Details Of Famitsu's Perfect Final Fantasy XIII-2 Review
As some of you already know, Japan's biggest game magazine, Famitsu, awarded Final Fantasy XIII-2 a perfect (40/40) score.
Now, I hate to say this, but the publication is often seen as being a little biased; i.e., anything with "Final Fantasy" or "Mario" or "Zelda" in the title is automatically in the running for a perfect score.
That being said, wouldn't you like to see the reasons why Famitsu handed out the coveted 40/40 score? If so, check out GamingEverything, where you'll find a full list of the positive points. You might be most interested in stuff like, "Straight paths are no longer present," "Little hand-holding," and "Has a different 'feel' than XIII." Personally, I despise this one- "Party is always Noel, Serah, and monsters," but that's just me.
The game takes around 40 hours to complete but of course, the extra stuff brings it closer to 100 hours, there's "tons of content," a "high degree of strategy" is required to win many battles, there are multiple endings, and you can even return to previously cleared areas and play through them again. "Fun" is another common word found in that breakdown, and side-quests and conversation choices play a significant role.
So what do you think? I'm just not a fan of this capturing, training and using monsters thing; I didn't even like Blue Magic back in the day. I don't want monsters in my party; I want humans who - if RPG history is any indication - are always superior in just about every way. Oh, and don't forget that "more accessible" bullet-point...good or bad?
Related Game(s): Final Fantasy XIII-2
Tags: ffxiii2, final fantasy xiii-2, ffxiii-2 review, ffxiii-2 details
12/14/2011 10:35:18 AM Ben Dutka
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Comments (64 posts)
telly
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 12:27:03 PM
johnld
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 5:12:32 PM
Jawknee
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 11:09:33 AM
Reply
I also think the party of Sarah, Hammer Pants and monsters is a terrible idea. When did this turn into Monster Hunter?
Last edited by Jawknee on 12/14/2011 11:12:01 AM
Highlander
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 11:29:03 AM
I remain skeptical of all things related to SE until they hit the ground here.
Yukian
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 11:33:17 AM
And IDK about Famitsu's scores on Zelda but if they're not A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time and/or Skyward Sword, then I won't mind not believing them.
And it's true, they should've added the monster thing w/o at the expense of other characters... I don't wanna be looking at a behemoth's ass all the fights... :/
Jawknee
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 11:48:14 AM
Here is a list of all the games they have given perfect scores. Only 3 of them are Zelda games, one Mario and now two Final Fantasy games.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998, for Nintendo 64)
2. Soul Calibur (1999, for Dreamcast)
3. Vagrant Story (2000, for PlayStation)
4. The Legend of Zelda – The Wind Waker (2003, for GameCube)
5. Nintendogs (2005, for the DS)
6. Final Fantasy XII (2006, for PlayStation 2)
7. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008, for the Wii)
8. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008, for PlayStation 3)
9. 428: Fusasareta Shibuya de (2008, for the Wii)
10. Dragon Quest IX (2009, for the DS)
11. Monster Hunter Tri (2009, for the Wii)
12. Bayonetta (2009, for PlayStation 3/XBox 360)
13. New Super Mario Bros. (2009, for Wii)
14. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010, for PSP)
15. Pokémon Black and White (2010, for Nintendo DS)
Though I must say I would question their judgement over the 40/40 for Nintendogs. lol
Last edited by Jawknee on 12/14/2011 11:56:06 AM
Yukian
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 11:55:52 AM
I mean, the only ones I think deserve a perfect score from that list are: Ocarina of Time and Metal Gear Solid 4, everything else could be on the 8's or 9's.
With the exception of Nintendogs and Pokemon games... that's just... wrong in so many levels...
Jawknee
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 11:58:08 AM
I think if a game does what it sets out to do in a perfect manner whether it's your style of game or not deserves a perfect score. In most cases anyway.
And quite honestly, Skyward Sword is better than Ocarina of Time in a lot of ways. Not all but most. I think the only thing I liked better about Ocarina of Time was I prefer the Ocarina over the Harp but it's a different game set in a different place in the time line so it makes sense why the Ocarina wouldn't appear in Skyward Sword.
Last edited by Jawknee on 12/14/2011 12:01:11 PM
Yukian
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 12:10:18 PM
BUT, Bayonnetta is not a perfect game, Pokemon, though I like them since the first one, I must admit that it's getting SUPER tedious and repetitive, and Brawl is an awesomely made game with shallow gameplay, which I support Sony on making one themselves.
There are flaws in a few of them that should've made them 9's but remained with 10 for their popularity, which lead me to think, with your provided info, that were a bit biased.
And I agree with you on the harp thing... I DESPISE that thing... they should've designed it better... :/
Last edited by Yukian on 12/14/2011 12:12:12 PM
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 12:33:57 PM
Jawknee
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 1:19:56 PM
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 1:25:55 PM
But then again, that's because most Wii titles are just shovelware.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 12/14/2011 1:26:39 PM
Jawknee
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 1:32:46 PM
Agreed about the GameCube too. I didn't own many games on that system either though the ones I did own like Mario Sunshine, Paper Mario, Wind Waker, Ocarina of Time Master Quest, the GC version of Twilight Princess and the Resident Evil games were worth owning the system.
Last edited by Jawknee on 12/14/2011 1:35:42 PM
johnld
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 5:14:05 PM
Jawknee
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 10:38:21 PM
Ultimadream
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 11:19:30 AM
Reply
I for one am really excited about the monster hunter feature, I really want them to put a Marlboro available.
The multiple ending feature concerns me too, I hated how in X-2 once you completed a chapter you couldnt go back to do a side mission you missed to add to the percentage. The game is impossible to complete without a guide. What also bothers me is that I might not get the defintive conclusion on my first playthrough...I still dont know how I feel on this, as I love interactive games live Heavy Rain Shadow of Memories and Catherine, but to have that on a 40+ hour RPG... sounds very tedious.
Underdog15
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 12:22:31 PM
CrusaderForever
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 11:30:38 AM
Reply
With how much I enjoyed XIII I will no doubt pick up XIII-2. It will have to wait for Reckoning!!
WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 11:35:01 AM
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Still, it should be a pretty good game and I bet I'll enjoy most of it. I'll just have to try to force myself to get into this monster nonsense. I kinda thought that was just going to be an option, boo.
Maybe by "More accessible" they mean you can actually access the combat mechanics from the start instead of 20 hours later.
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 12/14/2011 11:37:22 AM
johnld
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 5:20:49 PM
MrSilvia
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 12:02:32 PM
Reply
Also, what's up with this RPG history thing? Have you ever played a game in the Shin Megami Tensei series? Where you have a main character and everybody else in your party is a demon you recruit? SMT Nocturne is one of the best RPGs I've ever played. Give FFXIII-2 a chance before writing it off.
Jawknee
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 12:28:29 PM
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 12:35:50 PM
And yes, I played Nocturne. I own it. I've also played about 60 other RPGs and I know SMT has always been extremely unique. In general, for the most part, humans outstrip monsters in RPGs where monsters can become part of your party.
I wouldn't challenge my RPG knowledge that stretches back 18 years, if I were you. This is one thing I happen to know a lot about.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 12/14/2011 12:36:47 PM
Underdog15
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 12:38:06 PM
RaYz89
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 1:11:00 PM
However, I do understand where MrSilvia is coming in that reading this article Ben wrote (combined with the numbers of previous articles with negative comments on SE) sort off gives the impression that Ben's writing off FF13-2 straight away.
But I'll still be waiting for your review Ben, and I hope you'll take into account that this is FF13-2, hence it is mainly targeted for fans of FF13, so one should not expect a major overhaul of the FF13 mechanics especially for those who hated it to death.
Also from experience of FF10-2, my expectations is that it'll be a lot of fan services and some "different" gameplay compared to the main numbered series... in fact if one compared 10-2 with 13-2, it really aint that much different~
Underdog15
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 1:23:53 PM
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 1:27:39 PM
johnld
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 5:22:12 PM
Excelsior1
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 12:40:28 PM
Reply
Underdog15
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 12:50:24 PM
On the other hand, for folks like me, I genuinely want to know how it stacks up against other FF's. Obviously, with the scores it's been getting, I'll likely give it a go at some point. But a D1P? I can wait (with the backlog I've got) if it isn't as awesome from the FF measurable standpoint. Know what I'm saying?
I guess what I mean is... I'll likely play it at some point, especially with the scores it's gotten. But I definitely want to know how Final Fantasy-ish it is compared to other Final Fantasies.
I just think I could benefit from a review that can address both sides regardless of the score.
johnld
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 5:25:15 PM
RaYz89
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 12:59:21 PM
Reply
Having many if not all japanese reviewers giving high/perfect score to FFXIII(2) makes me think that this new style of "modern rpg" gameplay that many "turn-based rpg fans" are so angry about is actually not something SE's doing to please the western gamers, but rather it is something that japanese developers/gamers/reviewers wanted...
Because even though the western gamers are often saying how there's lack of (turn-based) jrpg this gen, there's actually a lot of them still using the traditional turn-based mechanics released in Japan (its just not localized elsewhere), so I think SE's plan to "improve" (change? degrade?) on the usual turn-based mechanics are actually in line with what the Japanese people wanted to see
Its like westerners complaining how there's only FPS nowadays, and we wanted something different... so for the japanese there's too much of the usual turn-based rpgs already, give us something different... I'm guessing that's why Famitsu gave a perfect score to FF-XII and XIII-2. Both are not the usual turn-based mechanics like in other jrpgs.
Jawknee
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 1:14:50 PM
And while FFXII was different than your typical turnbased RPG, it was still very much an RPG. Especially when compared to XIII.
Last edited by Jawknee on 12/14/2011 1:16:04 PM
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 1:28:34 PM
Jawknee
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 1:39:11 PM
My wife lived in Japan for awhile in college. During the release of FFX. They make this huge deal out it apparently. Almost like a national holiday so she puts it. She still has friends there that she communicates with and she relayed to me at the time that FFXIII didn't quite get the same response X did.
Last edited by Jawknee on 12/14/2011 1:46:52 PM
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 2:00:23 PM
Jawknee
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 3:02:01 PM
Pandacastro
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 4:47:22 PM
johnld
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 5:27:06 PM
RaYz89
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 9:58:31 PM
For me, the main disappointment in FF13 is that there's too little content. There's no other towns / side characters / side quests to do besides extra boss monsters. Which is why I think Famitsu did not give it a perfect score.
Even the new battle system need some improvement, it would be much2 better if we are able to change player during battle.
So seeing SE tackling this issue in FF13-2 probably is what making Famitsu giving it a perfect score.
PoopsMcGee
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 1:35:00 PM
Reply
Question:
If this one does turn out to be a return to form for the series: Do peeps on the site think I can jump into this one without knowing the story/world of XIII?
Jawknee
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 1:44:00 PM
johnld
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 5:29:32 PM
Jawknee
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 10:40:18 PM
Underdog15
Thursday, December 15, 2011 @ 10:15:00 AM
LimitedVertigo
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 1:44:43 PM
Reply
Having said that they gave FFXIII a really great score so I'm not surprised they gave the sequel such a great score as well. I evidently don't see what they're seeing with the XIII series.
Highlander
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 2:14:39 PM
Reply
WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 3:49:19 PM
johnld
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 5:30:55 PM
aaronisbla
Thursday, December 15, 2011 @ 1:46:01 AM
RaYz89
Thursday, December 15, 2011 @ 12:40:26 AM
Underdog15
Thursday, December 15, 2011 @ 10:16:06 AM
johnld
Thursday, December 15, 2011 @ 5:39:29 PM
Jutter
Thursday, December 15, 2011 @ 1:16:09 AM
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As long as there is a much greater variety of monsters in this game than there was in 13, (which got very annoying fighting the same enemies over and over again) it might be interesting.
maggosh
Thursday, December 15, 2011 @ 8:54:07 PM
Reply
"I didn't even like Blue Magic back in the day. I don't want monsters in my party; I want humans who - if RPG history is any indication - are always superior in just about every way."
Bloody hypocrite.
Underdog15
Saturday, December 17, 2011 @ 12:46:00 AM
homura
Sunday, December 18, 2011 @ 1:28:30 PM
Reply
homura
Sunday, December 18, 2011 @ 1:39:40 PM
Reply

Final Fantasy XIII-2









Highlander
Reply
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 @ 10:53:45 AM