Episode Ravus could have been the perfect tribute to Versus, and here's why:
Admittedly, I am rather perturbed about the fact that there is an Episode Noctis when the game itself is supposed to be that. If they did want to make something where Noctis defies fate, it could have been handled in a chapter 13.v2 fashion.
But Square made it's choice, and I am happy with any new content they put out, soooo....not really a big complaint here.
Although I do feel as if an Episode Noctis is pandering to the Versus fans, especially with the theme. I honestly think that if they wanted a DLC to be about defying fate, and a nod to the beginning, they could have used a character who had been there since day one.
Ravus Nox Fleuret.
The beginning itself could have been a nod to the trailers even!
Ravus on the steps of Tenebrae, watching the Empire advance, getting ready to burn his beloved home to the ground. Instead of the armiger, purple lightning could swirl about him, lashing out and killing the soldiers before he builds up power and launches into the fray, taking down hundreds of soldiers with a single swipe. The movements are clean and elegant, things appear to be looking up, until Tenebrae is engulfed in flames, leaving Ravus standing there in horror.
Desire for revenge now burning hotter than ever, Ravus heads to Zegnatus, where he finds the empire in shambles, daemons running amok. Why were the halls littered with a lot of uniforms but hardly daemons when Noctis came through? Because Ravus was there, raining death upon them all as he makes his way to the throne room. This is a tale of an antihero, a tale of revenge. You might come across someone in the stages of turning, begging you for help...they're killed in cold blood, not mercy. You learn about the Empire's plight, more of it anyways, since we're getting episode Aranea.
At rest sites, it could be where you are plunged into the realm of dreams, experiencing the past through Ravus' eyes, communicating with Luna or even Queen Sylva, seeing what will come to pass.
There may come a part where Ravus passes by the room of the crystal, which will be the place where you make a choice to head on, to Ravus' death, or approach it. (Which would probably have to be unlocked)
We all know how Ravus dies, so I won't bother you with details. But what if in the Alternate route, Ravus gets a chance to finally accomplish his goal and be a hero, by sacrificing his place in their world to get everything back. The crystal or an entity would take him back in time to fight Leviathan, summoning her in Luna's stead and forcing the goddess to give Noctis the power. We could even have Luna and Noctis in the same scene, running up at the beginning with each other, watching in horror as Ravus brings up the goddess of the sea, and again when he defeats it. Luna could cry out her brother's name as he dissolves into crystal shards, giving her and Noctis one last genuine smile before he bows and vanishes.
With Luna still alive, the light fading barely quickens, and in doing such, it weakens Ardyn. Both Noctis and Luna go into the crystal, the Oracle's power fueling the ring even more, to the point where the holiness washes out the corruption. Ardyn is finally allowed to know peace, due to the maximized power of the ring, imbued with Oracle magic, cleansing him of the scourge.
All this could be playing in the credits, and the last scene could be Noctis and Luna with children, smiling and looking happy before a blue light waves over it, going back into full screen to display it all being watched through a portal of things...or something.
Want to know how to make it an even bigger tribute to Nomura's versus? Have it end with a plain clothes Ravus stepping off a train, glancing back once more to look at the fading portal, showing his sister's happiness. He could turn and look up with a content, almost sad, smile on his face before he utters his famous saying:
"The World We Know Is Changing...Ending As We Speak. So It Is And Must Be For All Existence."
Now, since Versus XIII was supposed to take place in the XIII universe, want to know how to utilize that? Have Ravus on the same platform as the one in Lightning Returns, with the same shots to make it the perfect way to harken back to the days. This is a little more out there, but it really is something that would be great for the fans. If you hear a voice, and possibly even see as well, from one of the original cast, (probably Lightning or Serah, although Yeul would make a lot of sense too!) asking Ravus in a peaceful tone. "Are you ready?" To which he would nod and walk off the platform, leaving his old world and everything he loved behind, so his sister could have her happily ever after.
Would that not be an excellent way to pay homage to what had started it all?
I realize that this is more of the fanfictiony type, and I apologize, however I do think that it would be an interesting concept for a character DLC and not just a main game extension, which I will admit, is basically Episode Noctis.
This video also helped influence this little idea, it's about some Versus leaks if you want to check it out! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tl1pHfJXLDo
HOW MANY TIMES DID I USE THE WORD "NOD" IN THIS POST?!
