Let's share our first (spoiler free!) impressions!

[Wolf Kanno]

I just got to Chapter 3, going a bit slow since I'm trying to explore and do optional quests over story missions first.

The Good:

• Did I mention how much I like the Technique system? Ignis especially wins for having some super useful abilities.
• I love the fact that Prompto's Flare Gun move will actually stun the nocturnal daemons. Saved my ass a few times on hunts.
• Much like the demo, Goblins are a freaking pain in the ass with a bent on screwing with your party. I love it.
• My first Guest Party member didn't disappoint.
• I like that equipping a party member with one of their secondary weapons will have them switch up their combos like Noctis.
• Magic was starting to lose it's pep when I encountered the Flan's and I smiled because the game brought back memories of FFIV.
• I just had my first heart-to-heart with Prompto and was surprised to see it actually featured a dialogue tree akin to Mass Effect.
• While it's a bit on rails, I'm digging the Regalia and traveling by it.
• Having played the Duscae Demo, it's really interesting to get back there and see how much has changed.
• The Javelin/Spear is my favorite weapon so far. The perfect balance of speed and power.
• Cid upgrades my weapons? Hell yeah!
• The fishing mini-game is easily my favorite mini-game so far, brings back fond memories of Breath of Fire.
• Collecting recipes is pretty fun.

The Bad

• While there are very few of them, the load times in this game are pretty annoying.
• What does a prince have to do to get his hands on new weapons for his entourage?
• I'm hoping we can get more clothing options besides the four you start with.
• Quick Travel my ass, you're almost always better off just driving the Regalia instead of relying on QT.
• Party banter conversations are starting to repeat.
• Gladious has my least favorite skill, scavenging items I can get pretty easily isn't quite as engaging as Fishing, photography and cooking.
• While I appreciate the scale of the areas, there is a real sense that 90% of my play time is just trying to get to somewhere interesting.
• Why yes FFXV, I totally love it when I'm fighting a Mark Hunt and you spawn a monster encounter and a Magitek Soldier encounter at the same time. That was totally fun in the demo as well...