FINAL FANTASY XV WINDOWS EDITION

I think FINAL FANTASY XV WINDOWS EDITION can work for an easy treadmill session, but it’s better when you’re happy to let the game set the pace instead of expecting constant action. The fights keep your hands busy; the story will occasionally ask you to stand there and watch.

Gameplay

The combat is active without demanding that you hit a dozen buttons every second, which is probably why I’d be comfortable bringing it to a workout. Noctis can warp toward enemies and swing his weapons while the rest of the party joins in, so there’s usually something happening even when I’m not making a very smart plan. I’d still want to pay attention, because the camera and all the movement can get busy when several enemies are around. It’s not a quiet little stroll.

The open world gives you stretches of driving and wandering between fights, and I like that the game doesn’t make every minute feel like a boss encounter. Hunts and side quests can give you a reason to take a detour, though some of that work is basically going somewhere, hitting a few enemies, and coming back. I think that’s fine for a low effort ride, but on a treadmill I’d probably skip side jobs that start feeling like I’m commuting to a second job.

Then the story arrives, and it has a lot to say. There are lengthy scenes and stretches where you’re mostly following the plot rather than making decisions, which can be nice when you want to keep walking without having to steer every second, but it also means the game’s pace can slow down a lot. I don’t know that I’d pick it for a short workout where I want action from the first minute. You may spend part of that session watching people talk in a car.

The party and the road trip give the game a particular feel that I enjoy. The group’s conversations make the quieter stretches feel less empty, and the contrast between hanging out and fighting monsters works better for me than a nonstop sequence of battles would. Still, the quests can get repetitive, and I’d be happy to leave some of them unfinished rather than turn every stop into a chore. There are plenty of those.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Treadmill and Bike Compatibility

Full controller support is a big help here, and the basic idea of moving toward an enemy and attacking is manageable while you’re exercising. I’d set the difficulty to Easy and try Wait Mode, especially if I were on a treadmill and wanted a little more time to make sense of a crowded fight. You still have to pay attention to where Noctis is going and what’s happening around him, so I wouldn’t call this a game to play while completely zoning out.

The camera is the part I’d worry about most. During a fight you can be moving, changing targets, and trying to keep an enemy in view, and small thumb movements are less precise when your body is bouncing along with the belt. I think a bike would feel steadier for those fights, but the treadmill is still reasonable if you keep the pace comfortable and don’t treat every enemy encounter like it needs to be finished immediately. Running faster won’t make the camera behave better.

Driving is a nice break from combat, though it’s not a reason to ignore the screen. You’re still steering and following the road, so I’d keep the pace easy rather than try to manage a fast run through a scene with turns and traffic. If you want the least demanding session, do a little exploring or take on a straightforward hunt, and save the more hectic fights for when you can give them your full attention. I would not make this the game for an all out treadmill workout.

Some story scenes can give you a natural chance to settle into a steady pace, but there are also moments when the game expects you to jump back in and react. That change is worth keeping in mind if you’re using a treadmill, since you can go from watching a conversation to scrambling around a fight without much warning. On a bike, that shift seems easier to handle. I’d still keep a hand near the pause button.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Computer Requirements

The minimum graphics target is an older dedicated card, so this doesn’t demand a top end gaming computer, but integrated graphics probably aren’t the plan. I’d check the graphics card first and make sure you have room for the 100 GB install, because this road trip takes up a lot of the trunk.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Conclusion and Score

This is for you if you want a long RPG with room to wander and don’t mind the story taking over for a while. I’d play it at an easy workout pace, and I’d skip it if you need constant action to keep your legs moving.

Overall Score: 2 out of 3