FINAL FANTASY XV WINDOWS EDITION

FINAL FANTASY XV WINDOWS EDITION offers a unique blend of a sprawling open-world RPG and an emotional narrative centered on friendship and duty. The game excels at capturing a "road trip with bros" vibe, with strong character bonds and immersive world-building through camping scenes and banter. Visually, it shines with detailed environments and high-quality character models, complemented by a fitting soundtrack. However, the story feels fragmented and incomplete without supplemental content like DLCs, anime, and a novel, which many players find necessary to fully appreciate the plot and character development.

The gameplay features real-time combat with flashy mechanics but lacks depth and challenge, often reducing fights to button mashing. Exploration is enjoyable but limited by repetitive and uninspired side quests, which can become a slog. Technical issues such as clunky controls, occasional bugs, and poor AI detract from the experience. Despite its flaws, many players found the emotional moments and overall journey memorable and satisfying, though opinions vary widely depending on expectations and tolerance for its shortcomings.

Highlights

Players praise the game's emotional storytelling focused on brotherhood and camaraderie, with memorable character interactions and a heartfelt narrative. The beautiful graphics and detailed environments create an immersive fantasy world. The soundtrack, particularly the orchestral boss themes, enhances the atmosphere. The combat system, while sometimes repetitive, is visually impressive and offers satisfying moments. The DLC episodes add valuable character depth and alternative perspectives, enriching the overall experience. Many appreciate the game's ambitious attempt to blend cinematic storytelling with an open-world RPG format.

Criticisms

Common criticisms include a fragmented and underdeveloped main story that requires external media to fully understand, leading to confusion and dissatisfaction. The combat lacks variety and challenge, becoming repetitive and overly simplistic. Side quests are often tedious, involving excessive driving or fetch tasks that disrupt pacing. Technical issues such as clunky controls, poor AI behavior, and occasional bugs frustrate players. Some find the open world empty and uninspired, with inconsistent design choices limiting exploration. The reliance on DLC and other media for crucial story elements is seen as a major flaw.