesome magic catalyst!

 

[rataven]

Oh my gawd I am dying from the drama at the close of Chapter 5.

Spoiler

NOOOOO not Jared!!

"Jared's the one we should be thanking. Yeah, he really thought of everything"

wut

haha

 

[jiggle]

Spoiler

adamantoise down!

Boy was that not fun
2 hrs + for some useless accessory
This game's rewards really suck

Oh my gawd I am dying from the drama at the close of Chapter 5.

Spoiler

NOOOOO not Jared!!

"Jared's the one we should be thanking. Yeah, he really thought of everything"

wut

haha

Didn't think they could top

Spoiler

moms are tough

Did you?

 

[ForsakenLotus]

Actually, yes, yes they have! The game will feature several DLCs, three of which are confirmed to include additional story content for your party members. Conversely, Tabata's team will patch in additional cutscenes to the vanilla game in the coming months.

Thanks for letting me know friend.

 

[Slaythe]

Lol

 

[HeelPower]

Square Enix are fucking stupid.


I tried my darnest to stay positve and really like game ,but I've come to realize the combat is just...terrible.

You had one team & one director that knew how to make far better arpg combat over a decade ago & this game was his concept for so long.

I have absolutely no doubt that the game would've played far better if Nomura & his team stayed on it.

KH2 has gameplay that's several orders better.Thats not even to speak of the execution of the story & cutscene directiob thats just amateurish....

I just wanna cry in a corner now...

 

[ramyeon]

I was around the same level. Best thing I can tell you is to give everyone in your party shit weapons too lower strength. Other than that it may just be bugged. Sorry.

Just wanted to say thank you for this. This did the trick. Had it in two tries after doing this!