He probably comes up with reci-puhy’s” like Link does in Breath of the Wild. Just add one extra Ingredient or more of the same and something different pops out
They undercook the father-son relationship so much. He raised that boy knowing he’ll have to die due to the family curse and he’ll have to take a hand in killing him. There’s one trailer of him holding a younger sleeping Noctis that’s the best we ever get
They should've given us a really intimate scene with Regis and Octis fishing. Would have been enough for me at least, and would finally justify Noctis' fishing skill lol
Clement, you have such a captivating approach to commentary. Whether sharing a criticism, gushing about how amazing something is, joking about the little things, or addressing a somber moment, I always feel drawn in to whatever you're saying. I definitely think the adjustment to video essays/reviews is going to overall be a positive one and I really hope that you get the views and reception that you're deserved here on out.
Final Fantasy XV: the first video game to make me cry like a bitch at the end credits. Not because of all that happens or what befalls our characters, but simply because I knew that the journey was over. There was no more to see. And all I could do was shed tears as _Stand By Me_ played on. XV ain't perfect by a long shot, but for some reason it holds a very special place in my heart.
"There is more personality in Ignis saying "I've discovered a new recipeh" than literally everything in Final Fantasy XIII. FFXV, for all its incredible flaws, has a couple characters I actually wanted to hear talk. I could not care less about the cast of XIII, and in an RPG series that is defined by its incredible characterization, that's a problem." - Patrick Boivin
So , you wanting to hear them talk makes them well characterized, well written, well executed, and overall good characters? I could give you 15 moments off the top of my head that gives XIII's characters way more complexity than that. Despite how poorly written they are, they are well conceptualized characters, and are at least fleshed out. Whether you want to card about them or not.
@@sopekaunutoa8210 Well at that point, which one is more important you know? Simpler characters but are more likeable and entertaining overall or characters that are more complex but it's handled poorly and in a boring way? I have no opinion on the specific casts themselves as i dont play this series, but in general I'd much prefer the former.
I miss the Super Best Friends, but I gotta admit, Pat only grew more toxic over time and I think he's the reason they split up. But he's right every once in a while.
@@MagillanicaLouM I'm not necessarily challenging which is better or not. I can't say as I never played 15 enough to know the characters. The point I'm trying to make is that the characters of 13 have personalities, are complex, and are conceptually fleshed out characters. When I say they are poorly written. I mean the dialogue is awful. However, there's moments when you see their personalities pass the awful dialogue by what is already established, and when they are consistent with it. To answer your question, though. I'd take a well written and well executed likeable, yet simple character over a complex, yet inconsistent character. For example, Scar is a better villain than Lotso. Again, I'm not here to say which is better executed and written, I can't say. Just defending characters from a game that I enjoy. From criticisms that seem unfair to them.
You did it Clement. You got it out before the 20th like you said. I've been looking forward to this video. I'm sure your work on this one is great like always
I was JUST thinking about this yesterday. I’m so excited to get into this because XV is my first genuine experience with Final Fantasy, it’s the first final fantasy game I picked up and played on my own with no prior knowledge. My older brothers grew up with it, but as I was born 10 years later than them I was a little late to the party. I know FFXV isn’t the Versus XIII everyone expected, but I thought it was a great experience on its own, with a beautiful story that left me in tears by the end and still can. I’m excited to get into this one Clement!
Oh wow same. It's the first ff game I played. It destroyed me and I loved the characters. I still cry at the ending. I replay it all the time. Definitely got me in the feelings.
But you can definitely see that namore kind of hates his decision that he stepped down as director from this game because of the fact of the character yoza from Kingdom hearts who looks exactly like noctis he also has a lot of similarities to his original design also the ending after his boss fight is literally a scene from the verses 13 trailer so you know yeah because he wakes up in the car so you can definitely tell he is salty about that
@@minnaing5970 Sorry to break it to ya bud but even some old FF players don’t care for FF10. Ironically out of all the FFs I played XV was the only one I genuinely enjoyed other than Type Zero.
I'm surprised there wasn't a mention about the Luminous Engine, which was created by the same guy who led the creation of the Hedgehog Engine for Sonic Unleashed. He also directed that game!
Don't care what anyone says… Unleashed is STILL the best-looking 3D Sonic game to-date, largely due to its lighting courtesy of the Hedgehog Engine. It's more likely than not Frontiers could overtake it, but still… that'll be a *_14_* year gap between games (Original Colours was great, so was Generations, but all the 2010s games looked cartoony) and… well… I'm _hoping_ the character animation will be as good as Unleashed.
She’s one with the crystal. There was gonna be a whole dlc about Noctis and Luna living life in the crystal and as well as the episode Arenea. But once one of the developers left in charge of the project left the whole thing was done after Ep:Ardyn. Also a masterful video by Clement
By that point I had actually grown quite attached to the main cast, so while I may not have known Luna very well, I felt I DID know Noct. And seeing him break down like he did, my heart went out to him.
Really love how much positive things you have to say about this game. Final Fantasy XV is a rushed, unfinished mess that wastes a lot of its original potential, but it still has so much heart into it, i can't help but feel nostalgic every time it's brought up.
What a pleasant surprise this is. I won't lie, I kind of miss the LPs but I've always really enjoyed the video essay style and I think you do a really great job of it in a unique way, Clement. I'm excited to watch this video and whatever else you put out there!
Even with the games flaws, I will never forget this game. From the demos to the full release its left an amazing impression on me. The ending will never not make me shed a tear. And I really liked Noctis as a protagonist, a royal child that isnt cocky, he just didnt wanna take on the responsibility but ends up growing up and facing everything head on.
Wait what, he is cocky though. You’re probably mistaking the fact that “there’s a reason for it” as him not being it. He is absolutely a cocky royal child at the start
I wish this game will get a remake one day with the whole story being told, everything in episode Noctis would of been great to see with a happy ending.
FF15 is definitely the game in the franchise that needs a full remake the most so we can see the full original vision or at least as close to it as possible.
Hey, Clement! Hope you're doing well. Not gonna lie -- your retrospective videos allowed me to look at the Final Fantasy games with more than a roll-of-the-eyes (being a Sega dork and then busy with school, I only played X and X-2 directly). Thank you for your continued insight.
Who the hell mastered the audio for this game? We've got this big dramatic scene between Noctis and Ardyn, where Ardyn reveals his true identity and his evil plan, except I can't hear a single fucking thing that he is saying because he's WAY lower in the mix than both the music and Noctis's weird grunting! One of the most dramatic scenes in the game, and some audio engineer decided that both the soundtrack and the hero's grunts of pain were more important than the main villain's monologue. I know it's a relatively minor thing, but I feel like it is a perfect microcosm of the baffling decisions that make up so much of Final Fantasy 15.
I am in the camp of loving XV. I acknowledge the flaws and the messy state that was the expanded universe and the patch/DLC cycle, but I still enjoy it greatly. For anyone else who enjoyed it, I recommend reading the Dawn of The Future novel, as it tells the story of the DLCs that were cancelled, and shows what could have been.
This looks more like a tech demo than an actual game. It is beautiful, and seems like it will be right up my alley. I didn’t pick it up when it first came out, but after watching this video, I will definitely give it a try now. Thanks, Clement! 😁
For 1:18:12 onwards, (long read btw) Luna’s death scene always came across as underdeveloped because I can remember thinking even back at launch days that not only was her character on the weak side and we didn’t see her interact with hardly anyone, most notably Noctis, but that her death was the main reason we had to mourn for her. Like you said, it is a sad scene where Noctis has lost the person he was searching for this whole journey, coming so close yet missing the mark because of Ardyn’s intervention, but it came off ultimately as novel since your general premise of her as a player watching the story unfold is “What drives this character besides her duties as a princess?” Like, they BARELY touch on it in Kingsglaive how she is being used as a pawn for Niflheim and she knows it to a degree, but it always comes back to her righteousness and devotion as an Oracle to her people. It’s like a poor satire of Princess Diana. Then we arrive to the death scene, which immediately as a new Final Fantasy fan at the time (introduced through Kingdom Hearts in 2012-3) I had the gut feeling they were paying homage to Aerith sinking after Cloud lets her drop through the water. The cinematography isn’t what bothers me so much, it’s that it comes back to why we’re suppose to mourn for this character. However, Aerith was a party member, we saw how she interacted with the world and her role in story as a Cetra, her relationship with Cloud and by extension, to an extent Zack and how much that unfolds. Generally speaking she was much more of a component to the story and how it unfolds in relation to the minimal character development that what is entailed in FFXV. Luna ultimately comes to be the person for Noctis to miss in hindsight for what COULD’VE been, and for the Ring of the Lucii to be handed when he was ready to confront his fears as heir to the throne.
On the note of the whole "musical rhythm game" bit from around 27:40, Nomura actually almost had FF15 be a musical because he was so moved by Les Miserables that he wanted to restart development and make it more in line with an opera with music combat. No joke.
Yeh the problem about Nomura is. He is just not a very good writer. He is the type of guy that make up a twist and comes up with a explanation afterwards. This kind of writing works for KH most of the time. Becausd KH is a silly world with Disney, hearts and darkness. So Nomura can get away with adding a lot of cryptic not well developed plot. Nomura is able to create some emotions if you are able to ignore the logic holes. For FF15 this was a big problem. As FF15 wantef to be a serious plot. So Nomuras style just not fitted at all. And i fear he may also will ruin FF7 if he continues to much on the path he set up with part1
@HundeBerg7 he didnt write 15 or 7 remake, Hajime Tabata did 15 and Kazushige Nojima and Yoshinori Kitase did 7R. He's also stepping down from directing to give future 7 remake games to his co director, he directed 7 remake and the combat and general game but they had the script since Advent Children. Also he was kicked of FF15 because he kept restarting development
1:18:28 Actually when I saw that death scene I was making comparisons with FF XII. The princess Ashelia and Rasler had pretty much the same time together that Noctis and Lunafreya, but still I think I could understand Ashe's feelings better in the end, because of the much welcomed flashbacks that showed their interactions as lovers, and not as just a princess and a prince. Guess thats expected for a game that has Matsuno as the main writer.
I think it also helps that most of Ashe's and Rasler's time together is off screen so we assumed they had a good relationship while here we can clearly see Noctis and Luna barely interact at all.
@@skyblade7438 Rasler's death is also before the story begins and thus easier to swallow in its role as a motivation/formative event for a party member than something the audience is invested in in its own right. There's a way to do deaths like that well, but treating them like a death in the invested cast is not it. Lunafreya dies very far into XV's plot despite having no presence in the plot and explicitly none in the characters' lives unseen since it's established she and Noctis haven't seen each other for years since they were kids. It makes it confusing if this is supposed to be like Aerith's death, since she has nothing to grasp for the player, and it's all "tell don't show" for her dynamic with the characters in-game and informing how they react (hell Noctis is the only one in the party who seems to care anyway compared to Aerith's loss breaking a lot of the cast of VII). Like the reaction they were clearly going for might have made sense to me if it was one of the 4 Bros that died or otherwise was horribly crippled by the event. I think they might have even been going that direction with Ignis losing his sight, and the reaction to Episode Ignis by a lot of XV players definitely confirms it was more effective.
My favorite patch was adding a flashback to remind you who the old butler dude is when he dies off screen because initially you have no idea who they are talking about when you come back and they say the Empire killed him and you must avenge him 😂
Ardyn'svoice acting is the best in the game. Reminds me of the stellar performances of Raziel, Kain and the eldritch god monster under the pillars in the soul reaver series
I loved this game to death when it was released, I stuck with it for every update and patch and dlc and I'm sure I'll keep loving it for many many more years to come. It's enough to say that there hasn't been a single time I've heard Somnus without getting massive goosebumps and I've cried every single time I've experienced the ending.
Good to see you tackle this game aswell clement! I appreciate this long retrospect series for the Final Fantasy games, an almost 2-hour long video talking about FF and not just rushing it all up like many other youtubers usually do. I love your videos! Keep it up!
I'm very pleased with the direction you have been taking the channel in. To think I've been watching you since your MegaMan Zero 4 let's play. How time flies. Keep up the great work!
Thanks Clement! This was a fun video. I can't believe it's been that long since you first started this retrospective. I'll be sticking until the end as I have been.
This makes me wonder how Nomura will retell FFVersus13 in the Kingdom Hearts universe now as "Verum Rex". Yup, Nomura never got over that Saltiness and decided to retell Versus 13 as Verum Rex in the KH universe now... this is gonna be interesting people.
despite its flaws(which there are many), i couldnt have asked for a more important game to me. the game that got me into ff, was my second ever plat, one of the games i sunk triple digits into etc etc. will forever be grateful for this game and what it did to me
This is the first one i'm going to watch without having played the game at all (some, like 3 or 5, i already knew most of the story and had given it ago in sim). Honestly, i don't think i'd ever find time to play it so i really going to appreciate this as a substitute. Maybe you convince me to give it a go some years down the line. Thank you
Finally. At the journey end. Every FF video you done has been a banger. And your FF14 video even got me into the game. Just having finished Shadowbringers yesterday. And for that I'm eternally gratefull.
Oh my god. IVe been following this retrospective for years. I love your reviews. And I didn't even know you uploaded this until it asppeared on my feed
Had the same waiting journey for this game as you, just that I was 10 years old when it was announced and 20 when it came out. When it did, I was too busy with school and other games to really sink my teeth in. As a long time fan of your channel and someone who JUST beat it in 2022 (just turned 26, god) I'm so glad to see this video and hear about your thoughts and feelings!!
Overall, i did really enjoy 15. So much that I not only purchased the Pocket Edition, but played through the game three times. That being said, 15 really disappointed me. Audio issues during areas that mattered, the handling of the DLC that would've made this game incredibly good. Man... What an experience. These guys remind me of the Chemistry I have with my own 3 best friends.
Also yeah this is the same thing with Kingdom hearts 3 at least for the next RPG square made after final fantasy 7 remake they did not a bunch of years ahead of it instead they reviewed the game the year it was coming out so you know they seem to learn from their mistake with Kingdom hearts 3 final fantasy 7 remake and final fantasy 15 with the fact that they revealed Neo the world ends with you the year it is coming out which is also a lesson a lot of companies learn recently and a lot of game reveals of for stuff that is coming out this year which I love because that way you don't get the people being disappointed after years of waiting for a game I'm also fine with a delay if it's one year is excusable if it is my opinion is game should be revealed close to when they are done because it makes it easier for people to get excited for a game when it is announced to be that way
This game feels better than it actually is, but that in itself is a great feat. The cinematics and the music carry a lot of the emotional storytelling even when the script doesn't overtly do it some of the time. Also not sure about the odds but throughout THE ENTIRE GAME I got a summon like, twice, not counting the scripted ones.
That bit you explained about Final Fantasy changing, I have this passion project of mine, which is the idea is there's an alternate universe of our world, the second half of our big universe as you may refer to it as like the second side of a two sided coin, but made with our childhood memories and how the legends and believes our world may not be real here, but they are in the other universe. So, the main theme and message of my project is about reliving our childhood and accepting that things will not always be the same a few decades later and things do change over time, but you can still use the fond memories you had to create new things for the future generation of kids to enjoy. Being stuck in the past, trying to bring it back is not always the answer, which I am planning to show this through one character I have in mind.
Final Fantasy 15 is a game who's development was so turbulent from so many issues from mismanagement to entire pieces of the story getting fractured between different writers/directors that it's a miracle the devs had enough to salvage to make something coherent at all. All the multimedia stuff was just Square trying to make SOME profit off of a game that was eating money and resources for years. While the final game ended up being decent it's still needs to be looked at as a prime example of what happens if sunk cost fallacy is allowed to take hold. Side note- I'm really happy Square seems to have learned from their mistakes with FF15 and is letting the vision of a single director guide 16's development and marketing. Even if FF16 doesn't live up to the hype it at least is going to feel more focused and confident in what it is.
This was a really nice retrospective/review/overview. One of the best I've seen. It highlights the strengths of the game while deservedly coming down hard in the missteps in the game and the mangagement of this "ffxv franchise". It really explains why the game has such diehard fans as well as those who claim this is the worst game in the company's portfolio. TBH I beat it in 2017 and played the DLC as it came out, but I really wanna jump in again. I'm mostly hoping for a PS5 remaster of the game that would eliminate the loading times to really push me back. With Forspoken using the same engine, it gives me a bit of hope that it will happen sometimes.
I think that through the flaws and shortcomings of FF15, it does end on a satisfying and high note. It is pretty disappointing that the story never truly got to end with Ardyn's redemption. Once you play Episode Ardyn you realize that it really should've been him who was heir to the throne. But the gods were assholes. It would've been nice for both Noctis and Ardyn to change fate and become masters of their destiny. In a lot of ways I feel like it would also "free" Lunafreyna as well. Despite all of her conversations with Noctis about their destiny and responsibility as future rulers, you never truly get the sense that it is something that she even wants to do, and she only accepts it because she does not have a choice as it is what the gods had intended. Defeating the gods would free both of them from that fate and they get their freedom. Would've made for an even stronger ending.
Well square seems to be doing that with every of their games now that is an RPG like Kingdom hearts 3 final fantasy 7 remake and Neo the world ends with you have this so it kind of made sense
Did you ever read the novelization based on the same ending the DLC was intended to build up to? That seems the concept they were going for with those two at least, albeit even more clumsily realized than the game with its own ending.
Wonderful, fantastic review; you've managed to not only present what was done poorly very well, but to present it as well as what was done greatly. I'm one of the people that played back in the launch period and dropped it, for some reason or another; never thought it was bad, just didn't get invested. Now, I want to experience this god-forsaken ride in its entirety: going to finally take the dust off of my old copy and try again some more. Thank you, Clement; this was such a reinvigorating review. It's time to meet with the boys again.
Hey! It's been too long! Final Fantasy hasn't been a franchise I've paid much attention to, but now I'm quite interested in the franchise. Looks like I've been a lot of binge-watching to do now! ❤
Mate, i dont know if its the editing, your voice or a combination of both but usually i tend to skip 5-10 seconds in these long videos on yt. But with you, i havent done it once. I dont feel like you put any dead time inbetween your cuts so i really like it.
Haven't been back to this channel on any kind of consistent basis since i first discovered you back in 2012, with your "Let's Play Sonic Advance! (Part 1)" video. But after watching this, i can vehemently say, i'm a fan.
hello great clement, I recently wanted to find your channel again when i got back into mega man, and wow I'm so glad your channel has grown since then, congratulations man :) missed your channel
GREAT REVIEW, CLEMENT! Although, I'm surprised you didn't mention the cancelled Dawn of the Future Season Pass 2 DLC. For those who don't know, Dawn of the Future was going to give us four DLC episodes. Much like how Season Pass 1 was 3 DLC episodes of the boys, Gladio, Ignis and Prompto. So, who were these 4 episodes going to focus on you ask? Well, it was going to be Episode Ardyn, Episode Luna, Episode Aranea and....Episode Noctis! Yes, that's right. Since Luna had so little screen time in the actual game, we were going to play through the game through her prospective in her DLC episode. In Episode Aranea, we were going to experience her adventure through areas that wasn't explorable in the base game. And then, the MOST exciting one of all, in Episode Noctis, we were going to get his prospective on what he went through when he fell in a deep sleep while he was in the crystal for 10 years. And it was said, he was experiencing an "alternate universe" of his world. This being, the ORIGINAL Final Fantasy Versus XIII world! NO SHIT! With Noctis' original 2006 outfit and everything! This Season Pass 2 looked promising! But sadly, it never saw the light of day. When Tabata left Square. However, before he left, they still released the Episode Ardyn DLC. Why? Well, since Episode Ardyn was nearly 95% completed, they decided to release it, instead of just throwing it away. Now, despite the Dawn of the Future DLCs being cancelled, it did SOMEWHAT saw the light of day...through a book. Yes, Dawn of the Future was all translated into a book. And yes, it's all in English and you can actually buy it. It's pretty cool to see, but it's just a sad reminder that we'll never experience these moments in the game.
"........ you guys are the best!" That ending will stay with me forever. A simple single line, but a really powerful sentiment packed and meaningful one after all the memories and the strong bond you as the player and your digital non-existen gothic boy´s band. Something that only this game can achieve.
The ending is so desperately sad but powerful. Noctis loses his city, his dad, his fiancé, 10 years of his life in which the world goes to hell, then he gets to come back for a little while to enjoy his friends’ company one last time before having to sacrifice his life to save the world by killing a member of his family to then be killed by his family. You get to see the photos they had of their journey, you see that empty campsite, and the shot of him and luna blending into the new title screen is so beautiful
There is so much character in that delivery from Ray Chase at 1:32:48 you probably won't believe you'd get from someone looking as serious Noctis but he sounds like a completly different character, almost channelling his playful trolliness as MoM from Kingdom Hearts.
“I’ve come up with a new reci-puh walked” so “this looks like a good spot to find some ingredients” could fall flat on its face
lmfao
😂 too right
He probably comes up with reci-puhy’s” like Link does in Breath of the Wild. Just add one extra Ingredient or more of the same and something different pops out
Don’t forget “come and buy a pixalizer”
I thought the game played was too boring and automatic. The reason why I never beat it
They undercook the father-son relationship so much. He raised that boy knowing he’ll have to die due to the family curse and he’ll have to take a hand in killing him. There’s one trailer of him holding a younger sleeping Noctis that’s the best we ever get
They should've given us a really intimate scene with Regis and Octis fishing.
Would have been enough for me at least, and would finally justify Noctis' fishing skill lol
"Off my chair, jester. The King sits there." gotta be one of the hardest lines in any game ever.
Clement, you have such a captivating approach to commentary. Whether sharing a criticism, gushing about how amazing something is, joking about the little things, or addressing a somber moment, I always feel drawn in to whatever you're saying. I definitely think the adjustment to video essays/reviews is going to overall be a positive one and I really hope that you get the views and reception that you're deserved here on out.
Ross's Game Dungeon has the same vibe but with old school games mostly.
Final Fantasy XV: the first video game to make me cry like a bitch at the end credits. Not because of all that happens or what befalls our characters, but simply because I knew that the journey was over. There was no more to see. And all I could do was shed tears as _Stand By Me_ played on.
XV ain't perfect by a long shot, but for some reason it holds a very special place in my heart.
Same here
Agreed ❤
Same bud. Same. I felt like I had to give a final goodbye to a group of friends I got really close with but I wasn't ready to say goodbye yet.
First time? I too cried, but there are other games dad did it for me
Same, plus that it's the first big game that I finish
"There is more personality in Ignis saying "I've discovered a new recipeh" than literally everything in Final Fantasy XIII. FFXV, for all its incredible flaws, has a couple characters I actually wanted to hear talk. I could not care less about the cast of XIII, and in an RPG series that is defined by its incredible characterization, that's a problem."
- Patrick Boivin
I mean 15 still sucks as well for other reasons, XIII's combat absolutely shits on XV's. The game treats you like your 5 and the side quest was ass.
So , you wanting to hear them talk makes them well characterized, well written, well executed, and overall good characters? I could give you 15 moments off the top of my head that gives XIII's characters way more complexity than that. Despite how poorly written they are, they are well conceptualized characters, and are at least fleshed out. Whether you want to card about them or not.
@@sopekaunutoa8210 Well at that point, which one is more important you know? Simpler characters but are more likeable and entertaining overall or characters that are more complex but it's handled poorly and in a boring way? I have no opinion on the specific casts themselves as i dont play this series, but in general I'd much prefer the former.
I miss the Super Best Friends, but I gotta admit, Pat only grew more toxic over time and I think he's the reason they split up.
But he's right every once in a while.
@@MagillanicaLouM I'm not necessarily challenging which is better or not. I can't say as I never played 15 enough to know the characters.
The point I'm trying to make is that the characters of 13 have personalities, are complex, and are conceptually fleshed out characters. When I say they are poorly written. I mean the dialogue is awful. However, there's moments when you see their personalities pass the awful dialogue by what is already established, and when they are consistent with it.
To answer your question, though. I'd take a well written and well executed likeable, yet simple character over a complex, yet inconsistent character. For example, Scar is a better villain than Lotso.
Again, I'm not here to say which is better executed and written, I can't say. Just defending characters from a game that I enjoy. From criticisms that seem unfair to them.
You did it Clement. You got it out before the 20th like you said. I've been looking forward to this video. I'm sure your work on this one is great like always
I was JUST thinking about this yesterday. I’m so excited to get into this because XV is my first genuine experience with Final Fantasy, it’s the first final fantasy game I picked up and played on my own with no prior knowledge. My older brothers grew up with it, but as I was born 10 years later than them I was a little late to the party. I know FFXV isn’t the Versus XIII everyone expected, but I thought it was a great experience on its own, with a beautiful story that left me in tears by the end and still can. I’m excited to get into this one Clement!
nob
Oh wow same. It's the first ff game I played. It destroyed me and I loved the characters. I still cry at the ending. I replay it all the time. Definitely got me in the feelings.
Legend play FF 10.
Nobs
But you can definitely see that namore kind of hates his decision that he stepped down as director from this game because of the fact of the character yoza from Kingdom hearts who looks exactly like noctis he also has a lot of similarities to his original design also the ending after his boss fight is literally a scene from the verses 13 trailer so you know yeah because he wakes up in the car so you can definitely tell he is salty about that
@@minnaing5970
Sorry to break it to ya bud but even some old FF players don’t care for FF10. Ironically out of all the FFs I played XV was the only one I genuinely enjoyed other than Type Zero.
I swear this series needs like ten times the views
I'm surprised there wasn't a mention about the Luminous Engine, which was created by the same guy who led the creation of the Hedgehog Engine for Sonic Unleashed. He also directed that game!
Don't care what anyone says… Unleashed is STILL the best-looking 3D Sonic game to-date, largely due to its lighting courtesy of the Hedgehog Engine. It's more likely than not Frontiers could overtake it, but still… that'll be a *_14_* year gap between games (Original Colours was great, so was Generations, but all the 2010s games looked cartoony) and… well… I'm _hoping_ the character animation will be as good as Unleashed.
@@Soufriere84 You're not wrong; Unleashed is a GORGEOUS Sonic game, and it's a shame none of the games since have truly surpassed it.
@@Soufriere84 unleashed is beautiful but forces definitely looks better
Guess that explains the sudden lag once in a while. At least this engine seems a hell of a lot more stable
@@goddessyamato5238 Unleashed looks better in motion, Forces looks better during stop.
Their relationship isn’t fleshed out enough, but that cinematic of him losing her is devastating
I wish their relationship was fleshed out more because had it been they cinematic would have been 100% more devastating.
Oh yeah. Definitely fucked me up.
She’s one with the crystal. There was gonna be a whole dlc about Noctis and Luna living life in the crystal and as well as the episode Arenea. But once one of the developers left in charge of the project left the whole thing was done after Ep:Ardyn. Also a masterful video by Clement
It's not fleshed out at all. They somehow forgot to write the script.
By that point I had actually grown quite attached to the main cast, so while I may not have known Luna very well, I felt I DID know Noct.
And seeing him break down like he did, my heart went out to him.
Really love how much positive things you have to say about this game. Final Fantasy XV is a rushed, unfinished mess that wastes a lot of its original potential, but it still has so much heart into it, i can't help but feel nostalgic every time it's brought up.
The leviathan fight is a glorified cutscene but god damn it’s brilliant. Massive sonic adventure vibes
m.th-cam.com/video/9Z9dAPlAowg/w-d-xo.html
Cause when I think Final Fantasy, I think ... Sonic Adventures.
What a pleasant surprise this is. I won't lie, I kind of miss the LPs but I've always really enjoyed the video essay style and I think you do a really great job of it in a unique way, Clement. I'm excited to watch this video and whatever else you put out there!
These vids are a big part of what got me hooked on the series. Thanks Clement
Even with the games flaws, I will never forget this game. From the demos to the full release its left an amazing impression on me. The ending will never not make me shed a tear. And I really liked Noctis as a protagonist, a royal child that isnt cocky, he just didnt wanna take on the responsibility but ends up growing up and facing everything head on.
Wait what, he is cocky though. You’re probably mistaking the fact that “there’s a reason for it” as him not being it. He is absolutely a cocky royal child at the start
Thanks for the video again, Clement! Glad to hear about this game, and learn more about it. Excited for the future installment!
Let's go I've been waiting so long for this
I wish this game will get a remake one day with the whole story being told, everything in episode Noctis would of been great to see with a happy ending.
FF15 is definitely the game in the franchise that needs a full remake the most so we can see the full original vision or at least as close to it as possible.
Same
Yes! Been looking forward to this for a hot minute
Clement: "feel free to pause the video and get yourself a meal"
Me, already eating while watching the video: "I'm already three steps ahead" 😆
Bro!!!!!!! Good to see a video from you been waiting for more reviews!
I usually don't get emotional over games but the ending and the music and over all tragedy of it all...I enjoyed it
Hey, Clement! Hope you're doing well. Not gonna lie -- your retrospective videos allowed me to look at the Final Fantasy games with more than a roll-of-the-eyes (being a Sega dork and then busy with school, I only played X and X-2 directly). Thank you for your continued insight.
27:48 "They were never going to make a musical rhythm game into a numbered one." I see what you did there.
is that a reference to Nomura's original idea about FFXV?
Who the hell mastered the audio for this game? We've got this big dramatic scene between Noctis and Ardyn, where Ardyn reveals his true identity and his evil plan, except I can't hear a single fucking thing that he is saying because he's WAY lower in the mix than both the music and Noctis's weird grunting! One of the most dramatic scenes in the game, and some audio engineer decided that both the soundtrack and the hero's grunts of pain were more important than the main villain's monologue. I know it's a relatively minor thing, but I feel like it is a perfect microcosm of the baffling decisions that make up so much of Final Fantasy 15.
crazy they never fixed it lmao
Excellently well constructed and thought out video. Thumbs up to you Clement, cannot wait for FF7R.
Fun fact! Lunafreyas move set was recently datamined and is fully playable! (Albeit somewhat incomplete)
Glad to see you back, man!
I am in the camp of loving XV.
I acknowledge the flaws and the messy state that was the expanded universe and the patch/DLC cycle, but I still enjoy it greatly.
For anyone else who enjoyed it, I recommend reading the Dawn of The Future novel, as it tells the story of the DLCs that were cancelled, and shows what could have been.
This looks more like a tech demo than an actual game. It is beautiful, and seems like it will be right up my alley. I didn’t pick it up when it first came out, but after watching this video, I will definitely give it a try now. Thanks, Clement! 😁
For 1:18:12 onwards, (long read btw)
Luna’s death scene always came across as underdeveloped because I can remember thinking even back at launch days that not only was her character on the weak side and we didn’t see her interact with hardly anyone, most notably Noctis, but that her death was the main reason we had to mourn for her. Like you said, it is a sad scene where Noctis has lost the person he was searching for this whole journey, coming so close yet missing the mark because of Ardyn’s intervention, but it came off ultimately as novel since your general premise of her as a player watching the story unfold is “What drives this character besides her duties as a princess?” Like, they BARELY touch on it in Kingsglaive how she is being used as a pawn for Niflheim and she knows it to a degree, but it always comes back to her righteousness and devotion as an Oracle to her people. It’s like a poor satire of Princess Diana.
Then we arrive to the death scene, which immediately as a new Final Fantasy fan at the time (introduced through Kingdom Hearts in 2012-3) I had the gut feeling they were paying homage to Aerith sinking after Cloud lets her drop through the water. The cinematography isn’t what bothers me so much, it’s that it comes back to why we’re suppose to mourn for this character. However, Aerith was a party member, we saw how she interacted with the world and her role in story as a Cetra, her relationship with Cloud and by extension, to an extent Zack and how much that unfolds. Generally speaking she was much more of a component to the story and how it unfolds in relation to the minimal character development that what is entailed in FFXV. Luna ultimately comes to be the person for Noctis to miss in hindsight for what COULD’VE been, and for the Ring of the Lucii to be handed when he was ready to confront his fears as heir to the throne.
@@TdotFunkyeah.
Shall we all agree that "I've come up with a NEW RECIPEHH!" is the best line in any FF game next to "This guy are sick."
You spoony bard
One of my favorites: "How about next?" (From the NES prototype version of FINAL FANTASY II.)
Saw your post in twitter, good luck Clement.
I'm happy to hear your voice again, Clement. You are my favorite gaming TH-camr
On the note of the whole "musical rhythm game" bit from around 27:40, Nomura actually almost had FF15 be a musical because he was so moved by Les Miserables that he wanted to restart development and make it more in line with an opera with music combat. No joke.
Oh, thank god that didn't happen. Nomura, you so silly.
Yeh the problem about Nomura is. He is just not a very good writer. He is the type of guy that make up a twist and comes up with a explanation afterwards.
This kind of writing works for KH most of the time. Becausd KH is a silly world with Disney, hearts and darkness. So Nomura can get away with adding a lot of cryptic not well developed plot.
Nomura is able to create some emotions if you are able to ignore the logic holes.
For FF15 this was a big problem. As FF15 wantef to be a serious plot. So Nomuras style just not fitted at all. And i fear he may also will ruin FF7 if he continues to much on the path he set up with part1
@HundeBerg7 he didnt write 15 or 7 remake, Hajime Tabata did 15 and Kazushige Nojima and Yoshinori Kitase did 7R. He's also stepping down from directing to give future 7 remake games to his co director, he directed 7 remake and the combat and general game but they had the script since Advent Children. Also he was kicked of FF15 because he kept restarting development
1:18:28 Actually when I saw that death scene I was making comparisons with FF XII. The princess Ashelia and Rasler had pretty much the same time together that Noctis and Lunafreya, but still I think I could understand Ashe's feelings better in the end, because of the much welcomed flashbacks that showed their interactions as lovers, and not as just a princess and a prince. Guess thats expected for a game that has Matsuno as the main writer.
I think it also helps that most of Ashe's and Rasler's time together is off screen so we assumed they had a good relationship while here we can clearly see Noctis and Luna barely interact at all.
@@skyblade7438 Rasler's death is also before the story begins and thus easier to swallow in its role as a motivation/formative event for a party member than something the audience is invested in in its own right. There's a way to do deaths like that well, but treating them like a death in the invested cast is not it.
Lunafreya dies very far into XV's plot despite having no presence in the plot and explicitly none in the characters' lives unseen since it's established she and Noctis haven't seen each other for years since they were kids. It makes it confusing if this is supposed to be like Aerith's death, since she has nothing to grasp for the player, and it's all "tell don't show" for her dynamic with the characters in-game and informing how they react (hell Noctis is the only one in the party who seems to care anyway compared to Aerith's loss breaking a lot of the cast of VII).
Like the reaction they were clearly going for might have made sense to me if it was one of the 4 Bros that died or otherwise was horribly crippled by the event. I think they might have even been going that direction with Ignis losing his sight, and the reaction to Episode Ignis by a lot of XV players definitely confirms it was more effective.
My favorite patch was adding a flashback to remind you who the old butler dude is when he dies off screen because initially you have no idea who they are talking about when you come back and they say the Empire killed him and you must avenge him 😂
Lmao. This game was a shallow unfinished mess at launch.
@@colinnixon7739 it still is a shallow unfinished mess
Hey! Long time no seek1 It's been a very long while since I've last heard of ya. How are you been doing these days? ^^
I have been waiting for this moment
Ardyn'svoice acting is the best in the game. Reminds me of the stellar performances of Raziel, Kain and the eldritch god monster under the pillars in the soul reaver series
I loved this game to death when it was released, I stuck with it for every update and patch and dlc and I'm sure I'll keep loving it for many many more years to come. It's enough to say that there hasn't been a single time I've heard Somnus without getting massive goosebumps and I've cried every single time I've experienced the ending.
babe cant talk rn new clement remembers dropped
So, finally, the last one? That was one hell of a ride.
Wow! U came out with this one sooner than I expected! Tbh ur one of the best! Thank you Great Clement!
Good to see you tackle this game aswell clement!
I appreciate this long retrospect series for the Final Fantasy games, an almost 2-hour long video talking about FF and not just rushing it all up like many other youtubers usually do.
I love your videos! Keep it up!
It's finally here, the circle is now complete. Let's go!
I'm very pleased with the direction you have been taking the channel in. To think I've been watching you since your MegaMan Zero 4 let's play. How time flies. Keep up the great work!
Thanks Clement! This was a fun video. I can't believe it's been that long since you first started this retrospective. I'll be sticking until the end as I have been.
This makes me wonder how Nomura will retell FFVersus13 in the Kingdom Hearts universe now as "Verum Rex". Yup, Nomura never got over that Saltiness and decided to retell Versus 13 as Verum Rex in the KH universe now... this is gonna be interesting people.
This was the one final fantasy game other than seven that I'm looking forward to you reviewing
It’s finally here! And definitely worth the wait!
love the reviews + retrospectives on all the JRPGs that you've selected man, it's such bingeable content ;]
Instant watch! Been waitin for this video!
I remember taking the longest singular road route possible and listening to the whole of dancing mad
Bet, perfect way to start the day and weekend! Thanks Clement!!
despite its flaws(which there are many), i couldnt have asked for a more important game to me. the game that got me into ff, was my second ever plat, one of the games i sunk triple digits into etc etc. will forever be grateful for this game and what it did to me
This is the first one i'm going to watch without having played the game at all (some, like 3 or 5, i already knew most of the story and had given it ago in sim). Honestly, i don't think i'd ever find time to play it so i really going to appreciate this as a substitute. Maybe you convince me to give it a go some years down the line. Thank you
Finally. At the journey end. Every FF video you done has been a banger. And your FF14 video even got me into the game. Just having finished Shadowbringers yesterday. And for that I'm eternally gratefull.
Oh my god. IVe been following this retrospective for years. I love your reviews. And I didn't even know you uploaded this until it asppeared on my feed
Had the same waiting journey for this game as you, just that I was 10 years old when it was announced and 20 when it came out. When it did, I was too busy with school and other games to really sink my teeth in.
As a long time fan of your channel and someone who JUST beat it in 2022 (just turned 26, god) I'm so glad to see this video and hear about your thoughts and feelings!!
Been watching the whole series at work during night shift this just made my night good work as always man
Overall, i did really enjoy 15. So much that I not only purchased the Pocket Edition, but played through the game three times. That being said, 15 really disappointed me. Audio issues during areas that mattered, the handling of the DLC that would've made this game incredibly good.
Man...
What an experience. These guys remind me of the Chemistry I have with my own 3 best friends.
Also yeah this is the same thing with Kingdom hearts 3 at least for the next RPG square made after final fantasy 7 remake they did not a bunch of years ahead of it instead they reviewed the game the year it was coming out so you know they seem to learn from their mistake with Kingdom hearts 3 final fantasy 7 remake and final fantasy 15 with the fact that they revealed Neo the world ends with you the year it is coming out which is also a lesson a lot of companies learn recently and a lot of game reveals of for stuff that is coming out this year which I love because that way you don't get the people being disappointed after years of waiting for a game I'm also fine with a delay if it's one year is excusable if it is my opinion is game should be revealed close to when they are done because it makes it easier for people to get excited for a game when it is announced to be that way
This game feels better than it actually is, but that in itself is a great feat. The cinematics and the music carry a lot of the emotional storytelling even when the script doesn't overtly do it some of the time.
Also not sure about the odds but throughout THE ENTIRE GAME I got a summon like, twice, not counting the scripted ones.
Love your work
ah a good day indeed seeing a clement video pop up 😄
My toxic trait is this being my second fave game of all time.
Welcome back! Let’s hope this new formatting of videos does well for you!
That bit you explained about Final Fantasy changing, I have this passion project of mine, which is the idea is there's an alternate universe of our world, the second half of our big universe as you may refer to it as like the second side of a two sided coin, but made with our childhood memories and how the legends and believes our world may not be real here, but they are in the other universe. So, the main theme and message of my project is about reliving our childhood and accepting that things will not always be the same a few decades later and things do change over time, but you can still use the fond memories you had to create new things for the future generation of kids to enjoy. Being stuck in the past, trying to bring it back is not always the answer, which I am planning to show this through one character I have in mind.
Final Fantasy 15 is a game who's development was so turbulent from so many issues from mismanagement to entire pieces of the story getting fractured between different writers/directors that it's a miracle the devs had enough to salvage to make something coherent at all. All the multimedia stuff was just Square trying to make SOME profit off of a game that was eating money and resources for years.
While the final game ended up being decent it's still needs to be looked at as a prime example of what happens if sunk cost fallacy is allowed to take hold.
Side note- I'm really happy Square seems to have learned from their mistakes with FF15 and is letting the vision of a single director guide 16's development and marketing. Even if FF16 doesn't live up to the hype it at least is going to feel more focused and confident in what it is.
This was a really nice retrospective/review/overview. One of the best I've seen. It highlights the strengths of the game while deservedly coming down hard in the missteps in the game and the mangagement of this "ffxv franchise". It really explains why the game has such diehard fans as well as those who claim this is the worst game in the company's portfolio.
TBH I beat it in 2017 and played the DLC as it came out, but I really wanna jump in again. I'm mostly hoping for a PS5 remaster of the game that would eliminate the loading times to really push me back. With Forspoken using the same engine, it gives me a bit of hope that it will happen sometimes.
I think that through the flaws and shortcomings of FF15, it does end on a satisfying and high note. It is pretty disappointing that the story never truly got to end with Ardyn's redemption. Once you play Episode Ardyn you realize that it really should've been him who was heir to the throne. But the gods were assholes. It would've been nice for both Noctis and Ardyn to change fate and become masters of their destiny. In a lot of ways I feel like it would also "free" Lunafreyna as well. Despite all of her conversations with Noctis about their destiny and responsibility as future rulers, you never truly get the sense that it is something that she even wants to do, and she only accepts it because she does not have a choice as it is what the gods had intended. Defeating the gods would free both of them from that fate and they get their freedom. Would've made for an even stronger ending.
Well square seems to be doing that with every of their games now that is an RPG like Kingdom hearts 3 final fantasy 7 remake and Neo the world ends with you have this so it kind of made sense
Did you ever read the novelization based on the same ending the DLC was intended to build up to? That seems the concept they were going for with those two at least, albeit even more clumsily realized than the game with its own ending.
@@papershadow either way both are garbage
Wonderful, fantastic review; you've managed to not only present what was done poorly very well, but to present it as well as what was done greatly. I'm one of the people that played back in the launch period and dropped it, for some reason or another; never thought it was bad, just didn't get invested. Now, I want to experience this god-forsaken ride in its entirety: going to finally take the dust off of my old copy and try again some more.
Thank you, Clement; this was such a reinvigorating review. It's time to meet with the boys again.
You forgot to talk about Noctis' appearance and the Hammerhead Stage in TEKKEN 7.
That's it! I've come up with a new video I want to watch!
"This scene probably affected a lot of people."
Not me. That one was patched in after I finished the game.
Yup.
Hey! It's been too long! Final Fantasy hasn't been a franchise I've paid much attention to, but now I'm quite interested in the franchise. Looks like I've been a lot of binge-watching to do now! ❤
What about PLAYING Final Fantasy games? I can recommend a few if you're interested.
Mate, i dont know if its the editing, your voice or a combination of both but usually i tend to skip 5-10 seconds in these long videos on yt. But with you, i havent done it once. I dont feel like you put any dead time inbetween your cuts so i really like it.
Haven't been back to this channel on any kind of consistent basis since i first discovered you back in 2012, with your "Let's Play Sonic Advance! (Part 1)" video. But after watching this, i can vehemently say, i'm a fan.
Niceeee time to binge the entire series for real this time!
hello great clement, I recently wanted to find your channel again when i got back into mega man, and wow I'm so glad your channel has grown since then, congratulations man :) missed your channel
This unfilled potential game is only 5 almost 6 years old.
GREAT REVIEW, CLEMENT!
Although, I'm surprised you didn't mention the cancelled Dawn of the Future Season Pass 2 DLC. For those who don't know, Dawn of the Future was going to give us four DLC episodes. Much like how Season Pass 1 was 3 DLC episodes of the boys, Gladio, Ignis and Prompto. So, who were these 4 episodes going to focus on you ask? Well, it was going to be Episode Ardyn, Episode Luna, Episode Aranea and....Episode Noctis! Yes, that's right. Since Luna had so little screen time in the actual game, we were going to play through the game through her prospective in her DLC episode. In Episode Aranea, we were going to experience her adventure through areas that wasn't explorable in the base game. And then, the MOST exciting one of all, in Episode Noctis, we were going to get his prospective on what he went through when he fell in a deep sleep while he was in the crystal for 10 years. And it was said, he was experiencing an "alternate universe" of his world. This being, the ORIGINAL Final Fantasy Versus XIII world! NO SHIT! With Noctis' original 2006 outfit and everything! This Season Pass 2 looked promising! But sadly, it never saw the light of day. When Tabata left Square. However, before he left, they still released the Episode Ardyn DLC. Why? Well, since Episode Ardyn was nearly 95% completed, they decided to release it, instead of just throwing it away. Now, despite the Dawn of the Future DLCs being cancelled, it did SOMEWHAT saw the light of day...through a book. Yes, Dawn of the Future was all translated into a book. And yes, it's all in English and you can actually buy it. It's pretty cool to see, but it's just a sad reminder that we'll never experience these moments in the game.
48:51 and now I understand how "you can trust me" scenes that Trueblade Seeker uses in his nutshell videos work.
Better get some snacks ready for this
"........ you guys are the best!" That ending will stay with me forever. A simple single line, but a really powerful sentiment packed and meaningful one after all the memories and the strong bond you as the player and your digital non-existen gothic boy´s band. Something that only this game can achieve.
Loving these vids. Glad I found your channel!
The ending is so desperately sad but powerful.
Noctis loses his city, his dad, his fiancé, 10 years of his life in which the world goes to hell, then he gets to come back for a little while to enjoy his friends’ company one last time before having to sacrifice his life to save the world by killing a member of his family to then be killed by his family. You get to see the photos they had of their journey, you see that empty campsite, and the shot of him and luna blending into the new title screen is so beautiful
How did I miss this???! Been waiting so long for this video
This video may have convinced me to finally give this game a shot beyond the first two hours.
15 would have been great if square hadn't fucked with Nomura so hard... I still think it's pretty good.
YOOOOOOO
I JUMPED OUT OF MY SEAT WHEN I SAW THIS
I WASNT EXPECTING AN XV VIDEO FOR MONTHS
I have no desire to play this game, but it's fun learning about the interesting parts in it
I was waiting for this review
Finally it's here! I am going to enjoy this. :3
It’s been a while since I watched you like this
The time has come again!
12:30 I think she was supposed to be this games Cid, until people started complaining, then they introduced her papa as a regular Cid.
There is so much character in that delivery from Ray Chase at 1:32:48 you probably won't believe you'd get from someone looking as serious Noctis but he sounds like a completly different character, almost channelling his playful trolliness as MoM from Kingdom Hearts.
I was foaming at the mouth convulsing on the floor when that trailer came out. In a good way.