Final Fantasy XIII Review

More Game Info (Print This Article)

Graphics:

9.0

Gameplay:

8.0

Sound:

8.0

Control:

8.0

Replay Value:

9.0

Overall Rating: 8.1

Online Gameplay:

Not Rated

Publisher:

Square-Enix

Developer:

Square-Enix

Number Of Players:

Genre:

RPG

Screenshots

I'm not going to get into all of the usual and detailed hoopla I tend to write about when I do these reviews; Ben's already got all of that covered in his review. My Final Fantasy XIII is more of an op-ed, sort to speak, albeit one with a legitimate score. Many of you guys know I love Final Fantasy, and I love traditional RPGs. I hold Final Fantasy VII and XII very near to my gaming heart, because I love the amount of freedom and exploration both offered. I loved the battle systems, and I loved the customization aspect of both games. Everything that made Final Fantasy VII and XII so great is practically missing from Final Fantasy XIII. And thus, Final Fantasy XIII is not really a true-blooded role-playing game, and it's arguably not even a true Final Fantasy game. Dare I say it, Final Fantasy X-2 was more proper than this here is.

Again, if you're looking for details on combat mechanics and so forth, take a look at Ben's review for that. In any case, Final Fantasy XIII is the antithesis of the Japanese-RPG, as with this iteration the franchise has succumbed to the pressures of making a game super flashy, fast-paced, and, for lack of a better word, 'cool'. As soon as you engage in your first battle, you immediately get the sense that the game has lost its focus. And the more you progress and the more the combat opens up (use of paradigms, summons, etc.) the more you realize how numb the experience can feel.

I use the word numb because Square-Enix has taken a ton of control away from you. So much so that you only get to control one character during battle, while the others are A.I. and fight on their own, where as in Final Fantasy XII you had the option of controlling all three or automating them. Furthermore, you are assigned a party leader, and no matter who that leader is, you cannot switch him/her out, forcing you to play that character for a lengthy duration of time. And that's my other issue; the characters in the game get split up so often that you'll find yourself in command of characters you don't enjoy. Why a developer would intentionally force you to control characters you may not enjoy is beyond me.

Then there's the whole linearity. Sure, Final Fantasy X was pretty linear, but XIII takes it to a whole other level. The lack of towns, the lack true character interaction, the lack of legitimate shops to visit, interesting places to wander off to, the lack of all that essentially makes this the most soulless Final Fantasy to date. To top it all off, Final Fantasy XIII has easily the most boring first 10 hours the franchise has ever seen, it's boring enough to make you want to quit. But I kept playing, and eventually the game really did get better, and the characters I once disliked (Vanille, Hope, Lightning) did get treated to a number of revelations, which fixed their character development considerably.

The story comes off as immediate and way too complicated, and you're just hit with this ton of bricks the moment you boot up the game. There's so much to process that it's borderline overwhelming, at first. Usually the stories unfold a bit more gradually in FF games, but not so with FFXIII. This also contributes to the boring first 10 hours, since such a huge chunk of the story is given to you at the beginning, all you're doing during those 10 hours is running away without any further story progression up until at least about 13-15 hours in. And once the story begins to progress, it actually becomes quite good.

Now, the combat system I have my issues with. It's too frantic, it lacks composure, it lacks focus, and it's not very engaging, because it can be very frustrating to constantly have to switch "Paradigm" setups (job roles for characters) back and forth all throughout the battle. That said, once you get used to it, it's tolerable and if you get the hang of it, it can be fun. Unfortunately due to the speedy nature of it, you'll spend more time looking at bars on screen than you will the combat, as you'll constantly need curing and other status improvements to keep your fighters up. You can slow down the battle speed through the game options, but unfortunately it doesn't help all that much.

Additionally, the game has a bad habit of blindsiding you and throwing you into battles unprepared. Many times I was thrown into fights where my Paradigm setup was not optimized to my liking or to the requirement of the battle. Now get this, if you lose and select retry, the game restarts you from right before the battle and automatically opens up the menu for you to perform your optimization. Now tell me this, why doesn't the game do that in the first place? Absolutely idiotic design there.

I do like the leveling system, and the Crystogenesis system is very reminiscent of past upgrade systems in Final Fantasy X and even XII. From battles you'll earn Crystogen Points (CP) which you'll use to upgrade your characters with via the Crystarium. Enhancing weapons and accessories is done by trading in items you've collected for EXP. Enhancing your stuff will make it more than just stronger, but will also add additional attributes to the item you've enhanced.

Having said all of that, it sounds like I absolutely hate Final Fantasy XIII. I don't. In fact, I actually like it quite a bit. The more I play, the more I like the combat and enjoy grinding to earn more CP, and the more I want to see the story unravel. The problem is that this isn't a Final Fantasy game. It feels like six years ago, when Square-Enix started developing the game, they said "hey, let's make this really cool and different RPG game", and then the executives said "sure, but because it'll never sell as an all new IP, we need to slap a Final Fantasy logo and number on it."

So therein lies the problem: Final Fantasy XIII would've fared better as a spin-off FF game, because quite frankly, this is not what I come to expect out of a franchise that has defined the RPG genre. This is simply too much of a departure. And ripping away so much of the freedom that I've had in the years past? Unacceptable. Imagine the main Metal Gear Solid series suddenly turning into a God of War/Devil May Cry clone? It simply wouldn't fit into the core series of the game. Sure, it might be a good game on its own, but with a legacy behind it, it simply wouldn't work. And thus why Konami's Metal Gear Solid: Rising does not have a number attached to it, but rather a sub-title that clearly says 'this is a spin-off'.

So why the fairly good score then? Well, like I said, the game does pick-up. About 15 hours in and lots of stuff changes. The first 10 hours are largely an introduction to the game as throughout that period you'll constantly see new tutorials during battles and such. Initially, the cut-scenes and some of the cheese is hard to witness, but the quality of the story goes up, as does the quality of cut-scenes. Once your characters also become stronger, things get a little better, as well, but you'll definitely run into a number of battles that you'll have to try and try numerous times.

Also, there's a certain feeling embedded into the game that makes you want to keep playing just to see what happens next, and the linearity of it all certainly makes that aspect easier to embrace. I'm not saying the linearity is good, but it does make it easier to just keep going and going, without worrying about straying off the path.

I'll keep the technical stuff like visuals and sound quick, since Ben has covered that in his review, as well. Final Fantasy XIII looks nothing short of amazing, and it damn sure better, because seeing as how environments are fairly limited in scope, there's little excuse for the game to not look great. The characters are easily the most detailed aspect of the visuals, and the animation really stands out too. Also, the image is very polished and the CG cut-scenes are absolutely astonishing in detail.

Lastly, the sound is pretty good, but not the best an FF game has seen. The soundtrack lacks a certain charm or even character, and voice acting for Hope and Vanille is excruciatingly bad sometimes. Nevermind the fact that for the first 15 hours of the game Vanille is just about the most annoying Final Fantasy character ever. But to make matters worse, her awkward Australian accent sounds slurred, and almost fake (it isn't, the voice actor is actually Aussie...and pretty hot too). But the peppiness of Vanille is too much to stomach, it really is. And Hope, even though he changes up a bit later on, he's hard to listen to, as well.

So, I have a lot of negative things to say about the game, but I don't hate it. I'm disappointed. It's just a radical departure and it's definitely a blemish on the series' legacy. The lack of tradition here is appalling. And Square-Enix's excuses about not having things like towns and an open world are total bull, if you ask me. The bottom line is that this game was neutered for numerous reasons: to appeal to a different demographic, to take up less storage space making it easier to publish for the Xbox 360, and because development of the game had already gone on for over 5 years. I have no doubt in my mind that development for Final Fantasy XIII stopped and restarted multiple times over the course of time, and that would best explain why this is such a massive leap backwards for the franchise.

3/17/2010 Arnold Katayev

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Comments (165 posts)

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LittleBigMidget
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 2:12:05 AM
Reply

An 8.1, ROFL. Not a bad score, still a terrible game

11 up, 11 down

godsman
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 11:21:26 AM

I know! that 8.1 is what I would give. All Arnold's complaints were the same as mine.

One more thing I would like to add is the complaint about the leveling up. It's broken down into stages and you level up the stage through progression in the plot. So you would level up to a point that you cant get stronger. As compared with prior FF game, you level up to the point you feel right, or when it require too much experience points to progress further.

1 up, 0 down

Bromus398
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 2:19:07 AM
Reply

Nice review Arnold. Having just beaten it earlier today (and GOW3, which was awesome), I have to agree with you. The story definitely gets better, but the first ten hours were a bit excruciating in terms of the voice acting. Honestly, I was just waiting for Sazh to go ahead and say, "I'm getting too old for this shit" He doesn't, which brought me great sadness. Fun game, great story once you get past the cheesier beginning dialogue, but ultimately a bit of a let-down for FF fans. I enjoyed it, but I can't see myself playing it again. I can't even see myself getting the rest of the hunts done, which is a real shame.

5 up, 0 down

Highlander
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 2:22:13 AM
Reply

8.1? Not bad considering, but you make it sound like a rental - although considering the play time it'd be a long rental.

Your review is good because it frames the game in terms of the expectations one has for a Final Fantasy game. And to be honest, I don't see how anyone can come to this game without that context. If you've played RPGs for any time, you've played some of the other FF games, and if you've played the classics and genre defining games like FFVII and FFVIII, you most definitely expect certain things of a JRPG and a Final Fantasy game.

Reading both your review and Ben's has actually confirmed many of the fears and feelings I had about the game before launch. It's clear to me that if I decide to play this game, I absolutely must not go at it in a Final Fantasy frame of mind.

As for the game itself and the design of the first 10-15 hours of the game, I am absolutely amazed by the tolerance that people are showing. Many games are not even that long, and yet people seem to be willing to suffer through the first 15 hours of FFXIII for the promise of better things to come. If a game that was only 12 hours long played like the first 10-15 hours of FFXIII I have a feeling it would do well to get a 5/10 even with stellar visuals.

So in the end, I have to ask why any developer would make the player suffer through that much 'hell' to get to the game underneath? Personally, I don't feel that respects the player as a consumer.

19 up, 2 down

Oxvial
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 3:10:34 AM

''As for the game itself and the design of the first 10-15 hours of the game, I am absolutely amazed by the tolerance that people are showing. ''

Yes it makes me think that if the game wasn't called FF almost all people would give up before those 10-15 hours.

11 up, 0 down

DIsmael85
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 3:12:00 AM

Wow you make it seem like playing through Final Fantasy XIII is a chore. I've played through the Japanese version and now the English version and have enjoyed them both times. Maybe you should consider playing the game and getting a better rounded opinion? You think that might be helpful. Also about your last bit on how consumers would feel playing this game. I've talked to various people who have never played Final Fantasy before and are enjoying it. I also have a buddy who loves FF7 as much as I do, who is also enjoying this game. I would say up to about 500,000 people who bought in the first week of release must be enjoying the game to some extent.

9 up, 11 down

kraygen
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 7:17:19 AM

I have to agree with highlander. I kept asking myself over and over, if people keep complaining about how bad the first 15 hours are, how do they get past it? If I play a boring game for 5 hours, I get aggravated, after 10 hours, I'm ready to say screw this and find something fun to play.

I'm going to give it a try, but I'm not looking forward to swallowing 15 hours of crap, just so I can get some chicken.

9 up, 1 down

NeoHumpty
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 8:15:10 AM

Play it. Just pretend it's not XIII. It is certainly based in the FF worlds that we love, and it is very pretty and worth playing.

1 up, 3 down

Highlander
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 10:39:28 AM

@DIsmael85

Dude, the first 10-15 hours sound like a chore. I've seen them (the first 10-15 hours) described as various uncomplimentary things. This quote from Arnold seems to sum up the negative comments I have read; "To top it all off, Final Fantasy XIII has easily the most boring first 10 hours the franchise has ever seen, it's boring enough to make you want to quit."

Any game that features a 10-15 hour long 'tutorial' that is boring enough to make you quite and features a combat system that is frustrating and brings numerous "Game Over" moments not because your party was incapacitated but because the game design makes it impossible for your NPCs to revive the leader. That particular feature has come in for a lot of criticism. The automated battle system has too.

All in all, none of this recommends the game to me at all. I will not suffer through 10-15 hours of that kind of crap, I have better things to do with my time. I don't for a moment believe that when I pay $60 for a game that I should somehow have to pay my dues by putting in 10-15 hours of boredom just to reach the good part, or meat of the game. That's at very least poor design and at worst disrespectful to me as a gamer and purchaser.

I've played heaven knows how many different RPGs and I have to say that many of the features that SE removed from the game are among the reasons I play RPGs. The automated combat system takes the end of turn based combat a step further, and I already abhor the demise of turn based combat. This nonsense of being unable to change the party leader and only controlling one character just tops off the mess for me.

Fine, maybe this is an OK action adventure. Perhaps it's great once you get to Gran Pulse. I won't endure 10-15 hours of less than pleasant gaming just to get to Gran Pulse, especially as the combat system remains the same mess that it is.

6 up, 2 down

telly
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 11:23:17 AM

8.1 sounds awfully high considering the very serious complaints leveled against the game. But thanks for the review Arnold.

While picking up GOW 3 yesterday I couldn't resist picking up FF XIII too. I won't play it until I get through GOD 3 first, but I already have the sinking feeling I'm going to really regret my purchase. By all accounts, the game starts horribly. I am too busy and life is too short to "play" something you hate, but if for no other reason than having an informed opinion I intend to persevere.

It's a testament to how amazing FF VII was that I still put up with this crap...

2 up, 1 down

Irievibes
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 4:23:44 PM

totally agree with highlander, that automated bullspit, and the oh your pc died game over crap is enough to make me not want to even play it , add to that that there is NOTHING for me to do other than progress from battle to battle to battle for a good 70% of the game.....

you gotta wonder, why the hell would i pay 60 dollars to torturing myself? its like scratching a foot itch by shooting it off

i MAY rent it just to see the flashy hd visuals but im getting my rpg fix from white knight chronicles, shitty story imo, but now THATS an rpg!

i wish sqeenix sat these developers down on a press conference and allowed people to tell them what they want on future ff games, im pretty sure people would eat them up about he automatation and removal of allt he things that made the jrpg genre the dam jrpg genre!!!

0 up, 0 down

Titch1794
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 2:23:36 AM
Reply

Man...Ouch...8.1 seems a bit extraordinary for a Final Fantasy game. This was on my wishlist byt now i am just not sure :(

Good review though none the less.

1 up, 0 down

johnld
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 3:55:02 AM

his point is that this doesnt feel like a final fantasy game.

4 up, 0 down

Underdog15
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 10:19:31 AM

It's definitely worth a play. I'm only 8 hours in, so far, and although I agree with the disappointments of a franchise let-down, I am enjoying myself immensely. I feel disappointed when I have to turn it off and tend to life responsibilities. Which is big for me. Generally, I play a game for an hour to hour and a half, then either switch games or go outside or take care of something I need to do.

But with this game, I easily play 2 hours and don't want to stop. I like both reviews on this game and agree with both scores for the reasons the authors gave. Don't forget, 8.1 is still a good score! You'll be a little disappointed if your familiar with FF games, but you will definitely enjoy yourself with this one. It's hard for a reviewer to give a high 9+ score that doesn't match the expectation the franchise has set for itself.

Try it! You'll like it!

1 up, 1 down

Ayane
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 2:43:31 AM
Reply

What a pity.
Too bad for the American voice acting I suppose, though I've never heard it.
The Japanese voice acting is top notch and really natural, *especially* Hope and Vanille's.
As for the game itself, to each his own of course, but I still find it really hard to bring myself to agree with a single point of complaint made so far by critics, commenters, etc.
I'm a big FF fan myself, and I find 13 an excellent and breathtaking FF on all accounts.
Perhaps it's just a point of view, but the way I see it, 13 is a great step forward for the series, and it is definitely very FF-ish to me in every respect with a refreshing twist.
The way I see it, lots of people must be expecting FF7 or 6 wrapped up in a shiny new HD package and rebranded as 13...I say time to move on, and soak up the goodness that is 13 and look foward to a better 15. (again, can't vouch for the US version...I personally hate bad voice acting myself).
*My* rating for FF13 would be 9.5/10.

8 up, 8 down

DIsmael85
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 3:06:30 AM

Man I could not agree more with you on that statement. it seems to me everyone wants a Final Fantasy 7 all over again, talk about being a fanboy. You can't say you are a FF fan and not like Final Fantasy XIII. You can't get old school anymore, and it wont go back. I stress this to much. I say good job for Square trying something new. You can't very well please everyone, but then again people are to picky with games these days, and I dare someone to tell me it's all about price. We all know everyone is going nuts over God of War III and it doesn't matter that it's 60 bucks.

5 up, 12 down

johnld
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 3:56:35 AM

i wouldnt blame it on american voice acting because Naughty dog proved that it can be done the right way. Its more of square enix being....well, square enix.

4 up, 0 down

DIsmael85
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 4:05:46 AM

Well when I consider ND is an american company, things settle right into place. The localization time on FF13 was what, like 3 month? However I will say that the voice acting in 13 is very well done when compared to some of the earlier games. Try youtubing FF12 or even some of FFX. It's pretty annoying. Memorable, but annoying.

2 up, 9 down

Ultimadream
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 4:20:03 AM

I didn't find the voice acting bad in general, ok vanilles erotic sounds during battles was weird, but other than that i thought it was pretty good, i felt they envoked the emotions of the characters well.

i've played it for 50 hours in the last week, i'm near the end now so i'm exploring all the extra's which certainly is not lacking. Maybe the reason i enjoyed it so much was because of my moderate expectations due to all the press S-E were put up with since the Japanese release. I actually was hesitant in buying it at first, but i thought well it is tradition so i went for it and thoroughly enjoyed it.

6 up, 1 down

SvenMD
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 8:05:04 AM

I agree ultima - the voice acting is fine, but I can't have Vanille in my party because it sounds like I'm watching some p0rn with all her moaning during battle....it's quite odd

4 up, 1 down

Arvis
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 9:02:18 AM

So, us wanting more of something we love and not wanting to "move on" to something different that we DON'T love makes us fanboys? Thanks. Jerk.

Oh, and Dismael, you saying the voice acting in FF12 is "annoying" just proves that you've never touched the game.

-Arvis

0 up, 1 down

Snaaaake
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 2:43:41 AM
Reply

If it's not FF then the score will be damn high everywhere but it won't sell like how it does now.

1 up, 1 down

Shams
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 2:50:24 AM
Reply

Great review(s), Ben & Arnold. Both reviews, like opposite sides of a coin, seem to represent two different views, but converge to the same point. Long time fans, this was a disappointment, but it excelled at quite few things to warrant an 8.1, not as an FF, nor even an RPG, but as a game. Ben, gave it a bit more credit as a game (8.7 iirc), and played-down his grievances and expectations as fan, a bit more. But they both say the same thing. If you are a fan looking for FF, you won't quite find it. If you are casual player, or new to the series, you're still gonna have to be patient (for the first 10-15 hours or so).

Square tried to please too many different parties (MS, casual gamers, new gamers, and fans), when they should've stuck to the golden recipe.

1 up, 0 down

Oxvial
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 3:00:25 AM
Reply

Okay thanks psxtreme, I'm gonna wait til game drop to 29.99 .

5 up, 2 down

Oxvial
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 3:20:52 AM

not really ..why I would buy a rated 4/10 game?

the only reviews I trust are psxtreme ones.

my problem with FF 13 its that it lacks what I like of jrpgs, so why I'm gonna pay 60 bucks for something like that?

Last edited by Oxvial on 3/17/2010 3:21:50 AM

5 up, 1 down

DIsmael85
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 3:43:34 AM

Because we all waste 60 bucks on other garbage instead? I can understand wanting to read PSXextremes opinions on games, but solely using that as an excuse not to play a game is pretty lame. Whatever happened to playing it for yourself. Hell you don't even have to buy it, you could rent it. Ooh dare we even do that anymore.

6 up, 10 down

Oxvial
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 3:46:50 AM

dude plz calm down.

read the comment.

I'm going to buy the game but at 29.99 , the game isn't a rental if you ask me.

3 up, 1 down

DIsmael85
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 3:57:16 AM

Uhm, I'm pretty calm. Last I checked I don't think feeling convey well over the Intenet.

You're going to buy it at 29.99, yeah sounds like a great deal, that'll happen any time soon. I'm quite sure of it.

Last edited by DIsmael85 on 3/17/2010 3:58:16 AM

1 up, 14 down

Oxvial
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 10:18:57 AM

yes, I already said that I gonna wait, I don't need the game in this moment, I'm not a FFtard.

Last edited by Oxvial on 3/17/2010 10:20:40 AM

4 up, 2 down

DIsmael85
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 3:08:05 AM
Reply

It strikes me how many "sheep" we have on here that base their sole purchase on a review score. I'm currently running through God of War III, and with how fast I'm getting through it, I wouldn't be far from saying the game doesn't deserve a high 9. It's the same formula sure, and I love it, and the graphics are amazing, but it just feels short. Oh well.

4 up, 21 down

mbg77
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 4:10:18 AM

I thumbed you down DIsmael85, because you're becoming more and more annoying with every passing comment.

We're not "sheep" as you put it. We may simply not have the time, money or opportunity to try each and every game, so we rely on reviews and opinions of others - especially the one expressed by Ben and Arnold.

Frankly I could call you a "simpleton" for reading without comprehension. Our negative approach to FFXIII is not based on a score (8.1 or 8.7 is pretty high in my book) but on the whole review.

Take care.

Last edited by mbg77 on 3/17/2010 4:11:12 AM

14 up, 3 down

johnld
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 4:13:22 AM

i dont think people here on psxextreme base their decision on the actual score. i personally dont care about the score at all, i'm reading the substance of the review. As i read both reviews after i got final fantasy XIII on day 1, i would have to agree with them about this game not feeling like a final fantasy game. people who also buy this game just because its called final fantasy can also be called "sheep" and thats who square enix is counting on to sell this game. I'm a fan of the final fantasy series so i'm in this group of "sheep" and this game doesnt give you the feeling of what a final fantasy game should be. They chose to over simplify things in order to appeal to the other demographics (twitch gamers as ben put it).

And after the onslaught of games this past 3 months, i have to be picky on which games i am going to buy. I mean, why would i buy a game full price or day 1 when they carry a name that to me implies a promise of quality/experience and disappoints the loyal fans of the series. i bought final fantasy XIII with the same approach as i do with every final fantasy game, treating each as a completely different game. I never would have thought it completely separated itself from the other iterations i loved by taking out the crucial components that made the final fantasy experience.

this being said, i just want some feedback concerning resonance of fate since i havent heard much from it. I still on the fence about picking it up but since i still have heavy rain, god of war series, and bad company 2 online, and the rest of Final fantasy XIII to finish, i guess i can wait.

On a related note, when i played final fantasy games, i usually stick to playing it completely without touching any game. In Final fantasy XIII i really dont mind dropping it for a while and playing bad company 2, killzone 2, Uncharted 2, or mag. Hell, i even picked up white knight chronicles for some quests again.

9 up, 0 down

DIsmael85
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 4:18:41 AM

Well I thumbed you down mbg77 because all you did was prove my point. I will post what I want however I want. It's my opinion. As well as I do respect yours. This is a forum style thread, with debate open freely. If you are so annoyed, you could simply click the X in the corner of your browser. I say "Sheep" because of some of the comments about how "I wont buy this game anymore" because of another opinion. Not saying everyone has money, just saying, you should try it out. There are ways to do that at not such a high price. You as well have a good day.

@johnld
I can understand what you say. With the amount of games out these days it's pretty hard to sit on just one for very long. I find myself playing multiple games at one time. I imported FF13 way back when it released in Japan. So I've had several months to sit there and play it. Of course it wasn't easy to follow so I felt pretty ill about it, but I enjoyed the game very much, and it was a Final Fantasy, new sure, but a Final Fantasy none the less. Now that I have the US version and I can understand everything, I love the game more than I did before. I just find the hate on this game to be one of rabid fans of the old not getting their way. These companies sure, will lose money if no one buys it, but for the love of god, the game isn't horrible. Hell 8's aren't horrible, but with how people are these days, 8's are bad, while 9.5 and up are golden. People have become to dependent on scores and reviews and we have forgot one major thing, a game is a game. Play the damn thing.

Last edited by DIsmael85 on 3/17/2010 4:26:12 AM

3 up, 15 down

Qwarktast1c
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 5:04:57 AM

@ dismael85

I am not a sheep. I make my own damn decisions. I'm still gonna get this game regardless of the review, but it's nice to know what I am getting into.

7 up, 0 down

Mr Bitey
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 8:55:47 AM

"It strikes me how many "sheep" we have on here that base their sole purchase on a review score."

I'm not thumbing anyone or taking sides, but I think that sums up the main problem with the video game industry as a whole.

I realize $60 is a lot to spend on a game, but people tend to blindly follow reviewers without thought, and it ends up bleeding into effecting sales.

That's the main reason why COD release every year, plus monthly map packs. Now we have Battlefield and Medal of Honor all trying to capitalize on the review trends. The developers received the message loud and clear.

3 up, 1 down

Natalisrubbish
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 9:38:12 AM

@Dismael85

The devil's advocate things is getting more than obnoxious as you may or may not be able to tell by sheer amount of thumbs down your getting... lol.

2 up, 2 down

Highlander
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 10:47:21 AM

In case you hadn't noticed, that vast majority of comments here regarding FFXIII are based on something other than review scores. Some of us haven't played the game (myself for example) and are judging it based on the comments of those who have and the content of reviews that go into more depth than simply praising the game's polish. Believe it or not by reading and considering all the comments of those that play a game, you can get a feel for whether the game is your kind of game or not, and that's not based on the scores. Sheeple buy a game regardless of the reviews, and other sheeple buy a game simply because it has good scores. As someone who bothers to read comments from gamers who play the game, as well as reviews from reliable sources where the score matters less than the content of the review, I do neither. I buy a game based on the opinion I form through my research and possibly even playing the demo (should one be available). Most of the other commenters on this site take a similar approach.

6 up, 0 down

FlyingKickPunch
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 11:59:59 AM

God of War 3 has more "holy sh!t" moments throughout the course of the game than all the games you will likely play this year COMBINED. it's tied with uncharted 2 as best game of the generation for me.

definitely deserving of top honors.

6 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:06:29 PM

@ dismael85

Most of us leveling criticism HAVE played the game. We don't like it as much as you so stop trying to convince us other wise.

3 up, 0 down

BikerSaint
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 2:33:28 PM

@DIsmael85,
Wow, you're pretty condescending to say anyone's a sheep just because somebody doesn't want to spend $60 on a gimped game that had 1/2 it's own content taken out!!!

Assume much??????

3 up, 0 down

Irievibes
Friday, March 19, 2010 @ 12:00:12 AM

dismael...

people want to play an rpg, so they read about final fantasy..
what do they read?

that its not that "rpg-ish", so they decide to not buy it because it doesnt appeal to what they WANT TO PLAY

comprende? its really not a hard concept, yet you seem to be struggling with it, im no rocket scientist but i think you sat on a stick and lost it in there for good....

0 up, 0 down

CHAOS THEORY X
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 3:10:23 AM
Reply

Agreed. Playing it now and it just doesnt feel right...not bad, but not what I was expecting. FFX probably sets the bar for the series IMO. and FFVIII is my second favorite (as it was my first one to play). sure FFX was somewhat linear, but you actually stopped at points and looked around. This is just -->-->-->-->---->---->-->--> all game long, at least for the hours ive been playing it

Last edited by CHAOS THEORY X on 3/17/2010 3:16:23 AM

3 up, 1 down

DIsmael85
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 3:24:26 AM
Reply

I'm pretty sure everyone will flame me for this, but upon reading the review, it sound more like a complaint than anything constructive.

"Why a developer would intentionally force you to control characters you may not enjoy is beyond me."

Dude seriously? This is a huge complaint. It sounds more like a fanboy crying about characters rather than playing to learn more about them. I know, it's my opinion, but I just don't understand how this has anything to do about the game overall. There are plenty of other points I could pick out, but it just takes so long and it's a lot of work I'd really rather not waste time doing. I understand everyone has their feelings on what a game should be, and this is just one site after all, but to score a game so low based on some of your points sounds like a person who wants a FF7 remake so bad nothing will do until it happens. Who knows it might, but until then, it just seems that way. Most of what people are complaining about on here seems that way. If you were to put yourself in Square-Enixs shoes, I wonder would you be able to make something better? Would you be able to make something that not only fans will buy, but people who haven't will as well? When it comes to RPGs is a slippery slope and it's hard. Most people want WRPG's now a days. I'm all for JRPGs. I can't stress enough how I've grown up on them, but it seems like we have people who are stuck in a time long ago and those who have moved on. I'm a huge Final Fantasy fan, maybe more so than Ben or Arnold. I understand how reviews are supposed to be viewed, but when it comes down to swaying the masses, you've got to know that people are going to listen to the reviews rather than their own opinion. Is pretty shameful, especially in this case. I can officially say the days of the RPG are gone. Especially if this is how we have to consider people are going to treat it.

9 up, 17 down

Thrill Kill
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 8:29:31 AM

You made me laugh...thankyou.hahahahah

4 up, 1 down

coverton341
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 11:23:15 AM

I bought the game. I am playing the crap out of it. I am loving it.

All that said, the review is spot on in all of its points. This is a great game and it really does open up and get better after a tedious amount of tutoring and hand holding for the first 10 hours. This game is not a great RPG or FF instalment though. You said earlier that you can't have old school any more but there are old school games out there that are good. Tales of Vesperia, White Knight Chronicles, Eternal Sonata just to name a few. These are all good games and they are not a linear battle simulating hack and slash.

Defend the game all you want, it is a good game. But please stop belittling people because they have serious complaints about the deviation that the game has taken. It has taken a large departure from what an RPG has always been and it just feels disappointing to some people myself included, but to say we are all sheep or that there can never be an old school RPG again is just demeaning and flawed at best. And to say you cannot be a true Final Fantasy fan and not like XIII is just ignorant. People can have absolutely any opinion that they want and just because it doesn't match yours does not mean it is any less valid of an opinion.

That's all just my opinion though.

5 up, 1 down

Jawknee
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 11:57:21 AM

@DIsmael85

Nonsense. I'm sorry not one thing you have said on this thread is even remotely coherent. Why do i get the feeling this is the ONLY Final Fantasy game you have played?

FFXIII is a good game, its JUST NOT FINAL FANTASY!

Last edited by Jawknee on 3/17/2010 11:58:42 AM

4 up, 1 down

WolfCrimson
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 3:26:38 AM
Reply

I've been saying this to everyone I discuss FFXIII with... A good game, but not a good FF.

p.s. Arnold, it sure took you a long time to get this review done, Ben said it should have come by the end of last weekend.

Last edited by WolfCrimson on 3/17/2010 3:32:53 AM

4 up, 1 down

johnld
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 3:42:56 AM
Reply

Theres only one thing i like about the crytal/level system and that is noone will be left out and weak if you never used then at all. Even if i dont use snow, hes still up there compared to the other party members.

Ohh, too bad you cant switch party members freely in battle like they did with final fantasy X. i kinda like the idea that if non of your current party members can get the job done, call someone else in.

The only thing i can say about the gameplay mechanics is that its so dumbed down that i actually level grind while watching a movie using the picture in picture on my tv. all i need is keep button mashing the X button until the current "level cap". Why is there even a "level cap" that opens up after each chapter? The upgrade costs alone can stop people from progressing further. ohh, and i want to ear gil and not wait for the item drops that doesnt happen much even after gaining a 5 star rating.

Last edited by johnld on 3/17/2010 3:48:38 AM

3 up, 0 down

kraygen
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 7:29:16 AM

There's a level cap for each chapter? The more I hear about this game the more ridiculous it sounds. Is the point of this game to tell me how I should play video games? Pick this character, only get to this level, choose this class. What the crap?

Thankfully we have the freedom of choice, and my choice is to wait until I can get this game uber cheap, so I only pay what it's worth.

4 up, 0 down

johnld
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 3:31:42 PM

yeah, it starts of letting you level up to a certain stage of the crystal thing then after every chapter it tells you that your character can move on even further. hell, you cant even max out your character until you finish the game i think.

0 up, 0 down

kraygen
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 2:24:07 AM

that is utter bull. I'm starting to wonder more and more how this game is getting the scores that it is. This is not an rpg. From what I have read there is no Role playing involved and if that's the case there is no reason to call this game an rpg.

A role playing game is not every game that allows you to enhance your character. Heck from what you've said you can only do that when the game allows.

I'm finding more and more reasons to put off playing this game and feel disappointed at feeling like I shouldn't play it.

0 up, 0 down

johnld
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 3:15:23 PM

if you're looking to play a final fantasy game, well 13 is not the one you want. however, it is a pretty good game and i would recommend playing it. just keep final fantasy out of your head when playing it.

0 up, 0 down

natho86
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 3:44:29 AM
Reply

Nice work guys another great review. Couldnt agree more about what you both have said. Im on my second play through just doing some grinding on Gran Pulse, this is the best part of the game i love making my characters bad arse. This is also the easiest FF i have ever played the summons are the hard parts of the game and some of the later stage hunt missions. Still a great game, definetly a different take on the series i think that if it was turn based,control any character and maybe the game design of FF10 then this would be a worthy contender for game of the year.

1 up, 0 down

cLoudou
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 4:09:19 AM
Reply

lol, I also thought Vanille's accent sounded phony.

5 up, 0 down

johnld
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 4:14:37 AM

its pretty funny. to me, sometimes i hear her accent and sometimes i dont.

4 up, 0 down

cLoudou
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 5:51:41 AM

agreed. At first I thought that the voice actor was horrible because of how the accent would disappear from time to time. Now we find out she truly is an aussie.

3 up, 0 down

chedison
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 7:32:26 AM

it still means she's bad because we could obviously randomly hear her accent when we shouldn't have been lol.

2 up, 0 down

Douchebaguette
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 11:31:03 AM

xD. Sounds like she's going for an American accent with touches of Queen's English but she can't help her Australian accent from breaking out causing her to sound South African.

1 up, 0 down

Deleted User
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 4:25:28 AM
Reply

well I hate Final Fantasy games, so maybe I'll enjoy this :D kidding I'll probably hate this one too.

I haven't actually enjoyed a JRPG since the SNES. I could play Chrono Trigger forever.

4 up, 0 down

Miggy
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 10:16:31 AM

I'm currently playing through that on the DS. It's the first time I've ever played it too. The game is way ahead of its time in my opinion and I'm loving it.

1 up, 0 down

coverton341
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:17:46 PM

Just going to say that Chrono Trigger was the awesome. Yes, it was the actual awesome.

Have you ever played Chrono Cross? It wasn't the same level of great that Chrono Trigger was but it was still damn good.

0 up, 0 down

johnld
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 3:32:59 PM

i'd say you'll like it because its not a good old jrpg anymore.

0 up, 0 down

Deleted User
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 6:05:29 PM

coverton341: haven't tried it, should I at some point now? I always worried it wouldn't live up to standards Chrono Trigger set.

0 up, 0 down

coverton341
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 2:01:21 AM

Sorry for the late response and if you even read this I would say yes Chrono Cross is definitely worth picking up and playing. It isn't the same as Trigger but I still loved it. Very interesting things going on in that one.

0 up, 0 down

spiderboi
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 4:54:20 AM
Reply

Thanks Arnold and Ben. By your review I won't be buying this game. I'll just wait for my friend to finish his copy and borrow it from him. I just borrowed GoW Collection and got Resistance 2 (yeah its pretty late) so I have my hands full at the moment :)

0 up, 0 down

just2skillf00l
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 5:10:24 AM
Reply

DIsmael,

Wait...GOW3 does not deserve a high 9. Yeah...well I just beat it and I gotta say, favorite hack-n-slash game so far. I loved Dante's Inferno 60fps sweeping scythe remnants but GOW3 takes the cake easy. The ending as some people have been saying was pretty iffy. However, I saw the ending as having more of a broader message than a personal one. I'm more than happy with the game as a collective experience and all the shortcomings don't even leave a scratch on the entire experience. I'm just glad I was able to connect with Kratos for once in this one. Best hack-n-slash ever!

2 up, 0 down

PAKINIPS
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 5:39:13 AM
Reply

Funny critics didnt say this sorta thing about GTAIV. In my opinion it lost the fun factor the series always had and the customization they added in san andreas in favour of graphics.

0 up, 0 down

JackC8
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 6:30:21 AM
Reply

Square Enix claimed the game was very linear because they had to take us through the story. Now it turns out that after an initial blast of story at the beginning, there's basically nothing for the next 10 hours. I really hate it when people just outright lie to their customers like that.

The intolerable characters is another huge disappointment. I just finished FFXII last night and was tremendously impressed with the characters and the quality of the dialog. Better than the characters in most movies I've seen, much less video games. They've taken an enormous step backwards.

I think I'll pick up FFX next, sounds like I'd enjoy it a whole lot more.

Last edited by JackC8 on 3/17/2010 6:31:27 AM

5 up, 1 down

Qwarktast1c
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 7:20:24 AM

FFX is great, it happens to be my personal favorite, although there are some parts in the dialogue that are just stupid like the whole laughing thing...... you'll understand what I mean when you play it :)

3 up, 0 down

kraygen
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 7:31:59 AM

yeah i agree. FFx is great altho if you're like me, you'll hate the main character.

He must be the most clueless FF character ever.

4 up, 0 down

Darthvintage
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:44:16 PM

kraygen

How do you beat anima?

That thing is friggen cheap with its eye

0 up, 0 down

kraygen
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 2:30:00 AM

@ Darthvintage

Honestly it's been over 3 years since the last time I beat it and I can't remember exactly how to do that.

So in that case I suggest checking out the walkthroughs on here for a guide. Might be some useful info there.

0 up, 0 down

blaqsmyth
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 6:36:51 AM
Reply

ever since this game went to the crash box i lost all hope in it maybe i'll git it after drops to about $20

i'm really looking forward to ff vs XIII

0 up, 2 down

Qwarktast1c
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 7:22:25 AM

FFvsXIII is the last hope for the XIII saga

i'm not counting the psp one because i'm not sure if it will have any impact at all, even if it turns out to be good.

1 up, 1 down

kraygen
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 7:36:43 AM
Reply

@ Arnold

Great review. I feel as if Ben did a good job of covering all the technical aspects of the game. Telling us about the combat mechanic, the visuals, etc. You have done a fabulous job of telling us about the emotional experience of FFxii.

Not just the emotion of the story but of the FF experience, or lack there of in this case. After all I had read I actually told my wife yesterday that I will no longer refer to this game as FFxiii, but as Gran pulse and that's it. Gran pulse will be a fun game, I'm still waiting on this gen's Final Fantasy.

Really appreciate the fact that you got through the first part of the game, sounds like a chore. I'll eventually do it, but whether I borrow it, or buy it later down the road is yet to be seen.

I do have one question though. Both of you gave it a high replay score. I'm curious about that due to the beginning of the game. Is it really worth grinding through the tutorial twice? You don't have to ruin anything, just is it really worth it, to play it more than once?

I just find it hard to believe that anyone would play a 15 hour tutorial multiple times.

2 up, 0 down

SvenMD
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 8:23:06 AM

I agree concerning the replay value. First, I would think this games graphics deserve a 9.5+, they are phenomenal and the cutscenes cannot be beat.

As for the replay value...I think it's below an 8. Whereas I didn't find the beginning of the game a "chore" - it was still fun and new - but it did seem like it was a 5-10 hour "tutorial", where new abilities are unlocked slowly....and I just don't think it would be fun the second time around.

But then again I don't play many FF games more than once - I just play them once for 100+ hours.

0 up, 0 down

Lotusflow3r
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 7:43:07 AM
Reply

WKC received a better review here......that i can agree with :)

8 up, 1 down

kraygen
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 7:54:37 AM

no doubt, White Knight rules.

Hit GR8 and haven't stopped since, well, except to write this of course. ;)

3 up, 0 down

Lotusflow3r
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:14:55 PM

I'm playing Yakuza 3 atm but, when i return, i'm gonna up my GR as previously said and can't wait but, to tell you the truth, i'm craving WKC 2!

1 up, 0 down

Highlander
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:19:36 PM

Indeed. I am loving WKC right now. I have the time for 2-3 hours perhaps 2-3 times a week. Which is perfect for WKC. I need to seriously work on my GR though. That said, my character is leveling quite well and leaving Leonard and the rest in the dust...

0 up, 0 down

johnld
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 3:35:10 PM

i stopped at guild rank 7 because it takes a lot of points and time to get to 8.

0 up, 0 down

kraygen
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 2:36:21 AM

@ johnld

This is true that it does take a lot of points to get from gr7 to gr8 and even way more to go beyond there, but the great thing is that when partying with good people online it only took me about 10 hours of gameplay to get to gr8.

Since then I've done some gr8 quests that give a lot more points than previous quests. In one night I made over 300k points.

I highly suggest continuing, especially since a second run through of the game will net you some gr7 and gr8 required armor which comes in handy while playing with friends.

0 up, 0 down

Arvis
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 9:12:37 AM

Yes, WKC is too good for my own good!

Highlander, maybe you and I should try a quest sometime. I don't have time to game as much as I'd like, so all my friends have gotten way ahead of me in level. And my GR is like... 2. T_T

-Arvis

0 up, 0 down

johnld
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 3:19:29 PM

i already went through White knight chronicles more than once and got the items. If you can use regular party members i wouldnt have a problem grinding but i really dont like doing the same thing over and over again. especially if i have to run a bit on the map for one battle, mission about killing a red ogre. i looked at how much i get and how much i need and i think i needed to beat him about 50 more times. i wasnt about to go through that, at least since i have other games i havent played yet.

0 up, 0 down

kraygen
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 6:52:24 PM

i just really enjoy questing with other people, seeing how they do battle, what spells they use. Most of my leveling from gr7 to gr8 did not involve big red at all.

0 up, 0 down

Kiwi of DOOM
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 8:12:41 AM
Reply

Personally, i think that people need to start looking past the Final Fantasy name. FFs as they were are pretty much gone, nothing is going to change that, and i hardly find it fair that we rate 13 based on our preconceptions of a FF title. We need to take a look at the game itself, not the name on the box. Just think, if it didn't say FF on the back would it have gotten higher reviews? I daresay it would.

6 up, 4 down

SvenMD
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 8:27:13 AM

Kiwi - it's not fair, but it's impossible not to compare it to other games in the franchise.

I realize that each FF is a NEW adventure, but it's the same series. And I compare Uncharted 2 to Uncharted:Drake's Fortune; and we compared GoWIII with GoW I and II - it's just the way we talk about franchises.

And I agree that if this was a new IP, then I actually think it would score higher, because it is a good game....but it's not as good as past FF games...so the score goes down. If you gave FFX or XII a 9.5 - then how can you give this game a 9.5 if it isn't as good as either of those games?

6 up, 0 down

Mr Bitey
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 8:34:20 AM

This has happaned with every release since x....

X - everyone complained it was too linear
XI - everyone complained it was an MMO
XII - everyone complained about the battle system
XIII - everyone is complaining about the battle system and it's too linear
XIV - everyone is complaining it's an MMO

They're all great games and very unique in their own way. I'm glad that SE is willing to take some risks with the franchise and try new things. They've ended up creating some masterpieces in the process.

The fact that peoples opinion is so mixed, highlights that the games are not easily digestible, they're breaking the mold and doing something different.

Last edited by Mr Bitey on 3/17/2010 8:34:52 AM

9 up, 0 down

chedison
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 8:38:23 AM

the difference is these games have nothing to do with each other (save X and X-2). All the games you mentioned have the same protagonist, or the same interlocking story.

0 up, 2 down

darxed
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 10:46:22 AM

@Adam
You're right, and before that it was:
VII - complaints It was too futuristic and too much manga style.
VIII - complaints about the junction system and characters not being cute and small.
IX - complaints about not being futuristic and characters being superdeformed again.

Every new FF game has people not liking the changes made in regards to the previous iteration, but I think that's the strength of the franchise. It constantly reinvents itself garnering strengths with each game.

7 up, 0 down

Mr Bitey
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:11:13 PM

darxed,

Ha. Very good points.

2 up, 0 down

Mr Bitey
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 8:29:46 AM
Reply

I'm really enjoying 13. I think the battle system is great. It's basically the same battle system, only you're fighting in a different capacity - using roles instead of individual commands. What you ends up with, is the most fluid, fast pace, streamlined battle system in rpg history. As streamlined as it all is, it still retains it's strategic elements.

The cast and story are fantastic also.

I'll admit, it is extremely linear, which is a little bit of let down. All in all though, it's one of the best RPGs this gen.

7 up, 0 down

chedison
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 8:49:41 AM

(btw my above comment was @SvenMD)

I was about to make a comment saying pretty much everything you mentioned so I just decided to say "I agree with everything."

I also think the battle system, as far as controlling only one single character, as I'm playing, help become more engaged in the character I'm controlling. Instead of commanding a group like in previous FF titles.

Last edited by chedison on 3/17/2010 8:50:45 AM

1 up, 0 down

Mr Bitey
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 9:23:47 AM

No worries. And I think you're right. Even though you are only in direct control of one character, you do control the rest of your team through role changes. Its' weird, but it's great at the same time.

2 up, 0 down

kraygen
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 2:43:37 AM

You say this is one of the best rpgs of this generation.

I have to ask, what makes FFxiii a rpg?

In my opinion, simply because they call it one doesn't make it so. I have read several things about ffxiii that says it's not a rpg. Today does have very loose terms as to what an rpg is, but even if you can still feel comfortable calling it an rpg, it's definitely not a jrpg.

0 up, 0 down

SvenMD
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 8:41:34 AM
Reply

There's another thing that I've noticed about this game...since most of what we are talking about is a departure from the series prior.

What about other species?? I'm not talking about monsters... I'm talking about the Ronso, the Viera, and what about FFIX - there were about 10 different races in that game, and your main character had a freakin' tail! And am I missing them or are there no moogles in this game? I just think these are staples of FF games...and once again....they're MIA.

4 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 9:06:56 AM
Reply

Thanks again for the double reviews guys, my thoughts later if I have any. It's 9AM and the rhythm is eventually gonna get you.

0 up, 0 down

DeathOfChaos
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 9:13:45 AM
Reply

Why can't someone put a real grade on this? It should get a 5/10 because it's only half a game...if you can even call it half...

4 up, 5 down

TEG3SH
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 9:15:01 AM
Reply

@ arnold

isn't that wat konami is trying to do with the new metal gear solid rising ?????
thats why i think 4 is gonna be the last great MGS

2 up, 0 down

JPBooch
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 9:17:05 AM
Reply

This isn't a complaint, but so much a comment / question. Why is it I was told to buy the XBox version of Dragons Age and Bayonetta, yet there is no reference to which one I should buy for this game?

I haven't played any game of the final fantasy series since I was a kid on the Gameboy. The game will probably knock my socks off since I have nothing to compare it to and can take it for what it is. Both reviews by Ben and Arnold seem to have it losing marks because of it's departure from the series.

Last edited by JPBooch on 3/17/2010 9:18:56 AM

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:23:54 PM

I think it's more than merely a departure from the series. The game is supposed to be an RPG, but SE has 'evolved' the game into something different. I'm not sure that they are developing the RPG genre so much as they are transitioning FF away from the RPG genre.

As for which version to select, the PS3 version without a doubt. The PS3 version renders gameplay at 720p and cutscenes at 1080p. The Xbox360 version renders gameplay in 576p and the cut scenes on the 360 are also in 576p. So there is a substantial visual gap between the two versions. Other than that it appears that the two versions are more or less the same.

1 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:57:07 PM

don't forget the audio is much worse on the 360 version too. The game is hugely compressed over all.

Damn those blue ray discs! if it wasn't for superior technology the game would have been designed around inferior DVDs and been better! ;)

Last edited by Jawknee on 3/17/2010 12:58:00 PM

2 up, 1 down

Mamills
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 9:22:29 AM
Reply

well said man well said. this review sais it all i have nothing to add. im almost done FF13 (quite frankly this will be the shortest FF for me to beat. they usually last me a month. this didnt last a week.) gonna just trade it in and get resonance of fate.

1 up, 0 down

Scarecrow
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 9:34:28 AM
Reply

I can finally say it

It's official, WKC > FFXIII :)

6 up, 7 down

darxed
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 11:09:24 AM

Well maybe it should say
"It's official, WKC > FFXIII FOR ME"

There, fixed it for you...

7 up, 1 down

kraygen
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 2:47:17 AM

I'd say at least WKC is a true jrpg. While ffxiii is grasping for a genre to belong to.

0 up, 0 down

Irievibes
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 4:40:53 PM

pleasently surprised myself at just how much of an jrpg it actually was, kinda meh at first but once you get into it and crafting and such , it really picks up, the online quests are fun and leevel 5 will put new quests in for free every few weeks, free dlc? YES THANK YOU! YUMMYYYYY imo , they deserve the support even if you buy it later cheaper i recomend people with their jrpg fix to try it

also, feel free to add me ingame anyone playing it
lcl22.ville is my georama, but not gonna lie , havent played lately , but i swear , its kratos's fault!

0 up, 0 down

FullmetalX10
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 9:35:09 AM
Reply

I visited my friend yesterday to check it out, and dam was I annoyed by both vanille and hope, she was just really annoying, with her over excitedness and moaning during battles and whatnot, ok that last one wasn't that bad... And hope being all emo and such *sigh*
I'll still borrow it from him and play through it.

Anyways, great review Arnold, at least I know now to just sit through those first hours.

0 up, 0 down

Scarecrow
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 9:54:01 AM

lol...
Everyone hates Vanille!

2 up, 1 down

Jawknee
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:33:55 PM

I don't.

2 up, 0 down

TEG3SH
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 10:07:30 AM
Reply

i love vanilla i hate strawberry.lol

Last edited by TEG3SH on 3/17/2010 10:08:23 AM

2 up, 0 down

NeoHumpty
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 10:18:51 AM
Reply

Wow. I'm about 30+ hours into the game, and I can't believe you and Ben are rating this game below WKC, Bioshock 2 AND MW2. I'm a bit of a FF fanboy, I suppose. But, I went into this game knowing it wasn't going to be like I-IX. I haven't liked X-XII very much, even though I played them all to different degrees. But an 8.1? I'm guessing that you and Ben are hoping that SE will read these reviews and say "Well, I guess we should go back to the old style".

WKC may be a great game, but I couldn't get past the first 5 hours of whiny characters and boring fights. Other than a few spots of pretty scenery I couldn't find anything to like about it. Yeah, thumb me down if you need to, but IMO FF XIII beats all of these games hands down.

Don't take it personally, I love your reviews. I'm just afraid that you are talking people out of trying it that would like it if they go in with the right mindset. It is easily in my top 5 for this generation of consoles. Will I put 500+ hours into it like I did VII? Probably not. But an 8.1 makes it sound horrible. Will you die alot? Probably. But what fun is farming and leveling if you can't see yourself getting stronger?

Bottom line, I know that you are down rating it compared to the other FF games, but looking at the scores of other franchises this game should have easily passed several. It is a very polished game that any RPG fan should give a try. I've been lost in it ever since I popped it in.

6 up, 1 down

darxed
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 10:40:00 AM

Yeah, I think a lot of the negative press about this game comes from comparing it from the others in the franchise, not from anything really wrong with this game. I mean every negative about the game is something like "It's a great game, but no towns" or "It's a great game, but too linear" or "It's a great game, but I was expecting something different"...

Anyways, completely agree with you, thumbs up...

6 up, 1 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:25:00 PM

I know what you're saying, but there's a definite lack of pacing, the camera and controls are far from perfect, and when I can finish a battle without even ONCE seeing what skill I selected, I call that a step backwards in both the Final Fantasy and the RPG realm.

Not that we don't "recommend" it. But we have to point these things out.

7 up, 0 down

NeoHumpty
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:41:05 PM

I gotcha. I don't care much for the camera myself. Of course, I still miss the old 2D days. Most 3D games' cameras give me a headache. I'm so old. I just think it's rated a little low for the amount of gameplay and enjoyment I'm finding in it.

1 up, 0 down

darxed
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:46:25 PM

@NeoHumpty

I agree... I think that if you take those technical issues in consideration, Ben's grade was spot on, but 8.1 is a little too harsh...

2 up, 0 down

johnld
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 3:38:14 PM

@Ben
The one good thing about that kind of combat is level grinding can be done with less effort. I watched 2 old jackie chan movies yesterday while level grinding using picture in picture. I never got bored one bit, hahaha. was always bored level grinding but right now i dont mind it. But its definitely a bad move by square enix.

Last edited by johnld on 3/17/2010 3:39:35 PM

1 up, 0 down

kraygen
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 2:54:30 AM

@ neohumpty

I have to question something in your statement. You claim that they are convincing people not to play it with their low scores. Do you think that for games in general 8.1/10 is a low score? I've played many games with a score like this and loved them.

I guess I'm saying that I don't think an 8 out of 10 is bad by any means. It's above average and I just think that it's a very healthy score. I know I've never been deterred by a game getting such a score.

0 up, 0 down

Irievibes
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 4:36:05 PM

well , tbh, the story at first is gay, and your characters dont have the amouht of skills and AC yet tto make fun and productive combos to grind with..

the game DOES NOT handhold you, talk to people you will learn more in a day than the entire games worth of tutorials, did you know that the more armor you have on you and heavier it is, the slower you atack?

you WILL run into enemies where you have to make use of their weakness to certain types of atack but the game wont tell you wich,you have to thnk ahead find out the mobs weaknesss and have a few combos and moves with that strenght already memorized

the onine play is a great addition, ive never seen it approached in that way..

i thnk if they make a better story and a less complicated crafting system (binding has soooooooooo many recipes and so many weapons and armors its overwhelming, time consiming too as you have to upgrade weapons to use them to forge better weapons but the really unique stuff is there)

all in all , i can only fault wkc for the story wich is cliche and a tad cheesy, but the stuff that defines an rpg is there , but the game does a poor job of explaining all this stuff with it, lots of info ont he ingame mesage boards too wich is another good point about the online part to it...

0 up, 0 down

XxNoir
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 10:28:37 AM
Reply

Final fantasy versus 13 save us!!!!!!!

From the start versus has always looked more interesting to me.The character design,Visual style,dark bleak atmosphere shown in the trailers,& the romeo+juliet theme(Feel's like something tragic might happen,FF7 anyone?).

Let us not also forget two important things about it:

1)The return of our beloved world map.

2)Its being directed by tetsyu numora.

Final Fantasy versus 13 will redeem the Final Fantasy name.

Last edited by XxNoir on 3/17/2010 10:31:07 AM

5 up, 0 down

NeoHumpty
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 11:15:42 AM

I still don't know anything about Versus, so thanks for the heads-up. I haven't even seen screens of it yet. Sounds promising, though.

1 up, 0 down

darxed
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 11:32:36 AM

I loved the first trailer of versus, with the opera playing in the background, really looking forward to versus too...

2 up, 0 down

darxed
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 10:33:36 AM
Reply

Great review Arnold, although I think I'm noticing a trend regarding this game and it's reviews (Yours and Ben's included). It's like "Well It's a great game, easily a 9+.... But it's called Final Fantasy so let's take a point down from that". I don't know if that's the right thing to do, I mean, If the game was really bad you wouldn't give it a free pass because It was a Final Fantasy, so is it okay to do the opposite? rate the game down because of the expectations that were build upon the franchise and the nostalgia that all of us feel towards it? One of the things that annoy me the most in gaming is when a so called journalist (not you guys of course) says that the Final Fantasy franchise needs to die after so many SEQUELS, cause we all know that every game in the roman numbered order is completely different from the other ones, so, why keep punishing this one for the differences it has with the other ones? I think that we should all take the game for what it is, a great game that starts off slow and gets you really hooked along the way, giving you at least 60+ hours of entertainment... I mean, isn't that enough?

4 up, 4 down

NeoHumpty
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 11:11:54 AM

Well put. May I add that I do think this is the best FF since IX. It's been a while since they made one that sucked me in this well.

3 up, 0 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:23:19 PM

In some ways, I agree with you. As I said in my review, it's tough for me to take the approach I did.

But the bottom line is that we hold Final Fantasy to a certain standard. I think we all do. And when we review games, we DO have to compare and contrast; in this case, we'd compare to other games on the market but also to other entries in the series. Isn't it important to note how a new installment in a franchise compares to the past? We HAVE to examine that.

5 up, 1 down

darxed
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:43:37 PM

@Ben

Yeah, I get what you're saying. I agree that you have to compare the games, what I don't agree with is with downgrading a game for reasons like nostalgia of unfulfilled hype. I brought this up here and not in your review cause it seemed to me that you really tried to judge the game in it's own merits, while Arnold slammed it more because of the reasons I explained in the OP. I still think your reviews are the best I've read of the game, far, far away from reviews like "oooohhh it's final fantasy, soooo pretty, let's give it 100!" and the "linear, no towns and going to the 360? suxor!, no way it's getting more than a 7!" (or more recently, 4 from destructoid, what was that guy smoking?), So I have no beef with you guys. I'm still waiting for my copy to arrive (this friday, FINALLY!) so I'll finally get to have my own impressions with the game. I'll try to follow your lead and judge the game for what it is and not for what the franchise has done and delivered this past twenty years, I know I'll enjoy it more that way...

Last edited by darxed on 3/17/2010 12:50:04 PM

3 up, 0 down

ArnoldK PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 2:57:01 PM

I definitely didn't base my review on nostalgia. Had that been the case, I'd have given Final Fantasy X a lower score back in 2001, because it also did something a little different than the three FF games before it. But I didn't do that, because FFX was still very much a true J-RPG.

Nostalgia has nothing to do with it. My gripes with this game are legitimate game design issues.

Last edited by ArnoldK PSXE on 3/17/2010 2:57:36 PM

5 up, 0 down

kraygen
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 3:01:13 AM

@ Arnold

I have to agree with you there. Personally I think an rpg that is designed around a party, but allows a game over after the death of one party member, should automatically drop it to a 9/10 score based on that alone. Ultra poor design. It negates the entire point of having a party.

I also would knock off .5 for having a battle system that is designed to keep you focused on bars and not the gameplay.

No one has said that these complaints are not true so I have to believe them, so those two issues alone would make me rate the game an 8.5.

I think it was a great review and think that even though the game maybe incredibly fun, it still has some serious design flaws.

0 up, 0 down

XxNoir
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 11:19:07 AM
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@NeoHumpty

Go on youtube and look up Final fantasy versus 13,you'll probably find 2 or 3 trailers,looks very promising.

2 up, 0 down

NeoHumpty
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:42:53 PM

On my way there now. Thanks.

0 up, 0 down

BikerSaint
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 2:56:34 PM

Hey XxNoir,
You still looking for "The Lion King"????
I've got it on VHS if you want it.

1 up, 0 down

Douchebaguette
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 11:21:02 AM
Reply

Right, just passed the 20 hour mark and have finally reached a place with people. And crowds. Without disorder or preperation for battle. A place that reminds me of a town.

HA. For some odd reason I was enjoying the linearity; the game is actually surprisingly one of my favourites [played IV - XII if you think I'm on crack].

Although there are some notable flaws [such as the terrible hand / shoulder graphics, the bad logic of characters when trying to emotionally explain their principles & the pansy voice acting], it's pretty much all about how the game entrances you. FFXIII does this pretty well. ... =D

Also I admit FFXIII has probably the best battle / character growth system.

'tis a good season.

0 up, 2 down

Douchebaguette
Wednesday, April 28, 2010 @ 7:51:50 AM

Damn. Can't believe I said that. Once your stop playing and the taste comes out of your mouth it's a pretty forgetful game. Certainly isn't one of my favourites.

0 up, 0 down

XxNoir
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 3:42:46 PM
Reply

@BikerSaint

I really appreciate it,that's very kind of you;However I don't own a VHS player anymore.I haven't used one in a very long time.

Thank you!

1 up, 0 down

BikerSaint
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 6:19:25 PM
Reply

XxNoir,
OK, no problem then.

BTW, I always hit a few hospital sponsored thrift shops for VHS(50 cents) & DVD(3.00) movies, to add to my movie collection. So I'll also keep a watch out for the DVD copy & I'll post back again if I find it.

0 up, 0 down

Drodin
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 6:37:12 PM
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I am kind of disappointed in the 'low' scores given in both reviews, too many points taken away from what it isn't than given to it for what it is. I agree with many of the complaints, it's not perfect or exactly what I wanted but a lot of other aspects were much better than I expected. I don't think we'll ever see a console RPG ever come close to what the PS2/PS1 had in terms of gameplay, so it's not really FFXIII's fault just because it has a name linking it back to those glory days. From what I've played so far (a lot) it's the best RPG of the generation.

Anyone who has liked ALL FF games up to this point should be aware of the changes that take place in each iteration, and can still get a ton of enjoyment out of this game. If you were to plot the changes from FFX to FFXII on a graph somehow, FFXIII would be right on that line about the same distance from 12 as 12 was from 10. So yes it's different but it's not-not an RPG, thats for sure.

No matter the differences I still feel the same FF feel with this game. There is just something about it that WKC or other current gen RPGs just can't match in terms of completeness and polish. I just don't see how this game can get anything under a 9.

1 up, 1 down

kraygen
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 3:05:15 AM

@ Drodin

your comment, "I don't think we'll ever see a console RPG ever come close to what the PS2/PS1 had in terms of gameplay,"

I have to ask why not? Next gen is supposed to offer something better than the previous generation, so why is a step down in terms of gameplay acceptable?

0 up, 0 down

Drodin
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 11:11:57 AM

It's just the way developers are today. Consoles have so much power that I guess they feel the need to make use of every last part of it.

I think it was in an article I read here that mentioned Turn Based combat was just out of necessity of the system capabilities of the time, and some developer saying something along the lines of having the characters just stand there was 'awkward'.
I miss turn based as much as anyone but I have pretty much given up hope for any full fledged, massive current gen RPG to take up such an allegedly archaic battle system. My last hope is now for a new Suikoden game or Legend of Dragoon sequel, or the long shot of the FFVII remake.

So while FFXIII isn't straight up turn based, it's about as good as we can hope for anymore. FF games also kind of set the standard so developers would see the classic gameplay of the last gen as a step down, not the other way around. So unless some small developer wants to take a chance and 'step down' I just don't see how we'll ever get a game like that again.
I hope I am wrong.

0 up, 0 down

chicko1983
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 11:19:32 PM
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Im so happy I have been able to keep my boycott of this game alive.
If it was a decent game then it would have been much harder.
I hope SE have realised that going multiplatform has put a serious dent in the reputation of this once great franchise.

1 up, 2 down

Arvis
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 9:06:48 AM

Good man. Play White Knight Chronicles or Resonance of Fate, instead.

http://www.gametrawler.com/node/30

-Arvis

0 up, 1 down

The CEO
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 11:16:39 AM
Reply

Played it and kept grinding to level up(boring),had all weapons maxed out just to get stuck on Orphan. This game was work not fun. Boss battles were cheap dirty fighters. One hit your dead. Im looking at you Barthandelus and Orphan you sorry S.O.B.'s. Needless to say I traded it back in for God of War 3. I will never look forward to another FF game again because they ruined it. I hope Versus XIII is an action game I am sick of Square Enix RPGs.

1 up, 0 down

Voyager236
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 11:45:01 AM
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Why this game cannot be considered a true Final Fantasy? Only because is different from the others, like to be extremely linear and other things? This is an absurd !!!
FFXI is completely different, its a MMORPG and is a Final Fantasy too. It's ridiculous consider this characteristics to low the score of this game, fanboys!!!

Last edited by Voyager236 on 3/18/2010 11:47:54 AM

0 up, 0 down

Arvis
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 1:49:15 PM

Nobody considers FFXI to be a true Final Fantasy either, so... bad example.

-Arvis

1 up, 0 down

Banky A
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 1:25:59 PM
Reply

Thanks for your take Arnold. I actually read all of it this time haha ;)

0 up, 1 down

xXxSeTTriPxXx
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 1:58:26 PM
Reply

FF can't be compared to other FF,the only thing that links FF is,(vaguely speaking)turn based combat and leveling up and the name of course.everything else is different.in the case of a ff game it's not which battle system is the best or witch leveling system is the best etc.it's which one you like the best.(for example)i thought that the sphere grid was the best way to lvl up in any final fantasy but my cousin loves the draw system in FF8 (and i hate the draw system).i think thats one of the problems with FF,it trys to be something different every installment.so if you fall in love with a particular FF,and the next one doesn't feel anything like it,you'll say wtf is this.this doesn't feel like the game/franchise i fill in love with.i love all FF I'VE PLAYED FROM 6-13.because i don't judge them by what it's predecessor did,i judge them on their own merits.

0 up, 0 down

Voyager236
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 2:09:57 PM
Reply

"Nobody considers FFXI to be a true Final Fantasy either, so... bad example."

Arvis, don't say it for the others. Even if many people don't consider, its a FF too. What makes a FF a Final Fantasy are the worlds with some few similarities like crystal things, the appearing of Chocobos after the first ones, etc. Combat system, linearity, level up and these things don't identify a Final Fantasy, for the games changes a lot between one and another. You are complaining about this and you'll complaining about versus XIII because this games will be nothing similar to your favorites Final Fantasies. Wrong score for this game, sorry pal.

1 up, 1 down

Arvis
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 3:46:31 PM

No, I'm not trying to be a jerk, dude. Just ask anyone: Final Fantasy XI doesn't count. It doesn't count. It's not actually a Final Fantasy game. End of story.

Final Fantasy XIII actually IS a Final Fantasy game, and thus is held to a higher standard. Hence, the lower scores. 8.1 is the "wrong score?" Well... it's right around what EVERY OTHER CRITIC is giving it. So, your agenda is going to be a hard sell. You may as well accept it.

I want people to play Resonance of Fate, but it's poorly-timed release date and TOTAL lack of media coverage will ensure that nobody heeds my words. And sadly I have to accept that, too. Even if the game is a much better RPG than FFXIII tries to be.

-Arvis

1 up, 0 down

Irievibes
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 4:28:38 PM

well you sold one , i will try any rpg these days, they seem to be a dying breed

1 up, 0 down

xXxSeTTriPxXx
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 2:27:47 PM
Reply

@ voyager236 i agree with what your saying.only a few similarities stay the same in any giving FF game,so how can you compare them?..how can you say,this is not like FF or this one doesn't have that FF feel when their all different?...no towns and shops is a understandable complaint,but besides that it sounds like you want FF to be something it has never been,the same as it's predecessors.nostalgia for your favorite FF seems to be @ the helm of this score.

0 up, 0 down

KillerBrew
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 3:25:34 PM
Reply

I want my golden Chocobo back that I can ride around on. I believe FF VII had the best story and gameplay out of all the FF games. It just had a broader exploration feeling too it, I pretty much could explore all parts of the world and I could also find hidden items and parts of the world that were hidden. I hope SE brings back that feeling of exploration that all JRPG's have had, I hate this linear path and no since of exploration. I also want the old battle system back where you can choose what your party does and not this automated crap. I mean come on you die game over, what crap is that. I mean I like the game don't get me wrong bu I would like it better if they stuck with the older stuff and enhanced it.

Last edited by KillerBrew on 3/18/2010 3:29:53 PM

0 up, 0 down

Irievibes
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 4:26:49 PM

KOTRT materia, nuff said, you had to do SOOOOOOO much to get that, but in the end , it didnt get any more kick ass than that..

(knights of the old round table materia for the uninformed or people that didnt play VII)

THATS the stuff i want on my rpgs, not hours of cheese just to try and give me an eyegasm with million dollar a minute cgi's

0 up, 0 down

cris
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 3:35:52 PM
Reply

Well, for me this game just totally blows away Final Fantasy XII. This is mainly because I play Final Fantasy for the story and of course the battles. Though saying the story is really important to me, Final Fantasy XII really wasn't much of a Final Fantasy game for me. I only played FFX, FFVII, FFXII and FFXIII of course, in all the Final Fantasy games except for XII I played there was a great story. As for the beginning and the characters being split up alot, I actually liked that. I don't really know why, but that doesn't matter to me. For me the game also was boring in the beginning. Mainly because the story was really hard to understand at that point.

The battle system works good enough, though I really hoped for he same battle system as in FFX. That was the best system for me and u had time to develop a strategy. In this game there isnt much of a strategy in battles as its mainly getting the enemies to stagger and them finish them off by just mashing that x butten like crazy.

I do like the paradigm system and to me its not annoying at all that I have to switch the paradigms every battle. This is because its happens really fast and youll do it automatic after a certain amount of hours spent in the game.

The linearity is great in my opinion. It kinda is the same as in FFX. It is also better to the story in my opinion. As in FFXII, I totally forgot the story some times because I spent an hour finding a hunt mark and then If I didn't find a teleport crystal, I would have to walk for 10 minutes just getting back to Rabanastre(which was a great town and they should have something like it in FFXIII)

The weapon upgrade system is a bit vague to me as I really dont know what I'm doing. That must be me but it works till now, but getting the items to upgrade it requires much time. As it's almost impossible to earn any gil in this game.

I still think it is a great game and as a FF fan I had to check it out. Boy am I happy I did that.

0 up, 0 down

cris
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 3:54:20 PM
Reply

Since I couldn't edit my comment somehow I geuss I will just make a new one. I honestly don't know why it gets such a high score at replay value. I must say the first hours were kind of boring and I really dont see a point in doing it all again. If anyone knows why its worth the trouble playing the first hours again I would like to hear it. Ill probably end up playing it again anyways but I don't really have a reason why I would. Final Fantasy X had the monster arena or the no sphere grid challenge. This game doesnt really offer that kind of replay value.

0 up, 0 down

Araknai
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 4:11:18 PM
Reply

What's the BFD with dying alot? Challenging fights make a game fun and there isn't even any real penalty for losing! you get to hit retry when you die c'mon, enough bi***ing!

FFXII was one of my least favorite FFs and WKC has been shit for the first 5-7 hrs. Sure FFXIII isn't like others in the franchise but I think it has a story to rival VII's. I love the battle system and am loving this game.

Seems to me it's all "It doesn't let me do what I want to do so I hate it"; a 7 yr old's mind set. Play the game for what it is and you'll likely enjoy the sh** out of it.

0 up, 0 down

xXxSeTTriPxXx
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 7:42:05 PM
Reply

and thats what i did.i enjoyed the game for what it was and not for what other FF entries were.i wish i could have a FFx everytime they release another entry in the series (it was my favorite) but thats not going to happen.so it,is what it is.this is a great game to me and to judge it by what another FF did,is ridiculous in my eyes,when no two FF are the same to began with.

0 up, 0 down

unfriend
Friday, March 19, 2010 @ 4:16:40 AM
Reply

Im about 8 hours in and I hope you are right, and it does get better.

Last edited by unfriend on 3/19/2010 4:20:17 AM

0 up, 0 down

OriginalSin
Friday, March 19, 2010 @ 6:56:34 AM
Reply

I might get it at some stage when it goes platinum or when I can get it in a bargain bin. From everything I have read I am just so disappointed that it has "strayed" so far away from the FF I use to love and enjoy and spend hours on end just exploring and doing stuff on the world map and in towns that I think I might just leave it for now, and save myself the heart-ache...

I hear that FFXIII Versus might have a world map and town return....? So I will rather wait another 5 years until that releases and hope for the best. Or even wait till one miraculous day the remake FFVII... Until then I will get my RPG fix somehwre else.

Sorry guys but that's how I feel. And that's my opinion for now...

0 up, 1 down

Knightedrik
Friday, March 19, 2010 @ 7:37:45 AM
Reply

@ Ben

Couldn't have said it better myself.

0 up, 0 down

wraith7lord
Friday, March 19, 2010 @ 8:13:31 AM
Reply

Very good review, and it mirrors most of my complaints of the game...

I'd also like to mention the injustice that has been done to White Knight Chronicles around the interwebs with poor reviews. In my opinion, WKC is a MUCH better game, from an RPG standpoint. Yes, it has its own set of issues, but as far as a game that's just really fun to play, it hits the mark. Unfortunately, I know a lot of people who probably won't give it a try (I was almost one of those people) simply because there have been so many negative reviews.

Trading my copy of XIII for GOW III today. At least I know I'll be getting an action-adventure game that doesn't pretend to be something else!

0 up, 0 down

Voyager236
Friday, March 19, 2010 @ 8:33:23 AM
Reply

If you read this review, don't pay attention for the score. Final Fantasy XIII is a game completely different from the others. In the game, your characters are hunted for all people around the world, they are hated. For this, it's impossible to walk freely around the world. The plot is different from the JRPGs you're used to view, so play it with an open mind and free of clichés.

0 up, 0 down

cris
Friday, March 19, 2010 @ 9:57:35 AM
Reply

I understand people give it lower grades because its so much different from other entries in the series. But what I don't understand is that it's mostly rated lower because its different. Not because it's bad or whatsoever. The ONLY dissapointment I have, is that Final Fantasy XIII is a bit to much button bashing, especially early on, just bashing x makes u win every battle. Also sometimes annoyed by the fact there are so many monsters on gran pulse that own my ass but that's not really a complaint now is it :)

0 up, 0 down

Irievibes
Friday, March 19, 2010 @ 11:40:56 AM

perhaps its more of a thing about it being an action game "disguised" as an rpg, ir it would have been announced to us right of the start when they were making it 4 years ago that it was gonna be less rpg and more dressing, you think people would have waited and bought it after 4 years?

i know i wouldnt have...and havent yet, probably wont until i see it cheap for $30 or less, but i think thats where most off the negativism towards the game people have stems from..

0 up, 0 down

Drodin
Saturday, March 20, 2010 @ 10:51:31 AM

@ Irievibes

I would say even calling this game an 'action-rpg' would be a stretch. To me its more traditional RPG than even WKC or Dragon Age. Both of those are much more button-mashy and MMO like when it comes to that part of the game. Yea they have towns and a little more freedom, but I often forget what my goal is during those games. FFXIII offers a superior story and combat system IMO, the linearity is not much of a weakness to the game.

In FFXIII battles have a traditional intro and exit screen and don't take place in the exact place they are encountered. Combat might be a little fast paced but it is intuitive and you can slow the ATB gauge to pick your abilities just like most FF games in the past, without much consequence to the clock (aside from maybe the * rating at the end). The AI/AutoBattle command is very intelligent most of the time. Although the lack of full party control is annoying.

0 up, 0 down

Bandit King
Friday, March 19, 2010 @ 10:01:12 AM
Reply

A socre is just a number, personally you make valid statements and I can see why you feel as you do. Though I don't agree with your overall opinion because I am really enjoying XIII so far and it may end up being in my top 5 favorites in the series by the time I am done (for reference my top 3 are FF6, FF7, FF8). I like XIII a lot more then I did FFX after putting the same ammount of time in, so as far as Im converned its an improvement over 10.

0 up, 0 down

cris
Friday, March 19, 2010 @ 10:21:00 AM

How come u say that? What is so much better than ffx? I'm Dying to know as ffx was my personal favourite :)

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Final Fantasy XIII Review

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