The open-world design of the first half of the game, with its myriad quests and details, shines brilliantly and hearkens back Final Fantasy's golden days. However, the linear second half lacks the optional content that makes the first part genuinely fun to play through.
A large open-world environment that's filled with iconic monsters to hunt and quests to undertake; Excellent soundtrack, visuals, and attention to detail; Simple, but enjoyable, combat system
Sloppy, poorly paced story; Horrible camera work; Linear second half and bizarre gameplay changes make finishing the game a chore