Final Fantasy XV Looks Absolutely Fantastic, Finally!

I am a forever fan of Final Fantasy, since I first played it as a 12 year old I have been hooked! The series has been a marathon of classics, one after the other we were treated to amazing games. However, final fantasy 13 was the first in the series, if excluding mystic quest, crystal chronicles or dirge of cerberus etc, to receive serious divide amongst its fan base. I personally enjoyed it, but that's another subject entirely, one that can serve as a good introduction to Final Fantasy XV. Which in 2015, feels like its finally, here! Or will be soon!

So, having started out as a fabula nova crystallis title directed by Tetsuya Nomura, and as a console exclusive to the PlayStation 3, it was always in the background while XIII was taking serious heat, but generating serious hype at the same time. Hype is dangerous, look at what the hype train did to destiny! It created the illusion of something far beyond its reality, a good game billed as the best ever! So, fast forward to 2013, we learn after 7 long years that Versus XIII is now coming to Xbox one and PlayStation 4! OK cool, bit of a bomb but its next gen final fantasy! Wow!!! However, then I start to look at what it is, how its changed, the fact its been in dev stasis for so long, something feels strange, do they know how to even create this game. I actually lost interest, I saw titles come like the last of us, info on the witcher 3 or metal gear solid 5, was I falling out of love with final fantasy?

Hell no! How dare I be so ignorant to take the 2013 at face value! If you break the trailers down, then reconstruct the thought process the devs are displaying through its gameplay, while looking at who the devs are themselves, and their past work, we can start to find reason that this may just become the first great final fantasy since 10/12! Also, its worth taking note how Square Enix have handled the rebirth of final fantasy xiv a realm reborn, by giving the reigns to yoshi p! Its been handled perfectly, from failure to over 2.5million subscribers and a fantastic game!

So before I give my views on the new trailer, let's look at who is creating the game. Tetsuya Nomura was the games director, the character design is also trademark Nomura. However its been revealed the co-director Hajime tabata is now the games lead, the director.

Hajime has created games such as crisis core, before crisis, the 3rd birthday, final fantasy type 0 and agito. OK so they're all portable games, but its his vision and style that's to take notice of. These are all epic games, and played very well. He has stated that final fantasy vii has had the most emotional impact on him, and how he loved final fantasy 12. Any inspiration from 7 is certainly welcome, and I feel a vibe coming from 15 that makes me feel like inspiration has been taken from 7, let's ignore the prompto argentum "cool name bro" as he could basically be cloud! But I mean the game itself feels very similar. One thing he has stated, is how gameplay and drama are the most important aspects to creating a final fantasy game. He loves an open world approach, the recent trailer looked very open.

So that's hajime, I'm confidant this guy is capable of bringing a new leash of life, into an otherwise stagnating franchise, and if he does, along with a realm reborns rise back to the top, final fantasy will be back! And that makes me very happdidilly doodilly!

So let's just get to the new footage revealed yesterday. We start by the fact it looks gorgeous, as expected. The characters are looking quite cool, we have more males than usual, so at least no Vanille making it sound like you're watching some kind of freaky porn! But it only takes one, we will see! As the ever dynamic sazh might say….. its not all rainbows and sunshine… eugh, anyway… onto the characters we know of. Cloud, uh I mean prompto argentum, he seems like the mischievous guy, noctis' childhood friend. Then we have ignis stupeo scientia, he's the cool guy, serious and looking somewhat like a gangster from yakuza! So, onto the next auto correct nightmare, gladiolus amicitia, a protector of noctis and a true friend, he also looks like fangs big brother…. Original! So speaking of noctis, our main guy, he gained the power to forsee a persons death, and is the last heir to the dynasty of the kingdom lucis, hence his name… noctis lucis Carlin, this ability to forsee a death is likely playing a prominent role in driving the story. Others have been seen in images and trailers, but these guys have so far formed the core experience. As a team, they look pretty cool, nothing too original though.

As the trailer continues, you can't help but not love the depth of field on display, the rain droplets splashing off their faces and shoulders, the frog… yes remember frog status! The behemoth. Casting magic at him that looked amazing, the fast approach to battle, but with menu control. I'd imagine it will play like a hybrid between final fantasy 12 and kingdom hearts. Character skills will feature, as will level ups of some description. Switching between characters and having maybe an evolved gambit system in place for characters controlled by ai would be great. I can picture a truly vast world. The trailers have shown gorgeous locale with large beasts wandering around, your car looks cool, but chocobos have been said to feature. I honestly can't wait to explore, huge colossal monsters to hunt, hidden secrets, the soundtrack adding to the beauty, we know the music will be epic, it always is!

So yeah, pretty much I'm hyped! I love the direction its taking, remember crisis core, or type 0. We all crave a traditional final fantasy, but if we get traditional elements here, who cares if its changing the formula too? We have seen cities and an open expanse. Who's to say gorgeously green forests won't appear, or beautiful villages all stumbled upon via its open world, assuming its truly open. I feel it will be large areas connecting to each other, creating the illusion of one big world, that's fine by me! Airships, chocobos, monsters such as behemoth, Leviathan and more are final fantasy! And I'm now almost certain, if the story holds up, final fantasy xv will be amazing!

So for me, the features that have to be apparent to make it a worthy final fantasy. Are a deep battle system, no auto attack rinse and repeat. A vibrant, living world. I want to explore and stumble across areas like yuffies hometown in ff7, or stop gap villages like nibelheim etc. Side quests, side quests… and more side quests! Chocobos! A great story, even if the cast don't look too unique, their personalities and story should be memorable. Epic boss battles. The feeling of adventure. And of course, a great soundtrack and visuals.

So how about you guys? How do you feel about final fantasy xv? In my opinion, it's Finally fantastic XV! Bring on the demo! Oh, and type-0 and kingdom hearts 3. Wow, japan is back in style!

Its a tech demo, but imagine the rain in a gorgeous forest or snow setting on your shoulders or hair.

In motion this looks amazing, I can't wait to see this for real on my ps4!

Looks pretty open. And also beautiful. Showing its not all city!

Yet to be named, but looking very cool. Please don't sound like Vanille.

No this isn't a cloud Cosplay, its prompto, Yo!

Oh hai Ezio!