The Windows Edition of Final Fantasy XV comes full with all of the DLC launched to date, together with episodes devoted to every of Noctis’s crew: Gladiolus, Prompto, and Ignis. Unfortunately, these are hidden away in the principle menu somewhat than slotted into the principle sport, the place all of those episodes happen, which means you’ll be able to simply overlook them by diving straight into the story.
This is a large disgrace. Square Enix have executed a implausible job utilising these episodes to ship brief tales which are self-contained whereas increasing the general plot of Final Fantasy XV. To assist these DLC episodes alongside then, we’ve got give you just a few the reason why it’s best to lend them your time.
Warning: spoilers for the principle plot of Final Fantasy XV from right here on.
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Filling within the gaps within the plot
Final Fantasy XV’s plot is an uneven one. It begins out gradual in its starting chapters earlier than steamrolling so quick within the later ones that you’re left with extra questions than solutions about what precisely is happening. As the credit roll, you’ll in all probability be left with a furrowed forehead as you ponder the sport’s complicated chain of occasions and why sure enormous revelations surrounding the get together are left utterly unaddressed.
This is the place the DLC episodes are available. Square Enix have used these brief tales to elaborate on key occasions, fill in plot gaps left by the principle story, and supply wonderful character growth to the principle get together.
While Episode Gladiolus doesn’t assist to increase the principle plot, it does deal with us to a proof as to why Gladio spends most of his time performing like he’s bought a stick shoved firmly up his behind. We lastly get to see his weak facet and that helps to justify the extra aggressive elements of his character on show the remainder of the time.
The episode additionally reveals us what Crownsguard Cor has been as much as throughout the sport. It is a plot gap that wanted filling on condition that he doesn’t spend any of his time serving to out Noctis and crew, as you’d count on from a person in his place.
Episode Prompto and Ignis add much more to the general story. Both episodes do a terrific job of tying up unfastened ends whereas giving us the backstories that assist to elucidate them higher. For Prompto, we get to see one other facet of the in any other case outgoing gunner. It additionally revealed how Ignis misplaced his eyesight within the occasions of chapter 9, and why that painful sacrifice was essential.
If the principle plot of Final Fantasy XV made sense to you, Episode Ignis throws in an opportunity to attain a number of endings. The one you get is set by the selection you make when confronted by Ardyn. Despite these endings solely being discovered within the DLC, they’re grounded sufficient throughout the sport’s world for the argument to be made that they’re a part of the canon as a lot as the right ending – effectively, maybe ‘proper’ is simply too beneficiant a time period.
More time with the boys
Hanging out with Noctis and crew as they embark on their street journey throughout Eos looks like being within the firm of real pals. You develop keen on the boys and their varied quirks, from Ignis’s mother-hen nature to Gladiolus’s insistence on embarrassing Noctis in entrance of each girl they encounter.
The gang takes a backseat throughout the principle plot factors of the sport to as an alternative give attention to Noctis and his proposed birthright to change into the True King. This implies that, whereas the remainder of the crew are removed from undeveloped, we see and listen to much less of them because the finale begins to unfold. With the DLC episodes focusing completely on every get together member, although, we get some lengthy overdue character perception, rectifying a few of the one-dimensional tropes that our travelling boyband typically exhibit.
Gladiolus comfortably suits into the hyper-masculine character trope, however in his episode we see that he’s extra than simply the quiet brute of the get together, as visits his mentor to reaffirm his capabilities after being defeated in battle. Likewise, we see Prompto hit with a revelation that deconstructs the assured facade he has put up since his youth earlier than he rebuilds it.
In reality, Episode Prompto is Final Fantasy at its best – delivering a combination of sombre, emotional plot beats alongside bonkers set-pieces. Finally, Ignis lastly loses his cool as he’s compelled right into a state of affairs that turns him right into a matted hero. There can also be a terrific emotional reunion between Ignis and Noctis to see.
New fight mechanics to play with
If you’re a long-time Final Fantasy fan then XV’s fight – whereas as acrobatic as a scene out of a shounen anime – would possibly go away you eager for the standard battle components: controlling all characters, inputting prompts, and watching your technique come to life on display.
If that’s the case then one of many sport’s many patches will please you. It lets you change between characters on the fly in battle so you’ll be able to create rousing situations not in contrast to these of older video games within the sequence. Unleash a flurry of assaults as Noctis after which change to Prompto to deal the ultimate blow along with his handgun. Boom!
As the Windows Edition comes with all of the patches and DLC you may make use of this characteristic as quickly as you unlock the character-switching skill within the Ascension Tree for 20AP. Of course, every particular person episode additionally permits you to get conversant in the battle mechanics of every black-leather boy. As Gladiolus, you’ll be able to tackle a extra defensive method to fight, full with arage meter that builds as you efficiently block assaults.
Choosing to play as Prompto turns the RPG right into a third-person shooter- he additionally has the power to steal enemy weapons and use it towards them. Not to say that Prompto’s position as photographer means he also can take selfies with enemies in true millennial vogue. Then you’ve Ignis, whose fight type takes affect from hack-and-slash titles like Devil May Cry, choosing fast-paced battles that encourage dangerous actions by means of the usage of the injury multiplier.
The distinctive fight seen in every of the DLC episodes portrays Final Fantasy XV in maybe its truest gentle: an amalgamation of genres and influences, each Western and Japanese, that collectively creates one thing flawed but unquestionably thrilling.
A powerful solid of secondary characters is cemented
One of the strongest features of Final Fantasy XV is its characters – and we’re not simply speaking about these boys in black once more The sport’s secondary solid, from Gladiolus’s energetic youthful sister Iris, to mercenary for rent Aranea, to bubbly mechanic Cindy, are all pleasant people in their very own proper. With Cindy and Iris that includes repeatedly all through the principle plot of the sport, XV’s DLC episodes take the chance to increase on a few of the extra essential but uncared for personalities: Aranea and Ravus.
Aranea is a transparent distinction from the principle get together from the second she confronts them. She is carefree and flirty, and seems to be comparatively unaffected by the battle surrounding her. This is strengthened when she joins the group of 4 as a short lived get together member, offering cheeky quips throughout an in any other case dour plot sequence.
In Episode Prompto her in any other case one-note character is given some extra time to blossom. In it, she reassures Prompto and restores his confidence when he wants it. It’s an essential milestone for each characters, as the 2 wisecracking personalities show vulnerability whereas discussing concepts of household and acceptance.
Ravus, one of many sport’s main antagonists, spends a lot of Final Fantasy XV vastly undeveloped, showing half-hearted along with his bitterness in the direction of the group subsequent to fellow villain Ardyn’s pure menace. Taking a backseat in the course of the story occasions, his finale – and subsequent demise – feels grossly underwhelming once we know so little about him.
We lastly get to see extra of Ravus throughout Episode Ignis because it takes place in the course of the climatic occasions of chapter 9, most notably, the demise of Luna, who’s each Ravus’s sister and Noctis’s fiance. Ravus begrudgingly companions with Ignis as they traverse by means of Altissia, with Ravus displaying himself as a calculated but thoughtful man, who’s later overcome with grief. The revelation of Ravus’s help for Noctis’s crew on the finish of the episode makes his demise at their arms significantly bittersweet.
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