It’s always interesting to see AAA developers like Square Enix wade into a whole new market and style of video game. It’s like watching your favorite musician try a whole new genre of music. With Final Fantasy XV: War for EOS, Machine Zone Inc collaborated with Square Enix to bring its world-famous franchise to the mobile battlefield.
Big Guns and Big Expectations
Fans of the series will feel at home in the familiar world 20 years in the making. Players would do well to remember that Final Fantasy Tactics it is not. Machine Zone Inc. is a mobile game developer famous for Game of War: Fire Age to which this title bears more resemblance. The collaboration between these two giants is an elegant dance of talent, vision and quality.
The quality of this title is evident right from the start. The art is excellent and musical score is on par with any of its console cousins. You immediately begin a whirlwind adventure to rescue your future kingdom and save the Crystal because it’s not Final Fantasy without a big story, right?
The Secret is In the Sauce
Square Enix uses their vast expertise to employ an engaging story as a play mechanic. The tutorial serves as an introduction to the characters as well as the various resources you will manage as you repair your city.
All the classic tropes of the genre Machine Zone Inc helped develop are present. Stone, food, metal and energy are your main resources. There are barracks for training and managing troops, a university for research and other buildings each with their own timers. As usual, there are too many menus to pick through in a short review.
The pacing of this title is where it really comes together. The management of your city and army seem perfectly matched with the progression of your heroes. I have yet to experience a sudden jump in timers or difficulty. The effect comes off as both easy and challenging as you watch your city grow.
Doing What They Do Best
One of the most interesting additions to the genre Square Enix added was the campaign mode. While your timers are ticking away, you can take your party of heroes and go on an adventure to restore the rightful king. It plays as a very scaled down version of their many RPG classics and is a downright blast.
Final Fantasy XV: War for Eos delivers the story in a series of confusing (yet sometimes humorous) conversations followed by an encounter similar to the JRPG’s the developer is famous for. Each of your heroes has a special strength and can be placed in certain positions before a battle. The strategy here is quite limited but becomes more important as the story progresses. The encounters are mostly automated leaving the player responsible for special attacks, healing potions and revives.
The campaign mode shows that they really put some thought into this as there are some truly epic encounters with larger-than-life enemies. The animations burn, swirl and explode as your heroes deal death with a mix of magic and technology. The story slowly starts to make sense, and you really start to get a feel for the characters. By the time you are ready to level up, you will find most of your timers are done.
It’s Not All Just Chocobos and Moogles
While the issues I have are few, there are still some that require mention.
Technical issues have plagued me from the start. I had to restart the game several times to join a guild hunt for an iron giant, claiming rewards too fast seems to confuse it and various other glitches. Skirmishes are lacking any creativity as they amount to little more than a cut scene. You can train frost mages and devil frog cavalry, but you only ever see the same troops blasting lightening in every direction that sometimes glitches out with no sound and then explodes. Skirmishes on the main map are even worse. The only good thing about them is that they are quick.
The choice to go portrait mode was an odd one as well, but works well for the quick timer check while at the dentist. As the game progresses though, icons bordering the screen begin to get in the way and the accidental tap happens a lot.
Worth Fighting For
As is common with this this genre, there is more to dig into than I can write about. Everything is upgradeable, there are a stream of fun events weekly and the community is as fun as you can ask from a mobile title.
I don’t normally endorse blatant cash grabs or artists leaving their lane, but this is a rare case where the resources were put to do the name Final Fantasy proud. Even with the few complaints Final Fantasy XV: War for EOS delivers a gorgeous, engaging and perfectly paced adventure.
