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Final Fantasy XV Demo Previews/Impressions Thread

Even if we can't "swim" in the final game (to increase the no. of invisible walls in the overworld), I expect the Leviathan sequence to still be in with a 'scripted swimming sequence."

It's not as if there's going to be an underwater battle mechanic like The Witcher 3.
 
So, I'm rather curious. Like it or hate it, we're going to get product placement in the game anyway, but what would be too much for y'all?

I mean, realistically, there's a few options they could go about :

a. Actual ad placements in real-life locations (in-game highway billboards, city adverts)
b. Low-key character-focused product placement (it's used by the characters, but that's all)
c. In-your-face character-focused product placement ( Noctis : "Coleman or bust.")
d. Actual outlets in the game (the world/cities will have 'Brand' outlets alongside your regular stores )
e. Actual purchasable items in-game ( You can actually purchase said equipments from stores )

We know (b) is in. (a) and (d) is "fine, whatever" for me. (c) and (e) would be over-the-line.
 
So, I'm rather curious. Like it or hate it, we're going to get product placement in the game anyway, but what would be too much for y'all?

I mean, realistically, there's a few options they could go about :

a. Actual ad placements in real-life locations (in-game highway billboards, city adverts)
b. Low-key character-focused product placement (it's used by the characters, but that's all)
c. In-your-face character-focused product placement ( Noctis : "Coleman or bust.")
d. Actual outlets in the game (the world/cities will have 'Brand' outlets alongside your regular stores )
e. Actual purchasable items in-game ( You can actually purchase said equipments from stores )

We know (b) is in. (a) and (d) is "fine, whatever" for me. (c) and (e) would be over-the-line.
I hope is C so I can taste the salt lol
 

HeelPower

Member
The worst product placement was SE shitting on FFXIII's ending with Leona Lewis' song to promote her new album.

They didn't even write or compose an original song for the game.

It was really jarring and distracting,especially when Kimi Ga Iru Kara was a much better song.

All this happened at a critical moment in the game's narrative.

So, I'm rather curious. Like it or hate it, we're going to get product placement in the game anyway, but what would be too much for y'all?

I mean, realistically, there's a few options they could go about :

a. Actual ad placements in real-life locations (in-game highway billboards, city adverts)
b. Low-key character-focused product placement (it's used by the characters, but that's all)
c. In-your-face character-focused product placement ( Noctis : "Coleman or bust.")
d. Actual outlets in the game (the world/cities will have 'Brand' outlets alongside your regular stores )
e. Actual purchasable items in-game ( You can actually purchase said equipments from stores )

We know (b) is in. (a) and (d) is "fine, whatever" for me. (c) and (e) would be over-the-line.

How is (e) not fine ?

Camping equipment in the game is known to be Coleman already.It kinda makes sense to able buy such products in game.

Flyers plastered all over the game's world(a) and actual branded shops in the game(d) would be too salient and distracting,actually.
 

DeSolos

Member
So, I'm rather curious. Like it or hate it, we're going to get product placement in the game anyway, but what would be too much for y'all?

I mean, realistically, there's a few options they could go about :

a. Actual ad placements in real-life locations (in-game highway billboards, city adverts)
b. Low-key character-focused product placement (it's used by the characters, but that's all)
c. In-your-face character-focused product placement ( Noctis : "Coleman or bust.")
d. Actual outlets in the game (the world/cities will have 'Brand' outlets alongside your regular stores )
e. Actual purchasable items in-game ( You can actually purchase said equipments from stores )

We know (b) is in. (a) and (d) is "fine, whatever" for me. (c) and (e) would be over-the-line.

Not mentioned at all, and presented no differently than in world brands.
 
The things from the E3 trailer we haven't seen are:
The setpieces (clearly still in);
Multiple playable characters (cut);
Swimming (already confirmed);
Noctis slamming that guy's head on the ground and then another one on the car (probably a parry, but we haven't seen something so contextual since E3);
Noctis warping and kicking the guy (probably part of the setpiece);
Noctis doing that weird dodge to the Giant (probably a parry, but we don't know);
Parkour stuff (probably only done during setpieces);
Noctis kicking that guy in the face (no idea what that could even be);
Gladio protecting Noctis from an attack (probably a cutscene, since there's a camera change and all that);
Destructible environments (not shown, but confirmed they will be in the game in some capacity)...
And I guess the old battle system if you want to count that...

We've seen everything else:
The parries;
The scene of Noctis climbing the Behemoth;
The co-op attacks;
All the warps (the ones where you throw your weapon and the ones you warp instantly);
Summons;
Cities;
Cover;
Magic (not in the demo, but was already shown);
Noctis jumping over the guy's shoulder.


Most of the stuff we haven't seen are probably contextual actions, so I doubt any of them will turn out to be a game mechanic (I'd like Noctis kick to be one though).

Nope you are incorrect. Multiple controllable party members was never in the 2013 E3 trailer. Only co-op party member attacks , never once did it show you controlling anyone other than Noctis.
 

wmlk

Member
Nope you are incorrect. Multiple controllable party members was never in the 2013 E3 trailer. Only co-op part member attacks , never once did it show you controlling anyone other than Noctis.

Tabata said that everything from E3 was kept in the game other than the four controllable characters. That basically confirmed that the E3 build had playable characters in some form.
 
How is (e) not fine ?

Camping equipment in the game is known to be Coleman already.It kinda makes sense to able buy such products in game.

Flyers plastered all over the game's world(a) and actual branded shops in the game(d) would be too salient and distracting,actually.

It's just my opinion, but I'd rather not be interacting with product-placed items in-game itself, as part and parcel of the tools-of-the-gameplay. Sure, it's just camping tools, but that can go further into clothing, gear, etc line-up, and I don't want to be suddenly buying armor or accessories from real-life brands in-game. Keep it to the Potions and Gyshall Greens.

As for (a) and (d), I'm looking at it from DeSolos's similar eye-lense. If you're going to have a product-placed brand in there, at least make it somewhat consistent and believable within the universe alongside the other fictional brands. I'd rather not have it, but if you're going to have it, then one Coleman billboard along the highway alongside ten other fictional brands is fine by me. Similar to stores. Just a random store that I can't enter into or something in a big city.
 

Kozmos

Member
Even if we can't "swim" in the final game (to increase the no. of invisible walls in the overworld), I expect the Leviathan sequence to still be in with a 'scripted swimming sequence."

Tabata said explicitly in multiple ATR's that you will be able to swim, so no worries there!
 
So, I'm rather curious. Like it or hate it, we're going to get product placement in the game anyway, but what would be too much for y'all?

I mean, realistically, there's a few options they could go about :

a. Actual ad placements in real-life locations (in-game highway billboards, city adverts)
b. Low-key character-focused product placement (it's used by the characters, but that's all)
c. In-your-face character-focused product placement ( Noctis : "Coleman or bust.")
d. Actual outlets in the game (the world/cities will have 'Brand' outlets alongside your regular stores )
e. Actual purchasable items in-game ( You can actually purchase said equipments from stores )

We know (b) is in. (a) and (d) is "fine, whatever" for me. (c) and (e) would be over-the-line.
Doesn't Yakuza have E?

If so, it never bothered me.

Nope you are incorrect. Multiple controllable party members was never in the 2013 E3 trailer. Only co-op party member attacks , never once did it show you controlling anyone other than Noctis.
You can see it at the end of the gameplay video from E3, it shows quick clips of Gladio suplexing a guy, Prompto sliding and shooting (all of that with Noctis on the background doing something else, so it's not a co-op attack). This literally implies you can control them.

Tabata even said that everything from E3 was in "except for the character switching."

They should invoke the Feedback Fantasy card and remove it B)
Yeah, and then put a bunch of overpriced story-related DLC, cut content from the game and have preorder bonuses.

Because you know that if they take this off it won't be without a price.
 

zennyzz

Member
You know, given the single player nature of this game and the supposed huge focus on towns...

They should bring back Active Time Events. While noctis is chilling in the hotel, see Prompto failing to woo the ladies, Ignis haggling for a deal and Gladius getting into an arm wrestling tournament.
 

jett

D-Member
Can't wait to see some crazy set pieces like from the TGS '13 extra footage. Looked amazing. And I wonder if that face cam/phone HUD is still in.
tumblr_mte0h55NRn1se3sybo2_500.gif

tumblr_mte0h55NRn1se3sybo1_500.gif

Probably not. That kind of bullshit is no doubt just for the target render's sake.
 

ZenTzen

Member
You know, given the single player nature of this game and the supposed huge focus on towns...

They should bring back Active Time Events. While noctis is chilling in the hotel, see Prompto failing to woo the ladies, Ignis haggling for a deal and Gladius getting into an arm wrestling tournament.

that would be pretty cool, always liked those in FFIX, focus on party members and even on other characters from the game, even Bravely Default did something similar if i remember correctly
 
Thinking about going digital, will be hoping that type 0 really clicks with me as I'm giving that an honest chance despite the fact I really wanted it on vita.
 

Philippo

Member
Can't wait to see some crazy set pieces like from the TGS '13 extra footage. Looked amazing. And I wonder if that face cam/phone HUD is still in.
tumblr_mte0h55NRn1se3sybo2_500.gif

tumblr_mte0h55NRn1se3sybo1_500.gif

GIF-Chevy-Chase-happy-phew-relief-relieved-suspense-thank-god-GIF.gif


God damn, i don't care if we (obviously) won't reach the same graphical quality, but now that everyone can rest assured about the non-linear, open world component, i really can't wait for those scripted events. E3 better deliver on that front.

Even if we can't "swim" in the final game (to increase the no. of invisible walls in the overworld), I expect the Leviathan sequence to still be in with a 'scripted swimming sequence."

It's not as if there's going to be an underwater battle mechanic like The Witcher 3.

Leviathan underwater boss battle, DUUUUUUDE

So, I'm rather curious. Like it or hate it, we're going to get product placement in the game anyway, but what would be too much for y'all?

I mean, realistically, there's a few options they could go about :

a. Actual ad placements in real-life locations (in-game highway billboards, city adverts)
b. Low-key character-focused product placement (it's used by the characters, but that's all)
c. In-your-face character-focused product placement ( Noctis : "Coleman or bust.")
d. Actual outlets in the game (the world/cities will have 'Brand' outlets alongside your regular stores )
e. Actual purchasable items in-game ( You can actually purchase said equipments from stores )

We know (b) is in. (a) and (d) is "fine, whatever" for me. (c) and (e) would be over-the-line.

This please, i want to see Noct complaining about he being a prince and deserving much higher quality products.
 

BocoDragon

or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
GIF-Chevy-Chase-happy-phew-relief-relieved-suspense-thank-god-GIF.gif


God damn, i don't care if we (obviously) won't reach the same graphical quality, but now that everyone can rest assured about the non-linear, open world component, i really can't wait for those scripted events. E3 better deliver on that front.

That's a really good point. Those scenes always looked amazing, but there was always a fear that FFXV would rely on linear, scripted sequences... and that sounds like XIII with a dash of Uncharted. It would be thrilling in a shallow sense but probably disappointing in the long term....

I think making Episode Duscae (i.e. "the first completed section of XV") an open world section was a very conscious move, aimed at alleviating the fears about the franchise set by FFXIII. They had to get an "overworld" in FF again, and do it right.
 

Perfo

Thirteen flew over the cuckoo's nest
Not much to do with the main topic but until the OT is up better write impressions here. Well some people are already playing Type-0 HD in english, many walkthroughs on youtube are there to be watched. English VA seems fine to me, at least during cutscenes ad/or COM radio. Haven't checked ingame conversations yet for potential spoilers. Game looks really epic!
 

Falk

that puzzling face
You guys post as if the opera sequence in VI, Weapon attacks in VII, Garden clash in VIII, Operation Mi'ihen in X, etc weren't linear, highly scripted sequences.
 
You guys post as if the opera sequence in VI, Weapon attacks in VII, Garden clash in VIII, Operation Mi'ihen in X, etc weren't linear, highly scripted sequences.

A lot of people have short-term memory on how much of FF's most memorable moments are essentially linear scripted sequences. ;P

Jokes aside, FF was never going to be devoid of its cinematic set-piece moments. It's a story-driven game, and every FF since... a long time ago had taken pride in its cinematic storytelling, even if VII was the one that upped it to eleven. But a lot of people also want back the same vibe of the older overworld styled games, where even if it was just a boring plain overworld, there was a sense of scale and grandeur in travelling from place-to-place.

I mean, the 'set-piece' moment that still resonates the most with me in FF is the Siege of Dollet. Sure, VII had a good amount of awesome scripted sequences, but that was when it dawned on me that Square really wanted to make all those moments 'playable', if they had the know-how to do it back then. It's hilarious to me to see Uncharted references when XV showed its E3 trailer back then, because FF was chock-full of scripted set-pieces since way back. It's just that Square lacked the finess to truly make it feel seamless, and turned-based battle system does restrict that too.
 

Perfo

Thirteen flew over the cuckoo's nest
I actually like this kind of stuff. Not sure why.

I got a kick out of MGS4 when everyone was using Apple branded products.

I agree with you. It's awesome having this type of branding well integrated and not out of place. Makes it more realistic and closer to our reality, easier to get more sympathetic with characters and the world.
 

Philippo

Member
You guys post as if the opera sequence in VI, Weapon attacks in VII, Garden clash in VIII, Operation Mi'ihen in X, etc weren't linear, highly scripted sequences.

Exactly, i feel this is just a natural evolution of what SE always wanted to achieve.

It is totally true that gamers (especially FF fans) don't know what they want.

I expect 'gigantic-scale' battles to be primarily set-piece driven, and not have layers of multiple different gameplay mechanics to suit the enemy type.

Yeah, me too, but let my immagination run wild :')

That's a really good point. Those scenes always looked amazing, but there was always a fear that FFXV would rely on linear, scripted sequences... and that sounds like XIII with a dash of Uncharted. It would be thrilling in a shallow sense but probably disappointing in the long term....

I think making Episode Duscae (i.e. "the first completed section of XV") an open world section was a very conscious move, aimed at alleviating the fears about the franchise set by FFXIII. They had to get an "overworld" in FF again, and do it right.

Yeah, since the game got re-revealed, there seems to be this fear that if something is not shown, then it's not there at all.
It was like this at E3, where as you said everyone called this Uncharted Fantasy XV, and has happened since last TGS with the whole "omg this game is just a bro-trip, sausage-fest where is my drama pls SE you promised it" and with other elements.

Some people should just chill out, let the dev do what they want, and simply enjoy what they want to show us before the actual release.


Oh god yes.
Add tears and we're golden for the full release too.
 

Squire

Banned
You guys post as if the opera sequence in VI, Weapon attacks in VII, Garden clash in VIII, Operation Mi'ihen in X, etc weren't linear, highly scripted sequences.

I think, mentally, people have this sort of dividing line between stuff they experienced in games as a kid or just years ago and stuff they experience in games now, having a better idea of how the sausage is made.
 
It is totally true that gamers (especially FF fans) don't know what they want.

Part of the problem stems from the fact that there was a lot of people who were still latching onto Versus XIII and what they know of it. ( worse, what they think they know of it, like omgrimdarkstory, with no road trip nonsense )

It's a different game, with the same story (at least that's what they tell us), but still very much a Final Fantasy. Seriously, I feel like most people who feel like this doesn't feel like a FF should just go and replay VIII, and drown in all the 'clashing design sensibilities' and 'pretty mercenary soldier boys.'
 

Perfo

Thirteen flew over the cuckoo's nest
Does the DEMO take place before the invasion or after it? I've seen imperial soldiers there but I'm not sure their part of the real story and not just dropped there as mobs for the demo...
 

Sou

Member
It is totally true that gamers (especially FF fans) don't know what they want.

Pre FF13 games were all on PS2 and PS1...
Of course tastes change given how much innovations has happened since within the game industry.

You really can't blame fans of FF to expect something more from the game given the series' history of pushing the boundary of what's possible with the medium.
Many examples of which were given in the posts above.

SE only has themselves to blame for falling behind of the curve. GTA3 was released in 2001, same year as FFX. Skyrim was released in 2011.

10 years went by without major change their interpretation of RPG.
This new entry lacks vision, and it is a question if the game can compare to the standards set by highly matured open world games such as GTA.

In fact, even the RPG genre itself has evolved in areas such as quest/character progression and combat. Going by the information that has been shown thus far, not only does the current combat system compare poorly both in its action and strategic gameplay, the game seems to have failed to innovate on the staples set by the series itself.

There are surely a large number of fans who care little more than that the game is actually coming out, and that may be all that matters.
 

BocoDragon

or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
You guys post as if the opera sequence in VI, Weapon attacks in VII, Garden clash in VIII, Operation Mi'ihen in X, etc weren't linear, highly scripted sequences.

The existence of linear sequences isn't the problem. It's the fact that it comprised the bulk of the 2013 trailer, and it could be smoke and mirrors for a linear game with great interactive cutscenes.

Episode Duscae looks to alleviate those fears, hopefully.
 

Falk

that puzzling face
Going by the information that has been shown thus far, not only does the current combat system compare poorly both in its action and strategic gameplay, the game seems to have failed to innovate on the staples set by the series itself.

Virtually every publication with a sneak preview begs to disagree.

You mention Skyrim in your post. If that's the definition of the evolution of RPG combat, it can keep its evolution to itself.
 

Philippo

Member
Pre FF13 games were all on PS2 and PS1...
Of course tastes change given how much innovations has happened since within the game industry.

You really can't blame fans of FF to expect something more from the game given the series' history of pushing the boundary of what's possible with the medium.
Many examples of which were given in the posts above.

SE only has themselves to blame for falling behind of the curve. GTA3 was released in 2001, same year as FFX. Skyrim was released in 2011.

10 years went by without major change their interpretation of RPG.
This new entry lacks vision, and it is a question if the game can compare to the standards set by highly matured open world games such as GTA.

In fact, even the RPG genre itself has evolved in areas such as quest/character progression and combat. Going by the information that has been shown thus far, not only does the current combat system compare poorly both in its action and strategic gameplay, the game seems to have failed to innovate on the staples set by the series itself.

There are surely a large number of fans who care little more than that the game is actually coming out, and that may be all that matters.

The point is that XV is pushing boundaries in many fields (graphics, tech, gameplay, cutscene to gameplay transition etc.) but people complained that those evolutions does not represent FF, so they both complain for the lack of progress in the genre but also want it to be like a traditional title.

Also, everything we see points to this being the most innovative JRPG in years.
 

Peterpan

Member
The point is that XV is pushing boundaries in many fields (graphics, tech, gameplay, cutscene to gameplay transition etc.) but people complained that those evolutions does not represent FF, so they both complain for the lack of progress in the genre but also want it to be like a traditional title.

Also, everything we see points to this being the most innovative RPG in years.
I mean the games presentation is top notch, I'm buying the game alone on that.

What is innovative about this game though?
 

Spinx

Member
Does the DEMO take place before the invasion or after it? I've seen imperial soldiers there but I'm not sure their part of the real story and not just dropped there as mobs for the demo...

Probably after. Why would a prince have no money to fix the car. Heh
 

Philippo

Member
I mean the games presentation is top notch, I'm buying the game alone on that.

What is innovative about this game though?

Well aside from the western RPGs (i should take that back and explain i was talking about japanese ones), it seems one of the few to actually push for an effectively working IA (both enemies and allies), NPCs in towns that have routines and specific animations instead of standing there like mannequins (like most Jrpgs), a battle system that is action, fast but is still grounded to physics and animations (unlike Kingdom Hearts or Tales), and a lot of interaction between elements (co-op attacks, parries and free-climbing), as well as dynamic blending of gameplay and cinematic elements. Plus of course the huge world is a giant feat by itself.

I mean, if this isn't trying something new then i don't know what it is.
 
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