I still can’t believe Final Fantasy 15 is nine years old. It felt like it was just yesterday as I booted up a rented PlayStation 4, witnessing the iconic opening scene where Florence + The Machine’s “Stand by Me” plays as the gang pushes the Regalia and exchanges banter.
Over the years, I have been a staunch supporter of Final Fantasy 15. While I admit the game had its shortcomings, I will wholeheartedly defend it because of how deeply I resonated with the bond Noctis has with his friends.
Final Fantasy 15 is one of Square’s biggest missteps in the franchise. There were clear issues with the game’s full release, especially with its ludicrous amounts of cut content made into DLCs later on. The classic Fabula Nova Chrysalis dream was long over, and Square decided to pick up the scraps after the failure of their ambitious multi-FF project. What we got wasn’t what a lot of people wanted, but at least it gave us one of the most heartbreaking endings in gaming history.
It was one of the rare moments where a videogame made me tear up. The last time a JRPG made me bawl my eyes out was Kingdom Hearts II’s third act, and imagine my surprise when Noctis poured out one last message to his friends before he finally decided to sacrifice himself for his country. As the embers of their little campfire burned, what Noctis said to Ignis, Prompto, and Gladio broke me.
“You guys… are the best.”
19-year-old me wasn’t prepared for that moment. It felt like saying goodbye to friends, something that the Persona games have always mastered when it comes to their endings. Watching Noctis bid farewell to his friends before he squares off with Ardyn for the last time felt too emotional for me.
My experience with Final Fantasy 15 was made better by the relationship between these four characters. Prompto’s bubbly personality makes tense situations lighter, encouraging us to take photos near landmarks and sometimes take selfies in the middle of battle. Gladio’s gym-bro vibes are a much-needed contrast to Prompto’s energy, all while Ignis preps up his cooking after coming up with a brand new recipe.
It really felt like a long road trip with the boys, something that I’m also used to in real life. While my real-life adventures aren’t accompanied by Chocobos and battling Leviathans, I still feel like 15’s core theme of brotherhood is perfect for someone like me.
So it makes perfect sense why the ending really put me to tears. I know I can never get that same experience again, so I am living it vicariously by watching streamers and content creators get to THAT PART of the game. At least I know my emotional breakdown was warranted.
Despite all that hubbub, I still put Final Fantasy 15 as one of my favorite entries of the series, next only to Final Fantasy 7. Its ending really makes the journey worthwhile. Noctis’ martyrdom was the perfect conclusion to a story about legacy and friendship. I still wish I’d see more of them in the future. Maybe the upcoming Dissidia game can help me with that?
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