Final Fantasy XIII Seeing Mixed Responses From Critics

Highlander
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:03:50 PM
Reply

I think it's a very much love it or loathe it kind of game except that everyone wants to love it, but not everyone seems able to.

BTW Edge Magazine gave it a 5/10 so the range is really 5/10 and up. I guess we'll ignore (for now) that some Hong Kong based gaming rag gave it a 4/10...

8 up, 0 down

Qubex
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:16:04 PM

Edge Magazine...!?!

They are always on the edge those people!

Surely 5/10 is a little to harsh. The production values alone should make it at least 7/10. Even though a smallish backlash against dropping exclusivity has been felt by Squeeeeenix, some of these low scores seem overly done.

Q!

"speak to the droid"

5 up, 0 down

Highlander
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:19:25 PM

Yep a 5.

Here's their review...

http://www.edge-online.com/magazine/review-final-fantasy-xiii

BTW they gave Dante's Inferno a 6...

Last edited by Highlander on 3/7/2010 10:21:08 PM

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:20:18 PM

Speaking of RPGs on Sony platforms, anyone heard when Free Realms will finally hit the PS3? It's already up to 9 million users on the PC.

1 up, 0 down

Brklynty1
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:26:31 PM

Yea they said Free Realms is supposed to release this summer on the PS3. I wonder if that game is as big as everyone says it is, and with a huge PS3 install base growing, it might become bigger. But then again some PS3 owners are already playing that game.

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:32:22 PM

I am hoping that Sony can somehow weave a Free Realm's portal into Home. If we can somehow walk into a game portal and take on our in-game avatar it would be very slick.

1 up, 0 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 11:30:30 PM

I consider Edge too much of a joke and a blight on journalism. Hence, I DON'T consider it.

15 up, 2 down

kraygen
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 11:51:17 PM

@Ben

I agree, that review is a cry for site traffic if I ever heard one.

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 12:47:07 AM

@Ben,

LOL! I can understand that. I kinda have similar thoughts about Metacritic when I see what some of the review sources for games are. There are about half a dozen 'publications' that review games and Metacritic includes their scores. Not sure why since they are clearly not credible. It's often these less than credible reviews that bring very low scores that hurt a game's metascore. I understand that they want their score to be free of bias, but it's like Google and their seeming refusal to remove blogs from their news page. No one wants to evaluate the content they host, it's too much trouble.

5 up, 0 down

Kain81
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 4:23:49 AM

I played 7 hours already and I can say that this is the most linear final fantasy I know, not only in respect of Level Design, also in terms of character development ... you have no direct controlle of the other characters in battle mode. And you will have the feeling, that there is a lack of CONTENT, it feels choppy...
Do you remeber the Monsterviewer in Final Fantasy 12 it was in 3D, in Final Fantasy 13 there is Monsterviewer too, but in 2D...
they have cutted it...so Far iam disappointed with Final Fantasy 13 as a Final Fantasy FAN

6 up, 0 down

Vitron
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 5:44:20 AM

If they gave it a 5, I'd say they're a blasphemy to game journalism

0 up, 0 down

NeoHumpty
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 7:44:45 AM

@Kain

Yeah, from what I understand at 7 hours you aren't done with the tutorial yet. Seriously. The last review I read said there is a 15+ hour tutorial. If you make a game that has a fan base as large as FF does there should be no need for that kind of time to teach them how to use it. That's just friggin' crazy to me. It could have been so easy. Here let me show them.

>Attack
Magic
Summon
Item

6 up, 0 down

Irievibes
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 8:37:30 AM

the 15+ hour tutorial its a symptom of trying to cater to a more "western" and "twitch gamer", ADD riden audience of the americas .....cough*suckbox*cough

4 up, 0 down

Highlander
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 11:05:35 AM

7+ hours and not yet done with the tutorial? Are you kidding me? How the hell can any game justify forcing a gamer to undergo 7 (or 15+) hours of force fed 'tutorial' play? That's simply ridiculous.

3 up, 0 down

Oxvial
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:10:10 PM
Reply

Game looks just average with awesome graphs.

Last edited by Oxvial on 3/7/2010 10:10:27 PM

9 up, 3 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:11:15 PM
Reply

I look forward to both your guy's opinions but as a human being raised on Final Fantasy I simply have to buy it regardless. I think we can all rule out certain reviews, *cough* Edge *Cough* but you guys are always reliable if a bit technical.

So I need some help, I just got a cell text about my preorder from Gamestop that says:

"Your Final Fantasy XIII avail 12:01AM Tue. Arrive 10pm Mon to finalize payment."

What in hell does that mean? They need the rest of the money by 10pm on Monday? I never preordered from them before.

Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 3/7/2010 10:11:52 PM

0 up, 2 down

Gamer4Life
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:29:39 PM

I got the same message. I preorder from Gamestop all the time, however that's a first for that part about 10pm, at least for me anyway. Call the Gamestop you preordered from. They should be able to clarify it for you. Mines told me that I can just pay for it at the Midnight launch.

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:52:38 PM

Thanks!

Last edited by Highlander on 3/7/2010 10:55:12 PM

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:54:36 PM

I'll have to ask if mine is having a midnight launch too, might as well get it then since the store is about 4 minutes away.

0 up, 0 down

convergecrew
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 12:29:40 AM

If youre going to to pick it up at midnite, they just want you there early to pay it off. When midnite hits, theyll line you up and hand you the game, so no one waits too long for people paying at the register.

2 up, 0 down

Kiwi of DOOM
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 8:24:40 AM

I got that too. It's better be a mere suggestion because i live an hour and a half away from th nearest city where i can pick it up and i am NOT making two trips.

0 up, 0 down

artson1966
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 9:44:06 PM

no means if you still owe money on pre order you can pay at that time all gamestops open at 10 pm to collect the final payments so at 12 am all they need to do is hand out the game...some stores need two hours to clear out all teh orders some you can show up at 1130 pm and be fine either way at 12 am they are handing out the game and 15 minutes later your playing it....

0 up, 0 down

Scarecrow
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:14:37 PM
Reply

I'd rather be playing White Knight Chronicles...

But hey, hope the game's enjoyable for those who get it

PS: I love FF, hoping XV is back to its holy level

7 up, 4 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:24:42 PM

If you love FF, how come you never gave XIII a chance? Will you even rent it?

1 up, 1 down

Scarecrow
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:31:11 PM

Might rent it

But the level of disappointment this game carries would just make me feel sick...

To see FF being brought down to this level of 'horror' is saddening.

Also, money's tight with all the great games coming out. Might rent it/get it in the Summer, we'll see.

PS: You also have to consider that the loudest way to talk to these big companies is with our wallets. The direction FFXIII is taking the franchise is one most of us disagree with (you know you'd prefer turn-based, towns, etc.)

9 up, 4 down

SnipeySnake
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:44:06 PM

Doesn't FFXIII use a ATB? Though you can control 1 character only.

1 up, 0 down

soli
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:48:41 PM

Umm scarecrow u didnt even give the game a chance since u havent played it for urself and for a ff fan thats just silly.

I know it feels like its a step in the wrong direction but after experiencing the game it actually feels like a fresh start for the franchise despite the minor griefs.

2 up, 3 down

Scarecrow
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:56:07 PM

@Soli,

I'm a FF fan, I'm not mindless, blind blob.

Look, there's something called "freedom of choice," even for fans of anything.

If you see your fave rpg series going in the wrong direction you have to choice to not buy that game.

As Ben would tell you, TIME is a precious thing these days. One only has so much time to enjoy games. I really don't want to waste my time on a game I've never been ENGAGED by since the beginning. The over the top FMVs, the horrible character designs (imo), the "a full game's worth of content" that was taken out, no towns.

There's so many things wrong with this game.

These are KNOWN facts about the game. The old "you need to play it" statements are really out of line.

I'd rather spend my time and money elsewhere. I can already tell psxe's review will agree with my sentiments on this.

Last edited by Scarecrow on 3/7/2010 10:57:27 PM

10 up, 4 down

soli
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 11:29:45 PM

Those are valid points and i agree with u on most of them but as u say to each his own.
As for the TIME part i can relate to that being at university and working 7 times a week.

Now ill go try find my walking stick.

2 up, 1 down

BigBoss4ever
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 11:48:06 PM

WKC is fun, especially with the Geonet, and i fall in love with the free exploration and so much customization of the battle and the combo and skill customization. it is more of a classic jrpg returned to this gen on ps3, ff13 does not give u this feeling cuz i bought the ff13 limited ps3 console edition with the jap version game and played a bit of it, it gave me nothing but a cool graphic with button meshing, thats how i felt after 3 hours of play for ff13.

7 up, 3 down

OtisFeelgood
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 12:44:41 AM

I'm with you, Scarecrow. I played just about every(console) Final Fantasy but I'm disappointed with FF13. I was initially excited when I first heard about it, but after they made it multiplat and cut out enough content "to make a separate game" my excitement immediately left.

I'll wait for someone to sell it on craigslist for $40-$45 before I buy it.

4 up, 3 down

Lotusflow3r
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 7:27:19 AM

Scarecrow, Bigboss...

Im so glad you say this, WKC is offering everything FF is not post X bar story (but WKC story is still great, towards the end, its entirely unpredictable).

man, the music in WKC takes me back to absolutely amazing memories of the golden era....

i got tears....excuse me.

3 up, 0 down

Brklynty1
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:18:00 PM
Reply

IMHO this game deserves at least a 8-9 for the PS3 version. The 360 version well.....anyways. I can understand why its getting so much mixed reviews. Lots of key elements that brought FF to its glory is missing in this installment. I also find very foul that sites like IGN and Gamespot could give both versions the same score even with the 360 version being inferior to the PS3 version. But when it came to Bayonetta they stripped the PS3 version down of its points for the same reasons why the 360 version of FF is worse than the PS3. Its official, these game sites would rather free xboxes and goodies than due their job.

4 up, 0 down

Highlander
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:25:32 PM

I think that one thing that a lot of people need to do is divorce their opinion of the cinematics and graphics from their opinion of the game. There could be a game that is total unmitigated trash and yet has brilliant presentation and graphics. Does it deserve anything above average for a review?

When evaluating any game we should look at game play, story, combat, puzzle solving, sound, voicing and all the other facets independently. It's no good glossing over a game with a terrible story because it looks beautiful. There have been games with great combat systems that have looked awful. They did not get good scores on the strength of the game play.

I just think that we all need to be careful to ignore the Emperor's new clothes and look for the substance of the game, not just the dressing of it.

9 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:25:51 PM

I agree whole heartedly, whenever the PS3 version of a multiplat suffers the tiniest amount the reviews fall for it.

4 up, 0 down

Gamer4Life
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:45:01 PM

@Highlander

Well as a tech geek and a consumer who wants the full bang for his buck. I have to disagree with you slightly. Sure it's all about, gameplay, story, etc. However, I believe graphics and presentation mean much more in the gaming of today then say the Genesis era. With the hardware much more capable and the amount we pay increasing, I believe games should play well and at the same time look beautiful. So in my opinion yes if a game plays beautifully but looks like trash yes the review should suffer.

Last edited by Gamer4Life on 3/7/2010 10:48:36 PM

5 up, 0 down

kraygen
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 12:03:19 AM

@Gamer4life

Actually games aren't really more expensive. Super nintendo games could cost around $70 dollars at release and that was in 1995. Ouch, no wonder my parents couldn't afford to by me a video game.

1 up, 0 down

Gamer4Life
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 1:35:37 AM

@ kraygen

wow $70!? I would've never guessed. my mom seemed to have no problem buying me games for my Genesis. And with having to take care of 4 kids, a grand-child, and a worthless husband all on a junior college professor salary, she wasn't rich by any means. I guess sega was cheaper :)! But still if you look at the last generation the average game at release was $50. Now they're $60 with at lot of collector editions running near $100. that my friend, is more expensive to me.

0 up, 0 down

kraygen
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 4:30:00 AM

@Gamer4life

I more thought on the subject. 1995 was 15 years ago. Think about inflation.

Gasoline was only around something like 70 cents.
A loaf of bread could easily be gotten for $1

Just a couple of examples but while somethings in the last 15 years have more than doubled in prices, even with your examples games are have had a very reasonable growth.

p.s. after research have found ps1 games were 49.99 and sega games were 59.99.

2 up, 0 down

wakkaoaka
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:18:19 PM
Reply

Heres a list of reviews :) http://www.buyffxiii.com/2010/03/list-of-all-latest-ffxiii-reviews.html

0 up, 0 down

SnipeySnake
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:22:52 PM
Reply

Most of the hate reviews say its linear....well all of them. Its kinda annoying hearing its constantly linear. I've heard from most of the good reviews saying the game opens up half way. I think they're just way used to WRPG's or something.

2 up, 2 down

Highlander
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:26:19 PM

As more than one reviewer has commented, I shouldn't have to slog through 20 hours of kill tubes to get to the meat of the game.

5 up, 0 down

SnipeySnake
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:32:05 PM

Linearity isn't that bad though. What about FFX?

4 up, 1 down

Highlander
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:36:17 PM

I'm not saying that having a story that progresses linearly is bad, it clearly is not. It's the structure of the game that I am more concerned with. There is no alternate path, no short cut, no deviation, you are forced through corridor after corridor. It's like an on the rails shooter, except with the auto-combat system instead of traditional shooter controls.

I don't have a problem with a game doing this sometimes, it can be part of the story where a character must play out certain events. To me it's a matter of scale and philosophy. this specific facet of the game betrays a change in philosophy I don't like.

6 up, 0 down

Kain81
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 4:25:53 AM

i heard after chapter 11, it is not linear, but the hole Game has 13-14 Chapters

0 up, 0 down

darxed
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 9:53:45 AM

Well FFX was linear up until the Calm lands... and then it was linear up until the end...

1 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:28:51 PM
Reply

I should be okay, while I enjoy exploring towns and talking to NPCs, most of the "freedomy" parts in all FF's are really only percieved freedoms. In fact the series has always been critically received as being a great deal more linear than other JRPGs. And, well, I kinda like having a clear path that doesn't get me lost on some wild goose chase with no real reason to explore so that I can't find a save point for two hours.

Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 3/7/2010 10:29:33 PM

5 up, 0 down

SnipeySnake
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:33:31 PM

I got lost in FFXII so fast...

3 up, 1 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:57:54 PM

The thing about XII was yeah the world was more expansive and you could go off and explore it, but there was one reason and one reason only to do that: You could not beat the game unless you wandered around power-levelling. It just wasn't possible to take a linear path from Point A to point B and hope to be strong enough to beat it. The "freedom" was easy to get lost in but was actually just an artificial way to fill in the number of hours the game took to beat by making you face endless battles.

Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 3/7/2010 10:59:18 PM

7 up, 0 down

www
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 4:38:39 AM

Well said World!

2 up, 0 down

eLLeJuss
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:42:37 PM
Reply

BritBox - 7/10
Eurogamer - 8/10
IGN UK - 8.3/10
Games Master UK - 7.6/10
PSM3 UK - 7/10
Edge - 5/10

Those were the low scores i saw. Mostly european sites gave it a low score.IMO they just dont understand Japanese RPG.

Last edited by eLLeJuss on 3/7/2010 10:47:52 PM

1 up, 6 down

Highlander
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:50:37 PM

And GameSpot with 100/100 does? GameSpot I must remind you gave White Knight Chronicles a 60/100. WKC has been dinged more than anything else because it's too much a JRPG (this still bewilders me). GameSpot also gave Star Ocean 4 a 75/100.

So, what does FFXIII do to earn such a stellar score from them? It seems to me that their review score is almost completely derived from the graphical quality of the game. As much as I like White Knight chronicles would acknowledge it's graphically not as good (character wise) as Star Ocean 4, and neither game stacks up against the artistry in FFXIII. However, GameSpot's reviews (for example) appear to be more than anything else, derived from the quality of the graphics, and that's just non-sense. Are we gamers merely graphics whores now? It seems that some reviewers are.

10 up, 3 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 11:01:20 PM

Very interesting theory Highlander, seems to hold up too. White Knight should certainly not suffer for being a JRPG, nor should it suffer because Level 5 didn't have quite the juice that SE does to produce those kind of graphics. Plus, well, the game is old. We just happened to get it now.

0 up, 0 down

telly
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 11:30:58 PM

I saw gamespot give an 8.5... am I missing something? Apologies if I'm checking the wrong site...

0 up, 0 down

eLLeJuss
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 11:48:47 PM

Yeah, What 100/100 are u talking about? gamespot gave ff13 an 8.5. And you say their review score is just based on the graphics? how come they gave valkyria chronicles an 8.5 then? VC's graphics weren't great if my eyes weren't decieving me.

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 12:50:56 AM

Ack! You guys are right, my old eyes are seeing things. I mis-read the name of the review site - that's what happens when you're juggling windows.

I definitely missed that and I'm sorry, however I stand by the point I was making which is that too many reviews these days are dominated by the graphics. Many reviewers seem unable to give a fair review to a game unless it features jaw dropping visuals.

2 up, 0 down

telly
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 8:22:20 AM

@highlander, no worries, was just doublechecking.

0 up, 0 down

eLLeJuss
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 10:07:49 AM

LoL. Why does it matter anyways. The only review we waiting for is psx's review :). right guys? :D

0 up, 0 down

Alienange
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:47:17 PM
Reply

I'm on board regardless. If this one sucks and the reviews for FFXV say it's the same as FFXIII, then I won't buy that one.

1 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:58:49 PM
Reply

As far as I can tell from what I read, the battles should be much more involved than XII, where you just set your gambits and let the battle go on auto pilot.

2 up, 0 down

SnipeySnake
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 11:10:02 PM

Paradigm.

1 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 11:11:48 PM

I know it encourages some auto battling, but if you are swift I don't think it will be necessary at all times.

1 up, 0 down

SnipeySnake
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 11:16:59 PM

I'll only use auto-battle if im stuck. (die like 5 times or higher at the same spot.)

1 up, 0 down

SnipeySnake
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 11:28:32 PM

One thing i absolutely love is that your hp restores after the battle. Starting a battle with low hp is one of the things i hate most.

0 up, 1 down

kraygen
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 12:09:17 AM

@Snipeysnake

I have to groan at your comment. If I'm playing a game and I can't beat a particular point of my own skills, then having the game beat it for me seems to defeat the purpose of playing the game at all.

Sadly tho from what I've read, that will be very possible. =(

4 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 12:52:58 AM

I like the auto attack feature in Persona games, they speed things up.

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 11:08:59 PM
Reply

I see that James Cameron just found out what Square Enix might be about to find out.

Spending a bazillion dollars on visuals is no substitute for content. Avatar won 3 technical Oscars, but nothing for the substance, and not Best picture. Oopsie. Mr Cameron didn't look very happy about it.

6 up, 2 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 11:12:35 PM

yeah I heard it was pretty substanceless. And, well I didn't think the graphics looked good at all. District 9's beat them hands down.

6 up, 1 down

Alienange
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 11:21:37 PM

Avatar had the worst acting I've seen in a very long time. Plot? What plot?

Making a fortune out of that rubbish is a capital offense.

With the 3D effects gone, there's not a soul who's going to buy it on DVD or BD.

3 up, 3 down

convergecrew
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 12:27:52 AM

Totally agreed. Im so glad the Hurt Locker won. While it wasnt the "greatest" movie, it was still good and much better than that extremely derivative blue pile of poop.

2 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 12:54:03 AM

I did however like the John McCain as a Na'vi Billboard.

0 up, 0 down

Oxvial
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 1:45:56 AM

I think FFXIII is the Avatar of games.

1 up, 2 down

Zemus101
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 11:21:55 PM
Reply

I feel bad for the "FF Fans" that are skipping this because of what other people say. Most of them haven't even played it. I for one, have been playing FF games since the first one back on the NES and only recently (since aquiring a ps3) have I begun to sway to other genres and types of games (I'm sure I'm not the only one with how great games look nowadays, I'll give anything a try) When FFXIII seemed so far away (just a few months ago) and early reviews were coming out and rumours started spreading about "Linear" "No Towns!" "Vanille is Australian?!" I wasn't all that excited for it for fear that they were right. But after reading several reviews and recently published previews on the game, I can't say I've been more excited for an FF game since FFX on the ps2. I feel like a kid again, or at least a teenager. Everything I've read, even the negatives, all sound great to me. I tried to play WKC recently, I was so excited for that game, but after going through it 2 and a half times (which didn't take very long) and playing a lot of hours in the online (before realizing that you need to spend hundreds of hours on a few quests just to get anywhere) I realized that it wasn't what I thought it was going to be, or rather ...I didn't enjoy it as much (or for as long) as I thought. So ... now FFXIII is right around the corner and I can't wait to try it out and see where SE is headed. Obviously in a different direction than FFXII which to date, is the only FF I haven't finished (not for lack of trying, several times)

2 up, 1 down

telly
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 11:23:45 PM
Reply

Team PSX, just want to thank you guys for giving this game two reviews. Clearly, opinions are mixed, and for a series as revered and scrutinized as this one, a lot of us are really going to appreciate the extra perspective. I grew up adoring this series, but frankly the number of missteps I feel the series has made post FFVII has me sitting, perfectly content, on the fence, watching how this whole mess sorts out. Will I pick this up eventually? Oh yes, no doubt about it. But unless I'm BLOWN away by reviews for this game Monday/Tuesday, I'm more than happy to wait until AFTER I play through my real most wanted game of 2010 -- God of War III.

Oh, and I'm sure this goes without saying -- a truly great group of posters comprise the PSX community, and I don't think I've ever encountered such a fanatical group of FF fans elsewhere, online or otherwise. I especially look forward to hearing what these true diehard fans think of the game. Yes, these are the kinds of guys that are going to pick up the latest FF regardless. They are also the kinds of people who have the highest expectations for the series, and can thus be counted on to share opinions that matter regarding the game's quality.

7 up, 0 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 11:32:53 PM

Thanks. And we've got a ton of RPG fans around here; it's not just about FF. That's why it'll certainly be interesting to read their feedback.

2 up, 0 down

FM23
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 12:12:08 AM
Reply

I have never been interested in Final Fantasy, but over the past two year, RPG's have become my favorite genre. My first taste was Fallout 3 and the latest is Demons Souls. Anyway, I found out the Final Fantasy is nothing but an RPG or a JRPG which I heard is different than 'western' RPG's, but this didn't prevent me from being interested. So I have read reviews that point out how linear it is and that it is not truly an RPG. Now I really don't care about this because most games that are great are linear (MGS4, Uncharted 2, Batman AA etc.) So critics are mad because the game doesn't play like the other FF's, though Bioshock 2 gets hammered in the head because it plays like the first. Critics are truly biased, but then again, alot of critics are reliable and the words 'linearity' and 'boring' are popping up frequently. SO what to do?...Well I'm still going to buy it to experience it for myself, but during the summer when no games come out. Fulltime student, volunteer, and I can only fit enough gaming time in my already full schedule. Definitely will buy this though, just when times permits me to take advantage of my purchase.

2 up, 0 down

kraygen
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 12:22:09 AM
Reply

I hear what a lot of you are saying about those not buying the game based on things that have been said in reviews. Saying that it doesn't make any sense to have purchased every ff before this one and to not buy this one straight away. I have to disagree, I think it makes perfect sense and I'll explain why.

FF1-12 has towns, they have area's of linearity, large area's of exploration, mp, and xp.

Of all those things, we know that ff13 doesn't have any of them except for the linearity.

This just doesn't sound like the same type of game, and so waiting for reviews you trust, like psx, makes complete sense.

Would you automatically buy gowiii if you found out it was a sandbox game? might like sandbox games but thats not what you expect from gow.

I'm just saying some of us want to wait and that should be ok, even if we've always bought the ff games on launch date.

For a $60 price tag, I know I can't afford to buy it and be wrong, but I can afford to wait to make a definitive decision. Luckily waiting is free. ;)

3 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 1:00:26 AM

"Of all those things, we know that ff13 doesn't have any of them except for the linearity."

Not true, while the first half is linear, the rest isn't. People seem to forget that. Of course everyone can make up their own mind, but as every FF is a very different experience from the others some of us think maybe we shouldn't be so quick to toss the baby out with the bathwater.

2 up, 0 down

kraygen
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 4:33:00 AM

Actually world hate to be nit picky but it is true. I didn't forget about part of the game not being completely linear but from what I've read only a small portion has any explorable area's. I didn't mean that there was no exploration just not the vast amount accustomed to ff games.

Edit: I will say this, granted I haven't played it, however it has been claimed by every review I've read that there is very little exploration. If it were being vastly exaggerated I could expect it from 1 or 2 sources but all of them?

Last edited by kraygen on 3/8/2010 4:35:19 AM

1 up, 0 down

BigBoss4ever
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 12:39:34 AM
Reply

if ff13 falls, it is still all the fault of Wada, the man mainly responsible of the downfall of Square Enix and the derail of Square Soft. we need to seriously get rid of this guy before SE can produce anything reflecting the good old golden days of Square soft.

This Wada guy claims he has lots of idea, but in fact, he has NO ideas. all this crap talking of innovation.... nothing more to say. imo, blame all on this single guy of SE, cuz he is top head of the organization.

Last edited by BigBoss4ever on 3/8/2010 12:40:57 AM

3 up, 1 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 1:02:11 AM

Yes, Wada is a walking failure. If it doesn't live up, I blame him and his western push.

2 up, 1 down

Brklynty1
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 12:44:08 AM
Reply

Well now that FFXIII is basically released(like tomorrow), can we start getting news on Versus and Agito? XD I mean both trailers are epic and I'd expect Agito to be the easiest with it only being no more than 2GB at most(UMD). Gotta say I was always looking foward to Versus a bit more since the devs that made KH are behind it.

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 1:03:37 AM

Supposed to be some news on Versus pretty soon, sit tight. Then sit REAL tight for about 2 more years and you might get a chance to see some gameplay.

0 up, 0 down

___________
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 12:58:14 AM
Reply

just finished reading the gameinformer review and its less than positive.
7.
cant say im surprised though $E really fu**ed up on this one,not that they will care though its still going to sell through the roof!

0 up, 3 down

aaronisbla
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 2:11:49 AM

LOL dude what the fvck are you talking about? Gameinformer gave it a 9.25. but it only counts for the ps3 as of last issue

1 up, 3 down

Geobaldi
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 2:40:35 AM

Yep just went to their website. 9.25 rating for both versions. Don't know what you were reading.

Last edited by Geobaldi on 3/8/2010 2:40:52 AM

0 up, 0 down

___________
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 7:24:37 AM

ahhhh you do realize there are several game informer mags?
the US and AU ones are different.

0 up, 0 down

SvenMD
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 8:25:04 AM

Blank Line - you should realize that only the US version matters. ;)

2 up, 0 down

aaronisbla
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 @ 1:07:27 AM

so wait, if one gave it a 9.25 and the other a 7, that makes the lower score more correct?

0 up, 0 down

___________
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 @ 6:25:10 AM

where did i say that?
stop putting words in my mouth all i said was this is not being welcomed with open arms.
why am i constantly feeling that im getting chastised?
fine, im sick of this from now on i say what i want and you dont like it you can go jump!
im sick of having to explain myself and it goes over your head.

0 up, 1 down

Geobaldi
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 1:15:12 AM
Reply

I just love how loads of people say how horrible it's going to be before they even touch it. Review scores don't bother me in the least. Seeing as how I've been a FF fan since the beginning, after I play this one I know I'll still be a fan afterwards. Change was imminent as some point. Every game in the series changes something. Even if it remained the same with each installment, people would complain about that too.

2 up, 0 down

SILVERAMMO
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 1:35:27 AM
Reply

im still getting it its ff .

4 up, 0 down

Geobaldi
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 2:48:23 AM
Reply

So far if you take the average score for the 10 point scale ratings it has, it comes to a 8.16. Edge is the only one that pretty much trashes the game. But who reads their stuff anyway? I mean they gave FFX a 6 if memory serves. So minus the Edge rating it's a 8.51 out of 10 currently.

0 up, 0 down

wakkaoaka
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 3:55:09 AM
Reply

1 hour and 5 minutes until tuesday here ^_^ too bad I have to wait til 9am

0 up, 0 down

Kain81
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 4:43:19 AM
Reply

@BEN

I have played already 7 hours of final fantasy 13, and iam in chapter 3 now...and so far iam really diappointed...
(Maybe Spoilers)
In the 7 Hours of playing i had always the feeling that something was missing, as an example
in chapter 2 snow activates something in the Puls Fal´Ce and the hole level transforms, and new ways open with larger level design and so on, but the funny thing is, you dont explore the new transformed level, you switching to the other party members, and after that scene you play as snow again, you would thing that you would explore the new transformed level now, but no Snow has done it self, you are on a complete new level...CUTTED CONTENT???

another example for CUTTED CONTENT is that the Monsterviewer is not in 3D like in FF12

I had this feeling for the hole gaming session with Final Fantasy 13...

And the most annoying thing is that you only controlle the leadcharacter in battle mode, you cant controll the other members directly...
and the Fights are ridiclouse easy and they are short they range at 15 sec to 3 min (btw 3min. for BOSS battles)

Final Fantasy 13 is extremly casulised

Sorry for my bad English

2 up, 1 down

Ultimadesires
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 8:34:56 AM

By lead character is that always lighting or just the lead character of the current event?

0 up, 0 down

Irievibes
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 8:42:09 AM

i believe the game autochooses who you control on each segment, so wichever the game considers the "leader" at any given time its all scripted

personally i think its a WAY overdone tutorial for the ADD ridden monkeys they are trying to target with this release on both consoles, most xbots have the attention span of a goldfish, and anything that requires reading or thinking is just too "complicated" for them thus requiring 15 hours of hand holding so they can learn to play the game

0 up, 0 down

Kain81
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 8:44:09 AM

the story is extrem linear, i have played only 7 hours and so far i could not change the leaders but i hope later i can...the leaders changed only storywise, i could not handle it by my own...

1 up, 1 down

SvenMD
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 7:41:19 AM
Reply

I'll make my judgment at 12:05 tonight!!!!

0 up, 0 down

Jonesy555
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 8:06:29 AM
Reply

Here's a good way to decide whether to buy the game or not: don't go by the damn reviews! Rent the game yourself and if you like it, keep it. If you don't, ship that sh** back out. Plain and simple. What might be an AAA game for some might just be a decent game for others.

0 up, 0 down

Ultimadesires
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 8:29:32 AM
Reply

I'm still willing to give Final Fantasy XIII a try, its the reason i got a PS3 over 2 years ago after all (before it was announced for the 360, heck at least my version is better). I have moderate expectations for it so i wont get burnt like i did through XII.

From what i've heard about it being linear hmmm well i dont know, i think about FFX and to be honest its not that much different, its pretty linear until you get access to the airship, It might not be all that bad. if the story is well structured it may even be a positive thing, i think back to XII where my main complaint was that the story was very slowly developed. This should be solved for FFXIII.

I reckon i will still purchase FFXIII tomorrow (or if i can find a midnight release, i'll be on that). When i look at all the other RPG's released recetnly it still seems vastly superior.

1 up, 0 down

lupus
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 9:14:14 AM
Reply

wtf they cut off 50% of the game so it could be on the 360 so fuk that im not going to buy it.

Last edited by lupus on 3/8/2010 9:16:16 AM

0 up, 3 down

XxNoir
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 9:23:26 AM
Reply

Lets do some math here guys,roll with me here:

Final fantasy 7 metacritic:"92"

Final fantasy 8 metacritic:"90"

Final fantasy 9 metacritic:"94"

Final fantasy X metacritic:"92"

Final fantasy 12 metacritic:"92"

and finally

Final fantasy 13 metacritic:"83"......

Talk about dramatic =(

4 up, 1 down

www
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 10:00:41 AM

Exactly what am trying to say XxNoir, this 83 is very disappointing, FFXIII shoulda belonged in the 90s rating but I guess SE messed it up with the new choices they made.

1 up, 1 down

Highlander
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 10:27:04 AM

When I last looked FFXIII had a metascore of 82...

1 up, 0 down

WolfCrimson
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 10:50:19 AM

Speaking of reviews, I checked the reviews of PS1 Final Fantasies on PSXE (they all got a full 10, btw) and they were done by some person named SolidSnake. Now I doubt it was actually Solid Snake (from MGS) himself, but really, who is he? Ben or Arnold from 10 years ago, maybe? Is he still one of PSXE's staff?

0 up, 0 down

Alienange
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 2:43:52 PM

You forgot FFX-2 at 85 on Metacritic.

Seems like the ladies get harsh reviews.

0 up, 1 down

www
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 10:02:53 AM
Reply

The truth hurts, but somebody gotta say it.
MS is to blame.

1 up, 1 down

Dante399
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 10:07:28 AM
Reply

Well I can see why there are mixed reviews. I've bought the game 3 days ago and I can share what I think of it:
Graphics: 10
Gameplay: 3~4 you can control only ONE character and the others are CPU...hmph play and judge urselves
Story: 9 it looks promising
Heroes: 10 as always
==========
Total= 8/10

0 up, 1 down

CH1N00K
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 10:42:28 AM
Reply

By the way I've been reading this, it almost seems that the best way to really pass a fair judgment on this game is to play it with a clean slate. Play it as most Xboxers will be playing the Final Fantasy series...for the first time. I think the old fans of the series need to forget that this game is a Final Fantasy in order to enjoy it.

That's just the impression I get from looking around the web. I look forward to the review here. I know that Ben and Arnold may have personal feelings on what the game should be, but they usually manage to keep those feelings out of a game review.

I'm sure I'll be buying this one as well, because like most of you, it is a Final Fantasy after all. I just may wait a bit as I think there are other games I would rather get first.

0 up, 0 down

Solaris Knight
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 10:47:01 AM
Reply

Let me preface by saying that I am new to this community. I have been frequenting this site for the past couple of months and have came away impressed by the thoughtfulness of it's writers and it's community. Now that I've gotten that out of the way...

RPG's (albeit turned based or tactical) have always been a cerebral experience. When I was a child games like Final Fantasy, Ogre Battle, Shining Force and Phantasy Star were games that I loved because I could use my imagination to construct more of a story if I wanted too (even after completing the games). Plus, there was strategy involved in defeating a boss or a stage. Sometimes it was a matter of leveling up and finding that bosses elemental weakness. Other times it was by casting a reflection spell on one of your characters and using magic on them in order to defeat the boss because it had a reflect spell cast on itself. And yet other times (in the case of Ogre Battle), it was all about squad balancing. These were not your typical games and it took time and patience to be rewarded.

I read one of Ben’s earlier articles about twitch gaming is harming Final Fantasy. I think Square Enix has had a lot to do with the tarnishing of their brand. I do believe twitch gaming is harming RPG’s in general though. What matter of folly is it when the preferential console for RPG’s is a Nintendo DS? I looked at my game data list on my PS3 and 28 out of 41 games were shooters of some sort. Videogame developers (lead by Activision and EA) have basically segregated (and in some cases alienated) a large group of gamers to a handheld console. (In defense of EA, Dragons Age was quite good)

It’s all to cash in on the hive mind that is fad gaming. That’s the problem the Wii and Xbox 360 have had on the industry. I’ve been playing games since 1988 and the industry has literally given me (and many others in my position) the shaft for a majority group of people who won’t even be playing them in five years. In the process, they are killing off not only ingenuity but genres such as JRPG’s, turned based strategy games and real time strategy games. I cannot imagine going into a book store only to see science fiction novels and self help books and I do not want to imagine going to my local game store and seeing only online shooters and action adventure games.

Square Enix is not the Square I knew while growing up. Squaresoft was an amazing company that gave me Secret of Mana, Final Fantasy I-VI, Final Fantasy Tactics, Front Mission, Xenogears and Parasite Eve. What happened to that company is beyond me.

I believe Atlus has taken the mantle of new RPG king. Shin Megami Tensei is a fantastic series. Persona (especially Persona 2) is also a wonderful spinoff. Etrian Odyssey is a fantastic dungeon crawl which harkens back to 1980’s WRPG’s. I guess I can take some solace that there is still a company that cares about role playing gamers and their fan base.

5 up, 1 down

WolfCrimson
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 10:55:32 AM

Wow, you write as good as Highlander. His twin brother, perhaps?

Ah, but where's my manners? Welcome dude, we hope you find your home within the PSXe community.

2 up, 0 down

Highlander
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 11:00:31 AM

Nice post.

Regarding Atlus, it's be nice if they did something besides mega ten games.

1 up, 0 down

Irievibes
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 12:30:37 PM

welcome !!!

god im right there with you man, i grew up with such epic titles as Secret of mana, god i still love that game and have it on emulators ;) , and final fantasy tactics is to date, my favorite final fantasy to date...tahhh i miss those days, those rpgs that got you completely and utterly enggrossed on them , i cant even remember how many times i went thru secret of mana and tactics, i think i even bought each a couple of times on the snes cuz they got dmgd or lost ...

yes,i agree that company is long gone, sakaguchi, we wish you infinite success on your projects, hopefully you will knock SE out of its imaginary throne and show em how to really give epic rpgs to the world again!

2 up, 0 down

XxNoir
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 10:59:45 AM
Reply

Last night I finished my first Final fantasy ever(Final fantasy 8) and i just couldn't believe that i had gone a decade without playing such a great game.Kind of embarrassed as a gamer that I let it slip under my radar.

Even though I'm a bit late i think i understand some of the components that make final fantasy so great and why so many are eager for FF13 but it also means as a new fan of the series i am also extremely susceptible to disappointment by the lack of the elements that made me fall in love with the series.

And with ladies and gentlemen I'm going to go make myself more vulnerable and go buy FF7 off of PSN.

5 up, 0 down

Snaaaake
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 6:32:33 PM

It's never too late son.

1 up, 0 down

kraygen
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 7:16:26 PM

get ready to cry, ff7 always makes me cry.

yeah yeah, I'm sensitive. get over it.

1 up, 0 down

Irievibes
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 1:30:00 PM
Reply

just watched the gametrailers review, thought its decent enough, the combat music sounds awsome, but i can already tell that vanille will get on everylast one of my nerves , its like nails on a chalkboard geez!

0 up, 0 down

Bandit King
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 3:04:52 PM
Reply

I have to say I completely disagree with the low ball scores and complaints this game has been getting. I got my copy early (last Friday) and find it to be one of the better JRPG's I have played in a while. For those interested its very much a turn based game but you get 2 or more moves per character that take up so much of your ATB bar. once you get 3 or 4 ATB slots you can hit enemies with a long range elemental spell and then follow up with a meele attack or two. Finding the best way to stagger (causes enemy to take more damage) an enemy is quite unique and despite how fluid and action heavy the combat looks its still the classic turn based game you know.

The story is very well put together allowing you to pick exactly how deep (or not) you want to explore the games world. You can progress along and just watch things unfold or there are also texts to read that clue you into the story on a deeper level.

The leveling up system is similar to the sphere grid from FFX but a bit easier to manage, the same can be said for the pary AI system which plays like a simplified version of the gambits system from FF12. With different sets that you can switch between on the fly during battle (Paradigm Shift)

The games locations seem linear but progression is still at your own pace, enemies do respawn so you can level grind as you see fit and while the maps are (so far) straight paths the enviroments do not look it, you don't feel like your walking in a tunnel.

The voice work is nicely done for most, and the slight changes to the soundtrack are mostly for the better. (you wont be listening to My Hands when you first power up the game).The characters are nicely presented too, Lightning is like a mix of Cloud and Squall's best qualities (IMO).

Graphically the game is astounding, you have never seen better graphics from the facial animations, to the clothing textures its all top notch. This game easily puts the other RPG's this gen to shame (Japanese or Western).

About the only thing I don't like so far is the game take a while to relinquish full control to you, the first hour hand holds you through the battle system and it slowly unlocks things as you go (by the 4 hour mark most of the battle and system options are at your disposal.)

Please don't believe all the negative things you read, if you liked the previous PlayStation Final Fantasy entries (especially FFX) you will really enjoy this.

Last edited by Bandit King on 3/8/2010 3:09:33 PM

2 up, 0 down

piratedrunk
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 4:07:22 PM

Great post thanks for the info

0 up, 0 down

SmokeyPSD
Thursday, March 11, 2010 @ 2:01:02 AM

What if you really didn't like X but love most of the final fantasies :(

0 up, 0 down

Snaaaake
Monday, March 08, 2010 @ 6:30:18 PM
Reply

Ben we are on the same boat, Edge is a complete joke.

I remember you once wrote an article saying some reviewers are sufferring from the Look-at-me Syndrome and I guess Edge is one of those.

I hardly care about all the score they gave but the one that pissed me off the most is the 6/10 they gave FFX.

0 up, 0 down

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