We now have full details from yesterday’s Final Fantasy 15 Demo Episode Duscae livestream. You can read our prior coverage here, as we’ll rundown more information below.
The title screen plays the song from Yoko Shimomura, called Somnus. The demo checks the time in your console, so that said title screen will show dawn or dusk, depending on when you boot it up.
Unfortunately, the demo save will not be compatible with the final game. However, Square hints at a ‘thank you’ gift for playing it, which might mean some bonus. There will also be ‘post game’ content, which you can mess with after finishing the demo’s story.
The devs hope the fans will get an idea of the game’s scope, and the size of its world, via the demo.
Controls are conventional. Analog stick moves, Cross/A to jump, Square/X to attack, L1/LB to guard, L3/Left stick to dash, Circle/B to Shift (Warp) and Shift Break and Triangle/Y for assigned abilities. Shifting and using abilities cost you MP. You can quick switch between four abilities assigned to the d-pad. You can choose to auto lock on or choose who to target.
Noctis’ party is all AI. As you move Noctis, they follow and keep pace with you. They will support you in battle, but they’ll also support each other. There are even partner attacks, although only a few of these are ready for the demo.
When you hover near enemies, you will get a red gauge to indicate a battle is starting, with battle music in tow. You have a few moments to flee, but otherwise you’ll be putting up your dukes.
You can target and warp towards enemies using Noctics’ sword. This move costs MP.
Enemies flash when they are preparing powerful attacks. This is the best time to block, parry, or get out of the way.
There are Rush type weapons, that will keep on attacking continuously.
If you want, you can pause combat to open the menu and switch weapons.
Some enemies are so powerful they cannot be blocked. In cases like these, you’ll want to spec for power.
Fighting at night is more dangerous, and it receives different music to suit the mood.
There are robot soldiers in the demo that fall apart as they are damaged, with heads and limbs falling off in succession.
The ability demonstrated in trailers for floating swords to eat damage is called Phantom Sword. It uses MP constantly while used. While it can deplete your MP, you can also regain MP while it’s activated.
OK, so if Noctis loses HP, your HP gauge goes red. You can heal and use potions while in this status, but you cannot take any other actions until you’re done healing.
After every battle, EXP earned is displayed onscreen, in terms of Time, Damaged, Parried, and Bonus EXP.
While not in battle, your party’s HP and MP recover slowly.
They are working on giving the game the best framerate, but make no promises. Of course, they share the caveat that the demo does not necessarily reflect the final product.
For the demo, Noctis and company are temporarily stuck and need to raise cash to get their car running again.
With this in mind, you will be looking around for shiny objects to be sold for gil.
You can get more details on the quest system and the game world from our source here.
The Final Fantasy 15 demo will be available as part of Final Fantasy Type-0 HD, for both PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Final Fantasy Type-0 HD will be available on March 17 in the US and March 20 in Europe.
