You have to hand it to Square Enix; they have shown their commitment to supporting Final Fantasy XV long after its release. While the most recent numbered Final Fantasy title released after years of anticipation to commercial success and critical acclaim (including several Game of the Year awards from this very website), it is clear that there had been significant cuts made, especially toward the end of the game, potentially due to the game’s tumultuous development cycle. Square Enix has promised to remedy this with new story and gameplay segments being added through free patches as well as pieces of paid DLC content focusing on each of Noctis’s companions. So how does the first of these, Final Fantasy XV: Episode Gladiolus, fare?.
Following his humiliating defeat at the hands of Ravus during the midpoint of the main game, Gladiolus has left Noctis and company to train on his own. Desiring to become strong enough to protect his king, he enlists the help of Cor Leonis and pays a visit to the Tempering Grounds: ancient ruins where warriors go to challenge the Blademaster, Gilgamesh, and attempt to prove their worth. With few exceptions, none who face these trials live to tell the tale, and Gladio must face a grueling gauntlet of daemons and undead warriors if he is to prove himself worthy of Gilgamesh’s mantle.
Episode Gladiolus does manage to fill a gap in Final Fantasy XV‘s overall narrative, and it’s great to have a chance to get to know both Gladio and Cor a little better. We finally find out the specifics of how Cor earned the nickname “Immortal,” as well as some insight into his relationship with Gladio’s father. While these tidbits of new information are interesting and provide some much needed context for the main game, they aren’t terribly substantial, mostly taking place during brief conversations at rest points that consist of, at most, three or four lines of dialogue. There are some additional hints at the broader history of the game’s setting (which was sorely missing from the story proper), although these are also too brief and insubstantial to write home about and are at times even consigned to loading screens. I’m sorry, Square, but that just isn’t sufficient.
The real meat of the experience is the changes made to combat. While the controls are more or less the same as in the base game, Gladio’s combat style is very different from Noctis’s. Instead of warping around the battlefield and changing weapons on the fly, Gladio is limited to his Claymore, using it to deliver heavy, sweeping strikes that provide a more action-oriented experience. There’s a heavier emphasis on timing here. Blocking enemy attacks with Square will build up Gladio’s Rage meter, causing his attacks to do more damage, but blocking at the right time opens up the opportunity to perform a devastating parry attack. You can’t just sit and block forever, though, as enemies will sometimes enter a frenzied state in which their attacks will break Gladio’s guard and often stun lock him, forcing a more evasive approach. There are also pillars scattered throughout each combat arena that can be used to devastating effect on armored foes. As Gladio lands more hits, he’ll build up a Valor gauge, which opens up new Glaive Arts he can perform. These powerful special attacks are Gladio’s ace in the hole, and you unlock a couple of new ones as you proceed through Gilgamesh’s trial.
Speaking of which, the Tempering Grounds themselves are a sight to behold, with rugged, crystalline architecture lending the area a striking beauty while the scattered bodies of defeated warriors impaled on the walls provide an eerie and omnipresent reminder of the trial’s dangers. The final area of the DLC, where you finally square off against Gilgamesh, is littered with the weapons of the slain set against a twilight backdrop that is perfectly suited for an epic final battle. Square Enix excelling at presentation is perhaps to be expected, but Episode Gladiolus features some truly fantastic environmental design, rivaling the best moments from the base game. While the brunt of enemies you’ll face in this DLC are the undead denizens of the Tempering Grounds, the daemonic enemies and other “minibosses,” with one exception, are recycled from the main game, which is a little disappointing. The new musical tracks are noteworthy, however. Heavy metal riffs punctuate the battles, which suits Gladio’s character, but the episode’s main theme and obligatory Battle on the Big Bridge remix were composed and arranged (respectively) by none other than Keiichi Okabe of NieR fame, and they are absolutely wonderful. In terms of overall presentation, Episode Gladiolus is a treat.
Though the episode can be cleared in little over an hour (earning a few nifty bonuses that transfer over to the main game), there are a few unlockable modes to extend playtime. Score Attack has you racing against the clock to earn as many points as possible in arcade-style fashion, sort of like the Bloody Palace modes from Devil May Cry. It’s a fun distraction, and earning enough points will unlock a new costume for Gladio. The other noteworthy mode is the Final Trial, which pits you in a fierce one-on-one duel. While the main storyline portion of the DLC is easy enough, as it practically drowns you in healing items, the kiddie gloves come off here: you’re limited to three Potions and a single Phoenix Down for the Final Trial, making it a true test of your mastery over Gladio’s combat style. Unfortunately, I’ve got to be honest; I don’t think Final Fantasy XV‘s floaty controls really lend themselves to this kind of encounter. Often times, I found that my dodges wouldn’t register when I really needed them to or Gladio would be stuck in an attack combo when I needed him to break away and block, and when you factor in a camera that swings around the battlefield seemingly on a whim no matter what the lock-on says, you have an exercise in tedious frustration. The Final Trial brings to bear every niggling, frustrating aspect of Final Fantasy XV‘s combat system and exacerbates them. While I was eventually able to clear it after several repeat attempts, doing so evoked a sense of relief, not satisfaction. Still, it’s there for those who want it, and I certainly can’t begrudge its inclusion.
Final Fantasy XV: Episode Gladiolus is a solid first installment of what (if the Episode Prompto teaser that plays at the end is anything to go by) appears to be a promising series of downloadable installments. While it is rather short and leaves something to be desired in the story department, it’s also a highly entertaining add-on with a cool new environment to explore, excellent music, and (sometimes) thrilling combat encounters. If you’re looking to spend more time in the world of Eos, then Episode Gladiolus is absolutely worthwhile.
