Lulcielid
Eyes of the Lord
- AKA
- Lulcy
Final Fantasy XV (was Versus XIII)
- Thread starter Arianna
- Start date
Torrie
astray ay-ay-ay
Time to write some more on FFXV, and I thought I should just translate and/or expand some of my all-over-the-place scream-into-the-void tweets because I just can't shut up about this game. Currently in Chapter 13, but I'm kinda anxious about finishing, so I decided to tackle some unfinished quests first as long as they are available.
Chapter 1, still in Galdin Quay, has just met Ardyn. I defo love this place, hope I'll be able to come back.
* * *
Equipped my boys with various songs, but Prompto is the only one to sing. What am I doing wrong? Ohhhh, it's for the AP, not for fun :c
* * *
That enormous bird the boys have to crawl past... Wow. It leaves a long-lasting impression.
* * *
Chapter 2, decided to explore the available area in Leide before moving on. Found some mines, let's EXPLORE! Encountered a high-level creepy-ass dark dude and ran away shivering. Ah, there's nothing more peaceful than standing on top of a hill and watching the sunset skies.
* * *
Can't stop looking at Cindy's boobs.
* * *
Cor is a fantastic fighter. I wish he had stayed with the party a little longer.
* * *
Nearly lost my shit sighting a gigantic Behemoth in the fog, but then the game allowed me to ride chocobos. Happiest moments ever! Scheduling my first ride first thing in the morning when the air is fresh, and the sun-flooded fields are vast and welcoming. I want to ride my chocobo all daaaay~
* * *
This game has a thing about huge enemies. Remember that giant Catoblepas in Alstor? Breathtaking.
* * *
Ignis lets a bunch of mobs cross the road safely; Gladio sneezes, hope he doesn't catch a cold. Prompto has a heart-to-heart talk with Noctis and causes a new outburst of emoions in me. This baby is precious and has to be protected at all costs.
* * *
Me: The character design is absolutely amazing. Everyone is different but looks equally stunning. Awesome awesome.
Also me: Why on earth Ignis has such a stupid hairstyle??
* * *
Can't help laughing at their random comments on the photos. "Why are you always so photogenic?" sighs Prompto whereas the picture displays a close-up of Gladio's crotch in the middle of a battle.
* * *
I love doing sidequests so much that I can't bring myself to go on with the story. But in the end, Iris is fun, Ardyn is suspicious, Titan is a bro, imperials are annoying, flashbacks are confusing, chocobos are best birds in the world, and the combination of gameplay and a cutscene is still a fascinating solution.
* * *
Equipped my boys with various songs, but Prompto is the only one to sing. What am I doing wrong? Ohhhh, it's for the AP, not for fun :c
* * *
That enormous bird the boys have to crawl past... Wow. It leaves a long-lasting impression.
* * *
Chapter 2, decided to explore the available area in Leide before moving on. Found some mines, let's EXPLORE! Encountered a high-level creepy-ass dark dude and ran away shivering. Ah, there's nothing more peaceful than standing on top of a hill and watching the sunset skies.
* * *
Can't stop looking at Cindy's boobs.
* * *
Cor is a fantastic fighter. I wish he had stayed with the party a little longer.
* * *
Nearly lost my shit sighting a gigantic Behemoth in the fog, but then the game allowed me to ride chocobos. Happiest moments ever! Scheduling my first ride first thing in the morning when the air is fresh, and the sun-flooded fields are vast and welcoming. I want to ride my chocobo all daaaay~
* * *
This game has a thing about huge enemies. Remember that giant Catoblepas in Alstor? Breathtaking.
* * *
Ignis lets a bunch of mobs cross the road safely; Gladio sneezes, hope he doesn't catch a cold. Prompto has a heart-to-heart talk with Noctis and causes a new outburst of emoions in me. This baby is precious and has to be protected at all costs.
* * *
Me: The character design is absolutely amazing. Everyone is different but looks equally stunning. Awesome awesome.
Also me: Why on earth Ignis has such a stupid hairstyle??
* * *
Can't help laughing at their random comments on the photos. "Why are you always so photogenic?" sighs Prompto whereas the picture displays a close-up of Gladio's crotch in the middle of a battle.
* * *
I love doing sidequests so much that I can't bring myself to go on with the story. But in the end, Iris is fun, Ardyn is suspicious, Titan is a bro, imperials are annoying, flashbacks are confusing, chocobos are best birds in the world, and the combination of gameplay and a cutscene is still a fascinating solution.
Torrie
astray ay-ay-ay
Okay. Alright. Breathe in, breathe out. Currently in Chapter 14, and this game is hurting me in all possible ways. But I knew what I was signing up for, so bear with me.
Heavy spoiler territory below, so don't read if you haven't played the game.
Still can't stop looking at Cindy's boobs. Time to try out some mods and get her proper clothes, lol. Also grabbed a few new outfits for the boys just for the fun of it.
Now that the events at the Disc of Cauthess are over, the party gets up at 8. It feels like it starts to get dark earlier, too. Is that a glitch, or is the game designed like that? (Me from the future: oh you sweet summer child...)
Listening to various FF soundtracks while driving is a fantastic idea. Been driving and vibing to some FF14 tracks and have just run into a FFXV and FFXIV crossover quest! MY GOD THIS IS HILARIOUS ALREADY buuut I have to seriously level up until I tackle it properly.
Iris is so much fun to travel with! This pretty girl is full of energy and is ready to kick ass first thing in the morning. Isn't that awesome? Didn't expect her to be a spectacular fighter, either. Take care, Iris, I'll be missing you too.
Gladio is usually girls' favourite thanks to the looks, but I knew right from the start that this guy is hella difficult. Leaving the party just like that? And the party is like "yeah ok no prob bro come back anytime." What? Just... what?
I knew Aranea was going to be a cool character but little did I know that ARANEA'S BADASSERY IS OFF LIMITS. :fire: :fire: :fire: I still regret it to this very day that I didn't take her to a campsite or a photoshoot place when there was an opportunity. I had no idea that I could :C
Prompto is lovesick 24/7, awww.
(during Holly's quest "Power to the Pylons")
Noct: Where's the ladder?
Me: What's your damn teleport for??
I swear I spent a good 5 minutes looking for a teleport promt.
Turned out I had to look for a ladder at another pillar.
I'm done with Noctis getting up at 9 am, are you seriously kidding me here??? I'm so devoid of sunlight during the winter, and now the game is doing the same to me :CCC
Cid's words of wisdom were tearworthy. But off we go, Altissia is waiting!
Now that the events at the Disc of Cauthess are over, the party gets up at 8. It feels like it starts to get dark earlier, too. Is that a glitch, or is the game designed like that? (Me from the future: oh you sweet summer child...)
Listening to various FF soundtracks while driving is a fantastic idea. Been driving and vibing to some FF14 tracks and have just run into a FFXV and FFXIV crossover quest! MY GOD THIS IS HILARIOUS ALREADY buuut I have to seriously level up until I tackle it properly.
Iris is so much fun to travel with! This pretty girl is full of energy and is ready to kick ass first thing in the morning. Isn't that awesome? Didn't expect her to be a spectacular fighter, either. Take care, Iris, I'll be missing you too.
Gladio is usually girls' favourite thanks to the looks, but I knew right from the start that this guy is hella difficult. Leaving the party just like that? And the party is like "yeah ok no prob bro come back anytime." What? Just... what?
I knew Aranea was going to be a cool character but little did I know that ARANEA'S BADASSERY IS OFF LIMITS. :fire: :fire: :fire: I still regret it to this very day that I didn't take her to a campsite or a photoshoot place when there was an opportunity. I had no idea that I could :C
Prompto is lovesick 24/7, awww.
(during Holly's quest "Power to the Pylons")
Noct: Where's the ladder?
Me: What's your damn teleport for??
I swear I spent a good 5 minutes looking for a teleport promt.
Turned out I had to look for a ladder at another pillar.
I'm done with Noctis getting up at 9 am, are you seriously kidding me here??? I'm so devoid of sunlight during the winter, and now the game is doing the same to me :CCC
Cid's words of wisdom were tearworthy. But off we go, Altissia is waiting!
Heavy spoiler territory below, so don't read if you haven't played the game.
I've just been given the boat key and told I can't use it yet. Fiiiiine.
Getting lost in Accordo - DONE
Taking silly pics in all possible places - also DONE
The story is getting more and more convoluted. Alright, I had long spoiled myself on the main plot events because I thought I would never play this game myself. Ha. Ha ha ha. But anyway, I'm a new player, so I admit I get confused easily, but erm... I kinda feel lost not understanding the logistics behind Lunafreya's adventures. If she was supposed to be waiting in Accordo, how come she travelled all the way to Insomnia? She was in the same locations as Noctis, how come her dogs didn't help them meet sooner? Did she have to walk all the way back wearing a white dress and high-heeled shoes? Did the gods teleport her over the ocean? I'm. Just. Aaaaaaaaa (rubs her head and screams as she does not know)
Just reached Cartanica. Altissia was... well... something else. Prompto agrees with me wholeheartedly standing alone at a distance and staring into space. Let me stand by your side for a bit, baby.
Ignis can't see anymore. Again, due to spoilers from before, I knew he would receive some eye damage but I didn't think it would be that serious. Also the game forces you to WALK and keep an eye on the injured friend. Hands down top tier gameplay. Also breaks your heart just like that.
They are eating tinned food in the camp because Ignis can't cook anymore either T_____T
Disappointed in Tenebrae. Let me walk through the ruins, let me breathe in the fire, let me suffer more than I already have.
Reached Niflheim. My comprehension of the events seems to have left me entirely. Farewell to Regalia... Prompto was lost and found...
JESUS THAT'S WHAT UMBRA HAS BEEN THERE FOR ALL THIS TIME (cries in slowpoke) Turned out I had missed quite an impressive chunk of the game including a few high level dungeons, collab quests, new quests from old friends, and the brilliance of the Sygillian Ocean, because the game sometimes behaves completely counter-intuitively. I thought there would be a moment when the party could return to the continent by the means of the plot, but it just never happened. Then I thought that maybe it was the realism of the gameplay aka the game gives you quests but never gives you a single chance to finish them because life happens (and death, too). Also, what Gentiana said when Umbra was first introduced didn't bring any clarity (aka you can go back into the past but remember you can't change it. The hell?) I was so so sooo wrong xDDD But doing things post facto seems strange and unnatural... Shall I even try going for it?
Oh, fuck it. Sitting with a fishing rod and admiring sunsets at the ocean. I really don't care about the end of the world right now.
Y'jhimei's manners are slighly annoying, but her quest is great fun! Aaand it seems I've just acquired a new powerful summon.
Why ship Noctis and Luna when there's Noctis and Sarah? (shipping mode: ON)
Costlemark Tower is one of the longest but most beautiful and surely most cursed (in all possible meanings xDD) dungeons so far. It was worth waiting and levelling patiently for a good half of the game for the sake of this experience... Even if I had to leave the maze like three times because the food effects were wearing off and I was running out of time to finish it in one go anyway.
Crestholm Channels... Who was complaining about the sewers in FFVIIR? Haven't you played FFXV? Hoo boy, you definitely should. I'm doing this for you, Cindy, you hear me? Ugh, the Balouve mines were much more enjoyable. I hope I never have to return to this dungeon. (She said and then returned again thanks to Jormungard, and again thanks to a map scrap, and the last dive is probably still awaiting ahead...)
There's a saying in Russian that translates roughly as "you can't take enough breaths before you have to die" meaning you can never prepare enough or summon enough courage before doing something challenging. You just have to go on and do it. Back to Nifleheim, that is...
Getting lost in Accordo - DONE
Taking silly pics in all possible places - also DONE
The story is getting more and more convoluted. Alright, I had long spoiled myself on the main plot events because I thought I would never play this game myself. Ha. Ha ha ha. But anyway, I'm a new player, so I admit I get confused easily, but erm... I kinda feel lost not understanding the logistics behind Lunafreya's adventures. If she was supposed to be waiting in Accordo, how come she travelled all the way to Insomnia? She was in the same locations as Noctis, how come her dogs didn't help them meet sooner? Did she have to walk all the way back wearing a white dress and high-heeled shoes? Did the gods teleport her over the ocean? I'm. Just. Aaaaaaaaa (rubs her head and screams as she does not know)
Just reached Cartanica. Altissia was... well... something else. Prompto agrees with me wholeheartedly standing alone at a distance and staring into space. Let me stand by your side for a bit, baby.
Ignis can't see anymore. Again, due to spoilers from before, I knew he would receive some eye damage but I didn't think it would be that serious. Also the game forces you to WALK and keep an eye on the injured friend. Hands down top tier gameplay. Also breaks your heart just like that.
They are eating tinned food in the camp because Ignis can't cook anymore either T_____T
Disappointed in Tenebrae. Let me walk through the ruins, let me breathe in the fire, let me suffer more than I already have.
Reached Niflheim. My comprehension of the events seems to have left me entirely. Farewell to Regalia... Prompto was lost and found...
JESUS THAT'S WHAT UMBRA HAS BEEN THERE FOR ALL THIS TIME (cries in slowpoke) Turned out I had missed quite an impressive chunk of the game including a few high level dungeons, collab quests, new quests from old friends, and the brilliance of the Sygillian Ocean, because the game sometimes behaves completely counter-intuitively. I thought there would be a moment when the party could return to the continent by the means of the plot, but it just never happened. Then I thought that maybe it was the realism of the gameplay aka the game gives you quests but never gives you a single chance to finish them because life happens (and death, too). Also, what Gentiana said when Umbra was first introduced didn't bring any clarity (aka you can go back into the past but remember you can't change it. The hell?) I was so so sooo wrong xDDD But doing things post facto seems strange and unnatural... Shall I even try going for it?
Oh, fuck it. Sitting with a fishing rod and admiring sunsets at the ocean. I really don't care about the end of the world right now.
Y'jhimei's manners are slighly annoying, but her quest is great fun! Aaand it seems I've just acquired a new powerful summon.
Why ship Noctis and Luna when there's Noctis and Sarah? (shipping mode: ON)
Costlemark Tower is one of the longest but most beautiful and surely most cursed (in all possible meanings xDD) dungeons so far. It was worth waiting and levelling patiently for a good half of the game for the sake of this experience... Even if I had to leave the maze like three times because the food effects were wearing off and I was running out of time to finish it in one go anyway.
Crestholm Channels... Who was complaining about the sewers in FFVIIR? Haven't you played FFXV? Hoo boy, you definitely should. I'm doing this for you, Cindy, you hear me? Ugh, the Balouve mines were much more enjoyable. I hope I never have to return to this dungeon. (She said and then returned again thanks to Jormungard, and again thanks to a map scrap, and the last dive is probably still awaiting ahead...)
There's a saying in Russian that translates roughly as "you can't take enough breaths before you have to die" meaning you can never prepare enough or summon enough courage before doing something challenging. You just have to go on and do it. Back to Nifleheim, that is...
ForceStealer
Double Growth
Mwahaha
Accurate. Pretty sure Costlemark took me like two hours, I am not used to dungeons taking that much time, lol. Some serious fights, too.
And getting lost in Crestholm was brutal. I will say the way the game signals whether you've been somewhere in a dungeon before or not by whether Noctis walks or runs by default is a brilliant bit of subtle game design.
Torrie
astray ay-ay-ay
An FF game isn't an FF game if it doesn't leave you with an apocalypse and pain. A LOT OF PAIN.
In conclusion, I have to admit I loved the boys a lot (and I mean A LOT A LOT) more than I expected, and their roadtrip will be kept in my heart forever, BUT I have way too many questions to the plot and a shitton of second-hand embarrasment that the game had fallen victim to its complicated history. I still have 2 out of 4 DLCs to play, and there are some more observations to be shared, so stay tuned.
Noctis is old and thin and weary but handsome AF.
Noctis's journey back to Hammerhead is another top tier game experience. When I reached Galdin Quay, I was devastated. The sun, the palms, the shops, the peace and quiet... gone...
Talkott still keeps those cactuar figurines, awwwwww.
Glaives base is a wholesome place. I think I teared up again when everyone started sharing their feelings.
Insomnia is... was... a fantastic city. The atmosphere, the music, the guys reminiscing about carefree days on the road. (sobs uncontrollably)
Cindy, I'm looking all over the Crown City for these damn batteries just for you.
The battles with the kings of Lucis are EPIC. What's most fascinating is that everyone in the party has his own moment of engagement and triumph.
OH NO, THEY TOOK A MOMENT TO LOOK THROUGH THE PHOTOS
OH NO NO NO, I'VE BEEN LOOKING AND CRYING FOR A GOOD 10 MINUTES AND I CAN'T CHOOSE
So ughhhh I'm unoriginal, but I don't care. Let it be the famous Regalia shot from Chapter One. Just because Ignis really wanted their old girl to be included too T____T
I'm stuck in the battle with Ardyn. His health bar is empty but he keeps attacking me, and I've lost the camera mobility. Weird... Turned out to be a glitch, because the game offered me to summon Garuda at the very beginning. She quickly emptied his health bar, so some specific animation could not be triggered, and the fight got stuck in a loop. Good thing there was an auto-save right before entering the throne room.
The ending was ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR. The only thing that I wish I had been shown was the rest of the party just once more, their reaction to the return of the light, but... I get it, the game is almost entirely done in Noctis's POV, so whatever he couldn't see we couldn't see either.
The post credits scene with Luna... I knew I would see it, and I knew what the photo was for, but it felt extremely anti-climatic to me. I've read some theories that it might represent Noctis and Luna in the afterlife, or it could be another timeline vision (similarly to what Regis saw in the OMEN trailer), or it could be a fast-forward to another timeline's actual ending of events. Don't know, don't care.
So Chapter 15 is basically endgame exploration but the game nullified all my map data, all field dialogues, and all the side quests that I had completed. What. The. Hell?! I thought I could do the final dungeons quest with Ezma, but I don't feel like doing those dungeons AGAIN in orger to get the key. No, thanks. So that concludes the game... I guess?
Noctis's journey back to Hammerhead is another top tier game experience. When I reached Galdin Quay, I was devastated. The sun, the palms, the shops, the peace and quiet... gone...
Talkott still keeps those cactuar figurines, awwwwww.
Glaives base is a wholesome place. I think I teared up again when everyone started sharing their feelings.
Insomnia is... was... a fantastic city. The atmosphere, the music, the guys reminiscing about carefree days on the road. (sobs uncontrollably)
Cindy, I'm looking all over the Crown City for these damn batteries just for you.
The battles with the kings of Lucis are EPIC. What's most fascinating is that everyone in the party has his own moment of engagement and triumph.
OH NO, THEY TOOK A MOMENT TO LOOK THROUGH THE PHOTOS
OH NO NO NO, I'VE BEEN LOOKING AND CRYING FOR A GOOD 10 MINUTES AND I CAN'T CHOOSE
So ughhhh I'm unoriginal, but I don't care. Let it be the famous Regalia shot from Chapter One. Just because Ignis really wanted their old girl to be included too T____T
I'm stuck in the battle with Ardyn. His health bar is empty but he keeps attacking me, and I've lost the camera mobility. Weird... Turned out to be a glitch, because the game offered me to summon Garuda at the very beginning. She quickly emptied his health bar, so some specific animation could not be triggered, and the fight got stuck in a loop. Good thing there was an auto-save right before entering the throne room.
The ending was ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR. The only thing that I wish I had been shown was the rest of the party just once more, their reaction to the return of the light, but... I get it, the game is almost entirely done in Noctis's POV, so whatever he couldn't see we couldn't see either.
The post credits scene with Luna... I knew I would see it, and I knew what the photo was for, but it felt extremely anti-climatic to me. I've read some theories that it might represent Noctis and Luna in the afterlife, or it could be another timeline vision (similarly to what Regis saw in the OMEN trailer), or it could be a fast-forward to another timeline's actual ending of events. Don't know, don't care.
So Chapter 15 is basically endgame exploration but the game nullified all my map data, all field dialogues, and all the side quests that I had completed. What. The. Hell?! I thought I could do the final dungeons quest with Ezma, but I don't feel like doing those dungeons AGAIN in orger to get the key. No, thanks. So that concludes the game... I guess?
In conclusion, I have to admit I loved the boys a lot (and I mean A LOT A LOT) more than I expected, and their roadtrip will be kept in my heart forever, BUT I have way too many questions to the plot and a shitton of second-hand embarrasment that the game had fallen victim to its complicated history. I still have 2 out of 4 DLCs to play, and there are some more observations to be shared, so stay tuned.
Lulcielid
Eyes of the Lord
- AKA
- Lulcy
That normally shouldn't happen, did you access chapter 15 after beating the game via load game option?
Quest reset only happen if you load a file with the chapter select option.
Torrie
astray ay-ay-ay
Wow, it did help! Thanks so much for the tip! What a relief
ultima espio
Pro Adventurer
FFXV running on Steam Deck:
Torrie
astray ay-ay-ay
Here I am to post some more walls of text because I STILL can't shut up about this game. Haha.
I remember what I said about the chocobros even less than a year ago when I didn't use to know them. They are still pretty much like Mr Prince, Mr Cupboard, Mr Gentleman, and Mr Chocobo to me mwahahaha but the drastic difference is that they (as well as the supporting cast including Ardyn) have grown on me to the extent that FFXV feels like home now, almost as much as FFVII. I didn't use to understand why gameplay activities would be entertaining, but now... Driving? Hell yeah, gimme that new CD we bought at a random petrol station. Fishing? All day, all night, until the line runs out. Cooking? Let's crawl around the whole world just to hear Iggy say his iconic phrase once more. Camping and hotels? Soft beds, baby~
Also, the game is full of allusions to the previous FF games in the best traditions of the series, starting from some core concepts to really subtle ones. Have you seen all those billboards and leaflets around Eos? Have you noticed the green traffic lights in Insomnia? Have you ever achieved the highest hunter rank? Let alone all those daemons and weapons. There are dozens of them, and each discovery fills your heart with joy.
Perhaps there should be another long paragraph on objective criticism, but lots of other players have already summarised that better than I can, so I'll just leave it like that. I only wish the story was self-sufficient without relying so much on the expanded universe, but we all know now why it wasn't possible at that time. Despite all of that, I really enjoyed playing FFXV and spending time with the characters, listening to the amazing soundtrack and doing everything that can possibly be done. I enjoyed playing the DLCs and watching the Brotherhood anime. I still have Kingsglaive to watch, and I've heard of the novel, too, which.. I'm not sure I will get my hands on in the near future, but we'll see.
Thanks for reading :3
I remember what I said about the chocobros even less than a year ago when I didn't use to know them. They are still pretty much like Mr Prince, Mr Cupboard, Mr Gentleman, and Mr Chocobo to me mwahahaha but the drastic difference is that they (as well as the supporting cast including Ardyn) have grown on me to the extent that FFXV feels like home now, almost as much as FFVII. I didn't use to understand why gameplay activities would be entertaining, but now... Driving? Hell yeah, gimme that new CD we bought at a random petrol station. Fishing? All day, all night, until the line runs out. Cooking? Let's crawl around the whole world just to hear Iggy say his iconic phrase once more. Camping and hotels? Soft beds, baby~
Also, the game is full of allusions to the previous FF games in the best traditions of the series, starting from some core concepts to really subtle ones. Have you seen all those billboards and leaflets around Eos? Have you noticed the green traffic lights in Insomnia? Have you ever achieved the highest hunter rank? Let alone all those daemons and weapons. There are dozens of them, and each discovery fills your heart with joy.
I think the main problem about the Noctis x Luna chunk of the story is not even the fact that their lovestory is told poorly but the fact that their relationship is labeled as a lovestory... Which is fundamentally different from what the story actually shows. We have two kids who spend some time together and then basically just message each other with stickers and cryptic captions via a magic dog for years. I seriously doubt that people can develop a healthy and plausible romantic relationship in these circumstances. Remember her post mortem dream sequence? While she's saying goodbye, Noctis sees himself as a child who is swimming towards mature present day Luna. A child, mind you. I assume Noctis treats Luna as a sort of an older sister figure or a very special friend at best. Meanwhile Luna is probably eager to get married not only out of her preordained role as an Oracle but also out of curiosity, because life's no longer going to be boring and repetitive. And I imagine essentially it's like befriending your old friend again, because God knows long-distance relationship never really work.
The best chemistry in the game?
Gladio and Cup Noodles
Cindy and Regalia
PROMPTIS
Prompto is hands down my favourite thing in the FFXV universe. I didn't even think it would be him, but I realised that on the very first day of my playthrough. The moment he appeared in the tutorial to aid Noct in battle, he slipped and slid right in front of him, and I knew at once that we would get on well. The moment he sang the victory fanfare, he stole my heart without a sweat. And the moment he was about to shit his pants in fear when the party was crawling near a gigantic bird, I realised I absolutely needed him in my life. And then that heart-to-heart talk on the rooftop. His silly selfies and self-indulgent photo ops. His lovesickness. His origins. And his special bond with Noctis.
Before I started the game, I thought it was quite refreshing to have 4 main characters with semi-friendly semi-brotherly bonds with very low shipping potential so people would naturally ship them as they please relying on their power of imagination and preferences alone, but I was wrong, I was oh so wrong. It may or may not be inherently romantic, but Noctis and Prompto's chemistry is so palpable that you don't even have to dig for evidence. It's right there. Unlike Gladdy Daddy who still remains a rough and tough kingly mentor, and unlike Mama Ignis who still takes care of the prince in and out of battle, Prompto starts off as his classmate. They are completely on the same page despite Prompto's insecurities. They have unique in-game interactions like high fives, bro handshakes, ass slaps, Noctis catching his pal's fall after a particularly strong chain attack etc. While on the road, Prompto is always looking back over his shoulder or dangerously bending over his own seat to chat with the others like a bee around a honey pot. This animation is never triggered when Noctis is behind the wheel. Noct often smiles when Prompto sings or sums up the results of the battle or just says something particularly silly. He is well aware that his pal is a pleb, but maybe that's the biggest reason he feels most comfortable around him: they spend a lot of time together, and Noctis can forget about his burdens for a minute in Prompto's company. And he knows he won't be judged or reminded about his duties, so he can relax and have a good time for a change. Meanwhile, Prompto has someone to look up to, someone he adores for a number of reasons, someone who provided him with the craziest adventures he could ever imagine. If this is not a perfect friendship, then I don't know. Prompto resonates with me a lot, and I ship them in the most platonic way because I want them to be happy and enjoy travelling together just a little more before things go awry.
I was also amazed to find out that Noctis and Prompto's VAs, Ray Chase and Robbie Daymond, are best friends in real life, they regularly stream games together with Max Mittelman (Red XIII/Tredd Furia VA) on their Twitch channel LoudAnnoying, and they replay FFXV every now and then often reenacting certain scenes or just having fun with the mods. How cool is that?
The best chemistry in the game?
Cindy and Regalia
PROMPTIS
Prompto is hands down my favourite thing in the FFXV universe. I didn't even think it would be him, but I realised that on the very first day of my playthrough. The moment he appeared in the tutorial to aid Noct in battle, he slipped and slid right in front of him, and I knew at once that we would get on well. The moment he sang the victory fanfare, he stole my heart without a sweat. And the moment he was about to shit his pants in fear when the party was crawling near a gigantic bird, I realised I absolutely needed him in my life. And then that heart-to-heart talk on the rooftop. His silly selfies and self-indulgent photo ops. His lovesickness. His origins. And his special bond with Noctis.
Before I started the game, I thought it was quite refreshing to have 4 main characters with semi-friendly semi-brotherly bonds with very low shipping potential so people would naturally ship them as they please relying on their power of imagination and preferences alone, but I was wrong, I was oh so wrong. It may or may not be inherently romantic, but Noctis and Prompto's chemistry is so palpable that you don't even have to dig for evidence. It's right there. Unlike Gladdy Daddy who still remains a rough and tough kingly mentor, and unlike Mama Ignis who still takes care of the prince in and out of battle, Prompto starts off as his classmate. They are completely on the same page despite Prompto's insecurities. They have unique in-game interactions like high fives, bro handshakes, ass slaps, Noctis catching his pal's fall after a particularly strong chain attack etc. While on the road, Prompto is always looking back over his shoulder or dangerously bending over his own seat to chat with the others like a bee around a honey pot. This animation is never triggered when Noctis is behind the wheel. Noct often smiles when Prompto sings or sums up the results of the battle or just says something particularly silly. He is well aware that his pal is a pleb, but maybe that's the biggest reason he feels most comfortable around him: they spend a lot of time together, and Noctis can forget about his burdens for a minute in Prompto's company. And he knows he won't be judged or reminded about his duties, so he can relax and have a good time for a change. Meanwhile, Prompto has someone to look up to, someone he adores for a number of reasons, someone who provided him with the craziest adventures he could ever imagine. If this is not a perfect friendship, then I don't know. Prompto resonates with me a lot, and I ship them in the most platonic way because I want them to be happy and enjoy travelling together just a little more before things go awry.
I was also amazed to find out that Noctis and Prompto's VAs, Ray Chase and Robbie Daymond, are best friends in real life, they regularly stream games together with Max Mittelman (Red XIII/Tredd Furia VA) on their Twitch channel LoudAnnoying, and they replay FFXV every now and then often reenacting certain scenes or just having fun with the mods. How cool is that?
I'm kinda happy I didn't develop much emotional attachment to Gladio, because the only thing his DLC was interesting for was the inclusion of Cor. Ironicly, we learn more about Cor than we do about Gladio from these couple chapters. Or was it one chapter? I don't even remember. It was cool to learn a new fighting mechanic, but I wish we saw more insights into Gladio's backstory and personality apart from "He was big and strong, in his eyes a flaming glow" (c). If we did, perhaps it would've helped me to like or at least to understand him more.
Episode Prompto has the most fascinating gameplay elements and a banger of a soundtrack. And a picturesque scenery. And a sad sad boy who deserves to be hugged and comforted, and a badass woman who is there to save the day. I mean, what's not to like? The replayability is high, and I definitely want to do the quests next time. Learning Prompto's gameplay mechanics properly turned out really beneficial in the main game, because the boy is a long-range fighter and absolutely OP and his critical hits deal 9999 damage up to three times in a row. I wiped out most endgame boss daemons with him alone.
Ignis's story is absolutely heartbreaking. I enjoyed travelling all around Altissia and collecting stuff, but I have mixed feelings about the choices that the player is given after completing the episode. I get it, a huge part of the fanbase apprecate the possibility of a happy ending, but to my mind it diminishes the significance of Ignis's sacrifice and further on, Noctis's sacrifice, too. If the story is inspired by determinism, it feels wrong to have characters trick the destiny somehow. After all, it's claimed to be fantasy based on reality, goddamit.
Episode Ardyn does a great job filling in the blanks left by the main game, but I personally find the chapters a bit unbalanced. I wish I could spend more time in Angelgard or at the lab and a bit less time in Insomnia. I mean, yeah, exploring Insomnia is great, but there's so much stuff to do compared to the previous chunk of the episode, that it's getting a bit tiring, especially if you're a completionist, and especially with the same song playing over and over in the background. Besides, I felt awful at first having to destroy the city I was suppose to defend in the main game, but it was part of the gaming experience, so... Also, for me as a western player, it's sometimes difficult to tell apart moments of factual vs emotional storytelling, which is so typical in Japanese culture, like moments when characters are in a scene created in their mind's eye vs scenes from their actual past. The most memorable scene for me was when Verstael turned up in Angelgard prison and he looked exactly like a 30-something-y.o. Prompto. I remember reading somewhere that Prompto had been initially designed to become a traitor, but then his backstory was completely rewritten. Verstael aged 35 years between Episode Ardyn and the main game, so let's assume he was in his late 60s, with a rounded face, deep wrinkles, sagging skin and a much bigger nose, almost unrecognisable compared to his younger self. I honestly doubt that his appearance was originally created with all those cloning shenanigans in mind, otherwise the creators would have kept the resemblance. Anyway, that's how much I care about Ardyn that I keep talking about Prompto hahahaha sorry (not sorry). Nah I'm kidding, I do care for Ardyn as he definitely transformed from a morally gray character into a convincing villain - probably one of the best villains in Final Fantasy game history.
Episode Prompto has the most fascinating gameplay elements and a banger of a soundtrack. And a picturesque scenery. And a sad sad boy who deserves to be hugged and comforted, and a badass woman who is there to save the day. I mean, what's not to like? The replayability is high, and I definitely want to do the quests next time. Learning Prompto's gameplay mechanics properly turned out really beneficial in the main game, because the boy is a long-range fighter and absolutely OP and his critical hits deal 9999 damage up to three times in a row. I wiped out most endgame boss daemons with him alone.
Ignis's story is absolutely heartbreaking. I enjoyed travelling all around Altissia and collecting stuff, but I have mixed feelings about the choices that the player is given after completing the episode. I get it, a huge part of the fanbase apprecate the possibility of a happy ending, but to my mind it diminishes the significance of Ignis's sacrifice and further on, Noctis's sacrifice, too. If the story is inspired by determinism, it feels wrong to have characters trick the destiny somehow. After all, it's claimed to be fantasy based on reality, goddamit.
Episode Ardyn does a great job filling in the blanks left by the main game, but I personally find the chapters a bit unbalanced. I wish I could spend more time in Angelgard or at the lab and a bit less time in Insomnia. I mean, yeah, exploring Insomnia is great, but there's so much stuff to do compared to the previous chunk of the episode, that it's getting a bit tiring, especially if you're a completionist, and especially with the same song playing over and over in the background. Besides, I felt awful at first having to destroy the city I was suppose to defend in the main game, but it was part of the gaming experience, so... Also, for me as a western player, it's sometimes difficult to tell apart moments of factual vs emotional storytelling, which is so typical in Japanese culture, like moments when characters are in a scene created in their mind's eye vs scenes from their actual past. The most memorable scene for me was when Verstael turned up in Angelgard prison and he looked exactly like a 30-something-y.o. Prompto. I remember reading somewhere that Prompto had been initially designed to become a traitor, but then his backstory was completely rewritten. Verstael aged 35 years between Episode Ardyn and the main game, so let's assume he was in his late 60s, with a rounded face, deep wrinkles, sagging skin and a much bigger nose, almost unrecognisable compared to his younger self. I honestly doubt that his appearance was originally created with all those cloning shenanigans in mind, otherwise the creators would have kept the resemblance. Anyway, that's how much I care about Ardyn that I keep talking about Prompto hahahaha sorry (not sorry). Nah I'm kidding, I do care for Ardyn as he definitely transformed from a morally gray character into a convincing villain - probably one of the best villains in Final Fantasy game history.
Perhaps there should be another long paragraph on objective criticism, but lots of other players have already summarised that better than I can, so I'll just leave it like that. I only wish the story was self-sufficient without relying so much on the expanded universe, but we all know now why it wasn't possible at that time. Despite all of that, I really enjoyed playing FFXV and spending time with the characters, listening to the amazing soundtrack and doing everything that can possibly be done. I enjoyed playing the DLCs and watching the Brotherhood anime. I still have Kingsglaive to watch, and I've heard of the novel, too, which.. I'm not sure I will get my hands on in the near future, but we'll see.
Thanks for reading :3
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ultima espio
Pro Adventurer
Someone’s dug out playable Lunafreya:
Lulcielid
Eyes of the Lord
- AKA
- Lulcy
Frankly nothing was loss with how barenones her gameplay was.
Torrie
astray ay-ay-ay
I ended up playing with English VO and Russian subtitles because there was simply too much text to process at times and eventually I learned a lot of expressions. The Russian dub was semi-cringe, I don't know, it's a problem that I tend to have with a lot of video games and films dubbed here. Voice actors sound unnatural, or as if they are overdoing it, or trying too hard, or like in a theatre. It may be ok for a typical medieval fantasy-ish game, and it works for Ardyn or Gentiana more or less, but in general FF games need a different treatment. Besides, a lot of male voices sound too similar. And I can't forgive them for saying "choCObo" instead of "CHOcobo". There's a compillation of Russian VAs in FFXV with their respective roles if you want to hear what they sound like.
Wol
None Shall Remember Those Who Do Not Fight
- AKA
- Rosarian Shield
that's because at this state, she's unfinished. according to leaks, she would have her own array of skills and magic.
ultima espio
Pro Adventurer
There’s a new mod manager/tools come out just this year called Flagrum. It allows mods to use in game shaders, so they don’t look strange anymore. Someone was working on custom maps not that long ago either.
Hopefully Luna can be restored/finished one day.
Hopefully Luna can be restored/finished one day.
ultima espio
Pro Adventurer
There’s a lot on this person's channel, here’s pre destroyed insomnia:
It comes from that battle simulator you got on the base game while you waited for it to install/update. It vanished in an update.
It comes from that battle simulator you got on the base game while you waited for it to install/update. It vanished in an update.
Torrie
astray ay-ay-ay
One small cutscene for a game, one giant leap for character development... And a ton of missed opportunities. Yeah. I've been thinking about one certain quest with a great setup and little to no payoff. I'll leave it under spoiler in case somebody is yet to dive into it.
I also wanted to share a few pics/screenshots taken throughout the game.
Prompto complained that no one else was taking pictures exept him, so I took him out for a photoshoot.
Oh, by the way. Has anyone been to the Pitioss Ruins? It's literally the only location I haven't been to yet. I thought this infamous dungeon would be the final one of the quests Ezma sends you on, but now I know they are completely unrelated. I've read it costs you a few hours and a lot of nerve cells to complete. I'm not sure I want to get stressed out that much. But I'll probably try it anyway. If I can land nearby, of course lololol
So, in the Brotherhood anime, Ignis keeps trying to recreate some pastry Noctis used to have in Tenebrae, but the taste isn't quite right. As the party progresses through the game, they complete a sidequest for the Galdin Quay chef, and it turns out it is the berries that add the nostalgic taste to every treat. But. BUT. You as a player learn it from the description of the treat. The boys don't comment on the discovery. Not a single word! Okay, I though, maybe I need to cook it at a camp, maybe that condition unlocks a cutscene. Alas... No such luxury. It was extremely disappointing. Imagine having a scene with a little flashback and Noctis being over the moon? And Iggy concluding that they found the missing ingredient out of pure coincidence? *sigh* This is how fanfiction is born.
I also wanted to share a few pics/screenshots taken throughout the game.
Prompto complained that no one else was taking pictures exept him, so I took him out for a photoshoot.
Lestallum early in the morning seemed like a good idea.
He wasn't very happy with Lestallum, however, so we changed the concept and went to Caem. Being surrounded by nature, he was able to relax a little, and very soon his inner supermodel took over.
One post only allowes 5 pictures, so here's a bonus.
Promptis equals danger.
He wasn't very happy with Lestallum, however, so we changed the concept and went to Caem. Being surrounded by nature, he was able to relax a little, and very soon his inner supermodel took over.
One post only allowes 5 pictures, so here's a bonus.
Promptis equals danger.
Oh, by the way. Has anyone been to the Pitioss Ruins? It's literally the only location I haven't been to yet. I thought this infamous dungeon would be the final one of the quests Ezma sends you on, but now I know they are completely unrelated. I've read it costs you a few hours and a lot of nerve cells to complete. I'm not sure I want to get stressed out that much. But I'll probably try it anyway. If I can land nearby, of course lololol
ForceStealer
Double Growth
I could never even land on the damn strip to get to Pitioss without blowing up. 
Wol
None Shall Remember Those Who Do Not Fight
- AKA
- Rosarian Shield
Try Pitioss. I guarantee it will be a one of a time experience... for better or for worse hehehe
LNK
Pro Adventurer
- AKA
- Nate
I love the dungeon. Yes, it took me a long time, but I enjoyed it. I just wish there was more lore or mention of it in-game
Torrie
astray ay-ay-ay
Pitioss = done ✓
Thanks everyone for recommending giving it a try. It was a one of a time experience for sure.
Landing was only a minor inconvenience compared to what was waiting for me inside hahaha. Actually, I managed to land twice. The first time it took me around 15 minutes flying in circles and stupidly crushing around, lol. The nearby area appeared to be much larger than I thought, so a little bit of exploration added to my curiosity. When I finally made it into the ruins and cleared out the very first room, I recalled reading something about the quest in Lestallum where you overhear a convo about some hidden treasure, which is eventually found in (or near) Pitioss. So I dropped everything, returned to Lestallum, got the quest, returned to Verinas, saved, and prepared to land... and made it first time but by sheer luck, because Regalia hit the rock and turned upside down, so Ignis suggested "regaining our focus", and the car happened to be placed on that strip of road automatically. Thanks, game xDDD As it turned out, the quest had nothing to do with the ruins, it was simply there to guide the player to a brand new location. So I went on exploring the rest of the dungeon. Hoo boy.
Thanks everyone for recommending giving it a try. It was a one of a time experience for sure.
Landing was only a minor inconvenience compared to what was waiting for me inside hahaha. Actually, I managed to land twice. The first time it took me around 15 minutes flying in circles and stupidly crushing around, lol. The nearby area appeared to be much larger than I thought, so a little bit of exploration added to my curiosity. When I finally made it into the ruins and cleared out the very first room, I recalled reading something about the quest in Lestallum where you overhear a convo about some hidden treasure, which is eventually found in (or near) Pitioss. So I dropped everything, returned to Lestallum, got the quest, returned to Verinas, saved, and prepared to land... and made it first time but by sheer luck, because Regalia hit the rock and turned upside down, so Ignis suggested "regaining our focus", and the car happened to be placed on that strip of road automatically. Thanks, game xDDD As it turned out, the quest had nothing to do with the ruins, it was simply there to guide the player to a brand new location. So I went on exploring the rest of the dungeon. Hoo boy.
So it took me 4-5 hours in total and four evenings to complete. Surprisingly, doing the riddles was oddly satisfying. The people responsible for creating them must have had a blast xDD Fortunately, it was relatively easy to backtrack to the entrance in order to save the game... on the first couple evenings. The third gaming session was the best and also the worst, because I found the room with the moving skull the most entertaining, but then the next stage introduced tilted platforms... They drove me so mad you can't imagine. And then the platformer, which was the most annoying. I couldn't remember the last time I'd been swearing that much.
I was proud having made it to the platformer part all by myself, but that section made me look up a video guide. I couldn't afford to make any more mistakes and keep jumping around like a fucking flea. In the following room, I felt stressed out and needed some guidance too. I wouldn't have guessed so quickly that I needed to perform that boob jump. Oh god. And the room after that was just plain exhausting... I was pissed off and wished I could escape the dungeon and save, but I had to keep going.
The fourth part was much easier but required even more precise jumping, but by the end of the dungeon you definitely get the hang of it, so it takes fewer attempts to have Noctis stand still and not walk off the ledges like a sleepwalker who's just woken up. When I reached the last room where the rare accessory was located, it honestly felt a bit underwhelming, but fortunately it was around 5 pm in-game time, so the golden hour was pouring sunlight into the room making it look like a piece of romantic medieval setting. It was rewarding enough.
I had left behind some minor treasures and hadn't unlocked one red light area in the room with the rotating ball. I might return to unlock it one day, but it's highly unlikely to happen anytime soon because I'm done. Thanks, Pitioss, I'll never forget you.
I was proud having made it to the platformer part all by myself, but that section made me look up a video guide. I couldn't afford to make any more mistakes and keep jumping around like a fucking flea. In the following room, I felt stressed out and needed some guidance too. I wouldn't have guessed so quickly that I needed to perform that boob jump. Oh god. And the room after that was just plain exhausting... I was pissed off and wished I could escape the dungeon and save, but I had to keep going.
The fourth part was much easier but required even more precise jumping, but by the end of the dungeon you definitely get the hang of it, so it takes fewer attempts to have Noctis stand still and not walk off the ledges like a sleepwalker who's just woken up. When I reached the last room where the rare accessory was located, it honestly felt a bit underwhelming, but fortunately it was around 5 pm in-game time, so the golden hour was pouring sunlight into the room making it look like a piece of romantic medieval setting. It was rewarding enough.
I had left behind some minor treasures and hadn't unlocked one red light area in the room with the rotating ball. I might return to unlock it one day, but it's highly unlikely to happen anytime soon because I'm done. Thanks, Pitioss, I'll never forget you.
Torrie
astray ay-ay-ay
While everyone is riding the FFO hype train, I'm so desperate that I've started playing Comrades.
It turned out to be a lot more fun than I thought. I'm not a fan of MMOs, so I'm successfully avoiding any interactions by playing with AI guys. My assigned server is pretty quiet anyway. I have to be grateful it's still running, lol.
I unapologetically grabbed the opportunity to insert myself in the game. Well, even with all the flexibility of the settings, I can't reach the facial similarity, but it's already good enough.
The map offers a lot to do, which is great, but levelling takes time and effort. I have to redo some easier hunts to grind because doing a level 32 mission when you're just level 10 is insanely hard. The whole system seems to me a bit unbalanced, but I think I've already got used to it.
So yeah, I'm not leaving Eos anytime soon.
It turned out to be a lot more fun than I thought. I'm not a fan of MMOs, so I'm successfully avoiding any interactions by playing with AI guys. My assigned server is pretty quiet anyway. I have to be grateful it's still running, lol.
I unapologetically grabbed the opportunity to insert myself in the game. Well, even with all the flexibility of the settings, I can't reach the facial similarity, but it's already good enough.
Prompto dropped by, all beaten and bruised but still cheerful as ever. He totally caught me unawares during the fight when the first thing he did was to petrify me and take a selfie. This guy!
Monica is so nice. Cooking for the glaives makes her so genuinely happy that I like her now a lot more than I did in the main game. I wish she had been given a bit of backstory or at least a memorable outfit back then. Sometimes the slightest things make characters feel human, and the lack of such feels critical.
Cid invented the crafting machine for Noctis, but the latter never turned up to check it out...
Iris keeps complaining about not being allowed to fight.
Aranea is still gorgeous and the best girl. Just one brief mission with her so far, so unfair :/
And Kenny made me wheeze -- twice! The way he moves is absolutely hilarious.
Monica is so nice. Cooking for the glaives makes her so genuinely happy that I like her now a lot more than I did in the main game. I wish she had been given a bit of backstory or at least a memorable outfit back then. Sometimes the slightest things make characters feel human, and the lack of such feels critical.
Cid invented the crafting machine for Noctis, but the latter never turned up to check it out...
Iris keeps complaining about not being allowed to fight.
Aranea is still gorgeous and the best girl. Just one brief mission with her so far, so unfair :/
And Kenny made me wheeze -- twice! The way he moves is absolutely hilarious.
The map offers a lot to do, which is great, but levelling takes time and effort. I have to redo some easier hunts to grind because doing a level 32 mission when you're just level 10 is insanely hard. The whole system seems to me a bit unbalanced, but I think I've already got used to it.
So yeah, I'm not leaving Eos anytime soon.
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