Final Fantasy XV director Hajime Tabata recently talked about how the game will feel sort of like a group of guys going on a road trip in a seamlessly connected open-world game. In the interview with 4Gamer, he shares a little more detail on the open-world aspect of it.
“In my plan book for Final Fantasy XV, I wrote it down as an ‘open-world-style Final Fantasy,” shares Tabata. “The world seamlessly expands, but unlike your common open-world RPGs, it’s not a game that lets you go anywhere and advance through the story like that.”
“As part of the Final Fantasy series, the characters will grow while gathering items, and you’ll visit other places as the story goes along, where there will be drama to experience, followed by a climax that will be reached. That’s the kind of flow that it will have.”
4Gamer notes that, judging by what they’re hearing, the game will basically allow you to freely walk around the world, but fundamentally, will have you travel along with the story, so players will more or less have similar experiences of progress.
“That’s right. It’s not a game like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim,for example, where you could go where you please and pick up quests,” says Tabata. “The destination will always be indicated, and that’s where you’ll head with your allies, and grow together.”
Tabata adds that while the game will allow you to explore, “once you arrive at an area of interest and start advancing through the story, in a sense, it’s closer to Red Dead Redemption.”
Next, 4Gamer asks if the main means of transportation will be by car.
“Yes. The protagonist Noctis is part of the royal family from a country called Lucis, and they’ll travel within the game in the Royal Car,” says Tabata. “However, you will also be able to get around on foot.”
4Gamer asks if that means you’ll be able to walk all the way to your next destination.
“Of course. However, the world is very large, and if you decide to walk it, it might feel like forever to get to your destination,” responds Tabata with a laugh. “So, you’ll travel by car on the roads, but you’ll have to walk when in areas that you can’t use the car.”
Final Fantasy XV is in development for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
