Final Fantasy series

Five steps to prepare for Final Fantasy XV

by Micah Rodney November 28, 2016 0 comments

So here we are folks. Less than 24 hours separate us from an event about 10 years in the making. The release of Final Fantasy XV. We’ve covered the rocky journey of this game quite extensively on this site all the way from its beginning as part of the now scrapped Fabula Nova Crystallis series as Final Fantasy Versus XIII. As with all projects that undergo development hell the cycle of news around the game has been an emotional rollercoaster. I, as only a passive observer of the game – who never delved too deeply into the early lore – can only speak from an outside perspective.

However I know many have taken the loss of some of the story elements from the original concepts, or their perceived bastardization in the final product (yes, I am referring to Stella) rather hard. But, at long last, we are going to finally be able to play this game and determine for ourselves if all the years of meteoric highs and cavernous lows will live up to our expectations – and so far the signs seem overwhelmingly positive.

7 years separate us from the last time a main series numeral (single-player, non-sequel, non spin-off) was released, with Final Fantasy XIII being released in Japan on December 17, 2009. I imagine everybody has similar plans to get lost in the world of Noctis and his friends for quite some time afterwards, and I look forward to seeing you all on the other side of this amazing journey. In the meantime, however, if you just can’t wait any longer and feel about to burst here’s a few things you might do to build your hype and prepare you for the story.

1. Watch Kingsglaive

I know some are waiting for the release day to view this, but if you’re just waiting for the game to come in find your video service of choice, sit down and watch this two hour long adventurous prequel. I know you might be a bit wary about whether or not the film will be worth your time, and fortunately The Lifestream has you covered – with a series of spoiler free reviews that you can read here.

2. Watch Brotherhood

This series of anime shorts documents both prequel and “midquel” content of the game. It gives you a deeper understanding of the characters’ backstory and motivations and features some charming moments of its own. The series is subtitled, so be prepared to read but you can watch the five episodes on Youtube (for free, of course).

3. Play Platinum Demo

If your controller finger is itching, why not dust off the Platinum Demo that released back at the end of March? The prologue is, admittedly, quite short but takes you through an imaginative dreamscape with some incredible music and a fun taste of the gameplay to come. Don’t have it? Well you can download it here:

PS4 Version

XBOX One Version

4. Watch The Trailers

Yes let us not forget about that age old marketing hype tool, the humble trailer. And Final Fantasy XV has a plethora of them available for the viewing. Pick your favorite or pick them all and get to viewing!

5. Watch “New Legacies”

This really cool video gathers fans, game developers and “surprise guests” to talk about their history with the entire Final Fantasy franchise. This should fill you with the love of not just the upcoming game, but remind you of how far we have come.