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[Lunafreya Nox Fleuret]

That's a great review, Kagari. I think all the major points you hit on are what most of us feel is wrong with the game, etc. Especially about Luna and I agree with you there 100% as someone that was looking forward to her character, etc. The most disheartening thing about FFXV for me is honestly the wasted potential on story and the open world. God, I was super hyped when I got to Altissia only to see closed off areas... and then the game is literally a train wreck to the end (hue).

 

[butman]

we move on and hope that ff xvi is good

Hahahaha GOLD!

 

[True Fire]

Has it been discussed already that Noctis didn't leave an heir? Is that it? Is the Lucis Caelem bloodline over? Should've Noct up Iris when he had the chance. God knows she wanted it.

Hasn't Nomura been spoiling this since like 2011? He stated in a trailer that Regis would be the last king.

I loved the symbolism of the ring shattering though, it's just unfortunate that the ring shows up without context in the last 4 hours of the game after 30 hours of catching frogs and killling varmints

 

[HeelPower]

Full review, as promised: http://www.novacrystallis.com/2016/12/final-fantasy-xv-review/

Review is spot on.

Also,nice that you avoided slapping on a number.

 

[Deckard Chapel]

It was actually a serious question lol. What happens now that the bloodline is lost? Who's appointed king and who does the crystal choose as a chosen one or whatever?

"Final Fantasy XV: Advent Kingsglaive"

?

 

[HeelPower]

It was actually a serious question lol. What happens now that the bloodline is lost? Who's appointed king and who does the crystal choose as a chosen one or whatever?

My understanding is that its up to the crystal to choose,Noct's bloodline wasn't legit at first.

Plus,Noct cleansed the world at the end.So maybe he exhausted the crystal and that's the end of the scourge & conflict in that world.

 

[NoctisVsStar]

It was actually a serious question lol. What happens now that the bloodline is lost? Who's appointed king and who does the crystal choose as a chosen one or whatever?

An act of love by the last king.

Noctis sacrificed himself to bring light to the world and to the FF franchise moving forward.. and you thought old snake had a hard life heh.

 

[orthodoxy1095]

Warning: totally unedited long review.

It started as a better structured review, but midway I said:"Fuck it! Put what you have in there and call it a day" totally Tabata style. Might format it properly on a future DLC, who knows

Your thoughts share a lot of similarities to the thoughts that I wrote out a while back in this thread. It's such a disappointment that for nearly every part that seemed well done, there's still some niggling details that left me frustrated.

The Ardyn stitch in time thing with prompto pissed me off. The game explains what happens on a load screen.

If only that were the sole use of the loading screen to explain plot details.

 

[OrionX]

It was actually a serious question lol. What happens now that the bloodline is lost? Who's appointed king and who does the crystal choose as a chosen one or whatever?

I mean I think the daemons are all gone now, so I'm not sure the King of Light is needed anymore. The death of the Oracle, the death of the Chosen King, and cleansing the world of Ardyn and the daemons seems to open a new chapter in Eos history. That seemed to be why Noctis was so important and labeled the Chosen. He was the last King.

I guess if needed, the crystal could pick a new family line to safeguard the world. lol

 

[Ruff]

I mean I think the daemons are all gone now, so I'm not sure the King of Light is needed anymore. The death of the Oracle, the death of the Chosen King, and cleansing the world of Ardyn and the daemons seems to open a new chapter in Eos history. That seemed to be why Noctis was so important and labeled the Chosen. He was last King.

I guess if needed, the crystal could pick a new family line to safeguard the world. lol

Ifrit started the daemon scourge, and he already died once in the past. Somehow I don't think he'll stay dead this time. Being dead doesn't seem to affect an astrals day to day life.

 

[PshycoNinja]

Full review, as promised: http://www.novacrystallis.com/2016/12/final-fantasy-xv-review/

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Though I don't agree with everything said, but oh well. Nothing wrong with not seeing eye-to-eye on some things.

 

[encephalon]

Was there a point where Ardyn really was Ifrit? The Ifrit battle seems a bit out of place, like Ardyn revealed himself as Ifrit at one point in the game's story, but then they changed it.

 

[OrionX]

Ifrit started the daemon scourge, and he already died once in the past. Somehow I don't think he'll stay dead this time. Being dead doesn't seem to affect an astrals day to day life.

I thought I saw someone mention that earlier. When was that mentioned, near the end I guess? I do remember Ardyn saying Ifrit hates humanity, but somehow I missed the rest.

 

[orthodoxy1095]

Full review, as promised: http://www.novacrystallis.com/2016/12/final-fantasy-xv-review/

This line:

Occasionally you’ll hit one of the game’s masterfully designed dungeons, which does help to break up the monotonous pace a bit.

Actually gets me back to some of my earlier comments about the road-trip focus. Given its ridiculously barren narrative, the game seems to shine the most when you're on the road. I really wish there could have been more of an emphasis on getting you to go dungeon-crawling given how well-designed most of those areas are.

It’s here the story happens outside of the main characters and it’s here things feel disjointed in a sense. Cut off from the over-arching narrative for the most part, Noctis and friends seem content taking their time, driving around in their car, taking on random fetch quests… but for what? In effect it really hurts the sense of urgency established by the game’s opening hours that there isn’t enough narrative in-between these moments of downtime.

This is something that I've begun to criticize on my subsequent playthroughs of games with similarly urgent main quests like The Witcher 3. I'm not quite sure what you do about that issue, but the incoherence between urgent narratives and laid back sidequesting seems to be something that developers should think about a bit more.

Your thoughts on the story are spot-on all around. Great review.

 

[Lunafreya Nox Fleuret]

There was literally no buildup to Ifrit or how he started the starscourge.

 

[SargerusBR]

Full review, as promised: http://www.novacrystallis.com/2016/12/final-fantasy-xv-review/

These guys are worth spending time with.

Based Kagari.

 

[Ruff]

I thought I saw someone mention that earlier. When was that mentioned, near the end I guess? I do remember Ardyn saying Ifrit hates humanity, but somehow I missed the rest.

I don't think it's ever outright said in the game. They hint at it with the light blocking particles being "soot like" and that ifrit hates humanity, but otherwise it's only outright said in the strategy guide lol.

 

[OrionX]

I don't think it's ever outright said in the game. They hint at it with the light blocking particles being "soot like" and that ifrit hates humanity, but otherwise it's only outright said in the strategy guide lol.

...

Oh.

I have the guide but haven't even looked at it yet. I assumed the scourge was just some random natural event. lol

 

[Ishida]

...

Oh.

I have the guide but haven't even looked at it yet. I assumed the scourge was just some random natural event. lol

That info is also revealed in the game.

 

[HeelPower]

Wasn't Luna getting sick because of healing people afflicted with the Scourge ?

Much like Ardyn was in the past ?

 

[OrionX]

That info is also revealed in the game.

I do remember reading about the "light-blocking particles" thing, I think it was from a book in the castle entrance. I just wasn't clever enough to connect that to Ifrit I guess.

 

[Ruff]

I think it's communing with the gods that is killing her, hence Ravus's goal to take them out before she dies from it.

 

[Inuhanyou]

Full review, as promised: http://www.novacrystallis.com/2016/12/final-fantasy-xv-review/

Perfect review Kagari, its almost as if i wrote it myself

 

[orthodoxy1095]

Unsurprisingly, some people are whining about this Washington Post review, but I found it excellent:

It’s a game that seems to have anticipated its own player’s boredom and tried to forestall it with a web of potential alternatives. This is the logic of many video game sequels: Over time, they become more about the auto-nostalgia for previous games in the series.

What follows is a long processional of familiar iconography from the “Final Fantasy” series buried like dinosaur bones waiting to be discovered. For example, convenience stores spread throughout the game world sell soundtracks from earlier “Final Fantasy” games to play on the car’s audio system as you drive and Prompto, the most boyish of Noctis’s three comrades, will occasionally hum the victory fanfare from older games after a fight.

These callbacks fit neatly into the game’s structure as a travel narrative that unfolds largely from idle time spent in the back seat of a car.

Another city has an officially-sponsored Nissin Cup Noddle truck selling instant ramen to restore health points, while the various camp sites at which you can take shelter when the sun goes down show Noctis and friends using Coleman-branded folding chairs, coolers and tents.

There’s a crassness to these elements. They feel as out of place as a marching band in a bedroom at sunrise.

“Final Fantasy XV” is at its best when treated as an act of tourism. It’s gratingly intrusive when it tries to keep you busy, and transcendentally comforting when it settles for just keeping you company.

Give it a

Spoiler

6/10.

 

[Falk]

Hypothetically if Noctis and Iris got together which of their children become royalty and which become retainer?

 

[Inuhanyou]

Hypothetically if Noctis and Iris got together which of their children become royalty and which become retainer?

that would have been a very interesting development if they went that route. Luna could have died in the first half of the game and the world of ruin could have been the entire second half with Noctis and Iris and the rest forming the team, they could have bonded and had more character development along with all the other sub characters who got shafted

 

[Drunk Skywalker]

Just finished the game, couple of questions. Sorry if they seem dumb

What's the General consensus on the end? Did Noctis and everyone die?

Also, after beating it my save starts me in the castle. Can I get out of here ? Is the save suppose to put me elsewhere where I can go back?

 

[orthodoxy1095]

Hypothetically if Noctis and Iris got together which of their children become royalty and which become retainer?

All of their children are royalty and Gladio's kids would be retainers.

Which would be equally odd since that means Gladio's kids would be retainers for their cousins.

Just finished the game, couple of questions. Sorry if they seem dumb

What's the General consensus on the end? Did Noctis and everyone die?

Also, after beating it my save starts me in the castle. Can I get out of here ? Is the save suppose to put me elsewhere where I can go back?

Yes, they died.

Yes, you can go back to the open world. Use Umbra at a rest point.

 

[True Fire]

Full review, as promised: http://www.novacrystallis.com/2016/12/final-fantasy-xv-review/

This is a very good review. It brings up a lot of legitimate criticisms of the game while also acknowledging the fact that it's a good game even with its flaws.

I think a lot of the negativity coming from Final Fantasy fans stems from the series' software output... the fact that we haven't had a more traditional fantasy game in over a decade definitely hurts XV. The best thing Square Enix could do for XV is avoid making sequels and just focus on XVI.

 

[encephalon]

Can someone explain to me the purpose of calming the gods (summons), why Noctis needed to inherit their power, and what was the true role of the oracle?

I'm sorry if I'm not familiar with all the localized terms.

 

[Sylas]

I do remember reading about the "light-blocking particles" thing, I think it was from a book in the castle entrance. I just wasn't clever enough to connect that to Ifrit I guess.

I honestly thought it had to do with meteor, given that "light-blocking particles" is one of the threats of an actual meteor impact. Plus that thing seemed important.

 

[Ishida]

Can someone explain to me the purpose of calming the gods (summons), why Noctis needed to inherit their power, and what was the true role of the oracle?

I'm sorry if I'm not familiar with all the localized terms.

Noctis is trying to gain power to defeat Nifflheim and reclaim the throne. He is trying to reach the gods in order to have them to help him on this journey, and lend him their strength.

Luna is the Oracle. She's the only one who can speak and awaken the gods. Luna is traveling the world, awakening the gods so that Noctis can gain their blessing.

 

[Drunk Skywalker]

Yes, you can go back to the open world. Use Umbra at a rest point.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the info. How do I go to a rest point if my game loads me back up inside the castle right before the elevator?

 

[encephalon]

Noctis is trying to gain power to defeat Nifflheim and reclaim the throne. He is trying to reach the gods in order to have them to help him on this journey, and lend him their strength.

Luna is the Oracle. She's the only one who can speak and awaken the gods. Luna is traveling the world, awakening the gods so that Noctis can gain their blessing.

So really nothing more than that. Okay. I thought maybe I had missed something.

 

[Falk]

A comparison between how Luna addresses Leviathan vs how Noctis addresses Leviathan

 

[Y2Kev]

I beat it, OMG LOL

LOLLLLLLLLLL

 

[Lunafreya Nox Fleuret]

Luna blasting Leviathan is all I'll ever remember of Luna, tbh. Better than Noctis screaming "DON'T YOU GET IT, I'M THE KING!" Still, it is all wasted because she dies after so it isn't a very memorable scene for me.

 

[ULTROS!]

Best thing to do: ignore the reviews and play the goddamn game and see if it's for you or not.

Remember: NieR is a 68 in metacritic but it's a GAF favorite.

 

[Inuhanyou]

I beat it, OMG LOL

LOLLLLLLLLLL

Thoughts?

 

[hamchan]

Best thing to do: ignore the reviews and play the goddamn game and see if it's for you or not.

Remember: NieR is a 68 in metacritic but it's a GAF favorite.

Applies for most things. Though people don't have infinite time or money, so I'll say if you're interested in a game but are iffy on its quality, it's totally fine to just wait a few months for a price drop before taking the chance. Being in the zeitgeist isn't THAT important.

 

[orthodoxy1095]

I beat it, OMG LOL

LOLLLLLLLLLL

Come on Kev. Spill the impressions.

 

[Rad Shadow]

The Spoony Experiment perfectly encapsulates my problems with FFXIII's story. (although he go a little ridiculous when he talks about the gameplay, which I also had problems with but he goes a bit too far) But I don't want to pile on XIII as that is not what I am really about these days. Would rather talk about XV and how much fun I am having on my own personal playthrough.

Spoony's FF8 review is golden.

 

[OrionX]

I honestly thought it had to do with meteor, given that "light-blocking particles" is one of the threats of an actual meteor impact. Plus that thing seemed important.

Ifrit could've brought the meteor. That might explain why the shards still burn and they're able to use it for power in Lestallum.

Luna blasting Leviathan is all I'll ever remember of Luna, tbh. Better than Noctis screaming "DON'T YOU GET IT, I'M THE KING!" Still, it is all wasted because she dies after so it isn't a very memorable scene for me.

I do think Luna had some good moments during that sequence, it's just a shame that was the only chance she got to shine.

 

[Y2Kev]

Regarding the plot, I'm currently trying to summon meteor onto my apartment

Game overall was fun though despite some very serious issues.

 

[brandonh83]

Fighting the two King Tonberries was like fighting two Yodas on bath salts.

 

[FingerBang]

I finished the game yesterday, lv 70, 60 hours, I did pretty much all the sidequests I found. I will get back to the game after finishing all the stuff I piled up in the last few weeks. (Doom, The Last Guardian, Steep, other stuff I am probably forgetting)

I believe it to be a really good game, but the story is... not there. What the fuck was going on the whole time? Why were people talking about an awesome ending? Am I getting stupid or Final Fantasy XV supposed I was willing to go buy books, watch movies and dig around to understand the story instead of telling me exactly what was going on?

I might have not paid enough attention while going around slaying creatures and exploring dungeons (also, my virtual father died but that's not a deal breaker in this game...?) but seriously, where in the game do I understand why Noctis is so powerful, what the Empire is, who the kings are, what the damn curse is? I do understand some of this things are in the game, but they are not directly told to us. This is not Bioshock FFS, I want they to TELL ME the story. I don't care about female characters not being deep enough, a cast of main characters that wouldn't look bad in a boyband, I am used to this crap and I'm fine with stereotypes, but seriously, Final Fantasy VIII has a better story.

With that said, I loved pretty much every hour I put into it, this game was addictive as hell. I played an average of 5 hours a day, mostly after work. Now I need a break from gaming.

 

[Lunafreya Nox Fleuret]

I do think Luna had some good moments during that sequence, it's just a shame that was the only chance she got to shine.

What I really want is a dlc episode focused on her in Tenebrae. It will give us an excuse to explore the place and maybe even have battles? Luna looks like she can fight so I don't see why not. Maybe there could be more screentime with her attendant Gentiana too. It would be great.

 

[MagnaderAlpha]

It was actually a serious question lol. What happens now that the bloodline is lost? Who's appointed king and who does the crystal choose as a chosen one or whatever?

The crystal (at the end when Noctis takes the power of the kings into himself and, well, dies) looks dead (it's dark, not glowing like in most other scenes, and almost seems like an empty shell compared to how it looked just previously when you encounter Ardyn in the throne room).

My guess, with the destruction of the throne room, the Crystal is gone (destroyed).

As for kings, ALL royalty of Eos is dead. Lucis has no heirs, be it from the Izunia line (Regis and Noctis), nor the true Caelum line(Ardyn), Tenebrae has no heirs (Luna and Ravus were the last royals, and both are dead), and Niflheim has no existing lineage (Iedolas is dead). The end of FFXV seems to hint at a new age of man, free from royal rule, the will of the crystal and the will of the Astrals. While it might seem like peace, especially because the dawn has arrived and the Starscourge has been destroyed forever, there is now a huge power vacuum in Eos.

Guess you could say FFVI's World of Ruin was the same after the defeat of Kefka, but towns/nations still kept "some" power over their territories(Figaro was still ruled by Edgar and Sabin). We don't know of Doma was left to waste as ruins of a forgotten kingdom, or if people sought to rebuild the nation under Cyan's command.

 

[Ishida]

Listening to the Soundtrack that came with the Ultimate Collector's Edition.

Man... This OST is just amazing. I honestly can't get enough of it.

 

[Mister Megative]

Full review, as promised: http://www.novacrystallis.com/2016/12/final-fantasy-xv-review/

I don't agree with parts, but again, you're a phenomenal author, Erren. Another masterfully worded review.