FINAL FANTASY XV POCKET EDITION HD
- September 6, 2018
- SQUARE ENIX CO. LTD.
Final Fantasy XV is perhaps the most divisive entry in the long running series.
Get on PS StoreFinal Fantasy XV Pocket Edition HD is a streamlined version of the popular RPG, following the journey of Prince Noctis and his companions in a world full of peril. The game offers 10 chapters of the original story, now with cute and cool character designs. Explore the world of Lucis and experience the epic tale of the Chosen King and his quest for peace, all with a one-time license fee for play on PlayStation 4.
Nintendo Switch
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Colorful presentation and cute chibi art style enhance the visual experience.
- Combat is surprisingly fun and fluid, making for an enjoyable gameplay experience.
- The game provides a more focused story experience, making it accessible for those who want to re-experience Noctis' adventure without a significant time investment.
- The game simplifies many aspects, leading to a lack of depth and emotional ties compared to the original.
- Several plot elements feel underwhelming and underdeveloped, resulting in a less engaging narrative.
- The absence of challenge and small quest areas diminish the overall experience, leaving players wanting more.
- story10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The story is described as a more efficient retelling of the original, lasting about 10 hours, but it sacrifices depth and character development, resulting in a weaker narrative experience. While the presentation is colorful and the combat enjoyable, many reviewers note that the emotional connections and scope of the original story are lacking, with several plot elements feeling underwhelming. Overall, it offers a faithful translation of the main story but fails to capture the finer details and emotional ties of the full game.
“[bright and unique art design, main story and world are faithfully translated from the full game].”
“[colorful presentation, combat surprisingly fun, plays quite nice on handheld, very sound story].”
“The meat of the story involves running a few errands and a few climaxes later on, with only a smidgen of character development.”
“The lack of scope, however, really does underline how weak Noctis' quest really is when all the car riding and fetch quests are cut.”
“It is missing a lot of the finer qualities, like the fishing and the attention to detail, in exchange for a more focused story experience that lasts about 10 hours.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The graphics feature a charming chibi art style that complements the game's old-school aesthetic, making it feel at home on the Nintendo Switch. While the visuals are cute and the live-action combat can be satisfying, some reviewers feel the overall design is overly simplified and lacks depth, which detracts from the experience.
“The cute chibi art style feels right at home on the Nintendo Switch, enhancing the overall experience.”
“There are many moments where the live-action combat is satisfying, and the cutesy visuals are charming.”
“The graphics are disappointing, with a chibi art style that feels overly simplistic and lacks detail.”
“There is a blatant lack of challenge, and the graphics do not enhance the experience, making several plot elements feel underwhelming and underdeveloped.”
“The overall visual presentation is lacking, failing to create an engaging atmosphere.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by fluid mechanics and responsive controller support, enhanced by fully voiced scenes featuring original voice actors. Players appreciate the engaging action gameplay, charming chibi art style, and the game's seamless fit on the Nintendo Switch, complemented by an epic soundtrack.
“The controller support and fluid gameplay make for an immersive experience, complemented by fully voiced scenes featuring the original voice actors.”
“The action gameplay is as good as ever, enhanced by a cute chibi art style that feels right at home on the Nintendo Switch, along with an epic soundtrack that remains unforgettable.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is minimal, with the narrative primarily focused on completing tasks and reaching climactic moments, leaving little room for deeper exploration of the characters.
“The meat of the story involves running a few errands and a few climaxes later on, with only a smidgen of character development.”
“The characters feel one-dimensional and lack any real growth throughout the game.”
“I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; they didn't evolve in any meaningful way.”
- music1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highlighted as an epic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, complementing the engaging action gameplay and charming chibi art style, particularly well-suited for the Nintendo Switch.
“The action gameplay is as good as ever, and the epic soundtrack remains a highlight.”
“The cute chibi art style feels right at home on the Nintendo Switch, enhancing the overall experience.”
“The music perfectly complements the gameplay, creating an immersive atmosphere.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional impact of the game is perceived as lacking, with reviewers noting that it fails to establish the strong emotional connections found in the main game. Additionally, the small quest areas and insufficient combat contribute to a diminished overall experience, further exacerbated by technical issues like frame rate drops on the Switch.
Critic Reviews
Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition HD Review
Final Fantasy XV is perhaps the most divisive entry in the long running series.
80%Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition HD Review
The nightmare that is Final Fantasy XV will continue as Square Enix patches and updates content to it while producing more pointless DLC episodes. Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition HD is not so bad since it cuts out so much of the agony that bogged it down. Is Pocket Edition HD worth it? Yes, it is since it tells the exact same story with greater efficiency. It is missing a lot of the finer qualities, like the fishing and the attention to detail, in exchange for a more focused story experience that lasts about 10 hours. The lack of scope, however, really does underline how weak Noctis' quest really is when all the car riding and fetch quests are cut. The meat of the story involves running a few errands and a few climaxes later on, with only a smidgen of character development.
60%Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition review
Probably the most un-Final Fantasy game in the series history XV Pocket Edition HD at least provides a decent game to get us going before more full-fat titles arrive.
70%
