All signs point to Final Fantasy XV making a few missteps in the name of appealing to newcomers and long-time fans alike. It still has the all-important heart and soul of a Final Fantasy game though, giving more than enough for players to reflect upon once the adventure is at an end.
It’s a game of highs and lows; a game that makes you take the rough with the smooth. It’s because of this that we’re yet to see a single 10/10 for the action RPG. Plenty of 9s and 8s have been dished out though, proving that it’s well worth becoming accustomed to its quirks.
The only truly negative review comes from The Metro. Their reviewer struggled to get past the fact that the story and character design – two key elements in any role-player, be it Final Fantasy or otherwise – left a lot to be desired.
Eurogamer’s scoreless review is also worth a read, again focusing on the story.
4.5/5 – GamesRadar: “Even when it stumbles, Final Fantasy 15’s ambitious open-world, fast-paced combat, and the humanity of its four leads make it a fascinating adventure to behold”
4.5/5 – Time: “Somehow they pulled it off. Don’t ask me how, but Final Fantasy XV is not the sputtering dumpster fire some worried was inbound after years of developmental tumult”
90/100 – Venture Beat: “Final Fantasy XV has its problems, but it’s filled with enough special moments that you can forgive the issues. The combat is fluid, thoughtful, and cinematic while the open world gives you a ton to do. If you hated Final Fantasy XIII because of its linearity and lack of anything to do outside of the main story, you’ll dig just how much stuff Final Fantasy XV has to offer”
9/10 – Destructoid: “In a way it’s silly that Square spent 10 years making this, and it feels like a really shiny version of something it would have actually made 10 years ago. While a complete overhaul of the genre would certainly suit someone’s needs, XV suits mine just fine”
9.0 – Polygon: “Final Fantasy 15 can be baffling in some of its questionable choices, but across the board, it hits more than it misses. It hums with an energy and compassion that I loved, a sense of camaraderie, friendship and adventure that fills an old and struggling formula with new relevance”
8.5 – GameInformer: “Final Fantasy XV is unlike any RPG or open-world experience I’ve played before. It succeeds and struggles in finding its unique stance, but a few problematic designs don’t hold it back from being a hell of a journey”
8.2 – IGN: “There is so much good here, so much heart – especially in the relationships between Noctis and his sworn brothers. It just comes with some changes and compromises that were, at times, difficult for this long-time Final Fantasy fan to come to grips with”
4/5 – US Gamer: “Stick with it even if you find yourself rolling your eyes at the opening hours: You may be surprised by how much you end up enjoying yourself”
8/10 – GameSpot: “While it’s safe to assume fans and outsiders will find some aspect of Final Fantasy XV disappointing–be it the shallow story or finnicky Astrals–it would be hard for anyone to deny that Final Fantasy XV is a fascinating game after giving it a chance. Where its characters fail to impress, Final Fantasy XV’s beautiful world and exciting challenges save the day”
8/10 – VideoGamer: “Final Fantasy XV is about adventure and excitement. There are oddities, and it’s not the FF you’re used to, but it’s a good time with some good boys, and has an unexpected emotional resonance to it. Sometimes it seems like it shouldn’t work, but it does”
6/10 – The Metro: “Destined to be as divisive as all modern Final Fantasy games, but it’s the story and characters that disappoint more than the capable combat and exploration”
Final Fantasy XV is out today on PS4 and Xbox One.