10 Video Games Ruined By One Dumb Decision

1. Chapter 13 - Final Fantasy XV

Final Fantasy XV Chapter 13
Square Enix

Final Fantasy XV was one of the most avidly anticipated games of the last five years, and though it boasted terrific visuals and a cast of unexpectedly likeable dudebros, the entire game was derailed late in the day by the infamously terrible Chapter 13.

The fluid combat and entertainingly ridiculous story hits a brick wall at this point, with protagonist Noctis being stripped of his weapons, separated from the rest of his party and funneled down a series of repetitive, soulless hallways for about three hours.

With just the Ring of the Lucii equipped to fend off enemies, stealth is the order of the day here, while seeking out keycards to progress through the seemingly endless facility.

It couldn't have felt more counter to the game's prior gorgeous rural sprawl, and immediately transformed FFXV into an agonisingly dull slog.

Even if you accept director Hajime Tabata's thesis that he wanted players to feel frustrated like Noctis, there's clearly a line, and dragging such tedium out for literally hours was incredibly ill-advised.

Upon original release, many players were so aggravated by the level that they abandoned the game for a whole four months.

At this point, Square Enix finally released a patch, which increased Noctis' movement speed, buffed the Ring and allowed those who'd already completed the campaign to take a shorter 20-minute path on repeat playthroughs.

It's a miserable enough sequence that it severely impacts the overall experience, and there are surely many who simply dropped the game at Chapter 13 and never bothered returning to it.

Advertisement

Watch Next


Contributor
Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.