Review for Final Fantasy XV. Game for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, the video game was released on 29/11/2016 The version for PC came out on 06/03/2018
You know that strange feeling, when a doesn't go very well, but you can still see some good in it? And you carry it on and on, not so much because you appreciate it, but because there is the hope that it will improve, the hope of seeing the light shine and make you forget all the darkness. So it persists, and persists, until the inevitably ends but after it's all over, you feel bad. Not because you will miss the good times, but because now you know that the light that was glimpsed in the problems, will never shine.
This is the feeling we felt in front of the credits of Final Fantasy XV - Episode Ardyn, the last DLC in the world of Eos. After more than two years, we're at the end of support for Square Enix's latest fantasy, and our feeling is hard to describe. The review will be mostly positive, Episode Ardyn is a great DLC, with a good narrative, which in the entire cosmogony of Final Fantasy XV is beaten only by the phenomenal Episode Ignis.
Yet, faced with the last breath of this project, we can only be sorry for the treatment received by the game; what it was for and what it could be for.
As mentioned earlier, Episode Ardyn's narrative basically convinced us in its writing, but we have some reservations about the execution. Ardyn's character is fragile in some ways, her enormous charisma is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it makes the fans want to know more about the mysterious chancellor, on the other it puts a very complex task on the screenwriters: to explain the character's past without affecting this charisma. All in all, we are satisfied with the result; Ardyn hasn't lost charisma, and has indeed had some great new scenes that help cement her figure, yet the worst represented part is her descent into madness. Not because it's poorly written, but because in the first half of the DLC, it could have been done better.
Considering how the main reason for his behavior in Final Fantasy XV is explained with a huge twist on the finale, we found it unnecessary and indeed harmful to make Ardyn the same as that shown in the adventures of Noctis before the aforementioned ending. We understand how Square Enix has decided to give the character his characteristic charisma as soon as possible to give "fanservice" and thus let us play in the role of the villain we loved; but managing the situation better and then exploding with that ending would probably have earned this DLC several points. The additional content also has a particular problem in the qualitative consistency of its direction.
We go from very beautiful scenes - like the first and last - to others that could certainly have had better results. Very small detail also on the dubbing: since the launch there has been discussion about the huge discrepancy between the Japanese voice of Ardyn and the English one: the two voice actors are phenomenal, but characterize the character in a distinct way. While the Japanese portrays Ardyn as a more ridiculous and "crazy" character, the English gives a calmer and more ironic villain. With episode Ardyn our personal opinion on dubbing has changed; coming to prefer Japanese, which we find more in line with the character that Square Enix wanted to represent.
The DLC also acts as a huge stopgap to the game's Lore, as the first half is peppered with diaries, audiologs, videologs and explanations about the world of EOS. Some turn out to be very welcome while others further mess up an ecosystem that hasn't had peace since launch.
Moving on to another topic, let's discuss the gameplay of this DLC. Each Final Fantasy XV DLC has unique gameplay, and until now, none have really let us down. Episode Ardyn is no exception: using Ardyn is a lot of fun and reminiscent of the style of another character our chancellor is connected to, albeit in a much improved version. The small skill tree integrated into the combat system and the "finisher" system makes the character simple, but fun, able to not bore for the duration of the DLC. Speaking of duration, however, there is a sore point: The DLC lasts just a couple of hours, if you don't aim for completeness, and about 3 hours by completing it at 100%. Considering the higher price and longer wait for Episode Ardyn, we would have appreciated a longer duration than previous DLCs (or at least a higher technical value).
Another huge flaw of Episode Ardyn is the soundtrack. Excluding a very good track used for the final battle, Ardyn's soundtrack ranges from anonymous to annoying; with an OST of exploration totally out of place and too many recycles from the base title. Considering how Episode Ignis has the best tracks in the game, Episode Gladio has the hand of Nier's composer, and Comrades has Nobuo Uematsu, Episode Ardyn can't help but disappoint with its certainly less inspired soundtracks.
As for the graphics and technical elements, we re-send you to our review of Final Fantasy XV, as the title shares the same strengths and weaknesses.
Episode Ardyn is an excellent DLC, which puts an end to a project that unfortunately has never given "the best" (except in Episode Ignis). As an additional content, Episode Ardyn does it all well, with some scenes that can be improved, but all things considered promoted. Unfortunately, however, it is also a painful reminder of what Final Fantasy XV could be and what it can never become again. Speaking specifically of the DLC; a good script and a fun fight are partially limited by a few improvable performances and an anonymous soundtrack. Goodbye Final Fantasy XV, you have been important, unfortunately not always in a positive way
► Final Fantasy XV is an Action-JRPG game developed and published by Square Enix for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, the video game was released on 29/11/2016 The version for PC came out on 06/03/2018
