

You can save and edit any photos you want, and it really helps FFXV lean into that road trip feel, showing the gang just hanging out and having fun.Ĭombat puts a big emphasis on working together with the party, with unique abilities that see Noctis teaming up with one of his buds. It’s a remarkable system that automatically takes shots as you play, which you can then review every time you rest at a camp or hotel. A huge part of this is the photo system, which has Prompto snapping photos of your journey along the way. The world of Eos simply feels vibrant, and it’s especially interesting to see smaller rest stops and hotels dotted around the map, on top of larger cities and settlements.įFXV is loaded with little details that help make its world and characters feel rich, like Ignis asking if a rest stop has his favorite Ebony Coffee. Part of what works about the road trip portion of the game is simply how much fun it is to drive around Eos and hang out. These are four incredibly complex and well-written characters, and XV is the best Final Fantasy has ever been at showing “brotherly” bonds. You learn how Ignis has basically been an older brother to Noctis throughout his life, how Prompto learned to overcome some of his insecurities, and how the weight of responsibility has affected Gladio. The first half of the game really focuses on getting to know the main party, taking ample time to build the relationship between Noctis and his friends. While it may feel jarring initially, this split serves a purpose.įinal Fantasy XV revels in small little moments that make its characters feel real.

The second half focuses almost entirely on linear story segments that lead up to an explosive ending.

The first focuses on the open-world road trip where you travel around the world of Eos. Rather infamously, FFXV is split into two major halves. With this setup Noctis heads out on a lengthy road trip to get to his wedding, accompanied by his three closest friends and vassals. In a bid to make peace with the militaristic Niflheim Empire, Noctis agrees to an arranged marriage with Lunafreya Nox Fleuret, the princess of one of the Empire’s vassal states. It ends up in one of the most unforgettable experiences the series has to offer, one that wouldn’t be what it is without its quirks and flaws.įFXV tells the story of Noctis Lucis Caelum, the young prince of the flourishing country Insomnia. FFXV is a bit of a baffling game, disjointed and messy in some ways, but wildly ambitious and utterly charming in others. In 2016, after nearly a decade of tumultuous development and rebooting, Final Fantasy XV tackled the idea of a “fantasy road trip,” and did it with gusto. Road trips aren’t a common theme in video games, as it’s often difficult to match the scope of what a real location-hopping trip would entail.
