After ten years of developmental hell, Final Fantasy XV has finally arrived. Not only does the game hold the name of one of the most successful video game franchises in recent memory, but at the same time, it also holds the name of a franchise that has lost relevance after ten years. Because of this, fans have set high expectations for the newest game in the franchise. Fortunately, Final Fantasy XV delivers on most of these expectations although plot inconvenience and poor character development ends up being the downfall of the game.

        Final Fantasy XV offers many enjoyable gameplay elements. The open-world style of gameplay allows the player to explore a vast amount land. As a result, the open-world makes room for side activities to keep gamers engaged in something other than the main story. Also, Final Fantasy XV is a visually stunning game. The realistic art style helps players to feel more immersed in the gameplay, resulting in a more enjoyable experience. Moreover, the relationship that develops between main characters over the course of the game is excellently handled. These relationships keep the game relatable and makes gamers want to see the characters succeed in the main story.

        Despite Final Fantasy XV’s great qualities, the game is far from perfect. Particularly, the game’s plot fails to flesh out the main individual characters. Although the overall chemistry between the characters is great, the individual back stories of each characters fails in comparison. Players will find the plot uninteresting as a result of having weak characters. In addition, Final Fantasy XV’s storyline structure is inconvenient. At the onset of the game, players have plenty of opportunities to explore the open world. As the story progresses, however, players find themselves confined in narrow corridors. The reasoning behind this structure is to help players focus in on the story. However, players must sideline other in-game activities in order to finish the story. As a consequence, Final Fantasy XV gamers will find such inconveniences frustrating when playing.

      Although Final Fantasy XV is not a perfect video game, it is a product that deserves much appreciation. For a game to be as good as Final Fantasy XV, especially after ten years of development, is an amazing feat. The game’s developer Square Enix revived a franchise by adding new gameplay features with a heartfelt focus on brotherhood. If Square Enix continues to produce games like Final Fantasy XV, the franchise will continue to compete with other big time video games titles for years to come.