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Review: Episode Prompto, Putting Together the Missing Pieces

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After the 10-year wait for Final Fantasy XV, it released with a flurry of mixed reviews from fans and critics. Being a long time Final Fantasy fan, I have to say, that I was one of the people who really enjoyed the visceral and large open world of Final Fantasy XV. I purchased the season pass based on the promised episodic character DLC and eventually a multiplayer DLC. Unfortunately, the Season Pass has been a giant let down so far, Episode Prompto Included.

For anyone that has done a full playthrough of Final Fantasy XV, you’ll know that these single character focused episodes fill the missing pieces from the main story, bits where party members went missing for inexplicable amounts of time. After completing the hour and a half long DLC, Episode Prompto, I was quite disappointed.

First, let’s talk about the story in Episode Prompto. I actually really enjoyed the story. I loved getting a chance to explore Prompto’s dark past, however, it could have been delivered better. Having all of this information crammed into an hour and a half felt rushed. Prompto finds out where he came from, faces his fears, and defeats a major enemy in this amount of time. Prompto seems like he could possibly be the least generic character from FFXV, and it would have been great to have more time with him.

Somehow Episode Prompto gave some important information and made it feel like the complete opposite. Every time it felt like the story was going to climax, I felt abruptly pulled out and rushed forward. Emotional conversations, plot reveals, and action sequences were all very short lived making it hard to connect with the character.

We get to explore Prompto finding out that he was manufactured to be a Magitek Soldier. After being separated from his friends, Ardyn taunts Prompto with hallucinations of being a Magitek soldier. There is even a sequence of Noctis chasing Prompto, treading on Prompto’s fears of betraying or losing his friends. Prompto struggles with the idea that his friends will not accept him for who he really is.

There are some hidden tapes and different things added in order to give some exploration aspect, but it didn’t really help. Instead, the tapes felt like a cheap way to give me story details and avoid giving me more gameplay. We also got a chance to see some more Arena, which also felt like a plot device to move the story forward, basically showing up to offer some suck it up style inspirational speeches to Prompto and some companionship in the heat of battle.

The controls were a bit interesting for a third person shooter style gameplay. They were kind of unique and took a second to get used too, but by the time I did, I had finished the DLC. You basically had a knife, your pistol, and random generic weapons that could be picked up as you moved forward. This included a submachine gun, a sniper rifle, a bazooka, and a grenade. The attacks were pretty basic and unmemorable.

You’re also given a snowmobile to travel and I actually enjoyed it. The trailer for this made it look gimmicky, but I found myself having fun running over enemies, shooting them at high speeds, and ramping off of mounds of snow and rocks. It was fun to have full control of a vehicle, opposed to the train track feel you get when driving the Regalia.

If you’re a fan a Final Fantasy XV, I would suggest waiting on purchasing the DLC if you haven’t already, as I don’t expect much more from Episode Ignis. I’m still holding out hope for Comrades the multiplayer DLC, but with Episode Ignis slated for December, it’s safe to say we will have to wait until 2018 to see any multiplayer gameplay.

I have always let my imagination run wild. Now that I am an adult, not much has changed. Now I spend most of my free time doing so through video games, film, television, and comics.

Gaming

Documentary Explores the Making of the Highly Praised Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth for PS5

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Square Enix has launched a captivating documentary series that explores the intricate process behind the creation of the highly praised Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. In the first episode, titled “Shaping the World,” the developer delves into the process of reimagining the expansive PS1 map of the original game into a vast sandbox for the PS5. The film includes personal stories shared by directors Naoki Hamaguchi and Tetsuya Nomura, as well as other important members of the team.

This reimagining of the all-time PlayStation classic was truly enjoyable. In our review, we praised Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth for its ability to enhance the already impressive combat system of Remake. The game truly shines in its portrayal of an iconic RPG setting. If you have a deep appreciation for the original PS1 game and found enjoyment in Remake, then Rebirth’s character-focused adventure will surely captivate you from start to finish.

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Gran Turismo 7 for the PS5 and PS4 shows continuous improvement

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While Sony may not classify Gran Turismo 7 as a live-service game, the team at Polyphony Digital certainly approaches it with a similar mindset. The game continues to impress with every new update, and although v1.44 may be smaller compared to previous versions, it still manages to enhance the already extensive content of this simulation racer.

The update, now available worldwide, introduces three new cars: the Audi R8 Coupé V10 Plus ’16, the Lamborghini Urus ’18, and the Toyota GT-One (TS020) ’99. Furthermore, it introduces three fresh events to World Circuits, an extra menu to conquer in the GT Café single-player campaign, and a collection of livery stickers inspired by the upcoming Highspeed Étoile anime, set to debut next week in Japan.

If you’re not already acquainted with Highspeed Étoile, you can watch a trailer right here. “Sony has announced that a collection of 26 stickers, consisting of 8 title logos and 18 main character stickers, will be made available for a limited time,” stated Sony on the PS Blog. In addition, Fukushima will be included as a backdrop in the title’s beloved photography mode.

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Gaming

TopSpin 2K25 appears to be a standout title in the recent PS5 and PS4 gameplay showcase

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This author has consistently praised the realistic portrayal of tennis in TopSpin 4. After more than a decade, we are thrilled to witness the release of TopSpin 2K25, which expands upon the success of its renowned predecessor. This gameplay video provides a comprehensive overview of the features discussed in our recent preview while also incorporating relevant footage to enhance understanding.

The series’ swing system sets it apart from arcade-style games like Virtua Tennis, as it requires players to charge up their shots in a different way. In order to succeed, timing is crucial, and fortunately, a new meter above your player will assist you in achieving that. Surfaces have their own distinct characteristics, such as clay, where you’ll experience a noticeable amount of sliding.

The game ensures that every player has a distinct set of animations, adding a touch of individuality to each competitor. The courts, found in all Grand Slams, possess a remarkable amount of individuality and charm. It is mentioned in the video that with each in-game season, players can expect a plethora of additional content, such as animation packs. This indicates that there will be plenty to anticipate even after the game’s initial release.

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