Final Fantasy XVI

[Yosharian]

Yeah comparing box art is totally a good way to analyse videogames, good job

 

[Duraframe300]

Played a few hours, then went to sleep and played another 1 1/2 today. Taking it slow. Really liking it, especially narrative and characters, though its my jam as expected.

So, how combat system?

Not the person to ask for anything in depth, but I'm having fun. You do have to like the kind of combat system it offers. I do wish they made the enemies just a bit more aggressive on first playthrough. Would go a long way.

 

[Zariusz]

Yeah comparing box art is totally a good way to analyse videogames, good job

In a way you can see what influences they could have, though i didnt say anything about the game itself so where is the analysis that you speak of.

 

[Yosharian]

Yeah comparing box art is totally a good way to analyse videogames, good job

In a way you can see what influences they could have, though i didnt say anything about the game itself so where is the analysis that you speak of.

It's just box art dude. It doesn't mean anything. It's made by PR guys.

 

[Cryomancer]

 

[Jinn]

Not the person to ask for anything in depth, but I'm having fun. You do have to like the kind of combat system it offers. I do wish they made the enemies just a bit more aggressive on first playthrough. Would go a long way.

Sounds like locking the hardest difficulty behind a full playthrough was a terrible idea, as expected. Really backfired on them in the general evaluation of the game across the internet. They neutered their own combat needlessly. Hope they do something to amend it by the time the PC versions released, or I'll have to get a cleared save file or something so I can play the damn thing the way it sounds like it was meant to be played.

 

[Duraframe300]

Not the person to ask for anything in depth, but I'm having fun. You do have to like the kind of combat system it offers. I do wish they made the enemies just a bit more aggressive on first playthrough. Would go a long way.

Sounds like locking the hardest difficulty behind a full playthrough was a terrible idea, as expected. Really backfired on them in the general evaluation of the game across the internet. They neutered their own combat needlessly. Hope they do something to amend it by the time the PC versions released, or I'll have to get a cleared save file or something so I can play the damn thing the way it sounds like it was meant to be played.

They don't have to go that far. Apart from making enemies apparently quite a bit more aggressive, NG+ also remixes enemy groups and starts you with all Eikons.

I actually don't mind using the first playthrough as a learning curve from a design perspective. Acquire abilities slowly, acquire eikon powers, learn them, basically build your skill and your build throughout the game. At some point while polishing they did dial back just a bit too much. It sounds like there's challenge in the later game and especially the hunts, but it could have been quite a bit more in a very reasonable manner.

 

[Anonona]

Not the person to ask for anything in depth, but I'm having fun. You do have to like the kind of combat system it offers. I do wish they made the enemies just a bit more aggressive on first playthrough. Would go a long way.

Sounds like locking the hardest difficulty behind a full playthrough was a terrible idea, as expected. Really backfired on them in the general evaluation of the game across the internet. They neutered their own combat needlessly. Hope they do something to amend it by the time the PC versions released, or I'll have to get a cleared save file or something so I can play the damn thing the way it sounds like it was meant to be played.

That is literally how almost every Hack n' Slash does it, from DMC to Bayonetta. You start at normal, which serves as an introduction and tutorial and then once you beat the game and unlock all weapons attacks and mechanics you start at the next difficulty level. This allows not only for the player to learn the games, but also the developers can adjust the higher difficulties with all the mechanics in mind and focusing on creating new encounters mixing enemies types and adding new attacks and mechanics, without paying mind to how coherent it is for the plot. It isn't a bad way of introducing difficulty options inherently, as the changes also add a bit of replayability (Ninja Gaiden did it best by going as far as introducing brand new enemies types each new difficulty level).

Now the problem may be that normal difficulty is just too easy, which is extra worrying considering that it is an ARPG, so there is always the risk of finding cheese builds and strats, even if the RP elements are light (just look at games like KH).

 

[Yosharian]

That is literally how almost every Hack n' Slash does it, from DMC to Bayonetta.

That doesn't mean it's a smart way to do it. Advanced players are unable to play on a difficulty which challenges them till they've waded through the lower difficulties. And what about people who've already played the game but have moved to a new platform, or for whatever reason just don't have the save game to unlock the higher difficulty?

It's dumb.

At least have a secret unlock combination like Bioshock Infinite for example.

 

[Elthosian]

That is literally how almost every Hack n' Slash does it, from DMC to Bayonetta.

That doesn't mean it's a smart way to do it. Advanced players are unable to play on a difficulty which challenges them till they've waded through the lower difficulties. And what about people who've already played the game but have moved to a new platform, or for whatever reason just don't have the save game to unlock the higher difficulty?

It's dumb.

At least have a secret unlock combination like Bioshock Infinite for example.

That's not to mention how many hack n' slash games are like 10 hours in length while this is a 30-40 hour time investment. Sure, you can skip the cutscenes and bring down the time during the second run but it's still a pretty different scenario.

 

[La vie sexuelle]

Played a few hours, then went to sleep and played another 1 1/2 today. Taking it slow. Really liking it, especially narrative and characters, though its my jam as expected.

So, how combat system?

Not the person to ask for anything in depth, but I'm having fun. You do have to like the kind of combat system it offers. I do wish they made the enemies just a bit more aggressive on first playthrough. Would go a long way.

But it goes like in last game? Or they revamped that?

 

[Doktor Best]

Played a few hours, then went to sleep and played another 1 1/2 today. Taking it slow. Really liking it, especially narrative and characters, though its my jam as expected.

So, how combat system?

Not the person to ask for anything in depth, but I'm having fun. You do have to like the kind of combat system it offers. I do wish they made the enemies just a bit more aggressive on first playthrough. Would go a long way.

But it goes like in last game? Or they revamped that?

You mean FF7Remake? This one is completely different as you dont control a party and you have no rtwp commands.

Its basically an action rpg now. Very similar combat to dmc.

 

[quixotic]

I might play this when the inevitable PC port happens. It’s the only FF that’s grabbed my attention since X.

 

[Matador]

Not the person to ask for anything in depth, but I'm having fun. You do have to like the kind of combat system it offers. I do wish they made the enemies just a bit more aggressive on first playthrough. Would go a long way.

Sounds like locking the hardest difficulty behind a full playthrough was a terrible idea, as expected. Really backfired on them in the general evaluation of the game across the internet. They neutered their own combat needlessly. Hope they do something to amend it by the time the PC versions released, or I'll have to get a cleared save file or something so I can play the damn thing the way it sounds like it was meant to be played.

This makes no sense, the best and most acclaimed action games in history are this way (Ninja Gaiden, DMC, MGR, Bayonetta...) They expect you to train the mechanics in lower difficulties before asking you to master them in highest difficulties like Master Ninja.

 

[Matador]

That is literally how almost every Hack n' Slash does it, from DMC to Bayonetta.

That doesn't mean it's a smart way to do it. Advanced players are unable to play on a difficulty which challenges them till they've waded through the lower difficulties. And what about people who've already played the game but have moved to a new platform, or for whatever reason just don't have the save game to unlock the higher difficulty?

It's dumb.

At least have a secret unlock combination like Bioshock Infinite for example.

Nobody is advanced if new to a game. You can be a good DMC player and some skills transfer to Ninja Gaiden, but you are not gonna beat Master Ninja straight away.

I agree about a secret unlock code though.

 

[Yosharian]

You can be a good DMC player and some skills transfer to Ninja Gaiden, but you are not gonna beat Master Ninja straight away.

We aren't talking about Ninja Gaiden, we are talking about FF16. As has been clearly established, this isn't a game where DMC/NG veterans are going to come in as new players and be unable to cope with the highest difficulty.

Someone has literally already stated that they are finding the second most difficult .. erm .. difficulty, too easy, and they can't select the hardest one yet because it's gated behind completing the game.

In your mind this is fine because other games which aren't FF16 are balanced that way? You are using Ninja Gaiden specifically because it is a ridiculously hard game, what applies to that game doesn't necessarily apply to other games. I can't even with these stupid discussions sometimes

 

[Jinn]

Guys, I'm well aware of how character action games work, but this is a possible 60 hour playthrough and an action RPG to boot. This isn't a 10-15 hour romp that begs for an immediate replay. All they had to do is add a fair challenge for those who wanted it for their first playthrough instead of treating the players like children who need training wheels.

 

[Yosharian]

Guys, I'm well aware of how character action games work, but this is a possible 60 hour playthrough and an action RPG to boot. This isn't a 10-15 hour romp that begs for an immediate replay. All they had to do is add a fair challenge for those who wanted it for their first playthrough instead of treating the players like children who need training wheels.

BUT NINJA GAIDEN

 

[La vie sexuelle]

Played a few hours, then went to sleep and played another 1 1/2 today. Taking it slow. Really liking it, especially narrative and characters, though its my jam as expected.

So, how combat system?

Not the person to ask for anything in depth, but I'm having fun. You do have to like the kind of combat system it offers. I do wish they made the enemies just a bit more aggressive on first playthrough. Would go a long way.

But it goes like in last game? Or they revamped that?

You mean FF7Remake? This one is completely different as you dont control a party and you have no rtwp commands.

Its basically an action rpg now. Very similar combat to dmc.

No, I mean last entry in main series, FFXV. Both games look the same (at last on recordings).

 

[turkishronin]

I hope they add nigger dlc for nigger lovers like me

 

[Duraframe300]

Guys, I'm well aware of how character action games work, but this is a possible 60 hour playthrough and an action RPG to boot. This isn't a 10-15 hour romp that begs for an immediate replay. All they had to do is add a fair challenge for those who wanted it for their first playthrough instead of treating the players like children who need training wheels.

I think you misunderstood me. Edit: Of course, re-reading maybe I misunderstood you, if so sorry Jinn

The reason I said that I don't think it's a good idea to just paste New Game + in, is because New Game+ assumes you are at Level 45+ (There's a level cap of 50 on first playthrough, 100 on second.) and have already made a decent dent in maxing out your character and gives you story critical abilites among else.

It's very much a New Game+ mode. I don't think jacking up your level and removing a large portion of character advancement is that fun for experiencing the game. I understand the structure and idea they were going for, that's not the problem, them scaling too much back/there being too much of a difference is the problem.

It's why I suggested for example increasing the enemy aggression somewhat (be it in normal game or a new difficulty) is already a good step in the right direction, would immediately cut down on evasion time and make enemy groups more dangerous. Hopefully they do add something like that via patches.

I of course also can't judge the whole game yet, my comment is about early game.

 

[Anonona]

A reason of why the may had locked the hard mode to NG+ is probably because of the remixed enemies and the fact that it is an ARPG. I seem to recall an example given in an interview or something, will have to look for it, but in the forest level instead of wolfs at level 20 or so it will be filled by raptors at level 40. So in this instance the harder difficulty may be designed around the player having all their skills and already at a decent level.

The real issue is that the difficulties may not be balanced well enough and the hardest default difficulty is too easy or that earlier enemies have shittier AI's compared to later ones. For example, in DMC 3 compare Prides, which are practically punching bags, to Abyss at endgame, which are a legitimate threath.

 

[Elthosian]

A reason of why the may had locked the hard mode to NG+ is probably because of the remixed enemies and the fact that it is an ARPG. I seem to recall an example given in an interview or something, will have to look for it, but in the forest level instead of wolfs at level 20 or so it will be filled by raptors at level 40. So in this instance the harder difficulty may be designed around the player having all their skills and already at a decent level.

The real issue is that the difficulties may not be balanced well enough and the hardest default difficulty is too easy or that earlier enemies have shittier AI's compared to later ones. For example, in DMC 3 compare Prides, which are practically punching bags, to Abyss at endgame, which are a legitimate threath.

Certainly, at this point making the hardest difficulty available from the get-go doesn't make sense because they designed it as a NG+ kinda thing, but it would have been much better if it was designed so you could choose it from the get-go and it was balanced around the expected first playthrough progression. That kinda makes it even worse as it makes it much less likely for them to unlock it via patch as Nintendo did with the hardest setting in FE Three Houses.

 

[Cryomancer]

I watched some videos and the story seems amazing. I would prefer if had a character creation but this game made me who only liked "western style jrpg's" to wanna to at least watch a full walkthrough.

I just din't understood. What are the Eikons? If is up to me to speculate, I would say that they are akin to primal elementals in Baldur's Gate. Also din't understood exactly how magic works. Like seems like anyone with a spirit bless can use in a part and in another, the guys in ruins could't use. I'm interested in learning more about this fictional world.

 

[Duraframe300]

Played a few hours, then went to sleep and played another 1 1/2 today. Taking it slow. Really liking it, especially narrative and characters, though its my jam as expected.

So, how combat system?

Not the person to ask for anything in depth, but I'm having fun. You do have to like the kind of combat system it offers. I do wish they made the enemies just a bit more aggressive on first playthrough. Would go a long way.

But it goes like in last game? Or they revamped that?

You mean FF7Remake? This one is completely different as you dont control a party and you have no rtwp commands.

Its basically an action rpg now. Very similar combat to dmc.

So, how combat system?

Not the person to ask for anything in depth, but I'm having fun. You do have to like the kind of combat system it offers. I do wish they made the enemies just a bit more aggressive on first playthrough. Would go a long way.

But it goes like in last game? Or they revamped that?

XVI is faster, snappier, feels much better. There's also a clear indication that you can get better at it which I never got with XV (higher skill ceiling) and mechanics don't feel as useless. IMO, resident codex action players can give much better judgement whenever they'll play than me.