Do you like the open-world game? Or a story of the prince’s revenge and save the world? Why not try to play Final Fantasy XV (FF15)? Final Fantasy XV is the 15th work of the Final Fantasy series, which released in 2016. Now the royal edition is available in the PlayStation Plus Collection for PS5.
FF15 actually happens on the fictitious planet of Eos. Besides Insomnia, the capital of Lucis, the world is controlled by the empire of Niflheim, which seeks possession of the mystical Crystal guarded by the Lucian royal family. You will play a role as Prince Noctis Lucis Caelum and start a journey to the wedding, with three friends: Ignis, Gladiolus, and Prompto. You could explore the mainland and earn experience points and money by completing the main and side mission. In FF15, you could drive your car-Regalia or ride Chocobo-a bird in the Final Fantasy series to arrive at any destination.
The biggest highlight of FF15 is four kinds of wild survival skills: Noctis’s fishing skill (fish), Gladiolus’s running skill (supplies), Ignis’s cooking skill (buffs), and Prompot’s photography skill (memory). For accommodation, you got 2 choices: invest in a hotel or camp. If you choose the camp, Ignis will cook the dinner for you, and you will get the buffs from dinner. Different dinner has the different buff. The food could buy from stores, hunt monsters, pick plants, and fishing. Even you could race in FF15. Follow the development of the story, Nifheim tore up the peace agreement, killed the king of Lucis, and stole the Crystal. Noctis groups start the journey of seeking the Crystal, finding the power of gods and becoming a “true king”. Besides, the enemy will add Nifheim magitek troopers.
In terms of the battle system, FF15 uses an action-based real-time battle system. You could use multiple weapons and magic to normal attacks. Noctis can launch a special attack with the Royal Arms dubbed “Armiger” when the meter fills during combat: while more powerful than standard weapons, Royal Arms consume HP with each use. Otherwise, Noctis’s companions, controlled by the game’s AI, can perform contextual commands. When Noctis successfully parries an enemy attack or performs a Side Strike or Blindside, cooperative attacks between him and his companions called Link-strikes can be triggered.
From chapter 10, the game changes from an open-world game to a linear one. This change was criticized by many players. There will be several moments of action alone. At the end of the story, the world sank into endless darkness. Only defending the final enemy–the “fake king” can end it and usher in the dawn.
However, FF15 has a couple of repetitive maze mechanics that I find a bit annoying. It just has defeated monsters again and again.
FF15 is still highly playable, although the story has been criticized for being somewhat incomplete. FF15 royal edition has more costumes, items, and three DLCs for Noctis’s mates. The DLCs are three little stories of companions, which could complete the story of FF15. What surprised me most was the game logo after finishing the game. When I finish FF15, the game logo change to a complete logo. It is really existing!