I started FFXV

[Fynn]

I actually really enjoyed chapter 13. Having to rely on the ring was a nice gameplay shakeup. But imagine how much worse it was before the updates streamlined it severely.

[Del Murder]

Yeah I didn't mind that part, but the dungeon is so long and repetitive. Get keycard, open door, repeat, I've done that in games dozens of times. And there are only 3-4 total enemy types that are not very interesting (except that big gargoyle thing). The best thing about that section is Ardyn taunting you the whole way.

My 2 year old actually liked that section because he kept telling me which doors to go to. 'No, not that one. Green one!'

[Fynn]

But yeah, Episode Ignis is very nice, and so are Prompto and Ardyn. It’s really just Gladio’s that stands out as particularly lame. On that note, Episode Ardyn is meant to be played after you’ve beaten the game, ideally after also watching the short anime prologue to that that’s on YouTube.

[Del Murder]

Great, and should I read the manga too? And get the collectible action figures? Would that help me understand this game I already paid for?

[Wolf Kanno]

Great, and should I read the manga too? And get the collectible action figures? Would that help me understand this game I already paid for?

Only if you get the original Japanese version of the figures in their original packaging because the back of the box adds an extra line of story detail that will completely change how you see the game.

I need to invest in the Royal edition and finally replay this game. I feel I've let enough time go by that I can appreciate another run through.

[Fynn]

Hey, at least the anime is free

[Del Murder]

After we got through chapter 13 we decided to go back to the open world since it is more fun. We beat Zu and a few other higher rank hunts. That's really where the game shines for me.

[Del Murder]

I beat the game yesterday. I really liked the boss rush at the end, those were some emotional battles with great cinematics. The ending was also refreshing given that (SPOILER)Noctis actually died and wasn't brought back by the power of love or some BS. Very much unlike most FF games! Messing around in the WOR was also a nice change of pace from the earlier open world.

Overall I liked the game a lot. The first half open world was about as fun as I've had in an OWRPG. The story is a huge mess though. After learning Ardyn's motives I was still very confused by his actions throughout the game. I read through the plot of Episode Ardyn and he actually has a very compelling story. Too bad none of this was in the main game! Similarly, King Lucis, Luna, and Ravus all seemed like important characters but you have to go outside the game to learn about all that, which lessens their impact while you are playing.

Also they gave no explanation for the time skip and even after reading about it I still don't have it figured out. It feels like SE wanted this game to have a complex and overarching plot but ran out of time to get it all in the game. So rather than just simplify the plot to a road trip/coming of age/revenge story, they created all this side content to try and salvage it.