Final Fantasy XIII-2: Is It An RPG?

That's a legitimate question. The term "role-playing" is becoming more and more difficult to define with every passing day; many will claim Final Fantasy XIII was barely an RPG.

And based on current speculation regarding FFXIII-2, the skeptical believe it will be even more action-oriented and even less like an RPG. This is all the more troubling considering Square-Enix's recent track record, and their unending desire to cater to a wider audience, all the while alienating their hardcore long-term followers. Or perhaps it just feels that way; I'm sure many will argue this point as well. But in the past, I've often said I would always turn to Squaresoft for my RPG fix and they absolutely never let me down; in this generation, few are relying on Square-Enix for role-playing goodness. Most of us merely see blends; i.e., shadows of what used to be.

Now, I'm not predicting a bad game. In fact, I'm predicting a great game because I thought FFXIII was great (just not in a traditional FF RPG sort of way), but I - and many others - question if it will even be categorized as "role-playing." It seems unlikely, doesn't it? And all we're going on is that brief teaser trailer that doesn't really prove anything, and the ongoing S-E trend that cannot go unnoticed. And make no mistake: I'm hardly implying that FFXIII-2 needs to be turn-based in order to be an PRG; turn-based is dead in the console world, and we all know that. And yet, we still have great RPGs from the likes of BioWare and Level-5, so mechanics aren't the issue. The issue is whether or not FFXIII-2 will be closer to action/adventure than RPG...and we really don't know the answer yet.

If it isn't an RPG, maybe that will be the final nail in the coffin. The RPG aficionados will simply turn their backs on Square-Enix once and for all. The purists probably don't see FFXIII as an RPG and if FFXIII-2 heads in that same action-oriented direction, well... I just wonder how S-E views the situation, and what they really plan to do with FFXIII-2.

Related Game(s): Final Fantasy XIII-2

Tags: role-playing games, rpg, ffxiii-2, final fantasy xiii-2

3/24/2011 9:03:47 PM Ben Dutka

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Comments (58 posts)

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OPHIDIAN
Thursday, March 24, 2011 @ 9:42:28 PM
Reply

Turn based isn't dead! You lie! Why you lie?! Stop lying!

*cries*

:P

Last edited by OPHIDIAN on 3/24/2011 9:43:22 PM

12 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, March 24, 2011 @ 9:49:54 PM
Reply

I still wanna play it cuz I liked XIII, but the whole lack of RPGness about it is very super duper lame.

XIII-2 SHOULD be a full blown RPG IF SE listens to the fans whose opinions they claimed to be taking into account in making the game. I think the game should stand as an apology and acquiescence to fans to get back in our good graces. We want JRPGs from SE, not action adventures. That's why their profits tanked in the first place, well that and selling out to MS.

7 up, 1 down

coverton341
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 11:19:00 AM

The biggest problem about all of this is the fact that they sold out to microsoft in the beginning of this generation. They made some actual JRPGs and they didn't sell well because the 360 doesn't want them. Infinite Undiscovery and The Last Remnant just didn't go over well so now that obviously means that no "Western" gamer in the world wants a real JRPG, they all want COD.

Clearly, this isn't the facts but this is how they see it, and I blame it solely on deciding not to make their JRPGs on the PS3.

0 up, 1 down

shadowscorpio
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 12:14:40 PM

Totally agree with you both. Sad how business mistakes like this can have a detrimental effect that may never get repaired.

0 up, 1 down

Jawknee
Thursday, March 24, 2011 @ 9:55:05 PM
Reply

Square should just stop making console games and stick to the PSP. That seems to be were their talent lies this generation. Been playing Dissidia 2 and it's awesome. If Final Fantasy XIII-2 had combat and RPG elements like that game, I would most certainly prefer it over that crap battle system they used for XIII.

2 up, 2 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, March 24, 2011 @ 10:02:16 PM

One would think it wouldn't be so hard to just make a game that they would for PSP on the PS3 with upped visuals. Then everything would be fine.

1 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Thursday, March 24, 2011 @ 10:11:02 PM

Ha! The freak show that is called Square Enix is run by Wada so it doesn't surprise me that haven't been able to yet.

3 up, 1 down

Teddie9
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 8:55:43 AM

I'm, thinking of finally getting it now that it's on the cheap side

0 up, 0 down

PasteNuggs
Thursday, March 24, 2011 @ 10:09:34 PM
Reply

Question, what was XIII's battle system? I thought it was turn based, or is it some hybrid like system. I haven't played it so I have no clue.

0 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Thursday, March 24, 2011 @ 10:19:06 PM

I have no idea what we can call that abomination of a battle system. I've describe the game as a battle simulator in the past. It pretends to be a turn based system but mostly consisted of hit Up and X over and over and over again. The thing I hated the most about it is you could easily get caught in this seemingly endless loop of being attacked then having to heal. You get hit, then you have to heal. This could go on for several turns if not more. Only thing more ridiculous was the fact the game ended if the party leader dies despite you other party members being alive.

7 up, 1 down

PasteNuggs
Thursday, March 24, 2011 @ 10:21:41 PM

Ahh, ok, Another question. It is $28 on amazon. Worth it?

0 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Thursday, March 24, 2011 @ 10:54:51 PM

LOL! No. You can find it for less if you keep looking. I think another PSX member found it for less than $20 a few weeks ago.

2 up, 0 down

kraygen
Thursday, March 24, 2011 @ 11:24:08 PM

it goes on sale on amazon all the time for like $18, just keep your eye on it. I'd definitely pay $20 for it.

It's supposed to be ATB like most ff games, but they made it super fast paced, so you can just hit auto battle and you don't always have time to pick your actual attacks, almost have to choose auto.

I enjoyed the game a lot, but it was rpg light and it was the ATB battle system, they just juiced it full of steroids and speed and made it so that you were never super powerful.

3 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, March 24, 2011 @ 11:57:18 PM

Instead of your actual attacks mattering at all on the enemy, you have to chain together certain attacks to max out a "stagger" meter. This causes the enemy to be weak for a while and you can only do any real damage to them while staggered, otherwise you could probably wail away on them for hours and have a tough time killing anything that isn't weak-sauce.

But the formula is simple so once you got it down you can dominate the game. I liked it for what it was. Worth 20 bucks I say.

2 up, 0 down

tes37
Thursday, March 24, 2011 @ 10:19:21 PM
Reply

I think FF XIII starts very well. It has something that just feels like Final Fantasy, but it took a nose dive for me at Gran Pulse. The traditional elements they chose to omit from the series became a major disappointment when they failed to make an appearance. I miss the old Final Fantasy games. If they bring back something, ...anything really, from the past, to add to the formula now, it could turn into something I would like.

Last edited by tes37 on 3/24/2011 10:23:11 PM

1 up, 1 down

Underdog15
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 1:02:04 PM

You thought Gran Pulse was where it got bad?

0 up, 0 down

tes37
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 3:31:02 PM

It was bad before that, but a lot of people were making Gran Pulse sound like a major improvement over the first part of the game. When I finally got there, I realized it was the same. The only difference was the wide open space and that's when I decided to give up on it.

0 up, 0 down

DazeOfWar
Thursday, March 24, 2011 @ 10:20:38 PM
Reply

I definitely won't be buying this unless it magically becomes better than XIII was. I made it all the way to chapter 11 or 12 and just gave up. I was so bored with the game I just didn't feel like it was worth putting in anymore time.

2 up, 0 down

Temjin001
Thursday, March 24, 2011 @ 10:26:46 PM
Reply

I've stated it before, and I'll state it again, I liked FF13. While it was slimmed down to DVD size and made more twitcher friendly, I'm still a sucker for FF game's good looks, great music, and unique gameplay. Whatever, FF13-2 is, I'm sure it'll be good by me.

1 up, 1 down

Jawknee
Thursday, March 24, 2011 @ 10:56:49 PM

I thought the good looks could get me through the game too but alas, it wasn't enough. :(

3 up, 0 down

Vitron
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 1:45:45 AM

I'm not really a sucker for great graphics. What I really suck for is the job system for RPGs. Thats why I would still choose FFV or FFT over FFXIII any day.

1 up, 0 down

telly
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 10:28:53 AM

That's what broke my heart -- the game was so gorgeous, both in art direction and graphics quality, and I really wanted to keep seeing more. I simply could not bring myself to do it.

0 up, 0 down

SvenMD
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 11:04:08 AM

I still like FFXIII. I actually just started playing again 3 days ago. I have 5 missions left before I've taken down all the Cie'th Stones. I'm also on the last ring to upgrade all of my peeps to max. So I'd like to do that before I say I'm finished with that game.

Again, no one can say that this is a bad game, it's just not as RPG'ey as previous FF games.

0 up, 0 down

BigBoss4ever
Thursday, March 24, 2011 @ 10:32:50 PM
Reply

i thought SE has always rotten in their coffin, it just needs the final nail on that coffin when WADA is rotten and join in, then the final nail can be sealed on.

peace

2 up, 0 down

tes37
Thursday, March 24, 2011 @ 11:01:51 PM

Any advertising is good advertising doesn't always hold true. It is a guaranteed failure when spamming sites like this, but the retards who target this site fail to see that. They don't personally send them, but they do find out when they've been blocked and they create a new user id.

0 up, 0 down

cLoudou
Thursday, March 24, 2011 @ 10:40:51 PM
Reply

Action Rpg, turned based, whatever battle system XIII was, I'm still getting XIII-2.

I prefer it to be turned based though, if I had a say.

4 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, March 24, 2011 @ 11:58:51 PM

me too

0 up, 0 down

kraygen
Thursday, March 24, 2011 @ 11:26:25 PM
Reply

I'm still playing the wait and see game. I really enjoyed FF XIII, but they keep getting further and further from what I really want in a game.

So I can't say yes or no, until I know exactly what it is. Sure they say they're listening to the fans, but their track record this gen does not lead me to believe them.

1 up, 0 down

Snaaaake
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 1:03:44 AM
Reply

Well, turning it into an action RPG wouldn't be a bad idea too.
Take some cue from Kingdom Hearts, we loved that didn't we?

2 up, 1 down

Teddie9
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 9:02:43 AM

an action rpg would definitely be welcome. It's gameplay might be more comparable to what we've seen from ff versus....That is supposed to come out right...right Square Enix?!

2 up, 1 down

Scarecrow
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 1:47:12 AM
Reply

With stuff like WKC2 and Dark Souls Final Fantasy has really become irrelevant to me.

XIII-2 is just recycled towns and other content that was taken out when they decided to go multiplat with the original FFXIII.

As far as battle system, that's like the ONLY thing which would make me buy this game. If they do go back to a turn based system that is close to how it is in FFX.

2 up, 0 down

Lawless SXE
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 1:57:49 AM
Reply

They've said that it'll be like FFXIII, but with every aspect enhanced. I really hope that the items have a greater effect on the gameplay, and the battle system could go for a bit of tweaking, but I didn't think that FFXIII was bad.

I think that it will be an RPG. S-E know that they've irritated their fans, and that they have to do something drastic to stop them from jumping ship entirely, because there is a contigent of developers out there that have just about caught them, and in some cases outshone them, in their strongest element. If that means that they'll be taking cues from Dragon Age, or Demon's Souls or whatever, so be it. But if it means that they are going to change course and aim for the GoW crowd, then S-E is finished.

I'm starting to think that Type-0 will be the go-to RPG of Fabula Nova Crystallis. Well... that depends entirely on how Versus turns out. Maybe they'll surprise us all though. Never count a good dev out, and S-E IS (was? Still counts to me, damnit) a good company.
Peace.

0 up, 0 down

RebelJD
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 2:15:19 AM
Reply

I say let Square Enix make great games regardless if it isn't RPG. Who's to say what game company can or can not create? I say holding the RPG death cloud over Square Enix is holding it back. Let them develop games and regain a reputation similar to other companies who simply make great games.

1 up, 2 down

___________
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 2:32:47 AM
Reply

NO!

0 up, 0 down

Underdog15
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 1:04:28 PM

Wait, what? You mean, probably not, right? Because there's no details on the combat yet.

0 up, 0 down

Ultimadream
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 5:23:51 AM
Reply

I still don't see how people complain at FFXIII syaing it is not an RPG then drool over FFvsXIII. vsXIII is far more action packed than XIII.

I reckon Square-Enix will have paid attention to the feedback of XIII. I just hope it does not make them rot.XIII-2 is a sequel after all, so if it is too different to XIII It just wont feel right. X-2... story aside, had a good gameplay system, but it was just very different to FFX, it shuold have also had a sphere grid system.

1 up, 1 down

Lawless SXE
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 6:01:02 AM

True enough about Versus XIII, but it's being designed with action/RPG in mind. So that's what we expect, and getting what we expect will be a saving grace. Am I right?

I think that the RPG factor really comes from strategy that needs to be employed, and micromanagement, among other things. We can guess that Versus isn't going to be so much about those things, but FFXIII-2 needs to be just that. An old school RPG, and if it has a combat system more akin to a realtime system, it'll be seen as a drawback to some, but it won't matter as long as the game is more strategy-requisite than XIII. Does that make sense?

0 up, 0 down

Ultimadream
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 8:41:32 AM

I understand what you mean on general expectations, Howvever I feel most people just tend to ignore XIII's form of strategy.
Paradigms are more of a focus than just magic and attacks, you have to have the right formula to contrast with the enemies weakness. I found this kept the game fresh. So instead of just using Water/Ice on a Bomb I had to think more about the party as a whole in offence and defence. In previous FF games i would rarely use debuffs on an enemy, but due to the saboteur class i found myself using them every battle.

But as i said before with X-2 if they make the game TOO different, it won't feel like a proper sequel. I'm just hoping they don't make the game to dark, while XIII's story had dark undetones, the games colour palette was very fresh and colourful, same with the cast, each character had a strong sense of charisma, if they suddenly turn them all into col haerted soldiers i wil be very unhappy.

1 up, 1 down

SvenMD
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 11:14:48 AM

Ultima - I agree with alot of what you say about paradigms adding a different strategy element....but I don't like the fact that if you have the incorrect paradigms in your stack, then sometimes you are just destined to die....and die quickly.

It seems crazy to me, that with the exact same party members I could fight someone 20 times and die everytime because I dont have the correct setup....then I go back with the same characters, and the same weapons, and the same accessories but with different paradigms, and I can win easily. To me, that just doesn't feel like the FF of old.

But again, once you're used to it, and you understand that you really have to prepare well for each individual fight, and that there might be some trial and error, then the game is really great. And then defeating a powerful mission enemy is very satisfying indeed.

0 up, 0 down

LittleBigMidget
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 8:21:32 AM
Reply

It probably isn't. Its probably going to be crap like FFXIII

3 up, 2 down

Looking Glass
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 8:46:55 AM
Reply

I don't know what you mean by "dead" on consoles. But if you mean "dead" as in doesn't exist then you are obviously wrong Ben. Turn based combat may be turning into an endangered species on consoles if it hasn't already done so. But it's definitely still around and probably always will be.

But on the other hand if you mean out of style with a large portion of the gaming world then you would probably be right. But to tell you the truth this doesn't really bother me all that much.

As long as turn based combat continues to exist on consoles and elsewhere I'll be satisfied.

Last edited by Looking Glass on 3/25/2011 8:48:08 AM

1 up, 2 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 9:48:03 AM

It's dead. The last true turn-based console game was Lost Odyssey.

And I'm not counting downloadable titles like Faery: Legends of Avalon.

Edit: I should add that LO is the last GOOD turn-based game.

Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 3/25/2011 12:28:54 PM

1 up, 2 down

Looking Glass
Saturday, March 26, 2011 @ 9:24:36 AM

Oh really? And I suppose your own 8.2 score for Atelier Rorona was just something I imagined and didn't really happen then (sarcasm obviously).

Like I said, it's not dead (or at least not in the sense you seem to be implying) it's just an endangered species. And considering the financial success of Rorona I don't think it's going to be going extinct anytime soon. It will probably always at least have it's own niche.

And with all due respect I find it a little perplexing that you seem to be fighting hard for the sake of your own pessimism.

Last edited by Looking Glass on 3/26/2011 9:30:35 AM

0 up, 0 down

Underdog15
Sunday, March 27, 2011 @ 1:03:39 AM

Turn-based games of AAA quality are dead.

0 up, 0 down

Looking Glass
Sunday, March 27, 2011 @ 11:42:21 AM

@Underdog15

By "AAA Quality" I assume you mean really big budget games. And on that particular count you MIGHT be right. I think it's still too soon to make that call. Although incidentally having and working with a small budget is nothing to be ashamed of.

But in any case it is starting to look like turn-based games, both on consoles and handhelds, are becoming a niche thing, albeit perhaps with a sizable niche.

But still, as long as they continue to exist (both on consoles and and handhelds) then I'm content.

Last edited by Looking Glass on 3/27/2011 11:45:47 AM

0 up, 0 down

parasitic
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 9:00:48 AM
Reply

Well it will still be classified as an RPG merely because its definition is about developing a character in terms of experience, skills and etc. You assume the role of the given/chosen character and have to develop it further. That's what an RPG is... I think only hardcore FF would want to argue the fact that it's merging with Action/Adventure games.

However it has always been that RPG games are about adventure too...RPG it's just such a broad term...

I guess I've been studying well in my Games Genres lectures.

1 up, 0 down

Teddie9
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 9:06:07 AM

I feel the lvling system and skills that can build a character into a "class" of your choice to fit your fighting style is an rpg. I also feel the need for strategic gameplay, that forces you to use the rpg mechanics that have been implemented.

0 up, 0 down

telly
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 10:25:53 AM
Reply

I disagree -- in light of how horrible XIII was, the "big question" is, "does anyone care?"

1 up, 0 down

pepinoatomico
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 10:31:25 AM
Reply

you can call me crazy but i prefer Ressonance of fate than FFXIII...

2 up, 0 down

Underdog15
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 1:03:03 PM

Not crazy. I wish there was a little more to RoF (felt it only had an illusion of depth), but the skeleton of the battle system was much more my style as well.

0 up, 0 down

DrRockso87
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 10:31:36 AM
Reply

Yes. Final Fantasy XIII-2 will be an RPG just as Final Fantasy XIII. I really don't understand this divide between what is and isn't a RPG anymore.

"It's so linear with no room for exploration." Okay, so was Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core, Eternal Sonata, etc. yet those are considered RPGs. "They streamlined plenty of RPG elements." Okay, so did Mass Effect 2 and that's considered an RPG.

"It's not traditional turn-based combat." Well, so much for creative and innovative battle systems. Sorry, Resonance of Fate. Your very unique style of real-time and turn-based is apparently not welcome because elitist jerks won't consider anything that doesn't reflect what they played in 1987. Oh well.

People really need to grow up and realize that not everything will stay the same. Games evolve. Deal with it. Turn-based is still alive on consoles. Arc Rise Fantasia (Wii), Hyperdimension Neptunia (PS3), Resonance of Fate (PS3/360), and eventually Persona 5 (yes, speculate all you want but it'll be turn-based). If you don't like how some developers are designing games as action-oriented then do yourself a favor: don't play them.

1 up, 0 down

SvenMD
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 11:16:15 AM

Strong words - I like 'em!

1 up, 0 down

Underdog15
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 8:25:48 PM

I think that's why Ben recognized the term "purists". The industry has labels, and the "purists" tend to have must more strict guidelines.

0 up, 0 down

Pandacastro
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 12:54:49 PM
Reply

Why does mistwalker hate sony? If they settle there difference maybe they'll make a turn base rpg for ps3.

1 up, 0 down

Excelsior1
Friday, March 25, 2011 @ 2:51:20 PM
Reply

well, i enjoyed ff13 despite it being linear. way more than ff12. the story, and characters werer so weak in ff12. i also hated its mmo like battle system.

ff13 is a beautiful game that had a strong emphasis on story. that was enough to win me over. i also enjoyed the soundtrack, and mark misssions. there was depth in the game and in the battle system.

i did not like the hand holding, and the totally tubular kill tubes. i also disliked the level caps per chapter, but did like the leveling system.

i look forward to ff13. it will be interesting to see if square has listed to its fans. ff13 sold over 6 million copies. we will see how well this one does.

1 up, 0 down

robinhood2010
Saturday, March 26, 2011 @ 6:39:40 AM
Reply

The way I see it, companies don't need to make rpgs anymore. All those rpg games, such as myself, are buying other games to get that gaming fix. Why do they need to make a game that caters to a minority crowd, who buy everything else under the sun anyway?

As sad as it is...

0 up, 0 down

LowKey
Sunday, March 27, 2011 @ 6:54:29 PM
Reply

And my rants abot SE were crazy 2 years ago. lol. I've been saying this since FF12

0 up, 0 down

LowKey
Sunday, March 27, 2011 @ 7:00:57 PM
Reply

Please Ben do you really want to get me going again? lol

0 up, 0 down

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