Square Enix has released new battle footage for Final Fantasy XV. Every iteration of the Final Fantasy series brings something new to the table. After twelve main single-player games, two MMORPGs, tactics games, and countless spin-offs; it’s vital that each new game offer something fresh. Even hardcore fans of the franchise want to try something different with each release. But this time around, Square Enix has been taking player feedback from the previously released demo into consideration. Check out the video below to see the updated battle system in action.
Um…hello giant gun!
The video shows the lead character, Noctis, warping around the battlefield to assassinate enemies. Lead level designer Terada Takefumi revealed that Warp, Final Fantasy’s signature teleportation spell, will be an integral part of the battle system. Not only will the game have ground combat, but also some form of aerial combat with “flying foes and gigantic boss enemies” that we’ve yet to see. Personally, I’d love to see a timed free-falling boss battle where you have to win before you hit the ground and die. Like the Doom spell, but with more splat.
According to Square Enix, there are three basic spells: Blizzard, Fire, and Thunder. Sounds par for the course, however, FFXV introduces the idea of utilizing spells on the environment as well as opponents. You could cast fire on an enemy, or you could cast fire on a fuel pipe and watch it explode. You could use Blizzard to freeze water or cast it as an area affect to slow a group of enemies. There will also be multiple weapons and combo maneuvers incorporated into the system.
Now if you’re like me, this fast-paced battle system may seem a little daunting. There’s a reason why people love turn-based gameplay. I was concerned that I couldn’t handle Final Fantasy XIII‘s active time battle system, but I was just fine once I actually played it. Lead game designer Takizawa Masashi stated that Final Fantasy XV will have two different combat modes. One mode will be very action oriented and technical, while the other will be more relaxed. Players can switch between these modes at any time. This is a really smart move to make the game accessible to multiple player preferences.
The woman appearing at the end of the video is Aranea Highwind, captain of the Niflheim Empire’s Third Army Corps 86th Airborne Unit. Her military comrades refer to her as The Dragoon for her elite skills in aerial combat. Aranea is currently labeled as an antagonist, but I’m going to be cautiously optimistic about getting her as a playable character. After all, Beatrix started on the enemy team in FFIX. Hey, I can dream, can’t I? Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
What’s got you excited for Final Fantasy XV? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image credit: Square Enix