A First Timers Thoughts on Final Fantasy XV: Judgement Disc Demo

For Final Fantasy XV, the saying goes: Easy to learn hard to master.

[generic-user-name]

This will be my first ff game ever, so they must be doing something right.

[Godmars290]

How is that any form of logic? Have you been gaming since FF1 and this is your first time considering a version of the franchise that's well removed from what it once was?

[Irishguy95]

I guess because the vast majority of gamers don't like turn based strategy. Indeed, most people will look at an old FF and say "Why the hell are they taking turns!". I've went to lengths discussing this with people. Comparing it to Pokemon("If you liek pokemon whats wrong with FF") etc.

Looking at a turn based strategy is a real turn off to most people. Only someone who has given it enough time to see the light can see the benefits of it over action. Or even whats good about it. It LOOKS boring. Thats its problem. Action games LOOK fun. Whether or not there is any depth to a combat system, takes time with the game to identify. Regardless of genre.

For example, Dark souls combat versus Skyrim. Which game requires you to formulate a plan of attack? Dark souls is clearly quite strategic especially for an action game. You know? But then...most people hate losing! Especially against the most feeble looking enemy. Skyrim lets them destroy everything without to much hassle.

But whatever, I guess...you have to see why majority of people don't like turn based games. Even at that theres a **** load of gamers out there, who do like TBS like me and you and people who Love FF previous to action. however, i'm one of the people who values action over turn based. I LOVE playing Dark souls for its combat, the witcher, any action game really that is done well. But turn based games...I WOULD NOT PLAY THEM without either a good story, or many different elements to the game. Pokemon for example...travel the world, set up your team, beat gyms, catch them all.

Final fantasy has its stories, music...everything. But most action games get by on there combat systems, but no turn based game will ever get by on simply having a good turn based combat system, the literally always have More to the game. Dark souls and Witcher are two great examples of Action RPGs done right. Others like Skyrim or fallout etc.

If I remeber what I like about Final fantasy, I will never say the combat system as the first thing that comes to my mind, not ever.

In short, SE are fighting an uphill battle in the WEST, simply because of the design of eastern games like FF. Its super anime-ish, FF has been around for decades now and people already have their opinion on it. Even if the gameplay is more appealing. Whereas eastern gamers simply won't change, they LOVE monster hunter as an Action RPG but if FF tries it...well, we'll see.

[generic-user-name]

Lol, how is it not. The devs state that they want this one to appeal to gamers who are fans of the franchise AND those who have never played before and they've succeeded in the later. I'm not a fan of cringey anime-style crap, yet I'm willing to overlook the blonde dude as well as their stupid hairstyles because the rest of it looks very good.

[sullynathan]

@Irish how did you come to the conclusion that the vast majority of gamers don't like turn based when the most popular rpg franchises are turn based.

Your example of dark souls and Skyrim is bad and inappropriate for the point your trying to make.

[pasta_spice]

I've never considered Final Fantasy to be a "cringey anime crap" sort of series. Sure, the art style of FF7 and FF9 (and even FF10 to an extent) look pretty anime-ish. But a big reason I've enjoyed them over the years is because they DON'T have a lot of the stupid anime cheesiness and cringey humor that a lot of other JRPGs have.

Sounds more like you're judging them based on how they look, and not their actual content. I don't see how FFXV is any less "cringey anime-ish" than FF6, FF7, FF12, or even FF8.

[joab777]

Normally I would agree about Skyrim as I love Dark Souls. But I have played in the hardest difficulty and I am getting owned quite often. I remember it being so easy b4. It's like the spikes are insane! Oh and it's so damn beautiful going from 360 to PSPro.

[KingKelloggTheWH]

A lot of people are interested in this one when they were never fans before. It has some new type of hype that it is building that FF usually does not get.

[Godmars290]

That answered my question like Irishguy95 addressed it: not at all.

When did you first become aware of the franchise? How long have you been turning your nose up at it until now?

And Irishguy95, it's never just been about turn based combat, one aspect, but rather the generic direction Square's gone in relation to game mechanics and story. How the two have become detached and unimportant to each other.

[generic-user-name]

Your question is pretty irrelevant to my point. Been 'turning my nose up' since VII.

[Godmars290]

Not if you were fourteen, a legitimate point concerning this game, and this was the first time you bought a game in the series at it's launch.

If you had the option to buy FF7 on the PS1 when the game was only available on that platform, its not the same if choosing not to get it last week for PC, 3DS or four or five versions on a Playstation platform.

it like having the nerve to judge the Model T as the worst car ever made by today standards.

[generic-user-name]

Dude, I have no idea what you're talking about or are upset about.

[kevnb]

Final fantasy vii is one of the best selling rpgs ever, all it took was some marketing that other similar quality games didn't get. Final Fantasy xv also has a ton of marketing that something like persona 5 won't get.
You also have to consider console sales are very weak in Japan compared to a few generations ago, now devs have to appeal to the west and even the Xbox crowd.

[PlayableGamez-]

You have never played a FF in your life?

[Godmars290]

Upset? Talk to the one who felt they needed to write a non-associated essay regarding what was suppose to be a plain and simple question. Yourself for that matter since you've yet to really answer it but keep replying.

When did you first become aware of FF7 and the franchise its apart of? When the PS1 was a thing? One of the PC releases? The PSN re-releases including the one around the FF7r - or whatever they're called - announcement?

I cut my teeth on a Pong paddle and am pretty much set on easing out on modern gaming scene because its gone too mainstream and profit driven. Am feeling a bit frustrate when someone says older entries in a franchise which served as the foundation for that franchise were never worth playing when they weren't even born to play those games when they first came out.

[generic-user-name]

I said since FFVII, why would you assume I'm talking about anything other than it's original release on PS1? Sure I was young when it came out but I've had plenty of opportunities to get it and it's sequels, instead I opted for MGS and Resident Evil.

I never liked the look of the gameplay, nor RPGs in general. I wasn't trying to insult the earlier titles, just saying they weren't for me, this one though looks more appealing.

[Articuno76]

@Irishguy95 I guess because the vast majority of gamers don't like turn based strategy.

I think the problem is that most of the FF games (and most turn-based JRPGs in general) aren't actually turn-based strategy: they are routine selection exercises that require little thought AND little input from the player -- the result is un-engaging.

This is particularly bad with most of the FF games as they use ATB -- a system that has (now that I've played a lot of JRPGs) neither the strategic benefits of a true turn-based system nor the satisfying actuation of real-time combat. FFX is an exception because it uses fully turn-based combat (though how often that translate into strategy is another matter), as is FFXIII because it requires you to stay engaged so that you can change tact at the drop of a hat.

FFXII is a weird one because it too lacks any satisfying actuation from directly taking action in battle, and there's not much strategy during battle either... but FFXII gets away with it because all the strategy is deferred to the pre-battle preparation phase (which is more involved than the other FF games).

I still point to games like Grandia 2 and Trails of Cold Steel (on the highest difficulty) for examples of great turn-based battle systems. The former has a sense of manic speed about it that belies the fact that it is turn-based, and the latter uses randomised turn-specific bonuses to keep you thinking on your feet (as well as asking you to tactically relocate characters to split the enemy's attention/move them in tandem to maximise sharing buffs/healing).

The vast majority of players might not understand any of the things I've just said, but they would still get a sense that most turn-based games are somehow repetitive and pedestrian.

[IamTylerDurden1]

Looks gorgeous on Pro.

[NecoTehSergal]

I'd advise that if you like FF15 after buying and playing it? To go back and play FF6/7 and climb your way up the games.

[Hotabang]

ff7 and 8 "cringy anime style" ?????????????????????????

[pasta_spice]

Methinks he might end up being disappointed with FFXV. If he thought the previous games were "cringey anime crap" then FFXV looks no better or worse than those games.

[Hotabang]

@pasta_spice i agree, ffXV is so cringey for me so far haha

[aksmashh]

Generic is excited to play his first FF and im interested aswell

But seems like theres alot of die hard ff fans (douches) on here who seem to think the game is made a specially for them

[Snookies12]

I've been a die-hard fan of the franchise since Final Fantasy 1. Played every single numbered entry multiple times, and I can't be any more hyped for this game. Bring on the 29th!

[joethetimelord]

There are a lot of hardcore FF fans who are very interested as well. Played every game but III (as of now) and I can absolutely feel a Final Fantasy atmosphere throughout the Judgment Disc. The small town on the northwest part of the map in particular, with its low-key jazzy theme, small one-off darts minigame, junkyard aesthetic, and its overall coziness instantly made me feel that this would've felt right at home as a small area in VII or VIII.

The haters are always gonna hate. See them for what they are: a vocal minority. You know what you like, and that's what really matters at the end of the day.

[Princess_Pilfer]

Uh, yeah. That's why we're the fans who've been buying the games for 20 years. Them *not* making the game for the fans that have supported them for so long is kinda crappy, Even more annoying (and what I was afraid of) was the comparisons to KH combat, which I really, really don't like because it's brain dead. Yeah the thing says they "have more strategy" but more strategy than what it takes to beat everything in KH is a *very* low bar. Sure FF8 and 9 aren't exactly hard, but 7 and 10 have a fair few fights that will kick the crap out of you if you don't figure out and execute the strategy and 4 is just plain hard. They should have been expanding on the system (12 did a pretty decent job of it,) not abandoning it. If I wanted to play KH, that's what I'd go play.

As far as story goes, 0 faith. They haven't had a good story in their single player games since Kitase was helping write them (that was in 2001.)

[Ginpachi-sama]

This game,nier,nioh,gravity rush and a few other sony exclusives made me sell my ps4 for a pro and so hyped for this gen. The demo was Fantastic

[joethetimelord]

It really is looking like the slump is coming to an end. My ass is firmly on the hype train; I had to force myself to stop playng the demo.

[Majin-vegeta]

I'm just not excited for it anymore...

OT:If you signed up to get the FF15 ultimate editions form the SE Store check your email they're going out and you only have so many hours before they go on to the next person on waiting list