The summary of ‘Is Final Fantasy 15 in 2023 Worth Playing’

00:00:00

In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses whether “Final Fantasy 15” is worth playing. They emphasize that understanding the game’s universe and its various media components is beneficial before diving in. The speaker mentions that “Final Fantasy 15,” often criticized alongside “Final Fantasy 13,” has both flaws and strengths. Despite its rough launch and fragmented story told through a prequel movie, anime, and DLCs, various post-launch updates improved the gameplay experience. The theme of Brotherhood is highlighted as a core strength of the game, resonating deeply with the speaker due to personal experiences with close friends. The segment touches on the game’s story set-up involving the protagonist Noctis, his friends, and his father, King Regis, while hinting at future plot events without giving away spoilers.

00:05:00

In this segment of the video, the narrator explains the complex and troubled relationship between Noctis and his father, King Regis. The story begins with Noctis being tasked to meet his future wife, Luna Freya, and the political backdrop involving a treaty with the rival nation, Niflheim. Before Noctis departs, King Regis offers a poignant farewell, hinting at deeper issues.

The video then transitions to a scene where the main group must push their broken-down car, the Regalia, to a mechanic. This scene introduces the party members and their dynamics, set against the beautiful world of EOS and underscored by Florence and the Machine’s “Stand By Me.” This moment sets up the game’s main theme of Brotherhood.

The narrator praises the game’s soundtrack and visuals, highlighting their exceptional quality. The music, described as one of the best in the series, creates an appropriate atmosphere that enhances the game’s appeal. The visuals are noted for their stunning detail and fantastical design, with a variety of well-detailed locales and enemies.

Finally, the focus shifts to the main characters—Noctis, Prompto, Ignis, and Gladiolus—complimenting their development and design despite some uniformity in their attire.

00:10:00

In this segment, the video discusses the character development and dynamics of the main and side characters in “Final Fantasy 15.” Noctis is introduced as an initially immature and bratty prince, who grows to appreciate his friends and family throughout the game. His companions, Prompto, Ignis, and Gladiolus, each bring unique traits; Prompto is the extroverted, fun-loving photographer; Ignis is the analytical, loyal friend who also cooks; and Gladiolus is the protective, strong big brother-type. The narrator appreciates these characters for their depth and development.

The main villain, Arden, is highlighted as an exceptionally well-crafted character, likened to a “Final Fantasy Joker” due to his unpredictability and strong screen presence. However, side characters like Luna Freya, Iris, and Aranea are deemed underutilized. Luna Freya, despite being the main love interest, has minimal screen time and development. Iris and Aranea are noted as having potential due to their interesting character designs and brief impactful appearances but are ultimately sidelined, leaving their full potential unexplored.

00:15:00

In this segment of the video, the narrator discusses two side characters from “Final Fantasy XV,” Iris and Sydney. Iris is depicted as a cool and complex character who, despite her limited screen time, offers an intriguing dynamic as a weapon for hire. Sydney, on the other hand, is acknowledged for her strong design and more extensive presence through side quests, though the narrator feels her potential is underused.

The video then transitions to discussing the game’s open-world road trip concept, highlighting the various methods of travel, including driving the Regalia and riding Chocobos. The Regalia allows both manual and automatic travel, with interactive elements such as party conversations and scenic views. The Chocobos offer an off-road travel option with customization and leveling aspects. Additionally, the day and night cycle affects gameplay, with stronger monsters appearing at night and influencing travel safety.

Lastly, the narrator touches on the questing system, notably the fetch quests and hunt missions, which are vital for progression but can be repetitive. The segment concludes by hinting at the intricate battle system as the next topic of discussion.

00:20:00

In this part of the video, the speaker describes the distinctive battle system in Final Fantasy XV, which combines elements of traditional turn-based combat and action RPG mechanics. There are two modes: active and wait mode, with the speaker preferring the active mode. The player mainly controls Noctis, while other party members act independently, though upgrades allow temporary control of other characters.

Noctis can attack and defend using different weapons, with damage effectiveness indicated by color-coded numbers. Combat involves managing attacks and defense, including the use of MP (magic points) for actions like phasing through attacks or performing warp strikes.

Other party members can execute specific techniques on command, which require technique bars that accumulate during battles. Link attacks and blindside attacks can be performed for extra damage when in proximity to teammates. Noctis also has a powerful “Armiger” ability for high-damage attacks and can summon powerful allies when certain conditions are met, triggering impressive cutscenes. The section concludes with an overview of the HP system and healing mechanisms.

00:25:00

In this segment of the video, the healing and magic systems in “Final Fantasy XV” are detailed. The healing system involves using potions to restore HP up to a capped max HP, which can be fully restored using rarer and more expensive elixirs. If a party member’s HP drops to zero, they are knocked down and require a healing item or another member to revive them partially. If their max HP hits zero, a phoenix stamp is needed to revive them, which is very rare.

The magic system requires players to find elemental deposits and extract elements to craft spells, with fire, ice, and lightning being the main types. Spells’ effectiveness depends on the amount of element used and added items, which can significantly alter their power and attributes. Although the magic system initially seems weak, crafting with rare items can create highly potent spells. The leveling system in the game requires players to rest in designated areas like camping spots, hotels, or inns to cash in earned XP. Resting locations can provide XP bonuses that vary with their cost. Additionally, cooking and eating specific meals can also grant XP bonuses.

00:30:00

In this segment of the video, the focus is on the gameplay mechanics and critiques of *Final Fantasy XV*. Key points discussed include:

– In-game meals providing substantial boosts to HP, attack power, defense, or resistance to status elements.
– The Ascension system functioning similarly to the crystarium or sphere grid from other *Final Fantasy* titles, though more simplistic and with significant upgrades.
– Upgrades in the Ascension system categorized into sections such as stats, combat, teamwork, and magic, which can be prioritized based on play style.
– Criticism directed towards the battle system for being too easy due to the abundance of healing items, making it more of a resource management challenge than a traditional, difficult battle system.
– The open world is criticized for being too empty with limited activities, though it is visually stunning and designed to be more about the journey and experience rather than constant action.
– Special attention is given to Chapter 13, which is negatively received due to its gameplay mechanics where you are separated from your party and only have the Ring of Lucius to defend yourself.

00:35:00

In this part of the video, the speaker criticizes Chapter 13 of Final Fantasy XV for being linear, lengthy, and unenjoyable. The chapter features powerful enemies in narrow hallways that can either be avoided using stealth or defeated with the death spell. The chapter also includes aggravating dead robots that players must deal with. Despite its flaws, the Royal Edition allows players to experience the chapter as other party members, which helps mitigate its shortcomings.

The speaker discusses the game’s story, noting improvements in the Royal Edition compared to the original but still criticizing aspects like off-screen pivotal events and inconsistent voice acting. They acknowledge the game’s emotional impact and immersive experience despite its narrative flaws.

Additionally, the speaker briefly talks about the downloadable content (DLC) of the game, highlighting that it is essential for experiencing the full story. They mention the various episodes focused on different characters, with “Episode Prompto” receiving particular praise for its unique gameplay and contribution to character backstory.

00:40:00

In this part of the video, the speaker highlights the value of the additional episodes for Final Fantasy XV, particularly “Episode Arden,” which provides crucial backstory and lore essential to understanding the game’s universe. They argue that these episodes should have been included in the base game. Despite criticism, the speaker strongly defends Final Fantasy XV, praising its combat, characters, plot, and the world of EOS. They emphasize the game’s emotional depth and encourage viewers to play it in 2023. The segment concludes with a call to action for viewers to subscribe, like, comment, and suggest future content.