Final Fantasy XV: 12 Hands-On First Impressions
Yes, it's still incredibly sexist.
After a decade of waiting, Final Fantasy XV is finally, finally upon fans, and what a road it's been getting here.
It's fair to say that the true fan reception to the game won't become clear for a little while as they dig deep into it, but having been lucky enough to play the game for a few days before release, we've got a pretty good idea of what people will and won't like.
Final Fantasy XV is sure to be a divisive game, that's for sure, an insanely ambitious effort that nevertheless feels regressive in a number of key areas. From the 10-or-so hours we've played so far, it doesn't feel like the game will go down as a classic of the franchise, but it's sure to have its passionate cheerleaders all the same.
This play-test is based largely off the 1.01 patched version of the game, with a small amount of time spent playing it following the 1.02 Crown update.
Here are 12 first impressions from Final Fantasy XV...
12. The Graphics Are Great... But Not The Frame Rate
In terms of pure visual fidelity and art style, Final Fantasy XV is a gorgeous game. When running around the sprawling open world, the texture quality and lighting detail are really quite incredible.
It's just a shame, then, that playing the game on a base PS4 without the PS4 Pro enhancements, the console struggles to maintain a consistent frame rate, and early Xbox One players are also reporting a similar level of performance.
Enter a crowded city or get involved in a fight involving dozens of enemies and the frame rate can drop down to the late teens or early twenties, which is rather offputting and definitely detracts from the overall experience, immensely pretty though it is.