‘Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV’:
Gorgeous graphics, baffling storyline
FILIPINO fans of the wellloved “Final Fantasy (FF)” franchise got a real treat when it was announced that the computer-generated (CG) film “Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV” would be hitting Philippine theaters in August, probably to give fans something to tide them over until the game’s much-awaited release in November.
“Kingsglaive” was initially released in Japan in July, followed by a limited run in the United States and in selected SM Cinemas in the Philippines prior to its worldwide digital release on Aug. 30.
INQUIRER Super recently got to catch the block screening hosted by PlayStation Asia, and we had one question in mind: How does it fare as a standalone film and as a prequel to the FFXV franchise?
The plot
The Kingsglaive, an elite force of mage soldiers, is tasked to defend the kingdom of Lucis from the invading empire of Niflheim. But when an uneasy truce between the warring nations is forged, Kingsglaive soldier Nyx Ulric is caught up in a political power struggle that sees him playing bodyguard to King Regis and Lady Lunafreya who, quite literally, hold the fate of the kingdom—and apparently, the rest of the world— in their hands.
As a primer to the fantastical, high-tech FFXV universe, “Kingsglaive” moves at a dizzy- ing pace. Right off the bat, the viewer plunges into a sleek, sophisticated world where reality meets fantasy in the most disorienting way possible—magical crystals and menacing behemoths in one scene, modern technology and product placements in the next. (That Audi R8 royal carriage is pretty hard to miss.)
Next, we’re introduced to a whole bunch of key characters with nosebleed-inducing names —Nyx Ulric, Regis Lucis Caelum CXIII, Iedolas Aldercapt, Ardyn Izunia and Lunafreya Nox Fleuret, to name a few. They’re pretty easy to spot among the commonfolk, because their gorgeous but flashy getups make them stand out like cosplayers at a mall.
Now here is where it gets tricky. As the storyline’s pace quickens, it ultimately gets swallowed up by the action. Once the “treaty” ruse is revealed, all hell breaks loose, with humans fighting humans and monsters at the same time.
It is unclear as to where the characters’ loyalties really lie, which adds to the confusion one feels while watching the battle scenes unfold at lightning speed. Who’s fighting whom, and for what again?
The characters
For the English dubbed version, the “Kingsglaive” voice cast boasts of high-profile Hollywood names: Aaron Paul (“Breaking Bad”) as Nyx, and “Game of Thrones’”s Sean Bean and Lena Headey as King Regis and Lunafreya, respectively.
Where is Prince Noctis, you ask? The game’s raven-haired main protagonist does not appear except in a couple of flashbacks. Also, you might want to stay until after the end credits so you can see how the film flows into the game.
It was a little bemusing to hear Aaron Paul’s gravelly voice on a Ben Affleck look-alike with a mohawk mullet. Uncanny resemblance aside, as your typical roguishly handsome anti-hero, Nyx hides his heart of gold under a tough exterior, and for good reason.
What’s ironic is that he alone seems to have a somewhat fleshed-out backstory, which is a shame because, as FF gamers, we’re not sure if we want to be emotionally invested in a character who may not even appear in the game itself.
Same goes for his many friends and frenemies, who do a valiant job in earning their screen time but ultimately fail to leave a lasting impression.
Given his penchant for playing characters who are much too noble for their own good, Sean Bean is perfectly cast as the mighty but aging regent of Lucis. As the beautiful, blond Lunafreya, on the other hand, Lena “Cersei Lannister” Headey lends her regal accent to a more subdued character—a far cry from the headstrong female roles we’re used to seeing her play.
We would have liked Lunafreya to display a little more spunk like in the early FFXV trailers, because to people who aren’t familiar with the whole FFXV mythos, her single- minded devotion to her mission (that is, save King Regis and/or her beloved Noctis, then save the world) makes her seem a little robotic.
The graphics
Make no mistake: the graphics are absolute perfection. For all its flaws, “Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within” was ahead of its time, but it understandably pales in comparison to “Kingsglaive” where CG characters and landscapes look frighteningly real.
The detail is astoundingly accurate, from the gleaming, new-age metropolis and steel armored guards down to Nyx’s scruff and Lunafreya’s silky hair strands. Eye-popping fight scenes are aplenty, and you might even spot a familiar FF character or two in the fray.
Seeing the Kingsglaive throw their knife weapon then warp to where it’s aimed at, which likely precludes the Shift ability in the game, was neat to watch, too.
Strangely enough, we didn’t find that one memorable montage that merits multiple replays and makes our jaws drop every single time—like, say, Tifa’s gravity-defying cathedral fight scene with Loz in “FFVII: Advent Children.” Maybe a “Kingsglaive” rewatch is in order?
The verdict
As a standalone film, “Kingsglaive” is pure, action-packed eye candy, but one that only those with a sweet tooth for RPGs and anything FF-related will fully appreciate. Regular moviegoers will no doubt marvel at the impressive graphics, then will be left hanging in terms of plot and premise.
As a prequel, the film does a decent job in setting up the story, but it’s a tad too much to digest over two hours, even for well-read FFXV followers. Then again, that’s where the charm of the FF franchise lies—hardly anything makes sense but, hey, it’s fantasy.
For a bit of comic relief, we might fare a little better with “Kingsglaive”’s fellow spin-off “FFXV: Brotherhood,” an animated series that follows the adventures of Noctis and his boyband posse as he prepares to meet his betrothed (that’s Lunafreya) in Altissia. It currently has four episodes out, although the animé-type graphics might not sit well with those who crave for more of “Kingsglaive”’s CGI awesomeness.
But fret not, fellow FF fans. Barring any more delays, FFXV’s launch is just around the corner, and, hopefully, everything will make more sense.