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Come For The [Final Fantasy XV] Demo, Stay For [Final Fantasy: Type-0 HD]!
Professor Snugglesworth
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
NA: March 17th
JP: March 19th
EU: March 20th
JP: March 19th
EU: March 20th
Final Fantasy? Let me tell you when that series went downhill. It was when-
Kindly take that somewhere else. This here is a dedicated thread for the two new Final Fantasies. Except, one is an HD version of an old PSP game and the other is a re-branding of an unreleased PS3 game....still, they're going to be new for some people!
So what makes these games so special?
Well for one thing, you might actually enjoy them. Or rather, the odds seem higher than usual, based on the reception from importers and PAX-goers alike.
Regardless of your feelings of the previous generation, Type-0 and FFXV are being billed as the start of a modern Final Fantasy resurgence (which arguably began with Final Fantasy XIV, which nearly everyone loves. Go check that out too!); emulating much of the success of Yoshi-P's public image, the director behind Type-0 and FFXV (Hajime Tabata) along with his team members are putting considerably more effort into demonstrating their titles and making improvements through community feedback. For example, Type-0 HD is shipping with an improved camera than originally conceived thanks to the feedback they received during TGS. And did you ever think old Square would embrace memes like the one created for FFXV?
It still remains to be seen whether Square's new feedback-friendly approach will result in improved output from the company, but it's an appreciated approach nonetheless.
I don't want to pay $60 for a PSP port and a demo (Alternate: I'll pay $60 for a demo just like I did with MGS2!)
Don't count Type-0 short, even if it is more of a budgeted remaster than a full-fledged remake (you know how much Square hates that word). The word of mouth from people who imported the original has been very positive, billing it as a new type of FF game (oh, so that's why it's called that!) that brings some fresh new ideas to the long-running, continually-changing franchise. In fact, let's start things off talking more Type-0.
Final Fantasy: Type-0 HD
Overview
The story focuses on Class Zero, a group of twelve students from the Vermillion Peristylium, a magical academy in the Dominion of Rubrum. One day, the Militesi Empire launches an assault on the other Crystal States of Orience, seeking to control their respective crystals. When Rubrum is attacked, Class Zero are called into action and become entangled in both the efforts to push back and defeat the forces of Militesi, and the secret behind the war and the existence of the crystals. The setting and presentation were inspired by historical documentaries, and the story itself was written to be darker than other Final Fantasy titles.
This is the first Final Fantasy title to be given an M rating, and it's easy to see why; the opening movie alone has more blood and violence than several FF games put together, and the concept of teenagers forced into a magic war with other nations is handled much more seriously than Final Fantasy VIII. Just the act of using traditional FF summons requires sacrificing one's life to complete the ritual. The concept of young children being the only ones capable of wielding a massive power and forced to engage in violent acts is a popular premise among Japanese storytelling...which means Final Fantasy truly has become Anime. Players can take this even further by enabling the original Japanese language, as Type-0 will have dual audio for both Japanese and English, a long requested feature among hardcore fans. FFXV's demo will also have this option, but Square cautions that the full release may not have the same privilege.
Cast of Characters
A big thanks to @Renzo for providing a spoiler-free synopsis of the characters.
Ace (Cards)
While he maintains a cool exterior, he has a tendency to act recklessly. He is a kind and gentle boy at heart.
Machina (Drill Rapiers)
A new Class Zero cadet. A kind-hearted honor student who’s considered one of the most talented cadets in Akademia.
Nine (Lance)
Enthusiastic and direct, he likes to quickly make black-and-white distinctions.
Eight (Fists)
He fights only using his limbs as he dislikes weapons that can easily take human lives. Eight is always cool under pressure and a quick decision-maker.
Trey (Bow)
Calm and collected at all times, he rarely leaves himself open. An intellectual, his stories can get long, as he displays his knowledge endlessly.
Jack (Katana)
Constantly wears a smile and jokes around, the class clown. An unflappable optimist who tries to cheer others up, but is often seen as shallow.
King (Dual Pistols)
Stoically trains every day. He comes across as cool due to his laconic nature, hating to waste his breath or time.
Queen (Broadsword)
Upright, incorruptible, and intelligent. She has a straight-laced attitude like her dependable blade. A class president type that does not forgive injustice.
Seven (Whip Sword)
She cares for others and is popular with female underclassmen. There is a modest side to her, having difficulty saying “no” and always accepting requests asked of her.
Rem (Daggers)
A new Class Zero cadet. Machina’s childhood friend. Excels in magic. Respectable, kind, and serious-natured.
Deuce (Flute)
Gentle, serious, and a hard-worker. She’s kind-hearted, but also righteous, executing Class Zero missions without hesitation.
Cinque (Mace)
Slightly peculiar and speaks placidly, but wields the mace because she believes “it’s better when it inflicts more damage.” She gives no mercy to enemies.
Sice (Scythe)
A bit blunt and mean at times, but holds a clear idea of what good and evil means to her.
Cater (Magic Gun)
Extremely competitive in nature, she doesn’t get easily discouraged regardless of the situation. Full of energy, she is impulsive with a never-give-up attitude.
A Warning About Preview Videos
It seems that in Square's eagerness to promote Type-0, they've ended up showing too much of the game's story, to the point that players have cautioned even visiting the main site. If you want to avoid spoilers, it is highly recommended you avoid all preview material out there, minus any that I can verify and put here in the OP.
In the meantime, give the utterly fantastic soundtrack a listen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVdkA7f-bTsSo what kind of game is this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qgsPqlar74In a nutshell, it's a mission-based action RPG in the vein of Phantasy Star Universe, Ragnarok Odyssey and many other games typically found on the PSP/Vita. You start with three characters that you can freely swap around, but when one falls in battle that spot is immediately filled in with one of the remaining 11 characters. Essentially it's like having 14 lives per level, and you'll want to manage your team properly as the difficulty is said to be quite punishing at times. Each of your characters also possess a unique style of play, so learning to master their strengths and weaknesses is also a must.
Gameplay Tips
A great writeup of beginner tips by Renzo. No spoilers, but I'll put it in spoiler brackets for those wanting to go in fresh.
Gameplay and Upgrades:
1. Hold the attack button to continuously attack. You don’t need to mash.
2. Each member of Class 0 has their own speed, strengths, and weaknesses. Try them all to find the ones that fit your playstyle.
3. Use Kill-Sight and Break-Sight. Against tougher enemies and bosses, this is the difference between completing the mission and a Game Over.
4. Spend your ability points. Abilities are unlocked by reaching level milestones AND maxing out ability trees. Even if you don’t like the abilities you have already unlocked, max them out and see what else you unlock. You might discover a new side to that character!
5. Remember to upgrade your magic periodically in the Alto Crystarium. Find magics that suit your playstyle and the strengths of each individual character and boost those magics with Phantoma.
6. Some standard attacks require holding up or down on the control stick while attacking. Look at the Controls tab in the menu while on a mission to discover new moves.
7. Magic Canceling. It’s tough to master, but you can deal a ton of damage quickly with Magic Canceling.
8. Breed a new Chocobo every time you come back from a mission! They come in handy, and it's good to have a bunch on hand.
Difficulty, Leveling, and Equipment:
2. Use multiple save files. Always have one save file that is not during a mission.
3. Underleveled for the next mission? Save your game when not on a mission and go to the Title Menu. Use the Mission List to play previously-completed missions for more experience, money, and items. Barring that, go out to the World Map and get into some random battles.
4. The rankings at the end of missions dictate your rewards. Better rankings equal better rewards. Try for an S Rank to get the best reward possible.
5. S.O.s, or Special Orders, are the best way to get new equipment. Activate S.O.s in the academy, then accept the ones you think you can complete while on a mission. Completing difficult, unique S.O.s often reward you with new weapons and accessories. The really good weapons and accessories are not usually sold in shops, so complete S.O.s if you want to move beyond starter equipment.
6. Use Academy Backup if you’re having a lot of trouble with a mission. AI-controlled allies will jump in to help you get through a tough spot.
Story:
1. NPCs often have multiple things to say. Talk to NPCs several times to see what’s on their minds and learn more about Orience and its people.
2. NPCs react to the events in the story. Even though some NPCs always seem to hang out in the same spots, they always have something new to say right before and after every major mission.
3. Check the Crimson Codex. Using the History option in the Title Menu or from the book inside the Crystarium (library), the Crimson Codex provides a wealth of information about the bloody history of the Four Nations of Orience, including character profiles, enemies, and Eidolons.
Final Fantasy XV: Episode Duscae
I've lost track of what this game is. Didn't it start as some PS3 game?
This video will tell you absolutely everything you need to know.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRuvIWH6IQEBy far the longest developed FF title, the game formally known as Versus is Final Fantasy's longest running joke and a testament to Square Enix's failures of the PS3/360 console generation.
But people are slowly stopping to point and laugh, and are instead stopping to gawk at the gorgeous visuals and appealing features.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3Opn17l-lEJudging by the demonstrations we've seen, the team behind FFXV is putting its lengthy development time to good use. In addition to adopting more modern RPG sensibilities like a huge open world, discoverable locations and events and real-time battles, the game is also touting an impressive attention to detail, including an uncountable number of character animations and intricately detailed towns and outposts. Even the wildlife designs go far beyond the familiar FF monsters; there is a wide assortment of creatures (both fantastical and realistic) that make up this massive world, with the developers also confirming activities such as fishing and possibly taking photos as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwdVWXisT5UOh, and all that footage is just one area...which has been stated to be one of the smallest regions in the game.
So what's in this demo?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=174DXJTt5pUEstimated around 3-4 hours, the demo takes place in the Duscae region (and not in its entirety, either), featuring a specific story path (locate and eliminate the Behemoth and use the reward money to repair your car) but also lots of additional sidequests and locations. The game will save your progress, so you don't have to worry about doing everything in one go, and is also said to feature a few "surprises", including a possible appearance by one of the game's summons.
Cast of Characters
Noctis "Noct" Lucis Caelum
The main protagonist. A childhood affliction endowed Noctis, heir apparent to the throne of Lucis, with the mystical power to see a heavenly light, through which he can sense others' deaths. Noctis rejects rigid royal conventions and acts as somewhat of a renegade, much to the dismay of those who tend to him. Yet while "Noct" may act brash at times, he does so in defense of those loyal to him.
He has been described as "neither Cloud nor Squall" in regards to his personality, with much speculation that he is putting on airs to fool his enemy in a move inspired by Hamlet.
Gladiolus "Gladio" Amicitia
As lord of the noble House Amicitia, Gladiolus continues a line sworn to protect the crown. "Gladio" shares a friendship with Noctis that transcends birth and title, and his loyalty to his liege is born not of duty, but of brotherhood.
He is considered the Tank of the group, and also issues the introductory tutorial in the demo.
Ignis "Iggy" Stupeo Scientia
Ever the unwavering voice of reason, Ignis was weaned on shrewd logic and a classical education from boyhood so that he might one day counsel the would-be king, Noctis. He applies the deep mutual understanding and trust they have built over time to help smooth over Noctis's brusqueness with others.
He could really use a bath.
Prompto Argentum
The puckish playboy Prompto befriended Noctis in his school days. He wears a chip on his shoulder as an outsider to the royal circle, but remains eager to do all he can for the cause.
He is described as having zero combat experience, and instead improvises during battle with wild, often clumsy movements.
CidneyCindy
She introduces herself to the party as the head mechanic, much like the recurring character from the series, Cid. She will pop up in different places as after a shaking experience she begins moving around the world. While she is not deeply involved in the story, she is important because of her profession as a mechanic.
Cor Leonis
A living legend of Lucian lore, Lord Commander Cor Leonis's devotion to the art of war is surpassed only by that to his king. Little love is lost between the ill-starred stalwart and Noctis's retinue, yet honor binds him to keep watch over the group all the same.
To date, he is the only confirmed guest character for the party. It is unknown if there will be more, or if he will become a permanent party member at some point.
Stella Nox Fleuret
Stella is a member of the wealthy Fleuret family and resides in the land of Tenebrae. Little is currently known about Stella, except that she meets Noctis at an aristocratic meeting, and they share some sort of connection. After a near-death experience early in her life, similar to Noctis, Stella can see the light from the Kingdom of the Dead, which grants her special powers. Although the two do not wish to fight each other, they are forced to do battle as a result of unknown circumstances.
Since Versus' rebranding, Stella has remained the most asked about character, as she has yet to formally appear in any of the new footage. There is some speculation that she has been rewritten/replaced by Luna, a girl who appeared in the previous TGS trailer and who shares similar features with Stella. While this would be a potential disappointment to fans of Stella's original concept, the somewhat tongue-in-cheek secrecy by Square suggests she may still exist. Either way, we should get a final answer on this sooner rather than later.
What do Type-0 and FFXV have to do with FFXIII?
Canonically, nothing. The short version is that they planned out a basic concept and mythology and told three directors to build their own separate stories around it. Don't think of it like an expanded universe, but rather a fanfiction generator: here's a pitch, go do something with it.
While Type-0 uses familiar FFXIII terms like L'cie, it is unknown if FFXV will follow a similar approach (Fal'cie were originally referred to as "Gods of Death" in an early Versus promo).
Will FFXV run into the same sequel fatigue as FFXIII?
The folks behind Square have been going back-and-forth on this, some talking about the potential of sequels while others insisting that FFXV will be an individual story. As long as Stella's role isn't specifically stripped out of the original just so they can have Final Fantasy XV: How Stella Got Her Groove Back, there is no reason yet to dismiss the idea of a sequel. Type-0, meanwhile, is being considered for a continuation, though whether it is a direct sequel or an entirely new story is uncertain.
So when is FFXV coming out?
Ah ha ha ha.....ha.
Probably not this year, if they're still taking feedback from the demo. Hopefully by E3 we'll at least get a tentative date.
Go ahead and advertise, you shilling whoreson
If you're interested, I've got a little podcast that talks about the current happenings of the Final Fantasy series (while also looking back at the classics), with several PA members joining in (and more are always welcome).
For an LP of Type-0 and FFXV, check LockedonTarget's YouTube channel.
For comments regarding the official localization of Type-0 versus the fan-made PSP one, check out Renzo's Twitter.
Remember to MARK YOUR SPOILERS!
IMPORTANT GAMEPLAY TIP: If you want a proper lock-on for enemies, you have to hit R3 after using R1 to "focus target". Pressing R1+R3 together will also speed up the lock-on process, making it almost snappy enough to compensate for quick-moving enemies.
You can also do a dash/flash-step by holding L1+O while moving the left stick in any direction. This can let you close in on enemies quicker and smoother than using the warp attack.
TO ENABLE SUBTITLES: Hit Start>Help>Options while in-game. This also gives you access to additional options like camera sensitivity (go max!)
Professor Snugglesworth on
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I've actually had Type 0 Pre-ordered for over a month now.
I hope they sped up Machina in the HD version, since he was a little slow in the PSP version, and I really like his moveset. Drill Rapiers are pretty rad. Queen was my favorite, though. If anything, she probably needed to be slowed down. Her movement and attack speed are crazy fast. And King probably has my favorite ability in the game, but I won't spoil it here.
Also, if you have questions about Type-0, I can probably answer them.
I know nothing of the characters, but going by design and concept, Cater might end up my favorite.
Hot-blooded tomboy with magic guns? I am all over that.
Sice and Queen look pretty cool, too.
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A few times during my playthroughs on the PSP version, I made it through a mission with only the very last character remaining. It's a pretty big departure from the reputation FF used to have of being a very easy RPG. This is instead a kind of vicious action game.
Type-0 and Bloodborne look really good, but I will be exercising some discipline and at least waiting until I'm done with one of those.
I'm kinda turned off by the character designs in type-o. Feels like they expect people to ogle the highschool girls/boys and that's not my thing, though I expect it to go well with that age group.
@renzo is that a thing in this game or am I just being unwarrantedly distrustful.
Regardless, Those skirts make me hate plaid, and I love plaid.
FF15 is looking good. It feels like it could be an important game for the industry. All those hopes people had for Watchdogs as a symbol of a next gen game might be satisfied.
I really hope it doesn't turn out like Watchdogs.
When a character dies in a mission, they fall on the floor. If you want to move the camera around, that's totally up to you.
So it's not 100% respectable, but it's also not moe or whatever.
Added a short gameplay description to the OP.
My job is done.
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// Switch: SW-5306-0651-6424 //
Are any of the characters a "main character"? Like is Ace a dude it's going to expect you to have in your party most the time? Or can you run the game with any 4 from that list?
ha ha finger bang
Without getting spoilery, the story is mostly ensemble, but there's some focus on a few of the characters.
Because I want to use Mr Drillswords with Dagger Chick and Scythe Girl as much as possible.
They will be my homies.
I have 6 days between when it comes out and when I go back to work so I need to make them count.
According to SE Store e-mails if you pre-ordered the game before March 8th you're guaranteed release date delivery.
They don't specify if that's regardless of what shipping option you use (I went super saver).
Amazon always guarantees release date delivery with new games.
If only I didn't miss the chance to pre-order there (or Best Buy).
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Buh? I've never gotten or even gotten the OPTION of release date delivery with Amazon for almost 2 years
I have to guess it's just my state then. I have 14 games on order there and none of them have the option for release date delivery.
www.twitch.tv/shadowriven
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I'M CAPTAIN BASCH FON RONSENBERG
UPS tracking says it's on schedule for launch day. Fingers crossed.
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Maybe not the biggest deal, but it would be nice if SOME surprises would be treated as such.
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Since it seems more than a few are getting to enjoy it today, now might be a good time to keep this thread active (and again, spoiler-free).
Post how much you're enjoying the game and demo!
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ITS SUPER Impressive looking like jesus christ, video of it under spoiler
People are also openly posting the end of the demo, which was also heavily touted as a surprise you don't want to ruin. I haven't ruined it for myself, but apparently it's something that's gotten FFXV followers riled up in a good way.
The only logical thing I could think would be that it's
Which, yeah, would be a cool thing to show.
But it just goes to show that people don't have the restraint to hold off on spoilers for major franchises like FF. The day a game/demo goes live is the day all the leaks are posted as "news" on sites.
Kotaku was especially guilty of this with their "So what does the appearance of ___ mean in the ending of this game that just came out hours ago?"
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