Review: Final Fantasy XV, Episode Duscae

Every so often in the gaming industry something happens that turns everyone's head, regardless of your interests, whether that be an announcement, game release or something else. It would be fair to say that you could probably put the lead up to Final Fantasy XV as such an event.

I can see why this was chosen as the loading screen.

The game itself isn't due to be released until sometime next year, but that hasn't stopped people talking especially since it has been in development since 2006. What's more, Square Enix have sent us a teaser bundled in the console port of Final Fantasy Type-0, that being Episode Duscae.

After downloading the demo, we are given an opening menu with a backdrop of the night's sky, with all of the traditional options including subtitles and Japanese voice acting.

Once the game begins we see a cutscene with 4 young men inside a tent. An alarm (which it has to be said is incredibly annoying), is going off and 3 of the company are awake, while the main character remains asleep. Eventually (and not soon enough with for that alarm), Prince Noctis wakes up and the tent opens up to reveal a gorgeous tundra and woodland with quite the skyline, that provides the setting for around the next 5 hours of your life.

First off we are given an introduction to the combat system, which is happily simple to understand though a fair challenge to master. Noctis has several different attacks which he can use with different weapons kept somewhere in the void of the Final Fantasy world. Attacks can be made at close range or by warping, a function which you can also use to get around the terrain by transporting yourself to steel pillars. There are also several other attacks which Noctis has at his disposal ranging from jump attacks through to a whirlwind strike.

Pretty vicious looking spear Noctis has got there.

The aim of the demo? Well the group are on a bit of journey. For what purpose isn't explained in all that much depth. However,  the car they have been using for said journey has broken down in this visual paradise and a fee needs to be paid for it's repair. Thankfully, there's a nasty monster that needs slaying and the rewards happens to just about cover the money the group need for their car. So, monster slaying it is. There are several side quests that you can go on while in the demo, with some pretty powerful swords to find as well, though none of this is essential for completing the main mission.

On the way to finding the behemoth, the group run into harmless herd like animals as well as some not so harmless wolves. Alongside them there are also some armour clad soldiers that seem to have something against the group (I'm guessing that might just have something to do with 'Prince' Noctis). Though these battles are good for testing out different attacks and tactics, they quickly become tiresome and more a chore than a challenge.

The group will meet the monster on at least two occasions, firstly the battle will prove too much for them and they will flee. Second time round, if you elect to go into the creepy cave at the top of the map, the battle becomes much easier, if only because you gain the ability to summon a god to kill everything and anything without fail- I can't say I'm entirely sure how well this will work throughout the whole game.

There are alternatives of course, sell the odd bits you gain from fallen enemies to the shop to gain enough money (trust me, this will take a long time) or gain enough experience to kill the beast without your new supernatural power (again, probably going to take a while).

With a bro heavy company there had to be a gal somewhere...

Once you have your money, you can go to the garage to find a somewhat typical FF girl who has fixed and suped up your car for your onward journey, which is, unfortunately, where the demo ends. You'll be able to go back and play from just before the end to finish any other quests and find more items.

To sum up? Well it's looking promising. The graphics are simply stunning, and by next year you can only imagine they will be even better and more varied. The combat is fluid and quick paced, though you become too powerful too quickly and battles become boring before you've really got used to them. It's a minor point though and with some work it definitely can be improved. All of that said, not only am I confident that, upon it's eventual release, Final Fantasy XV will live up to all expectations and maybe just exceed some of them as well.