Final Fantasy XV Episode Ignis

Episode Ignis, the last of the DLC regarding Noctis party members, came out a few weeks ago, but I got busy and did not hav time to play until now. I managed to play through it in a couple hours, or rather I should say, the canon part of it, but I'll get to that later. This DLC provides the least out of the three timewise, and yet, it still was the most fun. Part of this is gameplay, it is the only one that allows the use of magic, although the elements are mechanically just covers for different attack methods, single, multiple, and ranged, and you also get a hokshot for one part which allows Ignis to move like Noctis, so it often feels more like the original game than the other two did. The other thing that made this episode better was relevance to the story overall, it takes place immediately after Noctis fights Leviathan, and by immediately, I mean Titan is still fighting Leviathan and the whole place is a disaster area like the last hours of a hurricane when you're pretty sure you can trust the weatherman who says it's almost over, but each minute could be your last. Ignis is looking for Noctis and ends up working with Ravus who wants to protect his sister, but he's too late and seeks vengance on Noctis and Ignis at the last moment. The only part that matters is finding out how Ignis went blind, which you should have been able to guess from the trailer is that he tried to use the Ring of Lucii against Ardyn and it burned his eyes because he wasn't the King. It is important because it does make that part of the story alittle different, when I first played through, I assumed Ignis got blasted in the face by either the Leviathan or the Niflheim troops and that it was ultimately Noctis fault for dragging him into this, but now we know that Ignis willingly did something stupid to save Noctis and did it to himself, so it's a little less sorrow and sympathy and more admiration to rise to the occassion knowing he'd have to pay a price and being stoic enough to not blame anyone for it and just keep fighting. I mean, he stays in the fight for ten years including going solo and basically becoming the zatoichi, Ignis may be a posh Britishesque foodie, but all in all, he is the most badass motherfucker in the group. In fact, as the only one who doesn't go through a whiny phase, and he can use magic, I'm going to say he's actually far more badass than Noctis and Gladiolus combined, and don't even get me started on Prompto. I respect all of them, but Ignis is the best.

And now for the bad, the alterante ending. I didn't play through it because I read about and it sounds stupid. In the alternate ending, Ignis chooses to go with Ardyn rather than fighting him at Altissia, which leads to him sacrificing himself to save Noctis leading to an ending in which Noctis doesn't die and gets to live as King. What bothers me about this ending is from what I read, Noctis is able to resurrect Ignis, which makes me wonder, if he can do that, why Ignis and not Lunafreya? It is nice to see a happier ending where Noctis survives, but it I detect too many plot holes to enjoy it. I know some people will say there are plenty of plot holes in the story already so why worry about this one, but as a writer myself, I find there is a significant difference between plot holes that serve to move the story along, and plot holes that contradict everything just to give us a new and different ending that is arguably better than the original. I don't know who thought this was a good idea, but it's bullshit.

Also there's supposed to be a new update to the main game in which you can now switch between the characters. Basically, now that they have released the individual episodes with a specialized interface for all four, they are alowing you to use them all in the main story. This is good and bad, good because I like that it's in the game, bad because it sucks that the game has been out long enough for the game to have already been finished before this mechanic was available. I guess it would be fun to play through again, and I can understand giving some players a chance to experience the story with the exclusive perspective of Noctis, but seriously, this is the sort of thing that should have been in the intial release of the game. Did they actually need more time to implement this, or did they just want to screw with us for a year?

Don't forget that the Assassin's Festival is almost over and it really makes me want to go to a Renaissance Fair and cosplay as an Assassin and respond to everyone who asks me what I'm doing by simply saying "Nothign is true, everything is permitted." I really think this should lead to a full game about the Legendary Assassin of Lestallum back when the power of the meteor was first being harnessed and reveal the Assassin was actually the Wanderer, a former King of Lucis.

Hundreds of years ago, while the Wanderer was still a prince, there was unrest in Lestallum and there was possibility of a peasant uprising. The King was busy and did not have time to do more than consult with the nobles of Lestallum, who claimed the concerns were exaggerated. The prince goes to investigate firsthand and is promptly kidnapped by the budding resistance, primarily an Amacita, a Scientia, and an Argentum, the ancestors of Noctis allies who are also the brawn, brains, and heart of the operation respectively. The prince has his doubts about the nobles which are confirmed and he joins the resistance, finding out the nobles will silence him if he tries to do anything overt, he works in secret as the Assassin, while a Dorden and a Ghiranze, ancestors of Vyv and Dino keep up the ruse that he is prisoner. A Teulle, an ancestor of Holly, has figured out how to use the Meteor for power, which could rival the Crystal itself, and while she has good intentions, her research is hijacked by a Besithia and a Tumelt, ancestors of Verstael and Loqi respectively. The Besithia has also abducted the daughter of the Argentum, giving his reason for being part of the resistance. As the Assassin Prince investigate the conspiracy, he finds it spreads across Lucis all the way back to Insomnia where the Tumelt is conspiring to assassinate the King and usurp the throne. The Assassin Prince succeeds in defeating the Tumelt only to discover the true mastermind was Ardyn who was trying to prepare him to be a worthy opponent, but finds him lacking and leaves without a trace. The Prince then sheds his identity as the Assassin and instead becomes the Wanderer, known for his twin blades that will become Royal Arms. Fearing that Ardyn will use his weapons, he makes sure his tomb is near the Titan to be protected by the god until one who is truly worthy comes to claim it, and it is brought by his three friends whose families' destinies will forever be tied to his own.

Toonami is back tonight, don't forget to watch and support 7th Moon joing the lineup!