Okay, perhaps some of us are already in the mood for Final Fantasy XV but now - with the final delays out of the way, and release set for November 29th - the wait is finally almost over. A matter of days separate us from Noctis, and an epic adventure we’ve been waiting on for almost a decade.
Anticipation is sweet, of course, but maybe over all this time we’ve forgotten some of what Square Enix is promising with this “spectacular open world filled with larger-than-life creatures and amazing wonders”. As we count down the days before diving in, it’s possible to get a taste for what awaits thanks to a wealth of ancillary media. There’s no better time to whet your appetite and dive into the rich universe of FFXV - because soon, the game itself will take up all our time.
What to watch
With an all-star cast featuring Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul, Game of Thrones’ Lena Heady and the legend that is Sean Bean, Kingsglaive is a CGI film that tells the story of King Regis, the father of Final Fantasy XV’s hero Noctis. Although the events remain separate from the game, together they build a much deeper picture of the kingdom of Lucis, and the relationship between Noctis and his father.
If you’re looking for something tied a little more closely to the storyline of FFXV, a free-to-watch short anime series entitled Brotherhood is available to stream on YouTube. Brotherhood explores the relationship between Noctis and his trusty trio of comrades – Gladiolus, Ignis and Prompto – perfectly setting the scene for where Final Fantasy XV picks up.
A blu-ray containing both Kingsglaive and all episodes of Brotherhood is available on Amazon.
What to play
You can play the Final Fantasy XV Platinum demo (which is available on X1 and PS4 for free). Finishing this will let you name Carbuncle in the full game.
There’s also a mobile game available for download on your Apple or Android device too: Justice Monsters Five. A fun, free to play title, JMV is actually an in-game pinball machine that Noctis and co. enjoy playing in the universe of Final Fantasy XV. It can now be played as a standalone title on your smartphone. You might spot a few familiar creatures in there too – was that a chocobo?
What to listen to
Any discerning Final Fantasy fan knows just how important a great soundtrack is in making the game world what it is. FFXV’s soundtrack is available to download and listen to right now. The full OST is available on iTunes for £11.99 and there’s the official songs recorded by indie sensation Florence + the Machine too, including a spine-tingling cover of Ben E. King’s Stand By Me. It may not be what we’d usually expect from a FF soundtrack, but it does an amazing job of setting the game’s tone.
Big fans might also be keen to hear Final Fantasy XV Live at Abbey Road Studios.
What else is there?
If, for some reason, that’s still not enough to get your blood pumping in excitement for Final Fantasy XV, there’s a wealth of content from the last few months you can take a bite out of. Here’s the Kotaku articles you shouldn’t miss:
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