Final Fantasy XV

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Final Fantasy Versus XIII was announced by Square-Enix at E3 2006 as one of three games in the Fabula Nova Crystallis series (Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy Agito XII. This is probably the period when SE was the furthest up its own ass.

Flash forward seven years, and FF Versus XIII has been renamed Final Fantasy XV and is coming to the Playstation 4 and Xbox One sometime in the future. It went into full production in 2010, if sources are to be trusted. A PC release has not been mentioned yet.

Here's the trailer shown at E3 2013:

And the second, dubbed Battle Gameplay Trailer:

As a huge fan of the series, but one who hasn't finished a core game since FFX, I think it looks spectacular. I truly hope they get this right, as I don't think I've ever loved a series like I did FF from 1994 to 2000.

I do wonder if the movement system requires you to drive your sword into walls and ceilings to get around. Seems unlikely

sign me up for the tagging of this thread

I might stand alone in this, but for me, it felt like a cheap, low blow to rename versus 13 into 15. I wanted versus 13 to be whatever it is, and 15 something new. I'm probably wrong in my perception, but to me, it felt like, student Square Enix had two assignments due, and will just turn in one. I don't know. And this is all besides what I really feel about Square Enix, and where the franchise has gone to.

As a once hardcore fan of this franchise, to the point of regarding one of its titles (FF6) as one of the best games ever created, I think this franchise has gone through sufficient changes that it is no longer for me.

RoughneckGeek wrote:

I never understood why Final Fantasy versus XIII existed as a name. It wasn't linked in any real way to FFXIII, didn't share characters, theme... so the rename to FFXV makes sense to me. From the time I saw the trailers in 2006, FFXIII looked okay to me but FFvsXIII was the one I was truly excited for. More than any other title, this is the reason I'm buying one of the next-gen systems.

If the series no longer interests you, that's a different thing. I've been playing the Final Fantasy series since finding a copy of FF1 in a bargin bin and haven't fallen out of love with it yet. I loved the story of FFX. Mechanically, FFX-2 and FFXIII are among the strongest in the franchise. Then again, while I loved FFVI, I preferred the story of FFIV and job system of FFV.

Pretty much the same with me. I've been waiting on this game a long ass time.

If they learn from the mistakes of FFXIII, I'd be happy. I was never really disappointed with the aesthetic choices of FFXIII. It was the gameplay and story that bothered me the most. Keep the tutorial session under an hour and I'll be more than pleased. Looks like I gotta save up for a new Playstation now.

Grenn wrote:

Keep the tutorial session under an hour and I'll be more than pleased.

That's not an issue that's inherent to XIII though. Past games had protracted tutorials as well. VI, for example, didn't introduce the Magicite system until probably 8-10 hours in (slight exaggeration, but you had to have committed a non-trivial amount of time to the game before you reach the story event for it).

I like the fresh approach to combat. Quite a nice choice to have wildly imaginative fantasy elements in a pseudo-realistic world. It points up the fantastic elements (like oofing great creatures) very well.

I never understood the criticism that FFXIII had an overlong tutorial. Introducing game systems gradually while providing *actual gameplay* in between doesn't make it one long tutorial. And the opening sections were cool.

But then, I'm an FFXIII apologist, I guess.

FFXV looks great. Combat reminds me more of KH than FF, but that's fine. I'm thinking the story will be an incomprehensible mess once again, but I have a high tolerance for such things, so that's okay. As long as they bring on the interesting combat and flashy visuals.

If they tone back the protracted talky bits just a little from that of FFXIII, fully unlock all the game's systems more quickly, and keep the amount of creepy young girl grunting and moaning toned significantly down, that would address the majority of my major frustrations with FFXIII. FWIW, FFXIII-2 did all of these things, and I like that one more than FFXIII because of it. It didn't hurt that FFXIII-2 had more fiddly bits in the game systems overall.

Demyx wrote:

I never understood the criticism that FFXIII had an overlong tutorial. Introducing game systems gradually while providing *actual gameplay* in between doesn't make it one long tutorial. And the opening sections were cool.

I think the problem, at least my problem, with it, was that it felt like a tutorial because everything during those 15+ hours of slowly introducing new mechanics, was way too easy. The 'actual gameplay' was missing imo.

If they had made the difficulty curve, so you started to have problems defeating enemies once in a while, only to get introduced to a new mechanic to overcome the difficulty, it could have worked better.
You never actually have to learn the mechanics they introduce, until after you learned all of them and reached the end-game.

It is also too slow of an introduction to the mechanics. That is not only an issue with FF13, but only getting all the interesting game mechanics near the end of a game, always feels kinda silly. I want to play with those mechanics!
Of course FF13 has a lot of end-game where you can indeed play with all the mechanics, so it does fine in that regard. 15+ hours is just a fairly long time to reach that point, especially for those who do not play the 'end-game' stuff, and only finishes the story (in which case they maybe shouldn't play FF of course).

Criticism aside, I enjoyed FFXIII a lot Just not the first 20 hours.

Regarding FF XV, it surely didn't look like Final Fantasy combat. Still more than ready to give it a chance though.

Shadout wrote:

Regarding FF XV, it surely didn't look like Final Fantasy combat. Still more than ready to give it a chance though.

I think people had the same reaction to FFXII when they first saw it. Although XV was originally being worked on by the Kingdom Hearts team which is partially why the combat looks a lot closer to that series than FF's traditional ATB derived systems.

That's the part I love about the franchise: each game tends to be unique in some way. I was really happy to see the S-E representatives at the Q&A stress this fact.

kexx wrote:

I might stand alone in this, but for me, it felt like a cheap, low blow to rename versus 13 into 15. I wanted versus 13 to be whatever it is, and 15 something new. I'm probably wrong in my perception, but to me, it felt like, student Square Enix had two assignments due, and will just turn in one. I don't know.

I get that perspective, but I would very much prefer them to turn in an A+ report than a couple C's

I'm really excited for this one. I was not expecting to see that much gameplay in the reveal trailer.

My big hope is that XV will have an option for the Japanese language track; the last few FF's I've played have had some pretty awful English language voice acting (Tidus, Vanille, Rikku, lots of minor characters). Whether the Japanese tracks are less offensive due to better acting, or just not being able to understand them, I'd prefer to have the option.

Tanglebones wrote:

My big hope is that XV will have an option for the Japanese language track; the last few FF's I've played have had some pretty awful English language voice acting (Tidus, Vanille, Rikku, lots of minor characters). Whether the Japanese tracks are less offensive due to better acting, or just not being able to understand them, I'd prefer to have the option.

Square-Enix's insistence on not providing the Japanese tracks to Western audiences is kinda weird. The last two "big" JRPGs that came through our place provided the Japanese audio with no fuss. If Xenoblade Chronicles can cram two sets of voice work on a single Wii disc, S-E ought to be able to do the same on the PS4.

After getting through the opening oh...10 hours of FF XIII, I really, REALLY enjoyed the combat system in that game. I like the look of the actiony pace that they have going for XV, I just hope they have a little bit of that XIII system sprinkled in. It was super fun!

Higgledy wrote:

I like the fresh approach to combat. Quite a nice choice to have wildly imaginative fantasy elements in a pseudo-realistic world. It points up the fantastic elements (like oofing great creatures) very well.

This... Though the fantasy / pseudo-realistic mash-up has been done a couple of times already. I'd really love for them to do another "classic" fantasy game, a la FF9... but I'll take FF15 in the meantime.

This reminds me that I need to go back and finish FF13 one of these days. I think I left it at the point where it really opens up, which is a crying shame.

My problem with Final Fantasy is that they don't know how to write a story & character. I played FF13 to completion, not because I thought the battle system was any good, it because I wanted to see how awful the story gets. And it does not disappoint.

Motleyai wrote:

My problem with Final Fantasy is that they don't know how to write a story & character. I played FF13 to completion, not because I thought the battle system was any good, it because I wanted to see how awful the story gets. And it does not disappoint.

That seems like a pretty strange reason to finish a 60+ hour game

I haven't played a Final Fantasy since X, and for the most part grew apathetic towards it. 13's trailer and everything surrounding it just doesn't do anything for me.

This trailer, though, did. I felt a bit guilty, too, since the first bits of gameplay were cover-based, or looked it. I'm curious if part of the reason I'm digging it is the aesthetic. It is certainly more Western in its presentation than 10, 12 and 13 have been. It may be modern, but the colors and designs are more subdued. The armor and monsters aren't flashy, and the character outfits don't have overly outstanding features (for the most part).

I cannot help but wonder if part of the direction of FF15 is to appeal to a broader Western crowd.

Either way, I'm on board. I have no idea what's going on in that gameplay trailer, but I know I want to play it.

Can't wait!

ccesarano wrote:

I have no idea what's going on in that gameplay trailer, but I know I want to play it.

You said it.

I just want to say that I haven't had as much anticipation for a new FF since XII. Just to make a point, I have liked XIII so far (only a few hours in) and, aside from the corridors issue (hehehe) I find the alleged "tutorial" to be perfectly implemented. A good way to get people to learn the intricacies of the system.

I do hope I have time to play through the entire XIII trilogy (it sounds odd to say that, doesn't it?) before XV drops.

I would recommend avoiding XIII-2, honestly. I don't think it added much to the narrative and systemically it is just a big mess. Lightning Returns looks better.

brokenclavicle wrote:

I just want to say that I haven't had as much anticipation for a new FF since XII. Just to make a point, I have liked XIII so far (only a few hours in) and, aside from the corridors issue (hehehe) I find the alleged "tutorial" to be perfectly implemented. A good way to get people to learn the intricacies of the system.

Oh, so you're about a quarter of the way through the tutorial? I wish I was kidding, even if I also didn't mind it that much.

The only real heartbreaking thing about FF13 is that it feels narrow and claustrophobic for entirely far too long. If they had condensed those first dozen or so hours, or literally WIDENED the areas it takes place in to provide the illusion of a more open world, I think the game would've received far more praise. As it is, it's merely "good" until you get more complete control.

Gumbie wrote:

Pretty much the same with me. I've been waiting on this game a long ass time.

"Long ass" time or long "ass time"?

Looking spectacular hasn't been a problem for Final Fantasy in the last decade. Playing spectacular is another issue.

New trailer. Reminds me of The Iliad & The Odyssey.

Goddamn, S-E knows how to make a visually-stunning game.

Combat looks strange with only that tiny party HP display in the bottom-right corner. There really aren't any other menus, etc? Seems pretty daring, but I love having so much of the screen showing the battle.

Yoyoson wrote:

New trailer. Reminds me of The Iliad & The Odyssey.

I want your copy of the Odyssey.

Demyx wrote:
Yoyoson wrote:

New trailer. Reminds me of The Iliad & The Odyssey.

I want your copy of the Odyssey.

Give it the Romeo+Juliet treatment and see what you get?

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