Last year, I claimed Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV failed to tell a coherent story without Noctis. Now I claim Final Fantasy XV failed to tell a coherent story because it didn’t include Noctis either.
Noctis’ physical presence fails to compensate for his mental and emotional distance from the game’s events. Despite his appearance, he primarily functions as a vessel for the player. Such protagonists serve many games well, but when the story’s world, characters, and purpose rely on the protagonist’s actions and personality rather than the player’s, his absence spells disaster. Final Fantasy XV has many intriguing ideas and great potential to tell a rich story, but Noctis’ emptiness riddles it with character arcs that go nowhere, contradictions, and confusion.
You can read the full article on the Extra Life Community website here.
For those of you who don’t know, Extra Life is like a marathon for charity, but instead of running or walking, you play video games to raise money for a children’s hospital of your choice. The official Extra Life event occurs November 3 this year, but you can raise money whenever you want year-round. Check out the Extra Life website to learn more, donate, and sign up!