Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsA Final Fantasy game that does justice to the franchise
Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2017
This game is really amazing! I am old enough to have played FF1 on my NES in the mid 1980's, and have been a loyal supporter of the franchise through good...and not so good. It was really nice to see Square integrate characters, weapons, items, and enemies from previous Final Fantasy games.
Like most Final Fantasy games, the main quest is fairly linear, while everything else is very open ended. The main map of the game is pretty massive. It takes quite some time to get from one side of the map to the other side, even when driving. This allows for a unique exploration experience. I have put over 125 hours into the game, and there are still small blacked out areas on the map that I have yet to explore.
Character stats are completely upgradeable through accessories, with an almost limitless list of possibilities for your party. At the same time, weapons, tools, and magic can further customize your party. Battles are great. You can use the long standing 'wait' mode, or play on the fly. I use both. Whatever works for you will be enjoyable. Movement is very fluid during battles once you get the controls down, and the graphics are certainly commendable, which segues into my next topic.
The graphics are great in 1080p and 4k. This being one of the few games supporting HDR and 4k resolution on the X Box One S and PlayStation Pro, I've tried multiple settings on both of my TVs. The main difference between my 1080p Samsung and my 4k Sony with HDR, at least for this game, is color reproduction. Yeah, the resolution is definitely better, and sharper on the 4k TV. However, unless you are using a 55" 4k, HDR 10, 1000 nits TV or larger, or sitting right next to a 43"-49" TV with the same specs, the difference between 1080p and 4k is not immediately apparent in still images (the human eye can only discern a pixilation difference between 1080p/4k at close range on small TVs). HDR is what makes the picture better on all of these 4k TVs. I am using a Sony x800d 43" VA panel, and since the max nits is relatively low (maybe 400), the HDR doesn't necessary reproduce images as well as a television set with over 1000 nits. However, with some picture setting adjustments, I was able to get a pretty respectable picture for gaming, with extremely low input lag (definitely a step up from my older Samsung). I watched my buddy play this on his new 49" Samsung KS 8000, and it certainly looked better than mine, but not by much. For the graphics nerds, you will not be disappointed. The gameplay is also extremely smooth, especially in battle (once you get the hang of it).
The ability to fish, hunt, gamble, run various side quests, and play video games add to the main part of the game. Some of the best gear in the game can be obtained from gambling and playing a pinball style game. I've spent so many hours trying to catch legendary fish, I've forgotten at times that I'm playing an RPG with a set goal. Post main story content is very engaging and challenging. The hardest dungeons open up after the main story, giving you a real chance to test your build.
If you are on the fence about purchasing this, I can almost guarantee you will like this game. I stopped playing Gears of War 4, Fifa 2017, Dead Rising 4, Battlefield One, and Destiny to play this game. It hasn't left the disc drive of my X Box One S since I received it in December.
Hope this helps.
Cheers
