Square-Enix Final Fantasy XV [the game formerly known as Versus XIII]

New source since Game Informer deleted their article.

Be prepared for the internet to implode when that demo releases. I wonder how much this'll help Type-0 HD's sales. If it does really well Square might actually work on those Type-1 and Type-2 trademarks they filed years ago(though, unless they're prequels I'm not sure how it'd work).

I'm basically the biggest Type-0 fan here and I still don't know if I should be more excited for that or a mere demo of FFXV. Hng.

 

TGS trailer:

Also, this is relevant[DOUBLEPOST=1411005435][/DOUBLEPOST]Music will be handled by Video Game Orchestra: https://twitter.com/theVGO/status/512412877614243841

 

Tabata directing the rest of this game is fine by me. He did direct Crisis Core and Type-0. So it's great.

God damn it looks so good. Hng.

 

R1 or the d-pad might be used to switch spells. Probably R1 since I'm mostly sure the d-pad will be used to switch between characters similar to Type-0.

While I am a little disappointed that you can't teleport anywhere, I'm sure there'll be more than enough places to lock onto to make up for it. Most of this stuff are things I've heard already but I never found a source. So many people complained about holding a button to attack or dodge but if you can switch up your style mid-combo(by switching weapons or teleporting) then I don't see a problem with it.


EDIT: New interview with Tabata here.

• The game is about 55% done since the time Tabata came onto the team two years ago(meaning not 55% after 8 years of work).
• FFXV trailer was all in-engine except for the "spaceship" scene which was pre-rendered.
• Driving was designed to feel real without getting too realistic.
• The game isn't totally open world but offers plenty of freedom and exploration.

Lots of extra little details in that interview too. Nothing major for this game though.

Edit 2: Camping out will be important. Characters need sleep or else they'll do poorly in battle. Weather will effect combat and magic. Magic like fire may even have disadvantages against the player. Monsters wander openly at night too.

Source

 

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Spoiler: Lots of Details

Q: So after all, the E3 2013 trailer was a lie? You can’t actually play like that?

A：You can fight like that. I think in the recent play demonstration we showed several techniques and functions, but at E3 last year the game was running on a prototype environment (Ebony). At TGS 2014 we showed the game running in the actual environment (Luminous). Right now we are in the process of migrating functions from the prototype into it. It will take time to migrate it all. I wanted to show footage in the actual environment as soon as possible, so I ended up showing something that is in the midst of migrating. The video shows actual footage, not an idealized version. It will become more and more advanced from here on out.

Q: Can you go into detail about the “holding down the button” issue? Is it really okay to just hold the button down?

A：It’s not that simple! (Laughs.) Yes, when you continue to hold down the guard button, you can basically auto-guard and evade, but it consumes MP. You can’t infinitely evade. You have to think about timing, when it’s a good idea to attack or evade. Also, you aren’t invincible. There are attacks you can’t avoid. In those cases, there are also essential technical evasion methods.

Q: What about attacks?

A：When you push the attack button, you invoke the standard combo. You can change the actions by using it in coordination with the directional buttons. The actions change depending on your circumstances—things like whether you’re guarding and whether the timing is right, (imagine in this circumstance: when you’re guarding, you might get a chance to counterattack or something), or if your companions are nearby.

Q: Can you change the operational character?

A：Not in its current specifications. Everyone on the development team thoroughly looked into an Active Cross Battle system that made free use of attack, guard, and co-op functions, but as a result they arrived at the conclusion that changing characters would be too difficult. In order to create a new and interesting battle system, we ended up not being able to put in the character switching.

Q: Is jumping in?

A: It is. Considering PlayStation 4 has plenty of buttons, there is an independent jump button.

Q: What about free running?

A: It’s there. Except for the character switching, everything that was in the E3 2013 trailer is still there. All the cool actions like the weapons barrier that surrounds Noctis called “Phantom Sword,” and the short warps and jumping from the Behemoth battle are in the actual game. We’ll release more information later on, so please look forward to it.

Q: What about weapon selection?

A: You set them yourself before battle. You set each weapon considering what actions you can use with which weapons. You can only determine one weapon from the ones equipped to be your main one, but that weapon will come with techniques which can be invoked at your discretion in battle. Besides the basic assault button (attack), you can invoke techniques with the technique button.

Q: I can’t tell if it’s more like Kingdom Hearts or Final Fantasy Type-0

A: We explained that when you push the attack button, you invoke the standard combo, which is similar toType-0. Considering the battle system as a whole, however, it is different from both Type-0 and Kingdom Hearts.

Q: Is it being simplified for casual users? Is is still an action RPG?

A: In order to widen its appeal, we’re developing the game aware that anyone can immediately be able to play it, however the game as a whole is not casual. Because it’s a core game, we have casual controls. If you obtain good weapons and level up, you won’t have to worry about clearing the main scenarios.

Q: Will you listen to feedback from the demo version?

A: We want to reference your feedback during development, but how we’re going to do that is still under review.

Q: Haven’t you been poor at putting out information?

A: If our fans are uneasy about the information we have released, then our ways of issuing information may in fact be poor. Even though we didn’t have a lot of time, I wanted to make clear the current situation. In the future, our information releases might be poor, but I think we can receive your approval.

Additional details were shared on cooperative chains, parrying, and other general information.

“There are systems we want to tell you more about.”

Final Fantasy XV’s Cooperative Chains & Growth

“The co-op moves aren’t one-offs, you can do them continuously.”“Invoking co-op moves is automatic, but it’s necessary for the player to aim their mark.”

Turning to the Side = The Concept of Parrying

“To connect a co-op move while avoiding an enemy attack, you have to keep an eye out for an indication when to invoke it.”“You can’t auto-parry.”“It feels accomplishing to pull of a co-op attack from a parry.”

More details to come later.

General

“Even though there are parts fromVersus that we have ended up changing, we’ve developed them in more interesting ways, I want you to look forward to it.”“I get reports everyday from development staff about what was said on the internet. If we have material, I’d like to release development information again in a live broadcast like this on November 1.”“Next month they’ll release information from other development members.”“Development progress is at 55%.Final Fantasy XV has entered the phase where they are mass producing resource material. After that, it’s a fight against the amount of resource material and time. We are also hiring people to help make Final Fantasy XV, so interested applicants should check out the homepage.”

Gematsu