Monster of the Deep: Final Fantasy XV

Monster of the Deep: Final Fantasy XV[lower-alpha 1] is a downloadable virtual reality (VR) simulation video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 4's PlayStation VR peripheral. The game was released on November 21, 2017. It forms part of the multimedia project surrounding the 2016 video game Final Fantasy XV. Players interact with the four main characters of Final Fantasy XV while taking part in fishing around a variety of locations.

Monster of the Deep: Final Fantasy XV
Developer(s)Square Enix Business Division 2
Publisher(s)Square Enix
Director(s)Masashi Takizawa
Producer(s)Hajime Tabata
Designer(s)Wan Hazmer
Writer(s)
  • Takumi Nishida
  • Ryosuke Katsura
  • Marie Iwanaga
  • Kenichi Kimura
Composer(s)
Series
Platform(s)PlayStation 4
ReleaseNovember 21, 2017
Genre(s)Simulation
Mode(s)Single-player

VR-based content for Final Fantasy XV was under consideration for some time. Monster of the Deep was the first VR-based video game ever developed by Square Enix. The project's initial form was a first-person shooter add-on to the main game, with a demo being created for E3 2016 around this premise. The game was changed into a fishing simulation due to the latter's higher level of immersion. While praised for its graphics and for including characters from Final Fantasy XV, the game was often called simplistic in its gameplay and glitchy in its controls.

Premise and gameplay
The players view in virtual reality as character Noctis Lucis Caelum gestures toward them.
Main article: Final Fantasy XV

Monster of the Deep: Final Fantasy XV, a virtual reality (VR) simulation game, takes place within Eos, an Earth-like fantasy world that serves as the setting for the 2016 role-playing game Final Fantasy XV. The player takes on the role of an fisherman who just happens to be fishing right where several of the protagonists of Final Fantasy XV are also fishing.[1] The player character interacts with Noctis Lucis Caelum and his three companions, fish together in ponds, hunting and catching various fish. Once three fish are caught, a battle takes place with the titular "monster", a powerful fish which can attack the player and end the game.[2][3][1] After defeating the monster, the game ends with the player having a dinner of fish with Noctis and his friends.[1]

As a VR-based experience, players have a 360 degree view of their surroundings.[2] Players can control the game with either a PlayStation DualShock 4 controller or two PlayStation Move controllers.[1] The player controls a fish finding sonar with their left hand and the fishing pole in their right hand.[1] Controls also simulate retracting the fishing line and the pulling in of the line once a fish is caught.[1]

Development
Final Fantasy XV director Hajime Tabata worked as producer in Monster of the Deep.

Monster of the Deep forms part of "Final Fantasy XV Universe", a multimedia project based around Final Fantasy XV that includes additional story episodes, a feature film, and original net animation: the story of Final Fantasy XV was large enough to have covered several games, but as the team did not want to create any additional games, they decided to produce additional media.[4][5][6] XV and its associated media likewise hold a thematic connection to Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy, a compilation of games and associated media sharing a common mythos while boasting unconnected stories and settings. While distanced from the Fabula Nova Crystallis brand for marketing purposes, the world of XV still uses its mythos and design elements.[7][8][9][10][11][12] Unlike most of the other "Final Fantasy XV Universe" content—which came prior to the game's release—Monster of the Deep was planned for release in the year following, forming part of Square Enix's dedicated post-launch content plan.[6][13]

VR-based content had been tested for the main game for the game's passive moments, but it was discarded as it would require wearing a VR headset for hours.[14] Speaking in an interview in June 2016, Final Fantasy XV's director Hajime Tabata said that the VR content was first suggested by Sony Interactive Entertainment for their in-development PlayStation VR. The team were initially reluctant, but after experiencing the VR headset for themselves, they agreed to the collaboration.[3] Monster of the Deep was the first time Square Enix had developed VR-based content.[15] The original version of the VR game was a first-person shooter scenario featuring party member Prompto Argentum.[3][16] Retelling the events of the 2015 commercial demo Final Fantasy XV: Episode Duscae, it was originally announced as downloadable content for the main game. The narrative and structure of Episode Duscae needed to be redone due to the nature of VR gaming and the clashing of mechanics with what the main game had become. At the time, the team were also considering similar content featuring the other party members.[16]

Monster of the Deep was the first time Square Enix had developed VR-based content.[15] Following the initial reveal of the VR prototype, according to director Masashi Takizawa, the project was reassessed and it was decided that the shooter-based mechanics were neither immersive nor entertaining enough, in addition to requiring a much longer development period. The fishing simulation would allow them to achieve both, so the VR game's content was reworked.[3] According to the game's lead designer Wan Hazmer, the team went on a fishing trip to Yokohama Bay with Kazuaki Iwasawa, the character supervisor for Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV due to his experience with fishing—this was so the team could gain authentic experience that they could put into the game.[17]

Release

The game was first announced during at the 2016 Electronic Entertainment Expo.[18] While its initial announcement inferred that the entire game of Final Fantasy XV would be made playable on the PlayStation VR, it was later clarified that the playable VR content was limited to the shooting side game.[19] As such, its release date went from alongside the regular version of Final Fantasy XV on September 30, 2016,[20] to "unlikely to release alongside the game"[21] to "sometime after September 30".[22] to even missing the October launch of PlayStation VR as well.[23] The game was not given a new release date after the main game's delay to November 29, 2016, but it was initially planned to be released as free downloadable content (DLC) for the main game.[24] The project was re-revealed under its current title at E3 2017, having been set for release in September 2017. Rather than the original plan to have been released as downloadable content to Final Fantasy XV itself, the game is a standalone project that can be played without needing to own the original.[2] The game ultimately released on November 21, 2017.[25]

Reception

Pre-release

Speaking of the initial 2016 demo, Griffin McElroy of Polygon sharply criticized it for being too simplistic, stating that it stood out among games at the PlayStation VR event as not being one of the games that was particularly fun.[22] Patrick Klepek of Kotaku agreed, stating that the games simplicity meant that the virtual reality aspect was barely utilized, and the experience became more about punching buttons to win.[26] Andrew Webster of The Verge notes that the Final Fantasy aspects of the game felt very shallow and was more like an arcade shooting game such as House of the Dead.[21] Jeff Grubb of VentureBeat went as far as to call it "the worst VR game I’ve played from a professional studio", also citing the concern that it was too much like a simple arcade shooter.[19]

Some critics did get a positive first impression however, such as Meghan Sullivan of IGN who was generally impressed with it despite conceding simplistic gameplay, citing a sense of immersion and nostalgia impossible to feel without virtual reality, concluding that "...I began to tear up with happiness. This was my first taste of VR, and although I knew I wasn't really in a car, driving down a road in a world where Behemoths dwell and humans can magically teleport, just for a few minutes, it felt like I was."[24]

Post-release
Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic62/100[27]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Destructoid7/10[28]
Edge4/10[29]
GameRevolution[30]
OPM (UK)5/10[31]
Hardcore Gamer1.5/5[32]

The final retail release saw "mixed to average reviews" from critics, with review aggregate site Metacritic giving it a score of 62 out of 100.[27] While the visuals met with general appeal, most other aspects met with a mixed response. The controls were frequently faulted due to glitches and awkward elements.[28][30][31][29][32]

Chris Carter of Destructoid enjoyed the game, though admitting a bias due to enjoying the fishing minigame from Final Fantasy XV, saying it knew its particular player niche.[28] Game Revolution's Jason Faulkner had difficulty playing the game due to issues with its two control options, also noting distracting graphical glitches, but called it a solid VR experience.[30] PlayStation Official Magazine – UK praised the game's visuals, but faulted most of the other elements including gameplay and premise.[29] Edge Magazine was fairly negative about the title, commenting that its elements are "all a little rote - something we certainly don't associate with Final Fantasy".[31] Hardcore Gaming's Cory Wells was highly critical, calling the visuals the game's only good quality amid frequent control issues and poor game design.[32]

Notes
  1. Monsutā obu za Dīpu: Fainaru Fantajī Fifutīn (Japanese: モンスター オブ ザ ディープ: ファイナルファンタジーXV)
gollark: It's fine, I totally haven't *run* this.
gollark: It's saying indoors again.
gollark: I think it's trying to write a poll?
gollark: I guess this makes it seem more like an article of some kind about cats.
gollark: I should probably use the default natural language settings and not code ones.

References
  1. 稲元徹也, 箭本進一 (July 26, 2017). "「FFXV」の世界で釣りを楽しめる「MONSTER OF THE DEEP: FINAL FANTASY XV」など，PlayStation VR向け新作6タイトルの試遊レポート" (in Japanese). 4Gamer. Retrieved July 4, 2020.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  2. 『FFXV』のPS VR用ソフト『MONSTER OF THE DEEP: FINAL FANTASY XV』は9月配信！ 新要素をまとめたE3トレーラーも公開. Famitsu. 2017-06-14. Archived from the original on 2017-06-14. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
  3. "FFXV : détail des dernières nouveautés et une annonce majeur à venir" (in French). Final Fantasy World. 2017-06-23. Archived from the original on 2017-06-24. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
  4. 『FFXV』の期待値を最大限に高めるプロジェクト"FINAL FANTASY XV UNIVERSE"――"UNCOVERED FINAL FANTASY XV"詳細リポ (in Japanese). Famitsu. 2016-04-01. Archived from the original on 2016-04-01. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  5. Corriae, Alexa Ray (2016-03-31). "15 New Things We Learned from Final Fantasy 15's Director". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2016-03-31. Retrieved 2016-03-31.
  6. Sato (2017-06-13). "Final Fantasy XV Showcases Its Ever-Expanding Universe In A New E3 2017 Trailer". Siliconera. Archived from the original on 2017-06-14. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
  7. ファイナルファンタジーXV アルティマニア -シナリオSIDE- [Final Fantasy XV Ultimania: Scenario Side] (in Japanese). Square Enix. 2016-12-28. ISBN 978-4-7575-5214-2.
  8. Juba, Joe (May 2016). "Final Fantasy XV – The Clearing Storm". Game Informer. GameStop (277): 38–64.
  9. "Gamescom 2015: Hajime Tabata Interview (English)". Finaland. 2015-08-11. Archived from the original on 2015-08-11. Retrieved 2015-08-15.
  10. 『ファイナルファンタジーXV』発売時期を示唆、『Just Cause 3』との技術協力も決定【gamescom 2015】 (in Japanese). Famitsu. 2015-08-07. Archived from the original on 2015-08-07. Retrieved 2015-08-07. Quote:
    ――ではもうひとつ。神話や神についての設定は、『FFヴェルサスXIII』から『FFXV』への移行により変更があるのでしょうか。
    田畑:　『FFXV』にする段階で、そこまでに固まっていた設定については、神話とは強く絡めず『FFXV』の設定として取り込んでいます。ファブラの神話として出てくるものではありませんが、ベースとして活きています。
  11. Corriae, Alexa Ray (2015-08-29). "16 More Things We Learned About Final Fantasy 15". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2015-08-30. Retrieved 2015-08-30.
  12. "30 Minutos Con Hajime Tabata" [30 Minutes with Hajime Tabata] (in Spanish). La Capital Ovidada. 2016-10-13. Archived from the original on 2016-10-22. Retrieved 2016-10-22.
  13. UNCOVERED: FINAL FANTASY XV後の田畑氏・野末氏・大藤氏を直撃！ (in Japanese). Famitsu. 2016-04-05. Archived from the original on 2016-06-17. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  14. Goldfarb, Andrew (2015-08-30). "Pax 2015: Square Enix 'Tested Out' VR Support for Final Fantasy 15". IGN. Archived from the original on 2015-08-31. Retrieved 2015-08-31.
  15. Parish, Jeremy (2017-02-24). "The future of Final Fantasy 15". Polygon. Archived from the original on 2017-03-03. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
  16. 『ファイナルファンタジーXV』田畑DにPS VR対応やE3試遊版の内容についてインタビュー【E3 2016】. Famitsu. 2016-06-15. Archived from the original on 2017-01-26. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
  17. "Final Fantasy XV: rivelati nuovi boss e stage per Monster of the Deep" (in Italian). EveryEye.it. 2017-08-05. Archived from the original on 2017-08-05. Retrieved 2017-08-05.
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  19. Grubb, Jeff (15 June 2016). "PlayStation VR's Batman, Star Wars, and Final Fantasy games are all deeply disappointing". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on 13 November 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  20. O'Connor, James (14 June 2016). "Final Fantasy 15 is getting a PlayStation VR experience". VG247. VG247. Archived from the original on 30 November 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  21. Webster, Andrew (14 June 2016). "The Final Fantasy XV VR experience isn't very Final Fantasy". The Verge. Archived from the original on 30 November 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  22. McElroy, Griffin (14 June 2016). "The Final Fantasy 15 VR Experience doesn't make a great first impression". Polygon. Archived from the original on 30 November 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  23. Epstein, Mike (21 June 2016). "The 'Final Fantasy XV VR Experience' is not what Final Fantasy fans were hoping for". Digital Trends. Digital Trends. Archived from the original on 30 November 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  24. Sullivan, Meghan (2016-06-17). "Final Fantasy 15 VR Made Me Cry". IGN. Archived from the original on 30 November 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  25. Salbato, Mike (2017-09-20). "Monster of the Deep: Noctis Meets [Your Name Here] in TGS Trailer". RPGFan. Archived from the original on 2017-09-21. Retrieved 2017-09-21.
  26. Klepek, Patrick (14 June 2016). "Final Fantasy XV's VR Demo Is Terrible". Kotaku. Gizmodo Media Group. Archived from the original on 30 November 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
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  29. "Monster of the Deep: Final Fantasy XV Review". Edge. Future Publishing (315): 120. January 2018.
  30. Faulkner, Jason (2017-11-20). "Monster of the Deep: Final Fantasy XV Review – Catch and Release". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on 2017-11-20. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
  31. "Monster of the Deep: Final Fantasy XV Review". PlayStation Official Magazine – UK. Future Publishing (144): 95. January 2018.
  32. Wells, Cory (2017-11-20). "Review: Monsters of the Deep: Final Fantasy XV". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on 2017-11-20. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
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