To it's credit, I have not yet finished the main quest of the game. I have gleefully been stranded in the open world completing quests left and right somewhere in chapter 8. At level 50 and 36 hours in, however, I feel compelled to comment about this game. To give some kind of backdrop on my opinionated landscape, my favorite in the series was X with my least favorite being XIII and VIII. Now, to the important bits.
In a day and age of gaming where skepticism has ruefully earned it's place, here comes Square Enix. From the moment XV launches, you can tell it is something special. Even as the initial welcome mat to the world is nothing but a desert, it gives you a small glimpse of what kind of design choices they made (visually) and carried on into later areas, it is absolutely stunning. I find myself at the mercy of auto-driving nearly 100% of the time, simply so I can sit back and wonder at the world they created. But it's not just the visual effects. Somehow, much like another big open world RPG from early 2016, their world actually feels alive! From sidequests that range from helping stranded drivers, to sussing out the cries for help hidden in the world, this iteration of Final Fantasy has its hooks in me for the simple fact that whatever I do in the game actually seems to matter. And the great thing about their quest delivery, is not that the sidequests have elaborate backstories all to their own, but that your party has an opinion on so many of them (minus maybe the hunts?).
And those opinions, as well, are just expertly crafted. The dialogue is sharp and modern, bringing the characters of the game closer to the audience. I have yet to experience any faux pas in the dialogue that left me scratching my head (think Tidus' laughing scene.) And let's be honest, hearing a party member occasionally sing out the victory song is just enchanting!
Oh. And you can summon and ride chocobos at your whim. And level them and pick their color and accessorize them!
Now, if I had to fault Square Enix at anything, then we'd have to take a look at the combat. First things first, I should say I love it, even though I honestly believe it's pretty flawed. Too many times, you find yourself massively outnumbed due to the random battle system (enemies dropping in from above) joining into an already active battle, which really shows the errors. And that's just that it feels extremely disjointed. "Wait mode" or pauses in the action that allow you a little more strategy offsets this chaos a little, but not enough in my opinion. In fact, it's so messy that my experience with it is make sure you have enough Gil at any time to buy enough materials for when Noctis' face inevitably gets smashed in. And the most disappointing bits: the summons. So disappointing that of my two, I've only ever seen one. They're bound (from what I understand) to some rather specific prerequisites, which sadly, make them more of a random occurrence than something I can rely on in battle. For which, there is a lore-ready explanation and while it is saddening, does not really have a lot of impact on the final product.
While leveling feels great, the AP (or Ascension Point) system seems extremely slow. Now, this could be that I am doing it completely wrong, but I often times find myself at the mercy of a singular question: do I save all my experience and sleep at Galdin Quay for a 2x bonus or do I level up slower, or more sporadically at the campsites, which offer more AP. Whichever I choose, I constantly feel as if I am behind, as I slowly work my way around the new sphere grid.
All in all, Final Fantasy is a game that deserves to be played. If you are a fan of RPG's, you should definitely check it out. If you are a long time fan, look for those nods to the other entrances of the series, which are sprinkled on top like one delicious video-game cupcake. It's flaws are tiny, small in comparison to what Square Enix has masterly cooked up for us and served like any of Ignis' tasty meals.