from the US gamer preview:
"I have plenty to say about Final Fantasy XV, and plenty more to see beyond this first chapter of the adventure, and I'll be sharing my thoughts as I play this near-final build of the game over the next week or two. On Friday I'll have a more detailed analysis of the combat system. In the meantime, though, it's enough to say that FFXV has impressed me, even in the half-dozen hours I've played so far.
And, incidentally, I could have finished the game's first chapter in far fewer than six hours. But FFXV really sets you loose once the introduction has rolled, and I've spent most of my time wandering the wastes in search of hidden quests (there are a few!), secret fishing spots (I found a doozy tucked away in some ruins), completing monster hunts (and there are still quite a few in this region that are well beyond my team's current capabilities), and generally just seeing where I can go (basically anywhere that isn't walled off). Square Enix has a lot riding on this game, and despite all odds, FFXV just might be able to shoulder those impossible expectations."
that's all i needed to hear.