The Final Fantasy series has had a hard time in recent years. While it entered the new millenium on the top of its game, an awful movie (The Spirits Within, not the awesome Advent Children) and several questionable games that ranged from awful (Dirge of Cerberus) to downright broken (Final Fantasy XIV) have damaged its reputation. In fact, many consider 2001's Final Fantasy X to be the last truly great Final Fantasy game. Final Fantasy XV has been in development since 2006 and to say that there's a lot riding on its success would be an understatement. It's a chance for Square-Enix to hit the ground running in this hardware generation and win over a new audience. What's been released so far looks very promising. Though it has a cinematic, action-packed combat system instead of a traditional turn-based system, Final Fantasy XV embraces the traditions of the series in other areas. For example summons will return in the form of Eidolons - gigantic monsters so powerful that they can change the tide of a battle in one fell swoop. It's hard to say whether or not Final Fantasy XV will undo the damage done by the recent lacklustre Final Fantasy games, but chances are high that fans will buy it anyway - either out of genuine hype and excitement or morbid curiosity.
