So, FFXV has been out for a while. Some people like it, some people hate it, some people are meh. But I think one thing most people agree on is that the story of this game is a complete dumpster fire - or rather, the presentation of the story in this game is ass. So I'm thinking - without changing the basic premise in any way (collecting royal weapons and waking up summons) - how could Square have presented the story better? Some thoughts:
1. DON'T HIRE THE FUCKING DISSIDIA 012 SCRIPTWRITER JFC
2. No supplementary material, we die like men.
3. Cut Chapter 0. Cut that shit. It only serves to completely remove tension as to whether all the characters are gonna survive until post-timeskip.
4. Open with Insomnia invasion. Just do it. It could have been one of the best FF openings of all time. Instead we push a car, much wow.
5. Open world hurts pacing, surprise. You know who ever finished the main quest of Skyrim? No one, that's who. FFXII style "zones" that are smaller would help funnel the player forwards better, instead of everyone spending 80 hours on Chapter 3.
6. Re: Insomnia invasion - I'm pretty sure this was originally what happened but have Cor meet up with the party after they escape and tell them about Regis' death. Not a fucking newspaper.
7. No bullshit fetch quests to move the plot forwards!!! Fuck you Dino!!!
8. Get to Accordo earlier than fucking chapter 8. Have several chapters of plot stuff going down there. Luna is an actual character.
9. Speaking of Luna how about we don't fucking kill her. She can join your party as a designated healer or something, that would be cool. "Come on Noctis, let's go wake up the other summons together! Yaaaay!"
10. No train walking simulator. I suggested this in another thread, but instead have each area - Cartanica, Shiva's booty etc, be a relatively open but self-contained zone, and let the player freely travel between them and Altissia via train/teleport crystal.
11. I don't even know where to begin with Gentiana. Maybe foreshadow that shit instead of being like oh, okay, guess she's naked and blue now. Hmm.
12. Speaking of foreshadowing, Prompto. I'm an MT! Now let's never speak of this again! NO. Maybe have Ardyn make cryptic remarks early on or a scene with Prompto being all sad and angsty and Noctis doesn't know why. Make it clear he's hiding something. Also Verstael actually shows up.
13. Iedolas has more screentime than being a pile of empty clothes on a chair.
14. Aranea is a permanent party member. One of my fave things about previous FFs was having the party grow and getting to meet new characters.
15. World of Ruin is explorable. FF6 style thing where you have to roam the land and gather your party once more.
16. If Luna and Noctis have to die, at least have them decide to sacrifice themselves together. That way they can still have the Titanic afterlife wedding but Luna has some goddamn agency.
IDK. Thoughts?
1. DON'T HIRE THE FUCKING DISSIDIA 012 SCRIPTWRITER JFC
2. No supplementary material, we die like men.
3. Cut Chapter 0. Cut that shit. It only serves to completely remove tension as to whether all the characters are gonna survive until post-timeskip.
4. Open with Insomnia invasion. Just do it. It could have been one of the best FF openings of all time. Instead we push a car, much wow.
5. Open world hurts pacing, surprise. You know who ever finished the main quest of Skyrim? No one, that's who. FFXII style "zones" that are smaller would help funnel the player forwards better, instead of everyone spending 80 hours on Chapter 3.
6. Re: Insomnia invasion - I'm pretty sure this was originally what happened but have Cor meet up with the party after they escape and tell them about Regis' death. Not a fucking newspaper.
7. No bullshit fetch quests to move the plot forwards!!! Fuck you Dino!!!
8. Get to Accordo earlier than fucking chapter 8. Have several chapters of plot stuff going down there. Luna is an actual character.
9. Speaking of Luna how about we don't fucking kill her. She can join your party as a designated healer or something, that would be cool. "Come on Noctis, let's go wake up the other summons together! Yaaaay!"
10. No train walking simulator. I suggested this in another thread, but instead have each area - Cartanica, Shiva's booty etc, be a relatively open but self-contained zone, and let the player freely travel between them and Altissia via train/teleport crystal.
11. I don't even know where to begin with Gentiana. Maybe foreshadow that shit instead of being like oh, okay, guess she's naked and blue now. Hmm.
12. Speaking of foreshadowing, Prompto. I'm an MT! Now let's never speak of this again! NO. Maybe have Ardyn make cryptic remarks early on or a scene with Prompto being all sad and angsty and Noctis doesn't know why. Make it clear he's hiding something. Also Verstael actually shows up.
13. Iedolas has more screentime than being a pile of empty clothes on a chair.
14. Aranea is a permanent party member. One of my fave things about previous FFs was having the party grow and getting to meet new characters.
15. World of Ruin is explorable. FF6 style thing where you have to roam the land and gather your party once more.
16. If Luna and Noctis have to die, at least have them decide to sacrifice themselves together. That way they can still have the Titanic afterlife wedding but Luna has some goddamn agency.
IDK. Thoughts?