World of Final Fantasy (PlayStation 4) Preview

The demo at EGX was a "Dungeon Demo" set in a forest where random encounters were regular and each treasure chest contained an FMV showing off some of the chibi versions of the franchise's most popular characters. Some of the core mechanics were explained via tutorial, such as the ability to capture enemies - dubbed Mirages - by decreasing their health and then using a special ability, although it was also explained that some enemies require specific circumstances to capture.

Of course, to make the most of the demo, plenty of wandering and random battles were required, which meant capturing more familiar Mirages and building new stacks. There were Chocobo and Tonberry, and plenty more, but the personal favourite had to be the massive Behemoth enemies who served as a new bottom of the stack. There were plenty of others to acquire, though, and staff on hand promised there would be even bigger Mirages that fans will be able to enjoy, including some long-term favourite enemies and Eidolons.

The conclusion to the demo was a boss fight with Ifrita, the female transmutation of classic Eidolon, Ifrit. The fiery lass had a stack of her own, using a Cockatrice and Chocobo to give her access to both big damage and heals. The best way to take on Ifrita was toppling her stack and defeating each creature. There were plenty of abilities to use to accomplish this depending on the stack setup, but the most impressive ability available was the ability to pull in "Champions," iconic Final Fantasy characters that performed like Summons, bursting onto the stage to unleash a special ability. In the demo, there was only one available - the Blitzball star player, Tidus. His chibi form darted in, delivering a barrage of blows with the "Brotherhood" sword before smashing a Blitzball into the enemy's face.