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FINAL FANTASY XVI | Prologue DEMO

DelireMan7

Member
OK OK ok !

I've played the demo (not finished yet, I stopped when you control Joshua)... I was still hesitant if I took the game on release or not because I was not sure about the combat but it looks like it will be a yes !

It looks gorgeous, the setting is perfect and the MUSIC... Love to hear the new take of the Prelude. Overall the game seems to have a very "old Final Fantasy" feeling to me. Love it !

After the combat tutorial, I was giggling like a little girl. So good. I love doing the perfect dodge. Animations are really snappy and powerful.
The little fear I had during the gameplay overview is a bit confirmed so far. Fight against normal foes looks very easy. I mean the goblins are barely moving and attacking. But it's only the beginning so it might change.
Against mini boss and bosses it was way better !

It looks like the potion stock is limited and this is a brilliant idea. Say what you want about FF XV, but I liked it especially the combat BUT the fact you have access to an unlimited supplied of potion kind of destroy the purpose of the combat system. You just couldn't die. Here it's a hint for more challenging and demanding combat. Hope it stays like that the whole game.

Looking forward finishing the demo and trying the Eikon challenge which look like combat challenging with more skills accessible to have a test of the full system.

Quick note : the Eikon fight at the beginning is like I though watching the trailer, it's just interactive cutscene basically. Will see if it becomes better in term of gameplay later.
 

DenchDeckard

Moderated wildly
This game is not for me..I think the combat in the small arenas is pretty cool..but the rest of the game isn't what I expected from a final fantasy.

I think if I can get it cheap and play through it like an Azuras Wrath I could enjoy it.

Music is incredible, but have no doubt, this is not a 60fps game. Its a 30fps game they've tried their best to shoehorn a 60fps mode into.

It's basically an interactive version if the latest final fantasy movie, which is pretty cool and I guess that will be awesome for some.
 
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Dr. Claus

Vincit qui se vincit
OK OK ok !

I've played the demo (not finished yet, I stopped when you control Joshua)... I was still hesitant if I took the game on release or not because I was not sure about the combat but it looks like it will be a yes !

It looks gorgeous, the setting is perfect and the MUSIC... Love to hear the new take of the Prelude. Overall the game seems to have a very "old Final Fantasy" feeling to me. Love it !

After the combat tutorial, I was giggling like a little girl. So good. I love doing the perfect dodge. Animations are really snappy and powerful.
The little fear I had during the gameplay overview is a bit confirmed so far. Fight against normal foes looks very easy. I mean the goblins are barely moving and attacking. But it's only the beginning so it might change.
Against mini boss and bosses it was way better !

It looks like the potion stock is limited and this is a brilliant idea. Say what you want about FF XV, but I liked it especially the combat BUT the fact you have access to an unlimited supplied of potion kind of destroy the purpose of the combat system. You just couldn't die. Here it's a hint for more challenging and demanding combat. Hope it stays like that the whole game.

Looking forward finishing the demo and trying the Eikon challenge which look like combat challenging with more skills accessible to have a test of the full system.

Quick note : the Eikon fight at the beginning is like I though watching the trailer, it's just interactive cutscene basically. Will see if it becomes better in term of gameplay later.

If its difficulty options are anything like FF7R, they will remove the ability to use items entirely. I can't wait to see the difficulty modes that you get when you play through the game.
 

GymWolf

Member
The only "major" problem i have with the demo is how easy it was, normally you die at least a couple of times in the first hours of a game when you learn the combat or fight the first 1-2 bosses but here i wasn't never close to die once, i would pay big money for hard mode at launch instead of that bullshit requisite.

The combat can be as good as we want but if the game is a cakewalk like the demo, it brings down the whole thing.

I didn't finished the demo so there is a little hope for a boss to whoop my ass.
 

Vroadstar

Member
This game is not for me..I think the combat in the small arenas is pretty cool..but the rest of the game isn't what I expected from a final fantasy.

I think if I can get it cheap and play through it like an Azuras Wrath I could enjoy it.

Music is incredible, but have no doubt, this is not a 60fps game. Its a 30fps game they've tried their best to shoehorn a 60fps mode into.

It's basically an interactive version if tye latest final fantasy movie..and I guess that will be awesome for some.
Performance mode is not shoehorned, stop spreading fud. Most people here on gaf long enough know that an exclusive PS game is not surprised of your negative take.
 

Fabieter

Member
This game is not for me..I think the combat in the small arenas is pretty cool..but the rest of the game isn't what I expected from a final fantasy.

I think if I can get it cheap and play through it like an Azuras Wrath I could enjoy it.

Music is incredible, but have no doubt, this is not a 60fps game. Its a 30fps game they've tried their best to shoehorn a 60fps mode into.

It's basically an interactive version if tye latest final fantasy movie..and I guess that will be awesome for some.

What would you expect from a final fantasy game. As someone who probably played the franchise for more than 5k hours. Iam always interested why someone don't think why it doesn't feel like final fantasy.
 

GymWolf

Member
or perhaps it's because final fantasy's become tired?...

as uninspired a first couple hours of a final fantasy game as i can recall experiencing: strong on the feels (to the point of overdose), & severely short on the charm/humor. not really impressed with the protagonist (again, a prince), or the combat, either (especially the stagger break mechanic). hey, i gave it a shot, &, while i'm happy for everyone loving it, i'm personally out. have fun!...
I thought the king was pretty charismatic and clive was ok, and they did a good job with other characters like benedikta or the queen.
For you this is worse than korean boyband pushing a car?
 
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Danjin44

The nicest person on this forum
The only "major" problem i have with the demo is how easy it was, normally you die at least a couple of times in the first hours of a game when you learn the combat or fight the first 1-2 bosses but here i wasn't never close to die once, i would pay big money for hard mode at launch instead of that bullshit requisite.

The combat can be as good as we want but if the game is a cakewalk like the demo, it brings down the whole thing.

I didn't finished the demo so there is a little hope for a boss to whoop my ass.
After you finish prologue story demo, you have second part with more combat options.
 

DenchDeckard

Moderated wildly
What would you expect from a final fantasy game. As someone who probably played the franchise for more than 5k hours. Iam always interested why someone don't think why it doesn't feel like final fantasy.

I think the story and cutscenes feel like one but the overall vibe of the game outside of the very lengthy cutscenes is that more akin to asuras Wrath, with sharper combat.

It's almost identical to asuras Wrath the more I think about it.
 

GymWolf

Member
After you finish prologue story demo, you have second part with more combat options.
Lack of combat options wasn't really my problem, i already unlocked some dmc moves for clive so i already had a decent arsenal, it was the lack of challenge.

Does the second part of the demo spoiler advance story parts?
 
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Duchess

Member
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Fabieter

Member
I think the story and cutscenes feel like one but the overall vibe of the game outside of the very lengthy cutscenes is that more akin to asuras Wrath, with sharper combat.

It's almost identical to asuras Wrath the more I think about it.

What vibe? Care to elaborate?
 

01011001

Banned
The only "major" problem i have with the demo is how easy it was, normally you die at least a couple of times in the first hours of a game when you learn the combat or fight the first 1-2 bosses but here i wasn't never close to die once, i would pay big money for hard mode at launch instead of that bullshit requisite.

The combat can be as good as we want but if the game is a cakewalk like the demo, it brings down the whole thing.

I didn't finished the demo so there is a little hope for a boss to whoop my ass.

what games do you play outside of From Software gamesnin which you die a few times as you learn the combat? 🙃

I play most games on the highest difficulty settings and that's very rare to happen nowadays
 
I fucking loved it. I love the combat, story, music, art-style and everything about the game. I finished the demo and was aching for more of the story.

If the full game continues with this level of intensity it might end up being my personal GOTY. The game is definitely a strong GOTY contender based on what I just played in the 2 hour demo.
 

Danjin44

The nicest person on this forum
Lack of combat options wasn't really my problem, i already unlocked some dmc moves for clive so i already had a decent arsenal, it was the lack of challenge.

Does the second part of the demo spoiler advance story parts?
Its the fight with Benedikta, also dont judge the difficulty based on prologue since it basically tutorial to teach you the basic of the combat.

This game is not trying be Sekiro.
 

GymWolf

Member
what games do you play outside of From Software gamesnin which you die a few times as you learn the combat? 🙃

I play most games on the highest difficulty settings and that's very rare to happen nowadays
Gow ragnarock on very hard or Horizon on very\ultra hard where enemies hit like trucks and are super aggressive?! Elex games? Hard fps games? Tps on hard mode? Hell even the first couple of hours of zelda when you have 3 hearts and get oneshotted by everything.

Also, you are probably more skilled than me, never thought about that?:lollipop_grinning_sweat:
 
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Danjin44

The nicest person on this forum
Gow ragnarock on very hard or Horizon on very\ultra hard where enemies hit like trucks and are super aggressive?! Elex games? Hard fps games? Tps on hard mode?

Also, you are probably more skilled than me, never thought about that?:lollipop_grinning_sweat:
No at beginning of the game, I mean Thor fight is very similar to Baldur in GoW 2018, fight with low chance you actually losing.

How awesome is the battle system?
I hope its nothing like FF 15
In my experience there are NOTHING a like but the demo is there for you try and see for yourself.
 
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01011001

Banned
Gow ragnarock on very hard or Horizon on very\ultra hard where enemies hit like trucks and are super aggressive?! Elex games? Hard fps games? Tps on hard mode? Hell even the first couple of hours of zelda when you have 3 hearts and get oneshotted by everything.

Also, you are probably more skilled than me, never thought about that?:lollipop_grinning_sweat:

I played Horizon on the hardest difficulty and all that really did in my experience is make traps completely and utterly useless.
but because the game has gyro aiming and 2 types of slow motion, it's just a lightgun shooter with a dodge button 😅

I have to admit I died a few times in Zelda yes, but to be fair I was fooling around and played like an idiot 🤣
 

Dynasty8

Member
How awesome is the battle system?
I hope its nothing like FF 15

Nothing like the disappointing shit show that is FFXV.

So far it's been pretty fun, pulling off perfect dodges is very satisfying. A lot of cool eikon abilities you can do and combo off of. My only concern is I hope the game isn't too easy.

The thing that surprised and excited me the most is the overall dark tone of the game and the much, much, MUCH improved quality of writing. I love that there was no cringe dialogue and the characters all spoke realistically instead of the anime tropes we're used to in JRPGs. Can't wait to see where the story goes after the demo. Pre-ordered.
 

01011001

Banned
Because in TotK most enemies can one shot kill you at beginning of the game.

true, but dodging is pretty easy for the most part... which seems also to be the case in FF16 from my experience. I got "perfect" dodges in this demo at times when I was like "really? that wasn't way too early?"
 

DenchDeckard

Moderated wildly
Performance mode is not shoehorned, stop spreading fud. Most people here on gaf long enough know that an exclusive PS game is not surprised of your negative take.
OK I'll respond, since you act like you know me. If an exclusive game on one platform dropped to like 52 fps in extreme circumstances I'd believe its a true 60fps game. This game is often lurching into the 40s, maybe low 40s or more. Hopefully this is an early version of the game and it's fixed for launch but man this 60fps mode absolutely tanks performance.

To me this is not acceptable for a one platform exclusive title that claims to be a 60fps. They have obviously targeted a 30fps mode with as much budget as possible and then looked at the 60fps mode afterwards. That's what I believe anyway.

Let's see what the analysis comes out at from the likes of DF. Hopefully it has been drastically improved for launch.
 

Danjin44

The nicest person on this forum
true, but dodging is pretty easy for the most part... which seems also to be the case in FF16 from my experience. I got "perfect" dodges in this demo at times when I was like "really? that wasn't way too early?"
Dodging is much more forgiving but parry seems much harder to pull off here but gives you better benefits compare to perfect dodge.
 
But more than that, this IS a more western centric game. Which means that the west will have to make up for any lost sales in Asia, especially Japan. Which I'm guessing will be considerable. Japan alone used to be responsible for anywhere to 1 to 2 million of any FF game, and I believe that it will be a fraction of that for XVI.
What? The Japanese market adores Japanese-developed games set in the medieval west. It will sell gangbusters over there.
 
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DelireMan7

Member
If its difficulty options are anything like FF7R, they will remove the ability to use items entirely. I can't wait to see the difficulty modes that you get when you play through the game.
Not being able to use items sounds like extreme.

I am fine with very limited stocks. Hope foes will be more aggressive and punishing.

Small note : I find weird to place the parry on the same button than attack. I actually get the first one accidentally when mashing attack.
 

LastBattle

Member
Watched a play through of the demo. Looks so good. Also really digging the tone of this FF. Urge to buy PS5 intensifying

 
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Vroadstar

Member
OK I'll respond, since you act like you know me. If an exclusive game on one platform dropped to like 52 fps in extreme circumstances I'd believe its a true 60fps game. This game is often lurching into the 40s, maybe low 40s or more. Hopefully this is an early version of the game and it's fixed for launch but man this 60fps mode absolutely tanks performance.

To me this is not acceptable for a one platform exclusive title that claims to be a 60fps. They have obviously targeted a 30fps mode with as much budget as possible and then looked at the 60fps mode afterwards. That's what I believe anyway.

Let's see what the analysis comes out at from the likes of DF. Hopefully it has been drastically improved for launch.
You are spreading FUD, they are not claiming anything. You're given two options to play the game as you like, 30fps or 60fps. Nowhere I've seen them claim it's only 60fps game because it's a platform exclusive.

You are the only one claiming that its 30fps game and they simply shoehorned 60fps onto it, so until you got the receipts to back up your claim, you are just spreading FUD.
 

Danjin44

The nicest person on this forum
Small note : I find weird to place the parry on the same button than attack. I actually get the first one accidentally when mashing attack.
It’s kind of similar to how Platinum Games does parry in Bayonetta. in that game you move your analog towards enemy thats about to land a hit which kind of makes it tricky to land the timing.
 
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Fabieter

Member
Disappointed by the demo. Feels incredibly on rails throughout, levels are claustrophobic, eikon battles become lengthy QTE sequences. They should have iterated on the open world FF15 formula.

What no? Final fantasy always had open ended levels but they were never open world.
 

Teslerum

Member
Also, you are probably more skilled than me, never thought about that?:lollipop_grinning_sweat:
Makes me think I absolutely suck. :lollipop_frowning_mouth:

My HP got into the red multiple times in the prologue, especially to the troll boss. (The Malboro thing was easier I thought). Died multiple times in the combat demo afterwards.

Edit: Wait, Horizon and Ragnarok? Conversely, I didn't have a problem in either. :messenger_grinning_sweat:
 
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Mr.Phoenix

Member
Music is incredible, but have no doubt, this is not a 60fps game. Its a 30fps game they've tried their best to shoehorn a 60fps mode into.
This is just not true. In the performance mode, its a locked 60fps during combat... the time when being 60fps matters the most. Outside combat, it stays around 40-60fps. Outside the resolution drop, it maintains everything that the fidelity mode has so I don't see how its being shoehorned.
 

Toots

Gold Member
Glorious demo, in all aspects.
Long, eventful, fun... The only thing that slowed me from pre-ordering is the 80 euros price tag which is approximatively 86.40 USD (as an aside, can someone tell me how much the game cost after taxes in the US please ? I'm sure europeans get screwed on vg prices but i need proof)

We really see DMC 5 dude influence on the combat, some moves are straight up taken from DMC 5, to the point i sometimes was under the impression that i played with Nero (when you kick a downed enemy it's pure Nero). Combat feels great and responsive in quality mode also. The easy mode rings are too op for my taste, but it's a great idea to enable casual players to have fun. The combo system is cool but i did not manage much, i was mostly charging a spell while attacking or charging my sword while casting spells. I guess it will be easier to be versatile in the full game when all the techniques are introduced to you one by one and not dumped on you, as a demo does.

Last but not least, i played till late and was so enthralled by it that i fucking put two different shoes this morning and only realized in the subway when it was too late to go home and change :messenger_grinning_sweat::messenger_grinning_sweat::messenger_grinning_sweat::messenger_grinning_sweat::messenger_grinning_sweat::messenger_grinning_sweat::messenger_grinning_sweat::messenger_grinning_sweat:
DfsedEk.jpg

(sorry for the blurry quality my phone camera is broken)
At least i know my director isn't coming today, but boy did i feel dumb when i realized
 

DenchDeckard

Moderated wildly
What vibe? Care to elaborate?
I quite enjoyed Asuras Wrath, for knowing what it was. it was basically quite gameplay light...some areas you moved forward a little bit and maybe ran around some small areas and you would walk to the end and it would trigger lenghty cut scene with QTEs and you would also have areas where you fought one enemy boss in a rotating kind of arenas or multiple smaller enemies...It was like a much clumsier version of this, but its insane anime type story made it thoroughly enjoyable to me.

I think I will enjoy this game now I look at it more like that.
You are spreading FUD, they are not claiming anything. You're given two options to play the game as you like, 30fps or 60fps. Nowhere I've seen them claim it's only 60fps game because it's a platform exclusive.

You are the only one claiming that its 30fps game and they simply shoehorned 60fps onto it, so until you got the receipts to back up your claim, you are just spreading FUD.

Ok, didn't mean to trigger you so much by sharing my opinion.
 

STARSBarry

Gold Member
What no? Final fantasy always had open ended levels but they were never open world.

I think he means the full overworld map which a majority of FF games include, this is kind of like Tales of Symphonia vs Tales of Symphonia 2 where the overworld was replaced with set points of interest you clicked to enter that zone, vs traveling a scaled down version of the World yourself.

Honestly though I thought the game was a bit too heavy on the cutscenes early on, I think they should have perhaps had the main protagonist slowly push a car for 15 minutes instead.
 

GymWolf

Member
No at beginning of the game, I mean Thor fight is very similar to Baldur in GoW 2018, fight with low chance you actually losing.


In my experience there are NOTHING a like but the demo is there for you try and see for yourself.
Sure, but both trash mobs and the bear and thor boss fights hit harder and are more aggressive than the malboro, the small trolls or the big one.
It was super easy to avoid their moves and when they managed to hit me, the damage was too low, i never felt in danger once.
I played Horizon on the hardest difficulty and all that really did in my experience is make traps completely and utterly useless.
but because the game has gyro aiming and 2 types of slow motion, it's just a lightgun shooter with a dodge button 😅

I have to admit I died a few times in Zelda yes, but to be fair I was fooling around and played like an idiot 🤣
I don't use gyro aiming but like i said before, the enemies in horizon were just more aggressive and hit harder especially in the sequel were they are basically on coke, i used the bullet time but when you have multiple super aggressive enemies that spam melee and range attack on you even the bullet time is not enough sometimes.
 

Fabieter

Member
I quite enjoyed Asuras Wrath, for knowing what it was. it was basically quite gameplay light...some areas you moved forward a little bit and maybe ran around some small areas and you would walk to the end and it would trigger lenghty cut scene with QTEs and you would also have areas where you fought one enemy boss in a rotating kind of arenas or multiple smaller enemies...It was like a much clumsier version of this, but its insane anime type story made it thoroughly enjoyable to me.

I think I will enjoy this game now I look at it more like that.


Ok, didn't mean to trigger you so much by sharing my opinion.

Its the prologue of a 60 hours game. They said there will be quite a few open exploreable fields and to be honest besides ff xv every sp mainline game was quite liniar. It sounds like you aint a fan of the franchise which is okay but that reasoning for this not being ff is objectively wrong.
 

GymWolf

Member
Its the fight with Benedikta, also dont judge the difficulty based on prologue since it basically tutorial to teach you the basic of the combat.

This game is not trying be Sekiro.
No game try to be sekiro but they can still have an hard challenge, for you it is not a problem because you are gonna replay the game 5 times, but the majority of people want a challenge in their first and only run, it is not too hard to understand right? If you understand why people liked elden ring you surely can understand why people want a challenge in an action rpg.

I'm not judgying the entire game, only what i played, this is why we have demos.
 

DenchDeckard

Moderated wildly
Its the prologue of a 60 hours game. They said there will be quite a few open exploreable fields and to be honest besides ff xv every sp mainline game was quite liniar. It sounds like you aint a fan of the franchise which is okay but that reasoning for this not being ff is objectively wrong.

Ok, i'll deffo give it a go.

I cant wait for Rebirth early next year, loved the last integrade. I admit I stopped playing FF after X pretty much. 6 and 9 are my favorite from growing up.
 
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Danjin44

The nicest person on this forum
It’s the prologue of a 60 hours game. They said there will be quite a few open exploreable fields and to be honest besides ff xv every sp mainline game was quite liniar. It sounds like you aint a fan of the franchise which is okay but that reasoning for this not being ff is objectively wrong.
Yoshi-p literally warned people before releasing the demo that the prologue is going to be little more cutscenes heavy compare to rest of the game to set up characters and setting.
 
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Danjin44

The nicest person on this forum
No game try to be sekiro but they can still have an hard challenge, for you it is not a problem because you are gonna replay the game 5 times, but the majority of people want a challenge in their first and only run, it is not too hard to understand right? If you understand why people liked elden ring you surely can understand why people want a challenge in an action rpg.

I'm not judgying the entire game, only what i played, this is why we have demos.
But this game is not trying be like Souls games, none of the FF game or any action JRPG for matter give you hard challenge at very beginning of the game when you try figure out how the battle system gonna work.

Only JRPG does hard difficulty from beginning is SMT series.
 

Porticus

Member
But this game is not trying be like Souls games, none of the FF game or any action JRPG for matter give you hard challenge at very beginning of the game when you try figure out how the battle system gonna work.

Only JRPG does hard difficulty from beginning is SMT series.
Still, in a two hours demo I never had to use a potion, isn't it a bit embarassing?

In FFVII you literally have a boss in less 10 minutes of starting the game that can easily kill you.
 
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