Final Fantasy XV Could Be The Greatest Video Game Launch Of All Time

Captain Camper of Gamers Heroes writes:

We're just days away from what could be the greatest video game launch of all time: Final Fantasy XV. Captain Camper of Gamers Heroes discusses the potential for FFXV to revolutionize the gaming industry

[PaleMoonDeath]

I'M READY! THE STIFFY CAN DIG UP GRAVES! THE 10 YEARS WAIT! THE POWER WITHIN!!

DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEJA VUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

[mikeslemonade]

nope that's GTAV and GTAVI will be even bigger.

[indyman7777]

First of all congrats on a article for showing effort in their researching. This is no 'one paragraph' click bait.

While it may not be the biggest game, Obviously if your able to play a rpg through in 40 hours (as square admitted) it is not the largest, or even big enough to be called medium size, medium would be 80 hours just to make the cut. But still it's longer than most FPS.

But, I would agree with it being the largest action jrpg adversiment budget. And the most important action rpg push, since Dragon Quest the worlds tree woe, and the blight below (which is good and should have had more money behind it).

in fact if Square copies that action rpg's fighting fell, and cut down on the long constant swarmed feeling you get
it could go from being three bad demos to one awesome game! (it's possible because it is the same company square bought Enix years ago).

But I'm still going to wait on the reviews. Square is giving this game lot's of marketing dollars. It will at least sell good at the start.

[bouzebbal]

I doubt it will be biggest of all time but it will definitely be a big release, one of the best in years.
I cannot wait I didn't buy a ff day one since ff12

[Hoffmann]

It will be Duke Nukem Forever all over again lol.

[Kurdishcurse]

cute and dilusional comment.

[X-Alchemist]

hmm there is a chance this game could flop, after waiting a decade I sure hope it doesn't but if it does it'll probably be one of the biggest disappointments in gaming next to NMS

[Ricegum]

Next to NMS? So you're telling me you have never been disappointed with anything before? Duke Nukem? Rise:Son of Rome? Assassins Creed Unity? Recore? What about Resident Evil 6?!

There has been a lot of disappointment but you guys always point to NMS as if it's the only one lol. Trust me, there has been a lot worse 😂

[CaptainCamper]

Is it even possible to deliver after people have been waiting a decade? :D

[Gaming_Cousin]

Of course

[ShadowKnight]

Same way I feel about Kingdom Hearts 3 but I know they'll deliver

[CrimsonPheonix]

What are you expecting other than a good video game?
As long as you don't go into it with unrealistic expectations. This game is not going to cure all illness, extend the human llfespan, or make you filthy rich. There will be those who are new to Final Fantasy who likely won't "get it"
and dismiss it for not being a garbage ADHD call of duty find something to shoot type of game, but for those of us whom are into discovering a world I'm sure an enjoyable experience will be had.

[Ravenor]

That high horse, it's so high.

[dead_pixels]

I'm hoping so, but that supposed 20-30 hour story has me on the fence.

[CaptainCamper]

I'm sure I recall them saying it was a 40-50 hour main story. Was hoping for an 80 hour marathon with all the side content :(

[lucied13]

you are about correct the whole thing is around 80 (took me 78) and the story is about 20 hours with no skipping.

https://puu.sh/suPjJ/7dd83f...

[Irishguy95]

Heard about that, i'm not to bothered though, as that is kinda like...skipping some stuff you shouldn't skip. Like... Royal arms...Dungeons(from people who already have it..say these are awesome)...And the side content in general. Seems like some good side content.

Its short AF for an FF main story for sure though. I've heard great things about it though, but also negative in terms of stuff that probably should be there but isn't. While the story has it tightly bound to make sense..like..still! It should be there.

[indyman7777]

A lot of times in final fantasy games you get 30 hours from a battle area, where you just practice fight and gain items. other times it is a arcade game. Or a secret dungeon to get a special summon (thats the one you should not skip). Or a side story (and for me that is the second thing you should not skip).

[pasta_spice]

I'm not too worried about the length. I beat FF7 the first time in just over 30 hours and I didn't rush through it. Quality over quantity.

[indyman7777]

I hate people that lie try to impress with the. I beat a game that takes 40 hours to beat with a God mode unable to die code, they some how beat it in 29 hours. At least you said 30 hours.

[Irishguy95]

DOn't be redicukus indyman, my personal favorite of mine is mass effect 1, doing everything, in less than 10 hours, Mass effect 2 wasn't much longer either...maybe shorter even possibly 7 or 8 hours, that was before Mass effect 3 came out so I rushed throguh them ensuring I had everything perfect/all characters alive, I was shocked how quick. FF7 was 40 hours with doing a decent amount of side content. Mostly I would finish in 35-38 hours doing multiple side quests or hidden areas, such as ultimate weapon, omnislash, Yuffie sidequest, condor mountain etc. 30 definitely is feasible. If you take 40 hours without side content thats your fault.

[JohnnyHurricane]

I am ready

[PhoenixUp]

I got KO'd waiting an entire decade for this game. Somebody toss me a Phoenix Down

[Gaming_Cousin]

I summon Phoenix. Rain down your healing powers master

[indysurfn]

LOL

[-Foxtrot]

Lets just calm down and see what happens. We've seen this kind of thing happen before and then a month or so later when the dust settles you see things more clearly.

Does this mean I'm not excited or saying FF15 looks crap...of course not but after being burnt so many times with Final Fantasy and other games like MGSV, Destiny or No Mans Sky I think we should just see what happens. I remember reviewers giving FF13 perfect scores and then playing it.

[Muzikguy]

I thought MGSV was awesome. Got the platinum and everything.

[Nu]

Lix Fox Trot says wait a month before you comment. I too thought MGSV was special until I realized it was so damn repetitive.

lol damn typo Like*

[_-EDMIX-_]

I also felt Metal Gear Solid 5 was awesome, that was my personal game of the year last year.

[Muzikguy]

It certainly had GOTY potential IMO too. Bloodborne was also up there

[-Foxtrot]

MGSV was a well made game but it was the worst main MGS game we have. I could list the problems but I've done that so many times.

It was hyped up and it's obvious reviewers didn't play it for that long to see the problems.

[SovereignSnaKe]

The game play was fantastic, but stacked against the other games in the series the story, dialogue and voice acting was terrible. Troy Baker made Ocelot sound so "every man generic" as well as too friendly. Kiefer Sutherland voicing Big Boss.. ugh.. -_-

[indyman7777]

Dang if only people had waited on No Mans Sky, people tried to warn them........

[vikingland1]

I'm with you on this, I'm excited and hope it's a fun game. I even prepaid for it on PSN. But I'm also tempering my expectations.....still I'm very much excited I can't help it😆

[indysurfn]

You bought it on PSN? Which means after it launches you will NEVER get your money back! Blah hah haaaa!

[Chaos_Order]

Right now my gut feeling is that FFXV is not for me, so I'm trying not to get sucked in by the hype. Back before MGSV was released my gut feeling was that it wouldn't be all that great, but then trailer hype followed by 9s and 10s from reviewers so I ignored my gut and bought it. And... it was the biggest disappointment in all my 25 years of gaming.

So I'm going with my gut on this one and not buying.

[Nara_shikamaru]

Okay

[Germany7]

Exactly, MGS V is the perfect example, it's the worst MGS ever.

[-Foxtrot]

But because of Kojima and brand name

"OMG BEST GAME EVER...PERFECT 10/10"

Imagine if Kojima made No Mans Sky the backlash wouldn't be as high

[moegooner88]

Game is good but the open world is stale. Just large identical spaces with nothing to do. Hope that changes later on.

[JoeDG]

The same Problem here... i hope after act 1 it will be better..

[moegooner88]

It is a total bug fest as well. Don't believe they did any QC at all. Worst lighting engine I have ever seen. Characters look black when turning their backs to the sun

[Nara_shikamaru]

Lol, look at you, expecting perfection. The real world's lighting has never been represented more accurately than in this game, other games love to use all these weird effects to provide a more appealing aesthetic which is unrealistic if you didnt know

[Muzikguy]

I saw a trailer at Best Buy yesterday for the game and it doesn't look at all like a Final Fantasy game that comes to my mind. With that said though, it did look sweet and I'll be picking it up. If for no other reason it'll be because of the long ass wait

[_-EDMIX-_]

Lol all the final fantasies are different so exactly what would you expect it to look like?

[Muzikguy]

People say this yet from 13 on they're looking more the same. I'm talking about the battles and stuff mostly. Looks more like a hack and slash now than a FF game

The graphics sure looked cool and it will be nice to play a current gen RPG made for these consoles.

[_-EDMIX-_]

You had an active battle system in Final Fantasy 12.....

I don't recall Final Fantasy being defined by the battle system because it's battle system was actually different with every game.

Being able to physically slash with a sword doesn't actually take away that you are doing damage and that you're leveling up in that you have attributes and specific abilities.

To say it looks more like a hack and slash game simply because you could now jump and slash a sword in my opinion is very ignorant because it's basically assuming that the previous games relied on simply not moving have you ever heard someone say the most positive thing about a Final Fantasy game was that you didn't control the character?

When was not physically doing the movements the most positive thing about a Final Fantasy game?

You still level up in this game , you still have attributes in this game, you still have status ailments in this game, you cannot simply slash your way to victory in this game as you could not in any other Final Fantasy.

In fact from what I've seen the only difference between this Final Fantasy in the previous is that instead of pressing a button and watching the animation you're not physically doing it...

Could you just simply press attack to win at every Final Fantasy game without any training?

So why boil this game down to being a hack and slash as opposed to a final fantasy when not actually physically attacking was never some sort of deliberate positive of the previous final fantasies?

I still stand by what makes an RPG actually has very little to do with what you're physically doing and it has everything to do with the conceptual idea of the game in regards to leveling up and strategy.

That doesn't simply change simply because you could physically attack versus watching an animation.

I don't recall ever defining an RPG or Final Fantasy based on not having physical movement during battle.

I mean technically speaking because all the battle systems in final fantasies are different you could use that same criticism for every Final Fantasy that technically released, wouldn't Final Fantasy 3 be something that doesn't recognize to you as a Final Fantasy game because it has a job system?

[Muzikguy]

They are still different though. Hence the term "hack and slash". Yes the characters gain attributes and level up like other FF games, but that doesn't mean that "hack and slash" is the same as turn based. One also can't control everyone's move because you can only control one character at a time. I did like the trailer that I saw, even though trailers are deceitful many times. I'm still going to buy the game too. Just saying that it's not like a game I would think of when thinking Final Fantasy. Reminds me more of Dragon Age, Fallout, or Elder Scrolls now

[indyman7777]

LOL......your comment is funny (not because it is wrong...not at all). But because every article that attacks jrpg's and especially final fantasy games jrpg's by saying they all look the same, and have the same cutesy looks to them.

[_-EDMIX-_]

@muz- no.

Final Fantasy 15 is nothing like the Elder Scrolls Dragon Age or Fallout series simply because you could actually physically attack.

That's a disrespect even though series to suggest that Final Fantasy 15 is in the same league in regards to specific RPG just based on that alone.

You do not create your character in Final Fantasy 15, it is not classed based, you do not have a specific class or race that you choose of your character..

I play both Western and Japanese RPGs. There's nothing that I like inside of Western RPGs that is in Final Fantasy 15 in regards to why I'm purchasing it.

Kingdom Hearts has had that type of hack-and-slash gameplay is that suddenly no longer an RPG? Is Kingdom Hearts now like Elder Scrolls?

Do you really think fans of the Elder Scrolls series seriously boiled down their entire game to just swinging a sword as opposed to being turned based?

It's not as simple as it sounds.

What makes Elder Scrolls or Fallout or Dragon Age has more to do than simply swinging a sword in real time...

Just like what makes a final fantasy has more to do than pressing a button and watching an animation

To boil down any of these established properties to something like that is a disrespect to the creators of those games.

[Nu]

I was on the fence about this game until I saw Chocobos on the other side so I jumped down the Trump wall to meet them.

[Kyosuke_Sanada]

I hope that Square Enix's other RPGs get a seventh of the advertising that FF XV. I mean they could have used the budget for Kingsglaive for a new Parasite Eve, Bushido Blade or a Chrono game.

[_-EDMIX-_]

So have you not considered that even if they used that money to develop another game that game would then not have money for marketing?

So spend money to develop a game but don't spend money to market the game's existence? Exactly how they are they expecting to make a return on such a development without bringing awareness?

Also I don't remember Parasite Eve ever selling such an amount that would ever justify such a budget in the first place.

Remember it's not just about making the game, it's actually about selling it too.

[Kyosuke_Sanada]

Awareness would have been a problem if Final Fantasy wasn't an established monolith in the RPG genre and as such I feel that Square is going overboard. Square Enix have a bad history of mismanaging funds when it comes comes to their games which is why they expect usually unreal amount of sales. I'm not saying a game shouldn't be advertised mind you but putting all of your eggs in one basket isn't exactly the best move either.

What made Squaresoft huge in the past was creating amazing games through several talented teams and having somewhat realistic expectations from their individual work. It wasn't until the investing too much in Spirits Within( A movie I loved but understand the criticism behind it.) that forced their merge with Enix. I just think that SE shouldn't do the same mistake for the mainline FF games because I severely doubt they can take another hit. It will not be XV but could be the next installment.

What I want is more mid-tier installments composed of brand new and their lesser known titles.

[Muzikguy]

I personally don't think Square ever needed to advertise. People just knew about their games because they loved the studio. SE could be like that too. They're just not making games people want. If they were, they too wouldn't need to advertise as much. And I do agree with Kyosuke, Final Fantasy 15 doesn't need all the ads it's getting. People have only been waiting for 10 years....

[_-EDMIX-_]

That's the most asinine thing I've ever heard for a game as huge as Final Fantasy 15 in which this team has been in development with this game for close to 10 years ( regardless of how you kept this game's development they've been working on this concept for 10 years)

They need to Market this game because you could not just assume that just because you and I as Gamers know about it but the general public also knows about it as well.

Consider you and I are also talking on n4g.

N4G not equal the entire world they very much need to still market and convey this game to the public especially with all the money that they sunk into this game over 10 years it would actually be stupid if they didn't.

Final Fantasy 15 right now it's already leading to be one of their best final fantasies.

Consider even the crappy Final Fantasy 13 moved like 8 million units.

I Believe by default the Final Fantasy 15 is likely going to be the best selling Final Fantasy game they've ever released.

I don't understand? How could you doubt that they could make another hit but also suggest that it won't be Final Fantasy 15 but their next installment , so you're telling me the same company will make a better game the next time but they can't this time? Help me understand what you're actually doubting is it Final Fantasy 15 or Square in general? Because something is very conflicting when you're saying Final Fantasy 15 won't be the title but Final Fantasy 16, well are you forgetting you're talking about the same company? Why don't your criticisms actually match Final Fantasy XVI? Also if you want their lesser-known titles go buy I am setsuna , Bravely Default and world of Final Fantasy.. support the concept if you truly believe in it that thing that's sad and to be over the years is lots of turn-based games are lacking in sales and some of the people on here that keep trash talking about the popularity of action based are also the same people that seem to be very silent in regards to even supporting the turned base concept in the first place with the current releases

@Muz- are you insane? Why would they not Market this game despite its development for over 10 years? Just because the Gaming Community knows about its development it doesn't mean the general public is going to even be aware that it's the same game that was revealed 10 years ago.

They still need to actively convey this game's existence. I see Zero benefit to them not marketing it I can't even understand the concept of a company not marketing a game that was this expensive.

You might say they're not making games people want but these people are not even buying the games that support the concept that they're even asking for in the first place.

And if they are purchasing them they only prove that it is not something that's in his highest demand as they would like to believe.

I am setsuna, Bravely Default and world of Final Fantasy still exist.

[indyman7777]

Edmix he is not saying don't advertise FFXV he is saying at least spend a fraction as much advertise the other games too.

All your arguments are valid but you should also apply them to the other games! In your own words, it is not just about making the games but making people AWARE of them.

Then you say you don't remember parasite eve ever selling such an amount that would justify it. Lets examine that.
When did FFXV sell such an amount to justify the budget it is getting? NEVER! Because it is not out yet! Just like Parasite eve....IT WAS NOT OUT YET EITHER! So they should have advertised it heavily. You are proving his point not yours! Which is Put money behind games people actually turned out liking!

Remember what you said, it is not just about making the game, it is actually about selling it too.

Case and point they are NOT advertising these positively ranked games: I am setsuna(74 average), Bravely Default(85 average) and world of Final Fantasy(78 average). Not ANY of my friends knew these games where out! I had to tell them. ALL OF THEM!

[_-EDMIX-_]

@indy- "Edmix he is not saying don't advertise FFXV he is saying at least spend a fraction as much "

....ummmm

"I personally don't think Square ever needed to advertise"

"you don't remember parasite eve ever selling such an amount that would justify it. Lets examine that.
When did FFXV sell such an amount to justify the budget it is getting? NEVER! Because it is not out yet! "

It's probably one of the dumbest comments I've ever read. Both Parasite Eve and Final Fantasy are established the release titles before. So what I say a third or what many would consider a fourth Parasite Eve would not actually justify such marketing might have to do based on what we know the series to sell realistically.

For a fact the Parasite Eve games do not sell the same amount of the Final Fantasy games this is what I'm referring to.

I'm not entirely sure what you're talking about or why you're assuming I literally mean the exact sales of Final Fantasy 15, how could you justify EXACT marketing of a future you don't know?

What I'm referring to is the marketing based on projected sales based on the respective properties.

Once again Parasite Eve for a solid fact has not seen such sales that would ever justify such a budget.

The Final Fantasy games have sold an amount that justifies such a budget in regards to marketing.

For god sakes one of the least regarded final fantasies with Final Fantasy XIII still sold 8 million units...

All the Parasite Eve games combined on all platforms don't even come near that single title

This has nothing to do with whether I like it or not or anything in that respect , it's simple math that's it....

I'm still not entirely sure why you just tried to question why a Mainline Final Fantasy game should justify such marketing lol

Easily one of the dumbest things I've ever read on this site this year.

When Final Fantasy XIII is moving 8 million units I'm pretty positive that's justification for something like Final Fantasy 15 to get the budget and marketing that warrants its projected sales.

Mind you they're not advertising those games that you mentioned as much simply because they do not warrant such marketing.

Neither of those three games also probably came in at 80 million plus development costs....

I don't think you're realizing that these companies still have to Market realistically based on projections.

If anything I would say the worst thing that they could do is spend more money to Market a game that likely is not projected to even make that return back in the first place. The best thing that they can do is to Market based on what they believe those games could sell, not over spending on marketing for something that may not even have the install base or history or reaching such numbers.

Tell them it's still about making profit.

[Unlimax]

"I mean they could have used the budget for Kingsglaive for a new Parasite Eve"
That's exactly what i was thinking about , i mean why would they waste such a huge budget on a movie that speaks about the game when the game is coming out regardless , if they are interested enough to make a realistic and atmospheric open world games then dammit they should try to show their talent and go with Parasite Eve in the first place , it has real life settings with horror vibe + the whole story evolves around New York City + the MC is NYPD officer and she's so iconic to the point that they even used her on FF7 remake trailer , it could be the first video game that brings collaboration between SE and Rockstar since the first game was also collaborated with EA , anything is possible with this game but they don't use their minds and doesn't know how much it worth to bring back the IP since this idea by itself is a money printing idea that could evolve gaming in general .

[_-EDMIX-_]

The biggest issue I have with some of these assumptions is that many people don't even have realistic answers to how this would even financially make sense they're simply asking for something out of wanting it to exist.

What if this Parasite Eve game doesn't make square a return?

What if Final Fantasy 15 sold less because it was conveyed and marketed less because the funds were used to develop another game? ie Parasite Eve 4 (Parasite Eve 3 if you are about that life lol)

I'm not saying I don't want Parasite Eve 4, I'm simply saying I financially do not see the benefit of taking away marketing from an established property that is actually known to sell huge numbers to then add it to a property that has not been known to sell huge numbers because it might actually result in both games selling less and one of them possibly not even making a return..

Square Enix also would not need to collaborate with Electronic Arts they still own Edios that has made many open World Games before.

"but they don't use their minds and doesn't know how much it worth to bring back the IP since this idea by itself is a money printing idea that could evolve gaming in general"

If anyone knows how much are intellectual property is actually worth it's probably Square...

And I'm sorry but that is not a money printing idea because Parasite Eve in general in a modern setting is that actually a much more expensive undertaking then 15 years ago.

An undertaking that may not even have them getting a return. I'm not saying that you can't see a Revival of Parasite Eve and it can't be successful I'm simply saying that it's not as simple and as easy as you're making it out to be.

If the series was that much in demand its digital versions would have continued to sell when it released on PlayStation Network enough to have square at least question bringing in another title.

Consider titles like Final Fantasy 7 continued to sell after they have to being ported.

So it simply tells me that square knows more about their game and it sells then we do.

Don't get me wrong I really love the Parasite Eve series and believe it's grossly underrated but I do not believe they're releasing another game what justify in such a budget it could be a huge disaster.

You and I love Parasite Eve but you and I are not 7 or 8 million people.

Also, A collaboration of Crystal Dynamics and the original Parasite Eve team would be kind of cool lol

[JoeDG]

Playing it since yesterday. 5 h and it´s ok... My biggest Problem is the Death World including Sound and my Witcher 3 Benchmark for RPG... i think it´s to high

[indysurfn]

So your one of those people that got a copy from stores breaking the release date........Now you may be find out WHY they broke the release day.

[majedx9]

should I buy it on my ps4 pro or wait for the PC port?

[JoeDG]

My Opinion: wait.. the Pro version is really nothing spectacular... wait for the DigitalFoundry review

[kraenk12]

The Pro patch hasn't even been released yet.

[JoeDG]

No pro patch ??? U sure... day one customer like always the idiots

[_-EDMIX-_]

Well you don't even know if the PC version is going to be the Supreme version anyway

[Germany7]

Hey, pc beggar, the Pro patch is not ready yet, lol.

[q8kik]

The problem is that they didn't even give us a release window so who knows how long it will take them to port the game.