With the Final Fantasy XV release date still pending, there is debate over what the game will actually look like upon launch. So far, the only clue comes from Square Enix's Final Fantasy XV demo.
Recently, Kotaku's Richard Eisenbeis questioned whether the Final Fantasy XV demo will be the same as the final release version. He pointed to Final Fantasy XIII as an example of how final releases and demos often differ.
"It's safe to say much can change between a demo and the retail version of a game," Eisenbeis explained. "And if Final Fantasy XIII is any guide, then the Final Fantasy XV demo we're playing now may be vastly different from the Final Fantasy XV we're playing in a year or two."
Bundled with the Final Fantasy Type-0 videogame, the three-hour demo was generally well-received by critics. A number of observers have cited the Final Fantasy XV demo as evidence for things to come.
"So is it worth playing Final Fantasy XV Episode Duscae [demo]? Yes," Alexa Ray Corriea wrote for GameSpot.
"Once you get past the aggravating combat system, the finicky camera and frustrating targeting system, Final Fantasy XV: Episode Duscae is a meaty, enjoyable and charming reflection of what may very well be a great Final Fantasy game," Dereck Strickland said on VR World.
Other critics praised Final Fantasy XV for its graphics and gameplay mechanics. The demo may have helped Final Fantasy Type-0 reach one million copies sold worldwide, according to the latest report from Game Informer.
Those who have played the Final Fantasy XV demo will have the opportunity to participate in an official online poll. The results of that survey will be discussed in a special session with Final Fantasy XV director Hajime Tabata on April 27. Interested parties will first need to register with Square Enix before participating in the survey.
Meanwhile, Japanese videogame publication Famitsu conducted a satisfaction survey for the demo. Over 70 percent of participating players reported being "satisfied" or "very satisfied". "Dissatisfied" and "Somewhat dissatisfied" players made up 20 percent of those interviewed.
Unfortunately, signs indicate that Final Fantasy XV may not be ready until early 2016. In February 2015, the Playstation Blog released a list of games to be released this year. Final Fantasy XV was not on that list, leading to speculation that the game will not be ready until 2016. Whether this rumor is true has yet to be confirmed from official channels.
