Ranking Fantasy XV’s DLC Episodes
4. Episode Gladio
Final Fantasy XV’s post-launch plans all started here with Episode Gladio, and although it’s not bad per-say it’s easily the weakest of the whole bunch. Episode Gladio sees the party member leaving Noctis and the others to undertake “The Trials,” a challenge that only the Shield of the King can undertake to gain new power.
Accompanied by Cor the Immortal, Gladio makes his way through the combat trials and finally faces down the legendary Gilgamesh. Gladios’ combat is fun, if not a bit simple, as a hack-and-slash affair. It involves unleashing basic attack combos and building up you technique meter to use devastating techniques.
A few other options do help add variation, like being able to rip giant pillars out of the ground as weapons, or guarding to increase your Rage meter and do more damage.
In all, though, Episode Gladio just feels far more restrictive and limited than the other episodes. It doesn’t add on as much story and lore, although you do get to learn about Cor, and it’s very focused on combat.
The entire thing is definitely salvaged by an awesome final boss battle, that has a pretty neat rendition of Gilgamesh’s theme “Battle of the Big Bridge,” by the composer of NieR: Automata.
Ranking Final Fantasy XV’s DLC Episodes
3. Episode Prompto
Episode Prompto certainly adopts a much more somber tone than the other DLC, which makes sense as it’s entirely about Prompto lost and alone in the tundra of Niflheim. Alone and doubting both himself and his friendships, Prompto is captured by none other than Ardyn.
What follows is a true reckoning for Prompto has he has to confront his past and how he was created, as well as what he wants from the future. Apart from getting to team up with Aranea, Episode Prompto provides some fantastic lore about Niflheim, Magitek Soldiers, the Niflheim Research Chief Verstael, and more.
The episode’s gameplay is also the most different we’ve ever seen for Final Fantasy XV, with Prompto’s combat using third-person shooter elements mixed with more standard FFXV gameplay.
Prompto has to scavenge weapons like machine guns and sniper rifles as he makes his way through the research facility and tundra, fighting tons of Magitek Soldiers along the way. There’s even a bit of an explorable open world segment, as you can travel around on a snowmobile completing time challenges and side missions.
Episode Prompto is high on emotion, and even though gunplay isn’t as precise as you might like, it’s good to see some variation in Final Fantasy XV.
Ranking Final Fantasy XV’s DLC Episodes
2. Episode Ardyn
What was supposed to be the first of four new episodes, Episode Ardyn is the final piece of DLC we’ll ever see for Final Fantasy XV, and it sends things out on a high note. For the first time ever the episode lets you take control of Ardyn, as he invades the city of Insomnia with the help of the Infernian, Ifrit.
In addition to modern-day Insomnia, the episode goes into great details on Ardyn’s past, how he came to work for Niflheim, and how he gained the crazy power that he has. It’s fascinating to see the duality of Ardyn’s character, and really see how the man went from savior or the people to crazed monster hellbent on revenge.
The episode also does a great job of making you feel like an unstoppable monster, as Ardyn can effortlessly glide across the rooftops and lamp posts of insomnia using his demon power.
By devouring demon energy from enemies Ardyn can summon ethereal swords to do more damage, and you can unlock more skills by using his Descension menu, like a massive darkness tornado you can summon.
Calling in Ifrit to blow up enemies is also great fun, and combining all of Ifrit’s and Ardyn’s abilities make you an absolute wrecking ball. After beating the DLC you also unlock a nifty “Kingly Clash” option, that lets you play as Ardyn in the final boss battle of the game.
It’s certainly a pity we’ll never see any of the other planned DLC episodes, but getting a detailed look at one of Final Fantasy’s best villains certainly isn’t a bad way to go out.
Ranking Final Fantasy XV’s DLC Episodes
1. Episode Ignis
Out of all the DLC for Final Fantasy XV, none are quite as emotional or story heavy than Episode Ignis. Taking place during the Trial of the Hydrian in Altissia, the episode shows what happened to Ignis during that time, as he fights through the city to try and save Noctis.
Here we learn how Ignis lost his eyesight, see him form an unlikely partnership with Ravus Nox Fleuret, and even see him go one-on-one with Ardyn. Gameplay-wise, Episode Ignis also provides one of the best experiences in all of Final Fantasy XV.
Ignis gets access to a grappling hook early on, letting him zip across the rooftops of Altissia.
The episode’s combat uses an adaptive system that has you switching between three types of elemental daggers on the fly (fire, blizzard, and lightning), each of which have a different use, like fire hitting one enemy while blizzard is useful against groups.
Episode Ignis has some seriously emotional moments between Ignis and Noctis, and if you love the characters of Final Fantasy XV, it’s a must-play. There’s even an alternate ending that gets as close to that “happy ending” as we’ll ever get.
While each DLC episode offers something unique, Episode Ignis was the greatest example of meaningful post-launch content taht we saw from Final Fantasy XV.
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