It has finally arrived.

A few days ago "Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition" was released for Android and iOS devices. As a big fan of the original game, having followed its development since back when it was called "Final Fantasy Versus XIII", I couldn't possibly wait to check out this version. And having played the first chapter, which is available as a free download, I have to honestly say: This is a very good way to port a game as complex as FFXV to a mobile device.

The Visuals

As you can see in the reveal trailer, the games art and gameplay-style differs heavily from its console counterpart. The artstyle is more stylized than the console version, providing a more simple, cartoonish look to the game. Character models, though absolutely recognizable, resemble chibi versions of their original designs. This is most likely to save space and lower the graphical demands so that more people can enjoy this game on their smartphones even though they might not have the current flagship devices. Personally, I like the look. It works well within the context of a mobile game and (aside from the fact that lips don't move when characters speak) doesn't distract me from the story experience at all. I prefer this approach of a smoothly running, low poly design over having a stuttering mess that looks as detailed as the console version.

Another change to the visuals is the camera perspective. Unlike the console version, you can't move the camera. FFXV:PE is played in a top down view, simplifying the controls to work better on a touchscreen. This change leads to some environments having different layouts than in the console version and for someone who played the original game, it is definetly noticable, but again, its a change that is not distracting to a point where I'd have problems with it.

Speaking of controls

The developers have decided to simplify the control scheme to an extreme. Any action you perform in this game can be done with one finger. You walk by pointing on a point on the ground. You attack by tapping on an enemy. You warp by holding your finger onto an enemy. You parry by tapping a symbol that appears when an enemy is about to attack.

When I started the game, I was expecting a "virtual gamepad"-type approach, and I can only speculate as to why the developers might have decided not to go with that but I am glad they did. Once I got used to the fact that you are only supposed to use one finger (the game would work just as well with a stylus, if not better), I really started appreciating the control scheme. It allows for a fun experience without too much of a headache over the controls, which is pretty much a necessity for mobile games in my opinion.

Combat is engaging and fun. You still have to watch out for attacks from enemies. You still have the ability to switch weapons. You can still order your teammates to use their special abilities, like you would in the console version of the game. This is all made even more interesting by a skill tree (albeit a much simpler one than in the console versions) in which you can find interesting abilities for your teammembers, additional attacks for specific weapons etc.

In Conclusion

There is a lot of great stuff I haven't mentioned yet left to discuss (having the original voice acting from the console version, the original music and much more) but I wanted to provide a fans view of this port because when I played it, it was the first time I legitimately contemplated buying a mobile game. Given the fact that the game contains the entire story of the original console version of FFXV, the price of 21.99 € (or your regional equivalent) seems absolutely justified. To me, it's a great way to experience a great story (again) on the go. The developers have done a really good job to make the game just work as a mobile title, taking the risk of changing things for the benefit of the gameplay experience.

Anyone interested in Final Fantasy XV, or Final Fantasy in general: Try it out for yourself. The first chapter is free to download, so what's there to lose? You can find it in the Google Play Store or in the App Store.