Why Did Final Fantasy XV Ultimately Fail to Meet Expectations?

ByJames Dorn Last Update on

As a longtime Final Fantasy fan and gaming enthusiast, I‘ve thought a lot about why the latest numbered entry in the legendary RPG franchise ended up disappointing many players. In my opinion, Final Fantasy XV failed to live up to expectations due to deep flaws in storytelling, progression systems, and game design. Despite a beautiful open world and innovations to the combat, FFXV betrayed the franchise‘s roots and never delivered on its full potential after over 10 years of development.

The Story was Fundamentally Flawed

FFXV‘s story is a disjointed mess. Important plot points happen off-screen, leaving players confused about character motivations. Why does Noctis need to collect the royal arms? Who are the Astrals and why should we care about them? How exactly does Noctis‘ destiny as the True King play into anything? The game fails to properly establish the stakes or develop Noctis‘ relationships. His bond with Luna felt superficial at best. Pacing is all over the place, with a lack of overarching narrative focus. According to reviews on Metacritic, story and characters were among players‘ biggest complaints.

Unsatisfying Ending and Empty Open World

After a convoluted story, FFXV ends with Noctis sacrificing himself to bring light back to the world. This ending lacks emotional impact and feels rushed. You‘d expect the culmination of a decade-long journey to have more gravitas. Making matters worse, the open world feels empty, with repetitive side quests and traversal instead of meaningful content. Driving around loses its appeal after the 50th fetch quest. The lack of towns, shallow NPC interactions, and samey dungeons make Eos feel lifeless compared to classics like FFXII and FFVII.

Strayed Too Far from Final Fantasy Traditions

FFXV ditched many franchise traditions, dividing longtime fans. The real-time combat, road trip vibe, and lack of party control felt more like a spin-off than a mainline title. Where were the turn-based battles, world map, summons, and progression systems? Not including beloved elements like Triple Triad or Blitzball missed big opportunities to add depth and side content. FFXV simply didn‘t feel like a real Final Fantasy to many players.

Progression System Problems

The progression system lacked satisfaction and customization compared to classics like the Sphere Grid or Materia. Magic felt tacked on and poorly implemented. The Ascension Grid was too simple, with limited branching paths. You didn‘t gain many new abilities or skills as you leveled up. Itemization was also uninteresting, with little unique gear to discover. Even summons were reduced to QTE spectacle moments instead of strategic additions to combat.

Troubled 10-Year Development Cycle

FFXV endured one of the longest and most troubled development cycles in gaming history. It began life as Final Fantasy Versus XIII, before the change to FFXV meant overhauling many assets and systems. Director swaps and the pressure to release after so many delays meant corners had to be cut. This led to obvious holes in the story and content. Despite delays, FFXV still felt incomplete at launch. The vision was muddled and directionless for over a decade.

Lackluster PC Port Hurt Reception

The PC port arrived over a year after console versions and suffered from lack of optimization, control issues, and graphical downgrades. This hurt critical reception among PC gamers. While fans used mods to help fix things, the port was an afterthought compared to polished day-one PC releases for FF games in the past. This piled on negativity surrounding the game.

Could Not Recapture the Magic of Past Final Fantasies

Nostalgia is a huge factor for franchise fans. While no game can fully recapture the magic of past classics, FFXV did not deliver an experience comparable to masterpieces like FFVII or FFX. From story to progression to world-building, it failed to meet the high bar set by previous entries. After so many years of waiting, fans expected more.

While still a visual stunner with fun real-time combat, Final Fantasy XV ultimately floundered due to deep flaws in narrative, game design, and system mechanics. For longtime Final Fantasy fans like myself, it was a disappointing missed opportunity and departure from many franchise traditions we loved. The development turmoil, lack of direction and delays also hampered its ability to fully deliver on a cohesive vision. Despite some strengths, FFXV falls far short of past Final Fantasies.

James K. Dorn, a passionate gamer deeply immersed in the world of video gaming. My journey in gaming is not just about playing; it's about exploring every facet of the games I love. I am particularly fascinated by the intricate worlds of role-playing games like "The Witcher" series and "Elder Scrolls: Skyrim," where every decision shapes the story.

As a strategy game enthusiast, I spend hours devising tactics in games like "Civilization VI" and "StarCraft II," always eager to share my strategies with fellow gamers. I'm also an ardent follower of the ever-evolving landscape of indie games, finding gems like "Hollow Knight" and "Celeste" that offer unique, compelling experiences.

My content isn't just reviews; it's about deep dives into game mechanics, storytelling, and the art of game design. I love dissecting the narratives of games like "The Last of Us" and discussing the innovative gameplay of titles like "Death Stranding."

Being at the forefront of gaming news, I eagerly anticipate and share insights on upcoming releases like the next big open-world adventure or the latest in the "Final Fantasy" series. My goal is to build a community where we not only play games but also appreciate the artistry and effort behind them. Join me in this gaming journey, where every session is an adventure, and every game is a story waiting to be told.

Similar Posts