Part 26: Dreaded Chapter 13... Ring of Lucii, Two Routes?! 100 Hours Logged

Here we go everyone...

We talk with the person from the Fleuret family. Who asks if the Ring was delivered 'successfully' to us. It depends on your definition of 'successfully' but yes it was. The woman states that this will please Ravus too. WAIT WHAT?!

So... it turns out... that Ravus may have been a double agent. As a cutscene seemed to show that he actually did care about his sister (Luna). Well... now I just feel bad.

Ravus seems to be waiting to give Noctis' father's sword to him, but finding him will be difficult. Noctis assures the woman he'll find him. Somehow.

Before we can get on the train we're stopped by a random girl who tries to cheer Noctis up by saying that Luna really loved him. We... kind already knew this but thanks? I guess?

We then finally board the train and meander around collecting items until... the train stops. Yeah... not surprising. Seriously. The cold seemed to practically freeze it. THANKS SHIVA.

We end up having to fight lots of Daemons again. Despite the struggle we come out victorious and reboard the train to check something out. Only to see... GOD DAMMIT I'M TIRED OF THIS *squee!*. (Yes it's Ardyn again)

Somehow, a strong snow storm rages in the train as Noctis struggles to make it to Ardyn and his downed friends. As Ardyn seems to be immune to this. BUT HOW?!

Things seem bad... but then... GENTIANA?! SERIOUSLY?! SHE FREAKING FREEZES ARDYN. FINALLY.

So... yeah... Gentiana was Shiva the whole time. We get another Royal Arm and Shiva's blessing. Then... Noctis smashes the Ardyn ice sculpture. REVENGE FEELS SO GOOD.

Gladio and Ignis recover. However... Ardyn shows up AGAIN. Claiming we hurt his feelings with our attack and reveals he's immortal. OH GREAT. SO HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO GET RID OF THIS GUY FOR GOOD?!

Then... he does... something. That seems to take away all the weapons of Noctis, Gladio, and Ignis. Just in time for Chapter 13 to truly start and to be assaulted by Daemons. GEE THANKS FOR THAT. So no choice but to make a run for the Regalia here.

We drive out of the train and attempt to maneuver around getting shot at by Imperial Airships. I thought I would struggle at this and I didn't. Until the end when I got the car stuck. Somehow I got it free though and made it before the gates closed on us. The car can't go any farther now.

NO. NOT THE CAR TOO. ARDYN I SWEAR. ALL OF MY WEAPONS. DOWN YOUR THROAT.

Then... the game threw a curve ball at me. Two different routes. A Noctis one and a Gladio and Ignis one. I tried to ask on the GameFAQs FFXV board how to do both but apparently you can't. That's... actually unfortunately. I really want to do both.

Noctis it is then. With no weapons... Noctis has little choice. He finally puts on the Ring of Lucii. What happens when he does?

HE BECOMES OP. PERFECTION.

You get three attacks. Death, Holy and Alterna. Death is exactly what it says. A magic attack that eventually instantly kills an enemy. Holy is basically a defensive move that damages enemies when you guard. Alterna is basically a group death spell.

So... I'm confused. What part of this is so 'dreaded?' I mean sure... it gets a little ridiculous when you come across some zombie-like Magitek Troopers but the resolution for me there was basically Alterna. I just wasn't good enough to go from hiding spot to hiding spot.

I really didn't struggle all that much.

The really 'worse' part... is that FREAKING ARDYN IS ON THE SPEAKERS TAUNTING AND COMMENTING THE ENTIRE TIME. SERIOUSLY ARDYN. GO. TO. HELL.

Eventually I maneuver around a GIANT enemy, cause there's no way in HELL I'm going to try fighting something like that with no weapons, to get a key to activate an elevator.

BTW... the battle theme during this is actually pretty dramatic and good.

Spoiler

There's just... one other thing.

WHAT HAPPENED TO MY GAME?! THERE WERE LEGITIMATE JUMPSCARES FROM MAGITEK TROOPERS ON THE GROUND THAT SEEMED DEAD.

WHEN THE HELL DID I START PLAYING A HORROR GAME?!

Some of the jumpscares actually got me pretty good. NO. WHY. I DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR A HORROR GAME.

We think we see Prompto too and chase after him. However... it turns out to be a trick as well. I don't even know what to say anymore at this point.

However... the large enemy forces Noctis to a lower level. Where we find... a seemingly dead Ravus.

..................................

I. SWEAR. TO. GOD. ARDYN. ALL. OF. MY. RAGE.

But... we get Noctis' dad's sword. So now we have the ring and the Sword of the Father. EVEN MORE OP NOCTIS GOODNESS.

I make it to another safe room and stop there for now.

GOOD GOD. THIS GAME. I SWEAR.

BTW... if you couldn't tell from the title. I have officially logged 100 hours in this game. Wow. I don't even remember the last time I logged 100 hours in game. It's even possible I've NEVER logged 100 hours in a game. Until now that is.

Next time:

Is there more horror? How is this chapter 'dreaded'? Why can't I do both routes? I'm only in the midst of it though. It may begin to become ridiculous. But I'm still loving the hell out of this game. Despite the horror-I-didn't-sign-up-for.