FFXV is over...
Total play time: 58 hours (with the last twenty or so being solely levelling up via hunts and side quests)
Elapsed time: just over a month (I played every day bar about 2, I think)
Final level: 62 (for Noct - the others were on 60)
Top tip 1: stay at Galdin Quay to double your EXP
Top place for getting loads of EXP: Castlekeep(?) Tower (it definitely has 'castle' and 'tower' in the name)
Royal Weapons: 10 (I suspect I know where the other three are but I didn't get to them)
Summons: 6 (although their use is VERY limited)
Trophies: dunno
Top tip 2: watch all the credits until 'fin' appears
Final thoughts: complicated...
***SPOILER ALERT - READ ON AT OWN RISK***
So, when you actually get to the story for this one it is DEEP with a capital D that is also in bold and italic - and is probably a couple of font sizes larger than usual. I mean... just WOW!!! Ardyn is a brilliant villain because you actually end up feeling sorry for him. Talk about being treated like shit. The trouble is there is very little exploration of the story for most of the game. I mean it's just... so fucking brilliant. But so underdone.
Ifrit is the real nasty. We do not like Ifrit one little bit. Ardyn is just tragic.
We are left with something of a mystery at the end. Just who is Noct, really? There are two main theories (already!) both of which seem plausible to me. Both explain Ardyn's attitude but one makes him an even more tragic figure. I think I'm leaning towards that one...
There is also the situation with Prompto which is introduced - and then brushed over. I mean, this MATTERS. In the world in which the game is set, it would REALLY matter that he is who he is. Except that very little is made of other people in a similar situation, so maybe the other boys would just be cool with it. What do I know?
The ending is bitter-sweet. It's totally unlike any other FF ending ever but makes so much sense in light of the whole story. I definitely approve. I'm definitely comfortable with it being a fantasy for both Noct and Luna. The scene with the four boys before that, however, I tend to think is a flashback. OK, so it's Noct expressing emotion but only just and - well, it's about bloody time!
I did have to watch a YouTube video that explained the story in order for it all to make sense (particularly Ardyn's story) but I waited until I'd finished the game. I think the IDEA for the story is probably the best of the games I've played but the execution is poor.
Overall, this is a game with huge shortcomings (both in general and as FF) but I am glad I played it. Even with those shortcomings I think I have to give it 8/10; that's based on the game as it is, not what it could have been.
And now to bed!
Elapsed time: just over a month (I played every day bar about 2, I think)
Final level: 62 (for Noct - the others were on 60)
Top tip 1: stay at Galdin Quay to double your EXP
Top place for getting loads of EXP: Castlekeep(?) Tower (it definitely has 'castle' and 'tower' in the name)
Royal Weapons: 10 (I suspect I know where the other three are but I didn't get to them)
Summons: 6 (although their use is VERY limited)
Trophies: dunno
Top tip 2: watch all the credits until 'fin' appears
Final thoughts: complicated...
***SPOILER ALERT - READ ON AT OWN RISK***
So, when you actually get to the story for this one it is DEEP with a capital D that is also in bold and italic - and is probably a couple of font sizes larger than usual. I mean... just WOW!!! Ardyn is a brilliant villain because you actually end up feeling sorry for him. Talk about being treated like shit. The trouble is there is very little exploration of the story for most of the game. I mean it's just... so fucking brilliant. But so underdone.
Ifrit is the real nasty. We do not like Ifrit one little bit. Ardyn is just tragic.
We are left with something of a mystery at the end. Just who is Noct, really? There are two main theories (already!) both of which seem plausible to me. Both explain Ardyn's attitude but one makes him an even more tragic figure. I think I'm leaning towards that one...
There is also the situation with Prompto which is introduced - and then brushed over. I mean, this MATTERS. In the world in which the game is set, it would REALLY matter that he is who he is. Except that very little is made of other people in a similar situation, so maybe the other boys would just be cool with it. What do I know?
The ending is bitter-sweet. It's totally unlike any other FF ending ever but makes so much sense in light of the whole story. I definitely approve. I'm definitely comfortable with it being a fantasy for both Noct and Luna. The scene with the four boys before that, however, I tend to think is a flashback. OK, so it's Noct expressing emotion but only just and - well, it's about bloody time!
I did have to watch a YouTube video that explained the story in order for it all to make sense (particularly Ardyn's story) but I waited until I'd finished the game. I think the IDEA for the story is probably the best of the games I've played but the execution is poor.
Overall, this is a game with huge shortcomings (both in general and as FF) but I am glad I played it. Even with those shortcomings I think I have to give it 8/10; that's based on the game as it is, not what it could have been.
And now to bed!