I nonetheless vividly recall the autumn day of November 2016 when Last Fantasy 15 discovered its method to me. The air was crisp with the scent of fallen leaves, portray the panorama in vibrant hues of crimson, gold, and orange. Amidst the trials of grad faculty, I made the choice to half methods with my iPad Mini, buying and selling it in at GameStop to fund my acquisition of the sport. Cash was tight as a university pupil, however the attract of Last Fantasy 15 was simple.
Upon finishing the sport, I discovered myself swept away by a torrent of feelings, significantly stirred by its considerably somber conclusion. Even now, I discover solace within the hauntingly lovely rendition of “Stand By Me” by Florence & The Machine, viewing it via the lens of nostalgia that the sport evokes. Nonetheless, as time handed, I discovered myself echoing the feelings of many others – Last Fantasy 15 appeared incomplete, missing essential parts in its narrative and crying out for extra content material.
Fortunately, a roadmap of promised DLC provided hope, and I eagerly awaited the day after I may delve into the whole assortment, experiencing the story in its meant chronological order. Regrettably, that day by no means arrived. The roadmap’s remaining vacation spot was abruptly truncated, leaving its conclusion to be penned right into a guide that continues to be unread on my shelf.
The Ready Sport
I anticipated the discharge of these DLC episodes, every one a treasure trove of latest adventures. Personally, I had a mushy spot for Gladiolus and his imposing presence, however I disciplined myself to carry off till all of the content material was out there. I reassured myself that the wait would repay ultimately, including to the thrill of diving into every episode one after the other.
Sq. Enix launched three DLC episodes specializing in the beforehand non-playable celebration members Gladiolus, Prompto, and Ignis for the primary season cross. Later, they added one other episode, letting you’re taking management of Ardyn Izunia, the primary villain of the sport. These episodes provided a enjoyable different to the same old gameplay as Noctis and in addition allowed the builders to combine playable celebration members into the primary recreation. Sadly, Last Fantasy 15 could not keep away from its improvement points, and Sq. Enix needed to cancel a number of extra DLC episodes earlier than they might be launched.
The second season cross was meant to delve deeper into the backstory of Last Fantasy 15, paving the best way for an alternate ending. Whereas Episode Aranea, a significant addition, by no means materialized, Episode Ardyn nonetheless managed to unveil a lot of the meant lore. Aranea Highwind, Last Fantasy 15’s resident dragoon, initially led a mercenary group employed by the Niflheim Empire to seize the heroes. Regardless of not being my favourite character, Aranea performed an important position within the narrative. The sport lacked a outstanding feminine presence, and her inclusion was a step in the best path. Followers eagerly anticipated her involvement within the endgame and Prompto’s DLC, with hopes of her turning into playable or a everlasting celebration member.
Story episodes weren’t the one DLC deliberate for Last Fantasy 15. We followers obtained the multiplayer growth Comrades. I beloved it as a result of I used to be capable of create my very own character within the Last Fantasy 15 universe. I created a personality that mirrored my on-line persona on the time, having fun with some lighthearted moments with associates in-game. Slashing with Shirikens was lots of enjoyable!
The promise of future content material and bug fixes saved me invested regardless of some tough patches. It added an additional layer of immersion, permitting me to insert myself into the world of Last Fantasy 15. I relished the thought of aiding Noctis and his companions in a passive position, dreaming of someday assembly them. In 2020, Comrades content material was additionally reduce off. It is nonetheless doable to play with NPCs, but it surely will not be the identical as enjoying with fellow Last Fantasy followers.
All Wrapped Up In A Ebook
The irony of the announcement that future DLC was canceled in November, two years after the discharge, is not misplaced on me. I keep in mind seeing the headlines, and one thing in me simply… crumbled. To at the present time, Last Fantasy 15 is the one trendy mainline Last Fantasy recreation that I can not see myself going again to. Positive, the thought crosses my thoughts sometimes, particularly after I see mentions of it in media or there is a promotion for a sale, however the issue is I nonetheless really feel scorned. I really feel cheated, and that feeling will not go away. Not less than not proper now.
The information of the DLC cancellation for Last Fantasy 15 hit me laborious. I might eagerly awaited the continuation of the sport’s story for years, solely to be taught that the remaining content material could be concluded in a guide. The complete saga would conclude with Last Fantasy 15: The Daybreak of the Future, which principally grew to become a written model of all the occasions that have been going to occur within the remaining DLC.
It appeared like a cop-out, a shortcut to tying up free ends that deserved firsthand expertise. Paradoxically, as a librarian, I could not discover solace in studying in regards to the occasions I had been so invested in. Video video games supply a singular immersive expertise that books merely cannot match. I did not need to calm down in mattress with a guide; I needed to choose up my controller and dive again into the world of Eos, to really feel the fun of controlling the motion myself.
One optimistic consequence from this fiasco is that Sq. Enix seems to have realized their lesson concerning rushed Last Fantasy content material. Last Fantasy 16 was a blast to play, and for my part, it felt like a whole, cohesive narrative. It’s receiving DLC, however the extra content material feels supplemental. I really sit up for revisiting it when I’ve the possibility.
