XV

In 2 more days, Final Fantasy XV will finally be released into the public
(Though some people HAVE managed to attain early copies. *mumble*...Lucky bastards...*mumble*)
And in light of the upcoming game, I'd like to talk about it.
If you don't know what Final Fantasy is, you're either a normie who have never ever in your life have ever touched a video game and avoided them like the plague or someone who lives in a cave. Final Fantasy is extremely hard to miss since its a game that's spawned 15 mainline games, and various many spin offs (I especially love the tactics series and Dissidia. Tactics Advance and 1 having a special place in my heart because it is the first FFs I officially played through. X first mainline.)
Final Fantasy XV, Then called Final Fantasy Versus XIII was part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis series of the Final Fantasy Games, meaning they fell under the same universe and rules that fell under Final Fantasy XIII (You know, Lightning, hallway maps, L'Cie, and the such). Such games included were sequels such as XIII-2 and associated games like Type-0.
Final Fantasy Versus XIII's first trailer was released around 10 years ago along with Final Fantasy XIII. I remember this specifically after seeing it in youtube about a year later when I discovered it from a friend. How could I have missed it when Noctis practically slaughtered that army in a bloody warp frenzy?
So in my giddy Final Fantasy love, I waited for news to come out for it even though the chances I had at the time to get such a game was low since I didn't have a Ps3 at the time cause my parents wouldn't buy me one. But that doesn't mean I couldn't just force one of my friends with a Ps3 to buy it right? Uh...hehehe...
I mean, I could just watch it on youtube until I have the chance to buy my own copy and console.
Of course, unlike most of the games I played in the spanning years of its development, I heard nothing more about Versus XIII (Which I promptly forgot about for a while) until they released the trailer with Stella.
It seemed typical at first so I didn't really pay mind (Especially since no one had made a video of the one with subs on it)
Then they released the one with the Stella vs Noctis part.
Do you have any idea how much my eyes widened when I saw something as unorthodox such as this in a Final Fantasy game. The hero and the established heroine locked in combat.
It was just a few seconds, but I was one of the people who fell totally in love with Stella and wished to see this come to fruition.
Then more radio silence until come 2013.
I was going through youtube, minding my own biz until there. I saw it. The sudden spawning of the trailer vids for Versus XIII (Now branded as XV) and Kingdom Hearts 3.
My heart leapt, and was practically stomped on, when I saw it.
I loved, loved, LOVED the trailers, but felt myself even more depressed knowing I wouldn't be able to play them yet, especially now that they moved it to Ps4.
And you know what? I decided that I was going to play this game. No matter what.
No matter the cost.
Every week, my parents supply me with a good amount of money for my allowance and instead of splurging them all like a normal college student for food or novels, I saved my money.
I watched my money as carefully as possible every week while watching for any new Final Fantasy updates.
You wouldn't believe how okay I was with eating cheap and even just going home to save some lunch money.
In a year in a half, right before december, I have saved at least half of the amount needed to purchase a Playstation 4. I was extremely proud of myself and counted down the months I needed until I saved enough to buy one.
Then one day in that december of 2014, my mother asked me what I wanted for Christmas.
I was a little disoriented cause I had just woken up.
"I don't know." I said. "You know what I really want so I don't really know what else I want. But a Playstation 3 would be nice." My parents had mentioned that they were willing to buy me a Ps3 now, though there were few games I had in mind that I wanted to play in the Ps3 era at the time. Mostly Persona 4 Arena and Persona 5 when it comes out. I figured since they're offering a free console, why not just take it. I could still save for the ps4.
Then... Out of the blue, my father said "What about a Ps4?"
I was fully awake at this time.
"But." He said. "You're going to pay for half of it."
I jumped the gun immediately and paid for half when the day we went to purchase a Ps4 came. That was the happiest moment in my life cause I knew that I was now in the current generation of consoles and that I had the chance to play 3 of the games I've waited forever to play when they come out.
Final Fantasy XV. Persona 5. And Kingdom Hearts 3.
Final Fantasy XV being the first priority.
The extent of my love for Final Fantasy and Square Enix was powerful enough to drive me to become so frugal with my money that I've become a thrifty person in general and it's helped me when I plan on getting something and always be stable when it comes to money.
Back to final fantasy, I've monitored the activity Square Enix makes every day for the past 2 years. I'm not joking.
Every day, I open google news and the first thing I type in is Final Fantasy. (Followed by KH, Persona 5, Silent Hill, Paramore, Veronica mars, and stuff I don't want to tell you I look up)
That happens like 2 or three times a day to this very day.
And if that's not enough, I watch around the twitter and facebooks of Square Enix and Final Fantasy, and have tried to watch the live streams of the ATRs. (Though I only ever caught up to like 3 because of time differences.)
My journey along with the other FF fans with this game has been a long one filled with joy and sadness (RIP Stella, you will forever be engraved in my heart. I just hope Luna does you the justice you deserve. But that worries me.)
And now that 2 days approach, I await. Pre-order receipt and presaved money for the game and season pass in hand.
It's been a long time coming.

-ThanosVenge