Final Fantasy XV

You know, I kinda wish we got the rest of this game's DLC and it didn't get shitcanned, because there's the bones of something truly special buried within Final Fantasy XV that I can't quite describe but I'm going to attempt to here anyway. Most of the people who would want to purchase this game probably already have, but since FFXVI is out and Clive is in Tekken 8, I'm sure people will probably have some mild interest in this and at that I think some explanation is warranted as to what this is, and what it is not.
This game is not a good story, but it is a story with good characters. It's not a good action game, but it is a game with good action. This game is not an open world adventure, but it does have a world that is open to have adventures in. This game is not a dungeon crawler, but it does have dungeons you can crawl through, sometimes literally. It's a simulacrum of many different types of games, coming together to create something that is greater than the sum of its parts, but probably in a bad way with how heavy it gets.
For example, this game has a LOT of side-missions and sidequests. Maybe I don't wanna do a solid 50-60 hunt quests where I go to a random place, kill a random monster and return for money I won't spend and materials I won't use. But the process of doing those quests, and going to those random locations and beating those random monsters, reveals something I might actually want to use, like a gathering point for materials I will use or a fishing spot for fish I will catch or a campsite for resting and eating food that is useful to continuing the game.
These missions aren't difficult. Nothing in this game is difficult, even its hardest challenges and most in-depth setpieces. It's an easy game, made even easier by how cracked out leveling up is even though they try to restrict you by only tallying experience when you rest. But since you can easily double the amount of experience you gain within the first hour of the game, and then in its second half find a way to triple it and go even further, it's not like leveling will actually be difficult. Same goes for equipment -- the materials you find are plentiful and the weapons and gear you can discover or that drop from enemies or bosses keep you going with minimal effort.
Shoot, you can even turn the game on an easier mode so you're just kinda rolling around steamrolling everything. Even the deadly monsters that appear at night that you're supposed to be afraid of (and probably are at first since they're three times your level) are actually pretty surmountable and later trivial because of the sheer number of recovery items and combat options you have for dealing with stuff like this. That doesn't even cover your ability to swap to any of your other bros and change what game you're playing (Dark Souls for Gladio, a shittier DMC for Ignis and a surprisingly competent third person shooter for Prompto) when you don't feel like dealing with Noctis's busted-ass auto-fighting and teleporting powers.
So where IS the effort in this game? I suppose it's in riding chocobos over the sweeping landscapes, or admiring the scenery while you're doing the speed limit on the highway in your Mercedes-Benz, or the dopamine hit you get from doing an impromptu dual tech with your one-to-three best friends in the whole wide world or the cute little interactions the Backstreet Anime Boys have when they're chilling in the car or at camp. They play cards, they swipe their phones to help each other in gacha game raids, they hoist up and sit on the top of the seats in the convertible when the sun's out, they banter and laugh and give you a front-row seat to everything they do, every photo they take, every meal they eat. In that sense, this game is... Amazing. This journey is amazing, something truly wonderful to spectate and bring to its conclusion.
But that's the problem: You're spectating it. You're watching it unfold, but not really being an active participant in doing so. The plot is a series of checkpoints and serious conversations held by people who are far away from the moments that have ruined their lives and emotionally unimpactful developments that you know you're supposed to care about, but that you don't really understand. There's a few reasons why. The translation is one of them. If you pick up the English Subtitles For Japanese Voice-Over mod that uses yu_eriyama's retranslation of the story, you get a much stronger understanding of how the characters are feeling than in the original.
The other is probably the game's budgetary limitations and development hell. FFXV started life in 2009 as a side-game to Final Fantasy XIII, and we all know the story of how Squeenix handled that, including the disastrous launch of FFXIV and its later extremely popular revival and the general loss of brand power of Final Fantasy compared to the 90s and early 2000s. So when this game launched on the PS4, it was a complete mess; the story was barely complete (they had to add cutscenes that were just footage from the movie to make it make more sense), they had to expand and revise the final areas in a post-game patch, they only got to release four DLCs for the game out of a planned seven (most of the story's main heroines were supposed to get a DLC), and even the multiplayer was tacked-on but also unusually important for understanding the state of the world at the end of the game, which is never something you want to do.
Most FF fans know this already. This game is fraught. But you can see where decisions Squeenix made during this game's development showed up later. Kingdom Hearts 3's combat probably wouldn't be so loose and full of spectacle and ridiculous particle effects if this game didn't have them. Same goes for FFXVI. This game also sold well enough to give the developers the breathing room to make FFXIV something truly special, to make more, better Final Fantasy games and to release a bunch of remakes and updates of games that people loved in the past, like Trials of Mana or Saga Frontier Remastered. It saved the franchise, and it really tries to push the envelope of what an RPG actually is.
An RPG isn't necessarily just a set of numbers and statistics, or a narrative that you shape and participate through your actions. If we want to talk about roles, FFXV's role for you is pretty clear: You're here to enjoy the show. The anime boys are here to put it on for you, and be your guides through it, and maybe remind you that there's more fun to be had in the journey than just in its conclusion.

This was the second Final Fantasy game I ever tried (and honestly, it might be my last; not because it was bad, but just because I’m not super into the series). That said, I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed traveling in a game as much as I did in this one. The world feels so alive, and the bond between the characters? Absolutely priceless. The story had me completely hooked, and man... I wish I had a friend group like that in real life.
I played this instead of studying (no regrets), and honestly, it was the best decision. I was stuck in my hometown during the summer thanks to university nonsense, and this game made my days so much better.
If you’re looking for an unforgettable journey, go for it.

now i can never listen to "stand by me" without violently sobbing. 10/10 would roadtrip with the boys again.

ignore the story and all the sidecharacters, these are the unfinished part of the game. Play the game for the chill roadtrip with the boys.

I can’t even describe how much this game means to me. I wish I could write paragraphs and paragraphs in this review but… I can’t. I’ve tried. I’ve been trying for months since I finished it, but there’s something so special about this game that’s impossible to put into words.
FFXV is beautiful. It’s captivating. It’s emotional. It takes you on a journey you’ll never forget.
Truly the most incredible experience I’ve ever had with a videogame.

A Journey of Grief, Brotherhood, and Beauty
Final Fantasy XV hit me deeper than I ever expected—not just as a game, but as an emotional experience. At its core, it's a story of loss, of destiny, and of learning to carry on with the weight of grief. I saw myself in Noctis more than I thought I would. The loss of his father, King Regis, is a turning point—not just in the narrative, but in Noctis’s identity. That sudden, violent rupture of connection, legacy, and love was something I could feel in my bones. Like Noctis, I’ve known what it means to lose someone who shaped my world.
But what makes Final Fantasy XV so special is what comes after that pain.
As the world grows darker and heavier with responsibility, the light comes not from Noctis alone—but from his friends. Prompto, Ignis, and Gladio aren't just companions. They are his brothers, his found family, and their journey together is what makes this story unforgettable. The quiet moments by the campfire, the shared meals, the bickering, the loyalty in battle—it’s in those details that FFXV shines brightest. It reminds you that in the face of grief, it's the bonds we forge that keep us going.
The lore of Eos is vast and intriguing—gods that toy with mortals, ancient prophecies, kingdoms at war, and a world on the brink of shadow. It's all there, but it never overshadows the humanity of the story. It supports it, wrapping the journey in myth while keeping the heart firmly grounded in real emotion.
Gameplay-wise, the overworld is a stunning expanse of beauty. From dusky deserts to glistening lakes and gothic ruins, it feels alive, with every location telling its own story. The boss fights are spectacular—cinematic, high-octane, and often breathtaking. Facing down godlike beings with thunder crashing overhead or fire raining from the sky gives every encounter weight and spectacle.
But for all the action and fantasy, it’s the quiet, human moments that stick with me most.
Final Fantasy XV isn’t perfect, but neither is life. It’s messy, painful, beautiful, and full of people who walk with us even when we don’t know how to move forward. And in that way, this game helped me process something deeper.
“Noct, you’re not alone.”
That line still echoes. Because none of us are—not really.

600 hours of driving around, fishing, camping and chilling with the boys. I had a great time playing this game. Would do it again.