10 Divisive Video Game Levels Fans Can't Agree On
6. Chapter 13 - Final Fantasy XV
The core gameplay mechanic of FF15 was “what if Final Fantasy was a road trip with a bunch of monarchy bros”; inviting players to drive around its open world in their flashy sports car and enjoy the camaraderie of its core cast.
Which is why Chapter 13 is such a sticking point. Taking you out of the open world and into the longest dungeon of the game is one thing but it’s a rare moment of FF15 where you are forced to go solo.
Looking at it positively, taking away Noct’s party and weapons really hammers home the adversity of the situation. No longer able to rely on your friends, you must overcome this situation alone. It is designed to cause stress, fear and uncertainty in the player - even more so with certain story revelations that throw everything you know into doubt.
However… it’s simply not fun. It detours from the core enjoyment of the game far too much for far too long, asking players to backtrack, learn new stealth mechanics and rely entirely on an old ring that only seems to work 25% of the time.
The negative response to this at launch actually prompted an update to smooth the section over but even still it remains a chapter that divides player opinion.