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How Final Fantasy XV is Lookin’ Better Every Day

How Final Fantasy XV is Lookin’ Better Every Day

Suspension of reality is an important element in many video games. We don’t really believe that a man’s neck could be thicker than his thigh, like Marcus Fenix. We know stealing one car after another, then getting the latest absconded vehicle painted won’t make cops forget we’re criminals, as in Grand Theft Auto . We also know that a ragtag group of kids isn’t going to suddenly go around the world in what seems to be a suspiciously short amount of time, turning complete strangers into life-or-death allies, to topple an evil empire as in Final Fantasy . The thing is, with Final Fantasy XV’ s premise and demo gameplay, the notion seems a lot more plausible and possible than it ever has before.

Clearly, it’s still an unrealistic game. The characters are throwing around magic for fun. Noctis has a warp attack that allows him to teleport across large swaths of space. There are countless details that still point to this being an impossible journey, a fantasy, if you will. But, the other activities, actions, and background events make Final Fantasy XV feel more realistic than other installments, which could go a long way toward making the game more enjoyable.

The setup for the entire adventure is a good example. Noctis is a prince, and an empire has ousted his family from power. His dad is supposedly dead, as is his fiance. He’s fleeing not only to save his life, but to perhaps find some reinforcements. It’s something that could happen in real life, albeit without such fancy cars, clothing, and magic. Instead of random folks joining the party to promote his cause, he’s relying on his three best friends and retainers. Already, we’re starting on more solid footing than many other Final Fantasy games.

It isn’t like Final Fantasy VII , where an unreliable soldier suddenly teams up with two resistance members, a flower girl, a ninja thief, and a talking red dog-cat. Or like Final Fantasy VI , where people from all walks of life agree to set aside their differences and their lives to team up. It takes more of a cue from Final Fantasy X , where we have a very plausible journey with people who know each other working as a team.

How Final Fantasy XV is Lookin’ Better Every Day

The Final Fantasy XV demos thus far have also done a more than admirable job of showing how the traveling and battling make sense. Fights happen in real time, in the real world, in both the Platinum and E3 demos. There’s no break to organize or compose yourself. Things just happen. Spells have effects on surroundings, as do other actions. And, when you’re hanging around, driving is a far more capable and efficient means of getting from point A to point B. Walking or running around an expanse, as in Episode Duscae, is going to make a difference. It feels more natural, perhaps because the scope is limited to what’s essentially a road trip. Everything we’ve seen is keeping Noctis’ trip condensed, but in a good way.

From every Final Fantasy XV demo we’ve seen so far, it feels like the game is doing a good job pacing itself. It’s tempering expectations by not presenting us with outlandish parties, situations, or abilities for the sake of having cool things in the game. It’s trying to present an experience that is as sensible as a game with swords as big as a person and on-demand elemental magic can be. From what I’ve seen from all three Final Fantasy XV demos I’ve played, that feels like a good thing.

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