5 reasons to look forward to Final Fantasy XV

One of the most hotly anticipated games of 2016 is finally coming out in a little over two weeks, and its path to this moment has been anything but smooth sailing. With a troubled development and a last minute delay, many are skeptical that the fifteenth entry in the franchise will not live up to the precedent set. For those on the fence, here are a few reasons to get excited.

5. Its latest build was a marked improvement

Final Fantasy XV had two demos released to the public, Episode Duscae and the Platinum Demo, neither of which were received particularly well. After my extensive hands-on during New York Comic Con, I can say a lot of the problems plaguing the game have been addressed. The combat has been significantly tightened up, allowing for more kinetic gameplay and actually getting to see the final story shows a lot of promise for where this journey will take us. It definitely seems like the team at Square Enix has listened to the criticism aimed at the game by the fans and has put in a substantial amount of work to satiate those fears. If Final Fantasy XV ends up sitting unfavorably with gamers, it won’t be due to a lack of trying.

4. Its scope is impressive

The team behind Final Fantasy XV is aiming to create one of the most epic worlds imagined in an RPG, rivaling the likes of a Fallout or The Witcher 3. Driving along the highway and startling a giant winged creature that suddenly takes off in flight over your vehicle sort of stops you in your tracks. The world feels alive, and blends science fiction and fantasy in interesting ways. Character interactions feel dynamic and organic, rather than just another waypoint on your map. It, of course, has a lot of the tropes you’ve come to expect from big budget JRPGs, but that doesn’t mean Square Enix isn’t trying to shake up the formula.

3. It’s a part of gaming history

The road to the release of Final Fantasy XV is nothing short of extraordinary. It originally debuted as Final Fantasy Versus XIII as a PS3 exclusive and has since gone through massive restructuring to result in the game we will be playing in two short weeks. A number of big names have worked on this title; developers that have made some of the most beloved games of generations past. If you’ve been following the title for even a partial amount of its development cycle, you’d be remiss to not try it for yourself.

2. It’s more than just a game

Due to the hype around Final Fantasy XV, Square Enix has pulled out all the stops in terms of marketing. Two other media products, Kingsglaive and Brotherhood, have also been released to coincide with the game. The former is a CGI movie starring Lena Heady, Sean Bean, and Aaron Paul, so they’re not messing around when it comes to talent. The latter is an online episode anime that focuses on the main character Noctis and his pals before the adventure they undertake in the game. This plays into the scope of Final Fantasy XV, and if you’re someone that enjoys rich universes with deep lore, this entry has it in spade.

1. It's a game for JRPG fans and newcomers alike

The hallmarks of a classic JRPG are all here: flamboyant melodrama, deep gameplay systems, a progressive build up etc. But it also strives to implement a lot of new ideas, such as fast paced real time combat and more straightforward mechanics. It’s designed specifically to allow people that have never played a Final Fantasy game before to jump into the series and introduce them to the hallmarks of a JRPG whilst providing familiar western style gameplay.

Final Fantasy XV is going to be one of the most intriguing and talked about games this holiday season. Chances are you’ve already decided at this point whether you’re going to buy it or you might be waiting for initial reviews to drop. Stay tuned to GameZone when our own review is up for our final thoughts on Final Fantasy XV.