*FINAL GRADE: 7.3 OUT OF 10*
* NEW GAME+ OFFERS NNNNOTHING NEW NNNOTHING NEW (IN FACT, THERE ARE SECRET DUNGEONS BUT YOU HAVE TO CONTINUE PLAYING AFTERWARD AND NOT DO NG+ FROM THE BEGINNING) AND I ALSO FOUND ON THIS SECOND PLAYTHROUGH THAT THE GAME WAS SO MUCH MORE PAINFULLY TEDIOUS AND A GRIND TO JUST GET THROUGH
ALSO, THAT ZEGNATUS KEEP WAS ONE OF THE MOST NEEDLESS BORING FILLERS I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED
COLISEUM COULD HAVE BEEN A FUN WAY TO SHAKE THINGS UP BUT IT HAS 0% TO DO WITH ACTIVE COMBAT
DLC RELEASE OF THE CHOCOCIRCUS OR WHATEVER: SAME THING
THE 4 INSTALLMENT DLCs COME WAYYY TOO LATE
IN THIS PLAYTHROUGH I KINDA CHANGE THINGS UP BY CHANGING FROM ENGLISH AUDIO TO JAPANESE; I ACTUALLY DIDN'T LIKE THE LATTER
ALSO TRIED TO MILK THE ONE-SHOTS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE SINCE THEY WERE 1+ AP PER KILL*

OK I'LL START WITH THE BAD STUFF:
OBSCENELY LONG LOADING TIMES- STARING AT A CAR DRIVING AROUND IS NOT SOMETHING ANYONE WOULD ENJOY, SO FAST TRAVEL IS THERE TO BE CONVENIENT - BUT IT'S NOT BECAUSE YOU'RE WAITING ABOUT 2 MINUTES EVERY TIME

CAMERA ANGLING (ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WITH MANY TREES; CAN'T SEE ANYTHING) SLOPPILY DONE

WHEREAS EVERY PRECEDING FINAL FANTASY WAS ALL ABOUT ADDING DEPTH TO CHARACTERS AND PROGRESSING A STORYLINE, THIS HAD THE REVERSE APPROACH - VERY LITTLE (ALL UNINTERESTING) DEPTH TO NOCTIS AND ZERO FOR THE REST
WHICH BRINGS ME TO: YOU HAD CINDY AND ARANEA, BUT NONE OF THEM PLAYABLE CHARACTERS - INSTEAD YOU HAVE 2 TOGGAF LOOKING METROSEXUAL TYPES!? WHY!?

I FEEL LIKE I SPENT 85% OF THIS GAME GOING AFTER ICONS ON A MAP (MOSTLY HUNTS) AND THE STORYLINE MISSIONS WERE UNDERWHELMING FOR THE MOST PART

GOOD STUFF: STELLAR GRAPHICS AND SUMMONS, IF YOU CAN SOMEHOW LOOK PAST THE CAMERA ANGLING ISSUES, THE COMBAT SYSTEM WAS PRETTY GOOD!
ALSO HAD SOME OF THE MOST PHENOMENAL SOUNDTRACKS EVER!

I THINK THIS GAME TRIED TO BE EXTREMELY AMBITIOUS BUT THE WHOLE THING WAS CUT SHORT - AS IN BY HALF - BECAUSE OF OTHER CONSTRAINTS WHICH EXPLAINS THE ALMOST RANDOMNESS AND DISCONNECT IN THE STORYLINE

CURRENTLY PLAYING NEW GAME+ MODE; NOT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE BUT I WILL HAVE A FINAL GRADE ONCE I FULLY FULLY COMPLETE THE GAME INCLUDING THE ULTRA OPTIONAL BOSSES!

7.9 OUT OF 10

FFXV BATTLE THEME!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_CsijQsYY4

FF ALL BATTLES THEMES!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjZuxAWb8a8
FF ALL BOSS BATTLE THEMES!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh0RIp209zw
FF ALL VICTORY THEMES!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHx5hCVN26E
FF ALL FINAL BOSS THEMES! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uc