Final Fantasy XV Review - Easily The Best JRPG Around | COGconnected

COGconnected writes: After 10 long years, has Final Fantasy XV emerged as the promised epic adventure? In our opinion it has, but there remains room for growth.

[UCForce]

It's good to see that FFXV have a lot of positive reviews.

[-Foxtrot]

Not really

It dosen't feel like a JRPG to me at times.

[Nu]

I agree.
I hate that there's a car but it's stupid tou can't go offroad.
There's water but you can't swim wtf.

[il-JumperMT]

chocobos can swim :P

[jaycptza]

Have you played FF at all?

[ninsigma]

I don't ever remember swimming having a major part to play in FF to date.

Edit:
Ff10 was a linear game with a swimming section. You couldn't just go swimming whenever.

[Satou]

@Ninsigma
Really? FFX would like to have a word with you. You've been able to swim in FF for a while now. Same with KH. Plus it's not that difficult of an addition.

[ninsigma]

You mean it feels to westernised??

[Pintheshadows]

It doesn't feel westernised at all. There is no western game that feels, plays, or is stylistically anywhere near similar.

[ninsigma]

Haven't played it yet so I don't know. Wondering what he means by not feeling like a JRPG.

[PapaBop]

^^^ It feels like a JRPG in the literal sense, I imagine not feeling like a JRPG is because there is less emphasis on story, cut scenes and meaningful dialogue in general in comparison to more traditional JRPGs. Long term fans will notice this from very early on but ultimately doesn't take away from it being a great game from what I've played so far.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Lol "feel"?

It was made by the Japanese team, you level up and your status and attributes get affected.

How could you feel something objective? That is not something that varies by any degree, that is simply a fact of what it actually is.

It's Made in Japan and it is a game in which you level up and by doing so affect your status and attributes.....

[Chexs1990]

I Love it, it feels like a jrpg. Most people that say it's not, refer to it not having turn-based combat.
I'll openly admit that i'm an FF fanboy and I Love the s**t out of XV as well. I respect people that genuinely doesn't like the game for what it is, that's just subjective opinion, but i can't take people who hates it for what it isn't seriously.
Besides, wait mode offers a bit of the old feel, so there's that.
And i do feel that there is a lack of cut scenes, but i'll survive, 'cause the story and the human connections are spot on :)
The fetch quests are abundant, yes, but i feel it helps the grinding become less of a chore ^^

[_-EDMIX-_]

@chex- agreed I've been using wait mode and it feels very much like Final Fantasy 12 which I felt it was likely going to feel like when I first heard about the mode.

For anyone who doesn't have the game yet wait mode allows you to pause in the middle of battle to select your weapon to heal or use other items and to also select an enemy to see its life as well as perform specific moves.

That means you don't actually need to play the entire battles in real time to anyone who's confused about just how much action is in Final Fantasy XV consider you don't need to be some sort of Master at Devil May Cry to play this game.

you very much could a pause game and strategize if you feel just.

I just like you , love the old turn-based, but it doesn't mean I'm against all action RPGs I seriously don't understand why many people who love this moronic either or concept.

Old school RPG fans may like turn-based gaming nothing is wrong with that but I think many need to wake up to the reality that that financially not viable to the majority of the install base.

It's just not popular enough for any company to risk Financial failure.

When a game does something well the install base takes note if it's truly in demand and if turn-based was truly in demand by a large install, base titles like I am setsuna and world of Final Fantasy should be breaking records right now.

Those are two amazing titles but their sadly also a sobering truth that the concept is just not as popular as it was 15 - 20 years ago

To be clear this is not what I want folks, this is just reality.

I personally think Square should come up with a battle system that essentially allows for both! Final Fantasy 12 and Final Fantasy 15 might be the only two that have come the closest to having a strong mixture of both

[_-EDMIX-_]

@SSj- thats nice.

Believe what you want bud. An RPG can't be open world? The first Final Fantasies are open world....

How old are you? lol

(kids)

You can hack and slash in Skyrim....its open world....guess its not an RPG....

sigh...(kids)

[_-EDMIX-_]

@ OmnislashVer36- Buddy who cares? You don't see a chest so your crying? So because you don't see it and even though your getting an item, its no longer a RPG or FF title?

Ummmm no one cares.

"here are no cities or outposts that look like Final Fantasy VII"

Because its not FFVII, its FFXV.....why did it need to look like FFVII to be a Final Fantasy? Using your own stupid logic, FFVII doesn't look like any of the previous, sooooooo doesn't that mean (using your OWN LOGIC) its not a Final Fantasy?

That wasn't "staple" when it released....

"Nothing about it reflects reality to the point of FFXV"

To the point...to a degree of...

But..it reflects it bud. They both have different styles of realism, but they are both showing off a semi-modern world with cars and cities. Their differences don't actually take away from that they are representations of future, semi-modern cites. Get over yourself. Both have cites and cars, different....sure, they are not carbon copy, but why is if far for FFVII to have this and NOT FFXV? So should the remake of FFVII have zero cites and zero cars to you? Are you not getting that lots of stuff in FFXV will be in FFVII remake considering they are BOTH set in similar settings in regards to cities, cars etc?

Did you forget Cloud was riding a motorcycle? lol

"And your next point doesn't make any sense"

Makes perfect sense bud, its why you ignored it. You can't disregard a Final Fantasy for having or not having a series of features when even the very First Final Fantasy didn't have many of those "staples". Sorry but many Final Fantasies didn't all have ALL the same things.

This is not FFVII and its not FFVIII, its FFXV. Deal with it, that is what they are showing as a Final Fantasy, the people who CREATE that make that up, not you.

Your at extreme fanboy level now and anything you post is legit irrelevant. That why you got stopped in your tracks when I brought up features NOT in Final Fantasy 1.

Your logic is falling apart bud ,its why you can't answer that last statement. Based on your flawed logic, FF1 isn't a FF game LMFAO!

Oh, but random FF fanboy knows what FF is BEYOND its creators....sure /s

[Omnislashver36]

@Edmix, you are a moron beyond belief. You first say that FFVII is realistic like FFXV, and then say 'That's because this is FFXV, not FFVII' when I explain how they're not. The inconsistency in your argument shows you're lying, 'nuff said.

The point is no FF has been as reality based or westernized as this one. You've argued for and against yourself so far, so I'm just not going to respond to your bullshit now.

[_-EDMIX-_]

@Omn- Nope.

Merely that both are set in similar settings, they are not 100% alike, no game is.

Your point was picking apart dumb crap that is irrelevant to what was stated.

Both are in semi-modern futuristic cities with cars.

Using profanity isn't going to make your point make anymore sense bud. FFXV isn't the first FF in a city with cars, no mater how much tears come from your eyes about it lol smh.

Immature bud. Again, using your logic, FFVIII isn't an FF simply because its not 100% like FFVII. I'm not even sure why you thought it had to be like FFVII to be a FF when FFVII isn't even like the previous, or did that bit of flawed logic escape your tantrum?

Tell me more what makes a Final Fantasy..when did you create the series? You think your profanity some how fixes all your contradictory statements? Again....using your logic, Final Fantasy 1 isn't a Final Fantasy...

Are you still not getting that all the Final Fantasies are different? One can come next couple years set in space and it would still be a Final Fantasy if its still an RPG.

Lots of Final Fantasies after Final Fantasy 1 paved the way for new features, I don't EVER recall any set feature making something a "real Final Fantasy" other then just being an RPG. Some didn't have airships, some didn't have moogles, some didn't have chocobos etc

http://finalfantasy.wikia.c...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...

http://finalfantasy.wikia.c...

So even SUMMONS were not in the first sooooooooo yea. Can't say what is or isn't a Final Fantasy bud, only thing that series has to make it so is being a JRPG and a title of Final Fantasy.

You could have loved FF1 and made that same post about every Final Fantasy that would release after it lol

I can see you now " FF1 didn't have those birds, thus not a REAL Final Fantasy, FF1 didn't have summons, THUS..not a REAL Final Fantasy" lol

Get a life. Let those who create those game determine that, who are you other then some rabid fanboy trying to call a series something else just cause their salty?

[Omnislashver36]

Not that it's a bad game or anything, but it's definitely not a Final Fantasy. Scant magic options, difficult defend system(no heavy block), potions act as phoenix downs, no treasure chests, very grounded in reality type atmosphere(seems like a generic action game half of the time), and very light on cutscenes at essential parts of the story, almost as if essential story elements were WRPG fetchquests. When a cutscene starts, it seriously seems like half the conversation is already over. Lastly is they should have kept Stella instead of changing her into Luna. There's so much they could have done with her being Noctis's rival. Tsundere and under the influence of her brother would have been perfect. They could have kept the rest of the story exactly the same(except expand on it, like I said), and made her 5x sexier by doing so.

Anyway, FFXV has got me craving Final Fantasy VII Remake even more. From what I've seen it's got everything FFXV lacks. Masterful cutscenes, a heavy enough atmosphere, hopefully less fetchquest type progression(KH system has always had a good balance between cutscenes and gameplay, and progression without going needlessly open world, much like old FF), and the KH-system which is a perfect balance between old-school ATB menus, and FFXV type pure action. The problem wasn't what Tabata added. It was what he changed for no damn reason at all. Stella and the KH-system would have made the game more FF-esque in my opinion, and really rounded out the experience. After that it would just be expanding on cutscenes(more of them, longer/more informative and lore based). He didn't have to fix everything by fucking up what Nomura made is the point. He could have done both.

It's obvious the driving is just to 'expand' the gameplay time, and I often leave, make a sandwhich, smoke a cig, use the bathroom during what's basically a needless cutscene. The ridiculously large map cut into JRPG lore with fetch-quest type progression, and it's obvious alot of it, even the driving, is basically filler content. That's not to say it's a bad game. But it's not an FF in my opinion. It's got alot of tributes to FF, but that doesn't reflect in core mechanics of gameplay or story. It's more like a FF spinoff. And good, isn't good enough for me to consider it an FF. FF are masterpieces at 9/10-10/10. This game is 7/10 on a good day. I'm glad I bought it, but really disappointed I bought the DLC, as I'm probably never going to play it.(only reason I bought the DLC upfront is because PSNetwork won't accept my damn debit card, so I figured I'd buy the DLC code at Gamestop)

[_-EDMIX-_]

"potions act as phoenix downs, no treasure chests, very grounded in reality type atmosphere"

No. Phoenix downs very much are Phoenix downs.... they are in the game for a reason.

You need the chest for it to be an RPG? They have the tresure in the game all over the map and in caves, being in a "chest" is irrelevant.

Reality type atmosphere?

Like this?

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

OH yes, FFVII isn't a Final Fantasy...you know "reality type atmosphere" with cars, modern city etc. Your right bro, you know best, FF CAN'T be that /s

Basically, using your own logic, anything past FF1 isn't a FF game....

I mean...Chocobos are not FF bud, they are not in FF1, thus NOT a FF game! /s

The FF series has always been different, maybe you guys part of the hate force can deal with that. You going to be here with FF 25 saying "blank isn't FF" too?

Don't you get that the MORE come out, the MORE they define what FF is and not um...you? When did you create FF to even say so? So you know more then the folks that are making the series?

Sure....

You don't need to like FF bud, but please with the " but it's definitely not a Final Fantasy" crap.

This can't be defined by anything other then being an RPG....at some point FF was never in the future, never with Chocobos, no moogles, no job system etc.

Sooooo no. You guys can't define FF by OTHER FF as that logic means even THOSE FF are NOT FF.

Only FF using your logic is Final Fantasy 1......thats it.

[Omnislashver36]

No, Potions can revive you from 0HP is the point. Phoenix downs are pretty much redundant.

Yes, chests should be in FF. It's a simple addition that adds to the atmosphere. They can be medieval, fantastical, or even modern like in Final Fantasy VII. It also shows a difference in progression. In Final Fantasy there are defined areas, leading to chests. In FFXV there's endless running, driving, and banter, leading to item pickups to increase the pace. Which just how piss poor FFXV's pace is. You can literally spend hours or days driving in this game. It's ridiculous.

FFVII is not a reality type atmosphere, it's highly industrialized, and highly, highly stylized. There are no cities or outposts that look like Final Fantasy VII. They are however, all over Final Fantasy XV. Consider Midgar- highly industrialized, deformed looking atmosphere, highly stylized. Kalm- fantastical. Junon- highly militarized even in aesthetic. Nothing about it reflects reality to the point of FFXV.

And your next point doesn't make any sense, I've already dismantled you.

[Omnislashver36]

@Edmix
You hardly level anything up. You're not leveling Materia, Spells, Guardian Force, Sphere Grids, you're leveling your character very basically. Customization options for armor is scant at best which this game really could have taken advantage of. You get 4-5 summons, 4 options per battle. The KH-system could expand on this so much, but Tabata just had to make it his own vision. And 'being made in Japan' makes it an FF? Tell that to the 99% of games made in Japan that aren't. Logic...

In my opinion, the only way to move FF forward from here is with the KH-System. And Tabata can't lead his own game from now on. He's a great assistant, but he's no Nomura or Sakaguchi. Nomura is ridiculously slow at games, but FFXV looked best when Nomura and Tabata were working together in 2013. Really they need a leader like Sakaguchi back and a KH-system only clause in my opinion. Nomura and Tabata can assist, but we need the Fantasy back in Final Fantasy. This game could have gone way heavier with Medieval theming which would have actually added, not taken away, from lore and battle mechanics.

Unless we can get Tabata and Nomura to work -together- on XVI, we need Sakaguchi back. I know it won't happen in either case, but it's what FF needs. Perhaps the combo of Nomura, Kitase, and Nojima will work as well. Tabata can join in and give his additions, but he can't take away from what they create in my opinion.

[Omnislashver36]

Turned-based or KH-system is all I'll accept from now on. Tabata's system skewed way too far from FF battle mechanics.

Oh yeah SSJBDomon, Sakaguchi has a new game coming out by Mistwalker, so your hopes aren't that far off:

https://www.vg247.com/2016/...

Very oldschool FF-esque.

[il-JumperMT]

that image is a huge ass spoiler.

[Lionalliance]

uhhhhh.... they show that pic years ago for promotional things?

[ninsigma]

If it is, no one would have known had you not said anything.

[kevnb]

I think the game is great, better than a lot of reviews would have you believe.

[BlahBlahWhatever]

If FFXV is in his opinion the best JRPG around that means one of the following:

a) Hes trolling...

b) He have no idea for wtf he is talking about...

or

c) He haven't play any other/or many JRPGs for the past many years.

[Harkins1721]

He didnt state it as fact. Like you said he said its his opinion. Dont like it move on nub.

[Lovable]

Persona 5 hasn't come out in NA yet, so I'll just have to agree with this for now.

[Kyosuke_Sanada]

Its also interesting to see how this stand against Ni No Kuni II as well.

[Harkins1721]

I thought the opening was great and when I got to the huge world I felt overwhelmed by the mass of the map. And I just kept playing the game and its really struck home for me. There are flaws with this game and I do wish they could have done more but I give Tabata my respect. The game is quite good.

[feraldrgn]

It's another game that keeps getting mixed reviews from 6 to 10, the majority seem to agree that the story is disappointing & the characters aren't fleshed out very well.
All the while people say it's fun...
Combat is said to be flashy, which can be good or bad depending on what type of FF fan you are.
Graphics are said to be good, but then there are people who say the world textures are average.
Side quests sound to be fetch quests & hunts, with small outposts dotted about the open map.
People still say it's an amazing game, or even GoTY contender, but with all of those faults that even fans admit, I'm surprised it can get a 10.

I'll wait a bit because all in all it sounds similar to the situation we had with FFXIII, only this is the opposite end with open world rather than linearity.
Also I think it was a mistake to seperate the story between a movie, anime & game.

[Omnislashver36]

Read my comment above under Foxtrot. I agree with everything you've said and have shown how it's affected story and mechanics.

[Derceto]

Don't you mean WRPG? And no, it's not the best by any means.

[_-EDMIX-_]

It was not made in Japan? Best is subjective....

[_-EDMIX-_]

.... Final Fantasy 15 was still made by the Japanese so I'm not entirely sure what you're talking about.

Your comparison is taking into account that Americans are creating the game...

Sooooo yea.

I don't actually remember JRPG ever referring to anything about design because there's a lot of jrpgs that are technically in Western settings look at Persona.

I'm sorry but that's simply the why you want to categorize it , which is completely fine if you feel that's what that means by all means that's what you're going to Define it as but others might see it differently.

I simply considered a JRPG a RPG created by the Japanese. I've never known it to be this definitive absolute thing.

If somebody makes a game and they're not Japanese and it wasn't made in Japan, yes I would definitely say it's not a jrpg.

Style? Lol

Consider none of the final fantasies have ever took place in an actual real-life location they've all been fictional. I'd say MOST jrpg are in completely fictional location so even then I'm not entirely sure what the style would matter considering we've seen games from Japan all sorts of styles I still don't recall a Japanese RPG not being called that simply because it didn't fit the style.

Demon's Souls is a Japanese RPG..

Made by the Japanese and a RPG

[gamer7804]

definitely not the best rpg around, has some decent combat but the story and characters which are integral to an rpg fall short.