A King's Tale: Final Fantasy XV Review

Genre: Side Scroller, Beat 'Em Up | Developer: Empty Clip Studios | Release Date: 2016

A King's Tale: Final Fantasy XV follows King Regis as he tells his young son Noctis a bedtime story about his past, battling monsters alongside his allies to protect the kingdom from an unexpected and powerful threat.

Campaign:

A King's Tale: Final Fantasy XV serves as a prequel to Final Fantasy XV, offering a glimpse into the past of King Regis through a bedtime story he tells his son, Noctis. While the premise is charming and the connection to Final Fantasy XV adds some weight, the actual story is disappointingly shallow. Given the depth of lore in the main game, this side story had the potential to expand on the mythology, characters, and world-building in a meaningful way. However, it barely scratches the surface, providing only a brief narrative that lacks depth and emotional engagement. 

The short length of the campaign further limits its impact, making it feel like a missed opportunity rather than an essential addition to the Final Fantasy universe. A more extensive storyline and the ability to play as other companions could have greatly improved both the narrative and gameplay variety, enhancing the overall experience.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Gameplay:

The gameplay in A King’s Tale: Final Fantasy XV is a refreshing change from the traditional Final Fantasy formula, offering a fast-paced, action-packed beat 'em up experience. The combat system is solid, featuring combos, counters, and magic attacks that keep battles engaging. However, while initially fun and innovative, the combat can become repetitive over time, as the game lacks meaningful enemy variety and deeper mechanics to sustain long-term interest. 

The controls are well-handled, ensuring smooth and responsive combat, but the limited playable characters reduce the potential for strategic diversity. Allowing players to switch between different companions would have added depth and replayability. Despite its short length, the game does offer a decent challenge, requiring players to master its mechanics. While not a long-lasting experience, it serves as an enjoyable distraction for fans of Final Fantasy XV looking for something different from the usual turn-based or open-world RPG formula.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Production:

Visually, the game embraces a retro pixel-art style reminiscent of classic arcade beat 'em ups, which adds to its nostalgic appeal. The graphics are well-crafted, with detailed character animations and vibrant backgrounds that capture the essence of a fantasy world. The fast-paced soundtrack complements the intense combat, elevating the action with energetic and fitting music. While the audio design is solid, it lacks voice performances, which could have added more personality and depth to the storytelling. 

The absence of fully fleshed-out cutscenes also makes the narrative feel less impactful. Despite these limitations, the game's presentation is strong, successfully blending old-school aesthetics with modern polish. Ultimately, it's a visually and aurally enjoyable experience, but it could have been even better with a richer story, expanded gameplay features, and a stronger narrative connection to Final Fantasy XV.

Rating: 3 out of 5

The Verdict:

In the end, A King’s Tale: Final Fantasy XV is a fun but short-lived beat 'em up that offers fast-paced combat and nostalgic pixel-art visuals. While the gameplay is enjoyable, it becomes repetitive, and the story fails to fully explore Final Fantasy XV's rich lore. The lack of playable companions and deeper mechanics limits its replay value. Despite its flaws, it’s a nice side experience for fans, but it could have been much more with a longer campaign and stronger narrative. A King's Tale: Final Fantasy XV gets 3 out of 5.