When I bought my Playstation 3, just a few weeks ago, I knew right away that my first game would be Final Fantasy XIII, in spite of all the criticisim from critics and fans. For the first 5 hours, the game, if not for the beautiful cutscenes and story, was for me quite boring and tedious. However, once I started to be given more Paradigms, which is the basis of the ATB battle system, battles became more fun and less tedious. After the 10 or 15 hour mark, I was thoroughly enjoying each battle, as each battle was different from the last. I rarely had, early in the game, to do any grinding to continue through the game, but in Chapter 10, the game suddenly became excruciantingly difficult, and I had to do hours of tedious grinding to handle a the chapter's second Boss Battle. After that, the game went back to its usual fun and engaging self. Putting that aside, the story in Final Fantasy XIII is great. It is wonderfully crafted and was almost (but not quite) in the level of the Metal Gear Series in terms os storytelling. I found all the Playable Characters great and engaging. I know that most people complain about Vanille's personality and voice, but I actually found her to be the most likable character in the game, and from the very moment she began to talk she made me smile. Lightning, Snow, Hope and Sazh were great characters, and their voice actors were excellent. Fang herself is also perhaps the second most charismatic character of the cast. As for the Secondary Characters, I was very dissappointed for the lack of development they were given, especially Cid Rains and Galenth Dysley. In graphics, I think its the best game yet. The enviroments, cutscenes and especially the character models, are beautiful and detailed. The characters themselves look extremelly realistic, even in cutscenes with the in-game engine. The only moment in which I found the graphics a little bland was in the Vile Peaks, where I saw many low resolution enviroments and objects. The rest of the areas were amazing, especially the "Lake Bresha", "Palamecia", "Eden" and "Nautilus". The soundtrack is great, but not the best in the series. I think it should have been more orchestral and less eletronic, and a few of the tracks became too repetitive for my taste. The best songs for mewere "Fighting Fate", "Born Anew" and "Fang's Theme". The voice acting was excellent all around, although on a few, small ocasions, the lips movements were not according to the words said. The battle system is most of the time fun, and it's both fast paced and strategic. The game is, until Chapter 11, very linear, but I didn't find it as extremelly linear as some critics said, and I think that the linearity can be excused thanks to the fun that the battle system gives. Also, about the lack of towns, well, I wasn't so annoyed at this after I realised that there were towns, just without NPCs and Shops, and that they were fun to see and explore. In conclusion, Final Fantasy XIII is a great, fun, beautiful game, with just a few small flaws that, thankfully, don't ruin the experience. I don't think it's the best of the series, in fact, I think that Final Fantasy XII was a lot better, but it is still excellent andnot nearly as bad as some critics said.… Expand

While still playing this game, I can assure you that Square-enix took one step in the right direction. In Final Fantasy XIII you will find everything a game should have: Great story, well-developed and compelling characters, stunning enviroments, one of the best musical scores of the series, entertaining battle system, and DIFFICULTY. Every role is vital, and strategies are key for some battles. For those who like to compare FFXIII to other FFS just remember how great were FFVIII & FFVII, but how easy they were as well. I found that FFXIII is the oppossite of FFXII. Whereas FFXII gave you the freedom you 'need', tons of quests, it offered, IMO, the weakest story and character development of the series. In contrast, FFXIII is brilliantly developed, as characters and story is concerned. Sure, some things can be improved, some towns and quest can be added, but I, for one, cannot complain, as this game exceeded my expectations and I can't wait for its sequel. It's not a 10, as I gave. I would probably rate it as a 9.5, but hey, some put 0s and 1s so I wanted to raise the user score.… Expand

I'm a bit disappointed by the bad reviews that this game has been given. It seems to me that they either didn't play the game long enough to get to the real meat and potatoes or they don't understand that each Final Fantasy game is unique in it's own right. Sure, I'd love to see the series go back to the battle and leveling systems of FFVII or FFVIII but I am also willing to try new things. Those of you who don't like this game really need to actually play from start to finish while keeping in mind that each game is its own experience. Anyways, back to my review of Final Fantasy XIII. Graphics: Final Fantasy XIII is the most visually impressive game on the PS3 to date. The game uses nearly 100 percent of the systems processing power and to great effect I might add. Character models are richly detailed, so much so that I found myself wide-eyed when I noticed things like realistic hair that moved naturally, individual strands of threading coming loose from clothing (Snows jacket for example) and facial hair to name a few things. The environments are lush, vibrant and incredibly detailed. Again, I found myself gawking at the impressive scenery that was paraded in front of my eyes. Enemy designs are varied and range from silly to incredible, especially the gigantic enemies found on Gran Pulse. All in all, it's safe to say this game is a technical milestone for the PS3 hardware. Story: To me, the characters were engaging and believable and the voice acting was some of the best I've seen in any game. Not wanting to give any spoilers for potential players I'll keep it short and simple. The plot is nothing compared to FFVII or FFVIII but great in it's own right. It can be confusing and sometimes contradictory but soon rights itself thanks to flashbacks and further explanations by both the characters and the Datalog that can be accessed from the menu. Gameplay: The reason I gave this game a 9 instead of a 10 rests in this area of the game (though I would have rather given it a 9.5 but didn't have that option). I like that I am able to see what I'm about to fight before engaging and enemies are easily respawned for your farming pleasure. The Active Time Battle (ATB) system gives the game a feeling of turn based combat with a dynamic and visually action-packed feel. However, the lack of party control and auto-pilot mode forced me to give this otherwise stellar game a slightly reduced score. For those who are still unfamiliar with Final Fantasy XIII's battle system I will explain it in a bit more detail. You control only one character at any given time and until Chapter 10 (out of 13 chapters) you have no control who that person will be. The other two characters are issued commands through the intuitive and rather ingenious Paradigm Shift system. There are six roles that can be assigned which each behave differently. Those roles are; Ravager, Commando, Sentinel, Saboteur, Synergist and Medic. Medics do exactly what their name implies, Synergists apply special status enhancements to your party like Haste and Protect, Saboteurs cast status ailments on your enemies, Sentinels are tanks who take the brunt of damage from enemies, Ravagers cast devastating magical spells and Commandos deal massive amounts of physical damage. While the AI is smart in that it knows what to do in these roles, it gives you little control over your party. I miss being able to control exactly what my party does. The Auto-Battle function leaves me with the feeling of not truly being in control of my party leader. Don't get me wrong, you are more than welcome to manually select your leaders attacks and spells but there are battles in the game where doing so could spell disaster. It's not that they are overly hard (though there are some tough battles) but the game is extremely fast paced and the enemies do not kindly pause while you select your attacks like in previous iterations. I'm also extremely disappointed in the fact that if your party leader dies it's game over, even if the other members are alive. You're actually the only one who can use the items in battle, the other members use whatever spells or abilities the situation calls for. The system works for the game but is a slight disappointment. For those that complain the game is too linear, that is true for the first half of the game. Once you are able to explore the beautiful regions and fight the towering enemies on Gran Pulse any feeling of linearity quickly fades. The first half of the game helps to immerse you in the rich storyline and character developements. Fans of FFX will loved the Crystarium. An improved version of the Sphere Grid it gives you control over what bonuses and spells you give to each characters roles instead of creating super characters who can do everything at once. I for one like having characters who excel in one thing at a time. Aside from the lack of party control and auto-pilot mode this game does everything superbly. And for those who complain that some bosses are too hard unless you know how to beat them you obviously haven't played other games in the genre. I like that this game makes you think and take advantage of strengths and weaknesses. Sound: As stated previously the voice acting is quite possibly the best in a game to date. I truly felt like the characters were real people with realistically portrayed emotions when the situation called for it. The game music was also incredible aside from 'My Hands' by Leona Lewis. I wish they had picked a different theme song but it at least worked and I found it struck an emotional chord when it played (though you didn't hear me say that!). Final Fantasy XIII is an amazing game that is a definite must buy for any fan of the Final Fantasy series or fan of RPGs in general. It does nearly everything right with exception to the battle system which could have been better but works with the fast paced battles in the game. This game gets my seal of approval and the game in my opinion is worthy of a Final Fantasy title no matter what those low rating blasphemers say. Enjoy my review and enjoy the game!… Expand

I wouldn't say I'm an avid FF fan. I've played about four of the games, and enjoyed every one immensely. This is no different. Sure, this game, at times, became 'boring'. But I use this word in its loosest sense. The game kept me on my feet, yearning for what was going to happen next. I enjoyed the character's stories and their relationships with others. Many people disliked the battle style, but I found it intriguing and different. So many games are just, *press b to slash* or *hit this button to use a special move*. But you actually had to use your brain for this. Tactics were needed instead of button mashing. I would have given this game a ten, hands down, but one thing. Towards the end, the story sidetracks, and you are placed in the middle of nowhere. You have to fight a billion (quite literally) monsters to be good enough to move on. It took me, personally, at least ten hours (also literally) to be even close to killing the monster in the next area. In some ways, I enjoyed this because I could see how much I improved not only by the amount of damage I could deal, but by the tactics I used. As soon as I finished the game, I immediately went to buy the next one. Final Fantasy XIII is not for everybody, I understand that. It makes you think, it keeps you on your toes, it incorporates a very different battle style to ones used so often today. If you like games that are straight forward, easy, and not satisfying, don't get this game. However, if you are like me, someone who likes to get into their games, who likes to wrap their minds around them, who likes to analyze them and work out the best possible strategy to defeat that certain enemy, buy this game right now. Heck, by a PS3 just to buy this game.… Expand

I got this the same day i got god of war 3 and i kid you not after playing the two, it took me 2 weeks to go back and play the GOW3. it is that good. A lot of people say the game is "linear" all because they are too used to running around like headless chickens for hours in free roaming games. honestly i think this game was brilliantly made so that if your the type of person thats in a hurry you can play through the the in 25 hours flat and move to something else. Then if you want to do all the sides missions all you have to do is turn around and take care of it. its that simple.
if you ask me.. I'd say whats the point going into areas where the bad guys will kill with one swipe at the start of the game? its not the regular cliche of boy meets girl, love and unicorns no. Its deeper than that.
And the battle system keeps you on your toes every second. If you thought Final fantasy X-2 was fast your in for a huge surprise.this game moves at a blistering pace. when i see games like fallout 3 rated at 90 and this beauty of a game given a measly 83 i'm crushed. Where have the real gamers gone..… Expand

Most in depth battle system Ive ever seen in an RPG maybe any game. A game clearly driven by its narrative the 1up review the best Ive seen. Is it linear? Yes, but I believe it served a purpose the second best RPG behind Valkyria Chronicles for me.

Okay, this isn't want everyone expected but several things you have to understand. It's not 1998 anymore, it's a completely new battle system. And if you were able to control all the players it wouldn't be the paradigm system at all. The linear storyline is to help newer fans know where to go, but the game isn't easy at all. You have to actually learn how to play and learn the system. If you go through the game in a good pace, it plays out well. This game is linear yes, but all RPGs are just their sandboxed most of the time. In my initial playthrough, I raced through it, and I started resenting the game because how hard it got during gran pulse, the doom clocks, and if the main character dies it's game over. But you can start right back where you left off, don't have to reload a save and waste hours. Many long time RPG fans have to realize that games like FFVII, Chrono Trigger, and other classics are considered dated game dynamics now. Even the reviews for the remake of DQVI pointed that out. We RPGers have to evolve, and this game is nowhere near as bad as crazy RPG fans think it should always stay the same. I love turned based, controlling all characters too, and free exploring and more eastern elements but you can't just rip on a game because it's not just like your dear favorites. As a hard core expert RPGer for 15 years I can say this game is a well worth edition. Just learn how to stagger and save your party, and then the game will be much more enjoyable.… Expand

It may not be a 10, but I can't bring myself to give it a 9. Beautiful look, fast pace fun battle, interesting story line. I haven't played that many FF games, but this has to be a benchmark in the FF series.

Final Fantasy XIII takes awhile to get the ball rolling but once you get in there's no coming back. The graphics are beautiful but that was almost a granted with this game, the battle system also takes a road somewhere between tradition FFX or FFVII battles and FFXII's complete departure. At first the game may seem simplistic but don't let that full you, I found it (in terms of pure enemy strength) to be the hardest in the series. However it is the least punishing as well, and deaths won't set you back to your last save point but right before the battle. The game walks you down a linear path in the beginning, but this helps more then it constricts. It lets you focus on becoming a master of the battle system before your thrown to the hellishly difficult open world where you'll die again, and again, and again. The story is certainly not the best in the series but it is still interesting with plenty of twists to keep you interested, also there is a ton of life in the game, enemy life mostly, but the world will always feel alive in some way. Finally I must state that I was disparaged with other reviews that criticize this game from departing from series trademarks like towns and airships. This new focus is more easy, all shopping is done through save points and teleporting around the world of Pulse means you'll never find yourself walking for 15 minutes just to get where you need to go. This is a bold step in the right direction for the series and Square Enix is best to ignore the detractors when making 13-2.… Expand

Perfect. The graphics were completely amazing, the battle system was just the way it was like before, storyline shocked me significantly through many changes, and it should be in part of Game of the Year. Not only that, I think the linear nature of the gameplay is still fine because although it wasn't challenge, it did make the gameplay more easier in my opinion and allows players to concentrate their battles on bosses more than the dungeon itself. That way, people can fight along the way than to just ignore them and get beaten… Expand

This is the best Final Fantasy game I have played in years, since FFVIII in fact. I love the old FF games. I've played FFIV and FF VI over and over again and was hesitant to get into this 'new fangled' game, but I ended up loving it. I know there has been a lot of criticism of the linear format of the game, but I actually liked it, I thought it worked. Besides, there is plenty of room for free, independent quests while completing the missions in Chapter 11.

The characters are cool, the battle system is fun and interesting and as a whole the game is challenging. I really like that the lead character is female, Lightning is great, the best lead I've seen in a long time, my favourite FF female since Celes in FF VI!

Looks wise this game is gorgeous and Masashi Hamauzu's fantastic soundtrack is haunting and memorable, I often found that the game's music was stuck in my head even when I wasn't playing the game.

I wasn't crazy about the fact that there were no towns and I had to get used to the upgrading system and how hard it is to get gil, I sort of wished that your levelling up didn't completely stop with the crystarium, but those are small flaws. I liked the freedom of not having to cure after every battle like in some of the previous FF games that had the player so dependent on buying items.

This game has restored my love for Final Fantasy and I can't wait for FF XIII-2… Expand

Linear some people say, but most of them had probably not finished the marks off. I think the game is well up there with most of the FF games with epic scenery´s, very good environment art work and a good story. However, I´m not fully satisfied with the characters personality wise even though the game overall did not let me down. I recommend this game, one of the best RPGs for sure for PS3.… Expand

Lets be honest, anyone who gives this game a bad score, has done so because it is a new direction for Final Fantasy. People expected something different. To me, the battle system has the feel of the old turn based FFs but faster, much faster., and the reason you control one character only is purely to keep the intense pace of the action running. It is a masterpiece of graphical art, the loading times are virtually none existant, and the story, fighting and cutscenes blend so well. There are many linear games out there that get top scores, this one is a frantic, beautiful, incredible piece of software in its own right, and is unmistakebly, still, a Final Fantasy game.… Expand

i'm a 100% ff fanboy no game gives me more hours of fun then final fantasy's.. for me 10 & 7 were my favourites and obviously i can't expect them to stick to the same routines lvl up, towns, run around spawning endlessly fights .. well all that said this game is totally different i've play maybe 6-7 hours and the graphics are brilliant as you would expect the story line is a little dull battle system is average but treat this game as a new rpg and not a final fantasy game and it makes it feel alot better.… Expand

good game

Very few games I've played can match up to the quality gaming Final Fantasy XIII. The linear complaints ae all empty, as the linearty helps you understand the plot and gameplay. The battle system is by far the best and most ineractive in a Final Fantasy. The plot will suck you in, and, by the time you've beaten the game, you'll want to do it all over again. The characters are, with a few exceptions, are well-explained and interesting, though maybe not the best. the graphics? This game is a techinical milestone for the entire gaming industry, as teh environment, character, and enemies are so beautiful you WILL try to walk into the TV due to the realism. Hands down, this is the best Final fantasy ever. If you're an RPG fan, or a fan of action games, or a gamer in general, try out Final Fantasy XIII. You may be disappointed due to the linearty in the first half, but other than that, you'll love it.… Expand

I am a old school Final Fantasy Player. I have played the original on the NES and have continued on all of the American Versions. I have retired on Final Fantasy and haven't played seriously since Final Fantasy 7. After about 13 years, I decided to play this one and I am extremely happy with it so far. I am about 10 hrs into the game and I recognize this highly as being Final Fantasy. People say that this game is linear, but this must be the new generation of kids talking. Every Final Fantasy has been linear(at least what I played so far) and I have no problem with them telling me the story. The real treat is in the fighting system. The fighting system is AWESOME! I love the Paradigm system and how it requires you to switch between different Paradigms to beat your enemies. It's all so fast pace, yet it's still turn based. Music so far is wonderful and the graphics are very detailed, not quite Uncharted level, but it's great.… Expand

Square Enix has taken a novel new approach to the design of their latest RPG. I've found that although the beginning of the game follows a linear path, the battle system has been redesigned, and there aren't the typical towns found in prior releases, the game is extremely fun and vastly different from other RPGs I've played in the past. My only complaint is that the game is slow to transition complete control to the player in battles, probably to entice people new to the genre.… Expand

This game is gorgeous, fun, inventive, and really is the best RPG series ever. Though, the only thing that confused me was the fact there was no multiplayer. the AI is good and all, but i would have liked to add in at least one friend to help me, but its just a small problem. i havnt played the entire thing, and i will do another review to overview the entire thing, i just think there should be a multiplayer, see u guys later in another review.… Expand

This is a very good game. I've been wating for it since its first announce in 2006 and it's the reason why I bought a PS3 that year. -Presentation: Awsome. Maybe the best i've ever seen as in Uncharted 2. Impressive cutscenes and dialogues. -Story: I'm sorry but the story is just great: better than the 12th and the 10th which i consider very good games despite the many bad points they have. Characters are very deep and well described in emotions, thoughts and feelings. I could actually feel the pain in Sahz voice or in Snow's. -Combat System: the most difficult and complicated ever (just less than the one in "Resonance of Fate"). It' very dinamic: but if you don't believe me just try an Eidolon battle without the guide. -No secondary quest and exploration??? Well... it's not true. There are 65 (!!!!!) hunt tasks on Grand Pulse and all the training to have final weapons and all Cristallium filled. In 30 hours you arrive to chapter 11, right, but it doesn't mean you'll end the story in 35 hours! you do still have 20 hours -at least- to spend and enjoy. -No towns!!! true but... wat was the need to have towns? here the story NEEDS to take place OUT of towns and... to be honest... Palompolum and Nautilus for me where enough (3 hours of play) compared to all towns in FF12. -Linear??? yes but it has to be like that. Bosses are so challenging at the end that you need 30 hours of trainig on optima change if you don't wanna die immediatly. -Final Comment: Final Fantasy 13 worths the money you spend 100%. It's an awsome game with no tecnichal imperfections as Mass Effect 2 and it's not easy. Story and characters are great as the dubbling and cutscenes. And don't forget the best combat system ever! PS: sorry for the Eng writing but it's not my first language.… Expand

Final Fantasy is a great game that is both rich in graphics and gameplay. My only flaw is that the game can appear a bit boring for some, but it can be easily avoided if you stay away from long grinding sessions. I would happily recommend this game to anyone.

Purely Epicness! Gameplay is great, story is interesting, characters are memorable and graphics are AWESOME! So far best game what I have ever played. Yes I'm FF13 fanboy.

This certainly isn't the best Final Fantasy, but it's not the worst either. I thought the game play was a tad oversimplified as others have mentioned (spam Auto-battle for pretty much 95% of the battles), but the graphics were very impressive and I personally thought the story was very good. The linearity didn't put me off very much because I tend to play Final Fantasies very linearly during the first few hours anyway. Those who are giving the game anything less than a 5, if you played up to Chapter 11 I guarantee you that your opinion of the game would change. The last 3 Chapters really felt like a more nostalgic FF experience.… Expand

I don't see how people don't like this. It has excellent characters, excellent game-play, and an excellent plot. The voice acting was wonderful and it is very challenging at some points. Looking for a challenging time killer? This is for you. Oh, and the graphics are also wonderful.

I've never seen a Final Fantasy game that is so big, even Cloud Strife ever had a sword. Final Fantasy XIII is without a shadow of a doubt, the best game of 2010. Call it like you mean it, but with a phenomenal set of battle systems, impact challenges, and even new characters like the always talented Lightning, the fans keep spreading the word after almost 25 years of JRPG awesomeness. I'm am so dying for a sequel to Final Fantasy XIII because it's coming out next January. Until then, maybe I'll spend time playing hour after hour until I may die tryin'. But Final Fantasy XIII is the best game since Final Fantasy X.… Expand

I love this game. So beautiful and action packed with a story line that is entrancing as it is involved. I will continue to love this game for all time and it will go down as the most beautiful console game to date. The grinding will get on your nerves a little after the game is complete, but that should only worry the Platinum hunters. Oh yeah, that treasure hunter trophy is a nightmare and is definitely missable. I will support this franchise from here on.… Expand

I play the Final Fantasy series since the V. I really love RPGs and, like many others, VII is my favorite and it will always be. But I think many people people simple don't understand that not only games changes as time passes, but also our preferences and desires. Final Fantasy XIII is far from the previous ones for its linearity and an optional auto battle. A game consists not only in gameplay, but also plot, soundtrack, graphics and fun. Each FF offers you new experiences, and that is why the series get high rates in most websites. Games must innovate in some way. We don't want more from the same, like most shooters. Square makes some mistakes, but they're trying. And gamers should recognize it, because one day Square can make something really awesome. My life changed a lot since FF V. Today I work, I have a girlfriend, social life, personal projects and family to give attention. I don't have time to explore 100% of what the game offers. FF XIII has an advantage on its linearity: if you have short time to play games and if you love RPGs, FF XIII is great for you. I loved it and I'll buy FF XIII-2. If you want to focus on traditional gameplay and more from the same, maybe you should take a look at some shooters out there, like Call of Duty. Maybe a lot of players didn't like FF XIII, but no one can deny that each time you get a new FF you'll see something different. And that is something many companies aren't capable of. Open your mind for new experiences: it will be good for your games and your life.… Expand

Amazing visuals, amazing gameplay. This is my first final fantasy and since the start of the game i've been dragged into the plotline, its not the perfect game but it has a thrilling battling system that will keep you constantly involved in the combat and not just the usual turn for turn rpg. Yes it has his flaws like the slow develop of the gameplay but once you are in the 4th chapter of the game the battle system will begin to build itslef and will become extremly fun. Easly controled and no tedious waiting for attack turns since when you are not attacking you can use objects or watch the other npc's attack the enemies, despite the fact the other 2 members of your party ar ai controlled you'll have a truly "final fantasy" experience. I highly recommend this game to those who are beautiful graphics and strong story lovers.… Expand

A FINAL FANTASY at a height of the saga. It is possible that it is linear in excess but in the rest of other aspects it dazzles. Very nice the history of lu´cie and the fal´cie, Cocoon, Pulse, Lighning and Serah. The beautiful recreation, your powerful sonorous band, the intelligent system of combat or the emotion of your prominent figures, complete an excellent game. It is not FFVII, not X, but it is Final Fantasy undoubtedly.… Expand

Despite the game being the largest disappointment of the generation, and of Final Fantasy history, the game is still absolutely amazing. FF7 and 8 are definite 9.8s and FF10 and 12 are definite 10s. But this game is just around about 9.0. I say this because the game is actually really good, despite falling short of all Final Fantasy expectations. The battle system is amazing, the story is amazing. The only thing that is stupid is that the paths are not just linear, they are ABSURDLY linear. Like totally linear. Let's just say that there is no other game in gaming history (that I have played) that is this linear. I mean, we're talking walk straight for hours on end, until you get to about halfway through the game, and it becomes slightly less linear. The graphics are stunning, you want to play the game again and again if you have the chance, and the length is perfect for a FF game.… Expand

Ok, I am getting sick and tired of the prototype critic out there nowadays. This game is a classic, it has all the same elements that previous Final Fantasy games had, with beefed up graphics, how this can get rated worse then a 9/10 makes no sense to me. Everyone needs to get out of there blood spilling first person shooter/action game mode, and remember what a good RPG is.

Absolute perfection by Square Enix. Bucking the trend of recent games: Boring, 6 hour long games which aren't worth the money you paid, Final Fantasy XIII gives you a 45 hour blockbuster of a game, a brilliant story, brilliant gameplay, brilliant graphics like Gaming Age said, the best graphics out on a video console right now. Character development is brilliant, getting to choose what class you want them to specialize in, out of 3 'primary' classes, which vary per character, and 3 'secondary' classes later on in the game. The paradigm system, while pretty simple, has an huge amount of depth, and mastering the paradigm system really will turn the tides of any challenging battle, changing to the right set-up, at the right time changes everything.… Expand

First of all, I want to say that I'm really, really old fan of the series. I think many gamers out there who says FF13 is mediocre and too different, should go and play golden oldies all over again - because it was about the time for some change! (... and not the FF12 style of change, allthough I love the game) Final Fantasy 13 is worth every minute you play it. Gone are the dull environments of FF12, or paperthin characters of FF8 and 10. They are replaced by colourful world and characters with real motivations and history that fleshes out every conversation and even the one liners they throw while exploring the fantastic landscapes. Sure there are no towns as as you might remember them from good-old FF's and no worldmap either, but the structure of the game supports these decisions and you don't really remember to miss them that much. They are sacrificed to deliver an great experience. Battle system as every aspect in this game, is different from previous installments but is also excellent. Features of new battle engine is introduced to players little by little, so you won't ever feel lost with them. Battle dynamics really varies if you use different characters or different Paragrim Shifts. It could be said that the battle system is the salt of the FF13, without game feeling like grinding fest (that FF12 was). Story and setting of FF13 are very original, but if there was main inspiration from the previous installments of FF-series it would probably be FF7. Main structure of the adventure is very similar to that of FF7 (but has nuances of FF4 and FF6) and so are many characters. I would love to present theories on this, but I would spoil many things for new players. Fabula Nova Chrystalis has a lot of meat for new installments and I personally cannot wait for Agito and Versus 13!… Expand

Final Fantasy XIII has long been on my radar of anticipated games. Far too often when I anticipate a game in this manner, the end result is many times disappointing in comparison to the hype. In the case of Final Fantasy XIII, this is not true. Final Fantasy XIII is a stunning game with extremely high production values. The battle system while at first sounds awkward is extremely fluid and entertaining.… Expand

Its an amazing game period. It has questionably one of the best graphics ever made. The story is ok, the battle system is fun and challenging. Many people don't appreciate the game due to their expectations from previous games, but IMO, it exceeded it. I also like the linear gameplay, but sometimes you do feel like you want more freedom. Aside from that, this game will keep you occupied for 60 hours +. In other words, you pay 1 $ for an hour of gameplay. … Expand

Gorgeous, of course -- most polished production I've seen. Fantastic soundtrack. Battle system is tactical and fun w/ plenty of difficult fights (later in game) to challenge the player. Characters and story are engaging. It's got that "Final Fantasy" feel, for whatever that's worth. For all those complaining it's "too easy" at the beginning, I recommend going back and playing any FF game's first few hours. At least this one actually ratchets up the difficulty at some point. And for those who "don't know what's going on," I suggest reading the datalog.… Expand

Idk why this game is getting dogged for no towns and being linear. I'm about 30 hrs in and have loved every min of it. With the story and how it works out from the start towns are not needed and its very clear. Yes its linear and some people might not like this but most will forget that Final Fanatasy X was the same way. With X you only had a very few towns and you really got nothing from them so Im not missing them at all in 13. But what really shines is the battle system I would say one of the best in ages. It truly grows and has loads of option come mid-game making for a fun fight every time.… Expand

I think it's great, personally. Keeps me going, battles are fun, nice to be a little difficult, pluse the restart option is there which basically encourages you to experiment, just think you could control all the characters at once, just don't see it happening with the way they designed it, that's why you can't.

Being a long time FF fan, I do have some trouble calling this a Final Fantasy game. However, that is ridiculously unfair to square-enix for this amazingly good game. Based on its OWN merits, it definitely stands on its own as a great story, great characters, and beautiful graphics. Just because people think that a Final Fantasy has to have airships, world maps, tons of side quests, and the wide world to explore doesn't mean that Square is going to sacrifice their narrative for you to relive your glory days. This is a GREAT game.… Expand

Cmon. This may not be the best final fantasy but it is great. The graphics are phenomenal. Yes the game starts out linear but cmon really could you go anywhere in final fantasy x until a certain point, yeah there were npc's but most npc's usually offer nothing more than an illusion of depth. This is the best combination of a action game and an rpg i have seen, and it works very well, everyone who is crying out there is complaining cause it doesn't feel like final fantasy, news flash they can't keep making the same game over and over again, every game has to evolve or it will get boring. anyways this game rules so buy it.… Expand

Awesome game! My second favorite after IV :). The linearity is a tad bit tedious but does not distract from the game seeing as the entire story (outside of the first 13 non-playable days) takes place in only a few days. Exploration isn't a must, surviving to the end is! The battle system is the best IMO, fun, exciting and very fast paced. You can get screwed if you don't set your Paradigms up right! The Crystarium is a nice touch, but a little too linear compared to the Sphere Grid until the last few unlocked levels. Gran Pulse is amazing and really makes the game shine with everything that goes on! I understand why the devs didn't include towns and cities. If they made them to scale with everything else in the game they would be GINORMOUS and would be a complete wast of time/resources/disc space that only a minute amount of people would enjoy anyways. It's not like you don't go to some awesome locales inside each city (you do visit a couple!). A+, now only to wait until FFXIV and another MMO to get addicted to :D PS - Amazing voice work this time around.… Expand

I honestly don't understand how great games like this get torn apart by some reviewers, when FFXII scored huge in reviews and I just felt no life in it. The characters were boring and I didn't feel any reason to continue the quest. FFXIII on the other hand has a fantastic character and world driven story, that really drives me to continuing the adventure. I'm loving the fast paced combat really keeps you on your toes and interested. The characters are very cool, although I can tell some people will find some of them annoying. All in all this game is great and I hope it sells well because it deserves it.… Expand

Final Fantasy XIII is like a double step. On one hand, you lose some of the classic things that made Final Fantasy memorable, like towns, mini games and the classic battle theme. On the other hand, this is a huge release for RPGs on next generation systems. This is by far the best battle system ever created in the series, with millions of possibilities a few buttons away, and a live action animation sequence. No more crappy gambit system that 12 had, FF13 is all about getting the job done. On top of that, this game has the most memorable cast since Final Fantasy 7. The only problem I had with the story was the lack of a powerful villian that prior games had, aka Kefka, Sephiroth and Jecht. Other than that, you will not find an equal title on both consoles, I highly recommend any RPG fan to buy this game.… Expand

In the last years Japanese games, specially RPGs has been reviewed very hard. It is true that they no longer have the innovation or technical superiority, but most reviews are completely misleading. Complaining about linearity in a FF is like complaining in a GTA for freedom. JRPG have been linear since forever, and towns and sidequests don't make them less linear. And, if this FF is linear, then ALL the shooters, and 99% of games nowadays should be reviewed accordingly. This FF is not perfect (hence the 9), but overall is excellent. Technical beauty, good music, good story and awesome gameplay. The game opens up and it becomes a really great game, with absolutely everything you expect from a FF game. It appears too late in the game? Well, that's the creator decision, but at least it's there. Reviews seem to forget about it. Any JRPG is gonna like it. Any FF fan is gonna love it. Graphic wh*res are gonna like it. The rest, at least should give it a try. A production like this doesn't come often.… Expand

FINAL FANTASY XIII is equal or much better than FINAL FANTASY VII, The cutscenes are spectacular and the characters are super detailed and involving, the story is marvelous and perfect, everything is perfect, I love it. Some people criticize this game because is 'too linear' but this is the only way to tell the amazing story of the characters and the society of FFXIII. Others say this genre needs to stop recycling the same tale of old JRPGs and make new games with new ideas, but they also say that FFXIII has left the main features of a FF game off. In other worlds, they want CHANGE and NEW IDEAS... but if Square-Enix changes the Battle system or makes a more linear game and new completely different worlds... then, they DON'T LIKE IT and now they want a FF game like the old classics. I don't understand.... first they say one thing but then they want another. FINAL FANTASY XIII is one of the best in the series, the cinematic, the 'heroes' the linear thing, the story, the worlds, everything is perfect! I love it and will love it for ever, excellent work from Square-Enix, really... BEAUTIFUL. I give 10 out of 10 for FINAL FANTASY XIII.… Expand

This is by far my favorite Final Fantasy game yet. It is fast paced, there are no frills and the characters have some energy to them. The entire game is epic and the story is great. The combat is the best in the series and the monster design is top notch. The music may not be as memorable as the good-ol

I thought that the idea of sticking with traditions probably would be silly when it comes to making attempts to inject a completely new life into the Final Fantasy series. Especially when the series that is nearly two decades old already. I felt that the latest installment should show us that Square-Enix has indeed made a dramatic escape from their somewhat crystallized philosophy in terms of game design… Expand

Final fantasy XIII is everything I expected and more! After what seemed like forever, the greatest fantasy of them all arrives and man does it deliver. In the cold winter months leading up to the release, there where alot of nay sayers about final fantasies most recent installment and some reviews that rated the game as low as 4/10, after playing I can reassure you that this game deserves nothing less then a full 10. Alot of series traditions(I.e. towns, exploration) have been cast aside in favor of a more combat focused adventure as well as a very well told and very human storyline. The fact that you cant really edit or change tho configuration of your party until relativly late doesnt aid the game, in its defense this is really a favorable allternative to losing story elements because your controling the wrong party member. Now lets talk about what everybody seems to be most bothered by, the linaerity, yes final fantasy 13 is very linear, but why is that bad? FFX was linear and it is one of the highest reviewed games in its generation, I understand fans have certain expectations but change is not always a bad thing and in this case its a phenomenal accomplishment. If your a fan of the series dont be turned away by misplaced judgements and do yourself a favor, play what is likely to be one of your favorite games from the series. Final fantasy 13 is a work of brillant innovation, if I could give an 11 i would.… Expand

I love movies so much more than games. I do, however, love Final Fantasy games more than all of the movies in the world. Why? Because to me, getting to know and love a cast of characters for 40+ hours is so much more impactful than after 2 hours. Yeah, a multi-entry saga like The Lord of the Rings can have a serious impact after its total 10+ hours of film, but it still can't come close to emulating the emotional satisfaction I feel when I complete a Final Fantasy game. It's been nearly a decade since I've experienced this. Final Fantasy X was the last entry in the series that I consider to be a "real" FF (Final Fantasy). FFX is also what first inspired me to pursue storytelling and animation as a career. It's definitely one of the greatest stories ever told, and without a doubt, my personal favorite story. Ever. Imagine my anticipation for the coming of what appeared to be the first "real" entry to the series in nine years! Finally, another FFX! By the way, all FF games are completely self contained and featured unique worlds, characters and stories. Only a few elements carry over to each, giving it a familiar, yet entirely original feel. So, did it meet my expectations? Well, I'm pretty sure that would be impossible. It is, however, a great game. Unfortunately it's not one of the stronger entries. Luckily, Final Fantasy XIII is far greater than the sum of its parts. The futuristic city world of Cocoon floats above the abandoned wilderness of Pulse.Hovering above the wilderness of the world called Pulse is Cocoon, a self contained human paradise. It was created by the god-like beings known as fal'Cie (pronounced fal-see) to protect humans from the dangers of Pulse. The fal'Cie would occasionally deem a human their servant, which would be known as a l'Cie (pronounced luh-see). If the l'Cie falied his (or her) "focus" or took too long to complete it, he would turn into a cie'Th (pronounced seeth). If success was achieved, he would turn into crystal and gain "eternal life." To humans, either fate was worse than death itself. In Cocoon, there was no need for l'Cie, in fact nobody had been turned into a l'Cie in hundreds of years. They were deemed myth, and everything of Pulse origin was feared and loathed. When six Cocoon citizens are turned into l'Cie by a Pulse fal'Cie, they are labeled enemies of their home, Cocoon. Can they defy their fate? Final Fantasy games are story-centric. They always follow a similar formula, too. A group of unlikely heroes must band together to topple some form of corrupt government, which usually leads to the reveal and pursuit of a much higher, world-threatening power. Nearly every entry in the series has done a great job of keeping that concept completely original and fresh. The members of the creative team at Square-Enix are expert storytellers. They've proven it time and again. It's a little unfortunate that the first time it comes across slightly stale (at least when compared to their enormously positive track record) is with the first game whose level of production matches that of CG movies (thanks to the PS3). It really does have an INCREDIBLE story at it's core, but the way in which it's told certainly isn't as masterfully crafted as its predecessors. The world is deep and vast, and once I finally got a grasp on what had been going on behind the scenes, all of the seemingly aimless segments of the game's plot fell in to place. Still, some plot aspects seemed awkwardly forced, as if the great cast of characters were constantly being thrown into situations that the writers deemed "had to happen." It's not always like this, as there are a few multi-hour segments that feature some of the best storytelling in the series. Outside of the cutscene-featured plot I also had to read many entries of the "datalog" to really appreciate the world and story. This is something I really loved. Similar to the appendices at the end of The Lord of the Rings, the datalog provides a vast amount of information about the deep workings of the huge world Square-Enix created. Unfortunately, a lot of this game's players simply aren't going to take the time to read it, and will therefore miss out on a LOT of the game's inner plot. Although it's a great addition to the game, I really wish a bit more of it had been worked into the cutscenes to make the plot flow a bit better. A few slow areas and forced events aside, FFXIII really does have a great story. It's really the characters that make it work. They are some of the best characters in the series. They're endearing, relatable, and by the time I reached the end they had become an active part of my life. Yeah, they start out as jerks and have some seriously messed up motivation, but the realization of their own flaws just makes them that much more relatable. I became incredibly involved in their struggle to defy their fate. On many occasions I found myself yelling at the bosses I was fighting because I was so furious at what they were putting my dear friends through! And now it's all over. I miss them already! Complementing the story is a fantastic battle system. A heavily evolved version of the classic turn-based combat the series founded two decades ago really takes the gameplay in a great new direction. Rather than inputting the commands of each party member and waiting for your next turn while enemies wallop you, the player controls only the party leader in a seemingly real-time experience. You enter manual commands (multiple chained abilities per-turn) while also actively switching sets of "roles" for your party to fit the current situation. The system really puts you in control of the tactical flow of the battle, rather than having you input every single command. It takes a LOT of strategy, especially since the battles are moving incredibly fast. The handy "auto-battle" command sounds like a cheap way to let the game play itself, but it's honestly a life saver. The complex battle system can be excruciatingly punishing at times, but that just makes it all the more rewarding. Leveling through the Crystarium (a simplified version of FFX's sphere-grid leveling system) is also a welcome change to simply gaining level-ups after a battle. It allows some freedom to choose which roles you develop for each character. There's also a fancy weapon/accessory customization feature. As far as level design goes...Yeah, it's linear. Linearity doesn't really bother me as long as there's a great story driving me. I mean do many gamers seriously enjoy getting lost? Not me! During some of the plot's slower chapters I did start to notice just how claustrophobic and narrow some areas could be, but it did little to detract from how beautiful the scenery is. The narrow corridors do have one huge benefit. When you finally make it down to Pulse, the reveal of the open landscapes and natural environments rank among my absolute favorite moments in gaming history. It's just so liberating! The game looks and sounds great. No need to elaborate much here. It may not be as visually impressive as Uncharted 2, but it's got a level of polish that generally isn't seen in a game. There are tons of changes in scenery, each containing equal attention to detail. The character models, however, are hands down the best seen in a game. Ever. Best facial animation, best motion capture, best hair...You name it, FFXIII wins. Prerendered FMV's (full motion videos) are also the best ever seen. and run in full 1080p on the PS3. The music is also fantastic and memorable, despite a few tracks that seriously don't fit the mood well (harmonica solo...). Oh, and the voice acting is top-notch. It adds yet another layer of believability to these incredibly human characters. It may seem like I'm tearing the game apart, but it's really just nitpicking. Though I wasn't entirely thrilled with the experience while I was playing, it now all blends into a single fantastic memory. If I had never played a Final Fantasy game and then dove straight into FFXIII, I would probably call it the greatest game ever made. The team at Square-Enix has made so many absolute masterpieces that even a game like FFXIII, which I consider to be one of the greatest games of the current console generation, will come across a tad disappointing when compared to FFVII, FFIX and FFX. It really is a masterpiece. It's just that I've come to expect nothing short of perfection from Square. FFXIII makes a number of missteps; some large and some small, but for each of the game's downsides, there are many upsides that blow all games in recent memory out of the water. In the end, the game comes to such a satisfying climax that my mixed reactions of the past 45+ hours all instantly melded into a single, complete memory of fondness and love. Go in with an open mind and I assure you that an incredibly satisfying fantasy epic awaits you. Overview: Pros: +Has a great story at is core. +Endearing, relatable characters. +Fantastic character backstory, development and drama. +Top-notch voice acting. +English lip-sync! +Cutscenes are beautiful and are at the same production level as a CG movie. +Emotionally investing and rewarding. +Satisfying ending. +Some great and memorable music. +Epic. +Enthralling action scenes. +Pretty scenery. +Nice art direction. +Exploring Pulse is fun. +Deep and involving battle system. +Incredibly addicting. It makes the hours pass like minutes. Literally. I played for 22 hours straight at one point and it felt like 5. +Challenging difficulty once it gets going. +Incredible final bosses. +Generally impressive AI. +Tons of deep coverage on the worlds of Pulse and Cocoon in the datalog. +Snow getting punched in the face. Cons: -A few long stretches of seemingly unmotivated plot developments. -Some claustrophobic level design. -Paradigms (sets of battle roles) reset whenever characters are swapped. There seriously needed to be a "save paradigm set" feature. -AI-controlled party members don't always target the leader's target. -The great story isn't told as well as it could have been. -Lots of essential plot will be lost to players who refuse to read the datalog. -Menu animations are too slow. I wanted to click faster than it would let me. -Gameplay could use more variety. Towns to explore, sidequests other than monster hunts, more mini-games, etc. -Some music has awkward placement. -The final location in the game is really ugly. Consensus: Far greater than the sum of its parts, Final Fantasy XIII overcomes its would-be glaring flaws with great characters, a fantastically addicting battle system and a deep, complex world. There's also a great story hidden away at its core, but it might require a little extra effort to uncover it than simply watching the cutscenes. Go in with an open mind and I assure you that an incredibly satisfying fantasy epic awaits you. 9/10.… Expand

Not the best ps3 has to offer, not the finest of the series but still an incredible work of art you have to experience..I admit i had my reservations at the start (for all the known reasons) but the innovative battle system, the beautiful graphics, the tight storyline and douzines of other smaller touches won me over. Must buy!

This game is definately a love-it-hate it kinda game. You either love the new, fast paced, quick acting nature of the game, or you are a fat slob living in your mom's basement who needs 78213 minutes without the enemy being able to do anything in order to have "fun" playing an RPG game. The graphics are phenomenal, and the story line is pretty good too. Good day sirs.

Honestly people, Square is never going to make another "old-school" RPG like VII-IX again, might as well accept that and move on. Catering to a wider audience makes more money and they probably won

Final Fantasy 13 is an excellent example of how JRPG's can evolve into more action-based genres and succeed. The game has managed to sell over 5 million units worldwide since the release in Japan and continues to sell in big numbers today. The story is simple and easy to understand and you can easily emphasize with the characters and their plights. The battle system requires a large amount of tactics and forethought before rushing headlong into battle with overpowered characters that kill everything in one hit. The music is superb, if not the most memorable. Final Fantasy is definitely a game that RPG lovers will enjoy, go out any buy it today.… Expand

Simply put: This game deserves better reviews. Do not trust very low scores (I do not believe that the people who gave the low reviews even played the entire game). On the linear and lack of freedom argument: The hand holding is a minimum. By the reviews I read, I was under the impression that it was for half the game, but truthfully, it is only in the first few chapters. Also, Western gamers seem to forget that non-linearity often creates endless glitches which require patch after patch. FFXIII was released in perfect working order and that is a lesson Western developers should learn. The entire game flows seamlessly, the quality of the textures and graphics is incredible without any errors, the orchestrated music is by far some of the best of the series and for video games in general, and the storyline still manages to be fresh and exciting. The 13th installment in the Final Fantasy franchise has been made very well but cannot impress the gore and war obsessed Western gamers.… Expand

I give this game a 9 for just being the first FF title to the PS3 platform. They did pretty well for themselves the first time around. Yes, the game was pretty linear in the beginning to end (except for Chapter 11). But I still found it to be extremely fun with the intriguing battle system that they have created to this franchise. The game certainly changed a lot from previous FF titles, but it is still crazy fun.… Expand

Its a beautiful game, but it fails in the aspect that it is too linear and it still does not beat FFVII for story and variety. The battle system, while no doubt some will love it and some will hate it, i was disappointed by it. These flaws are i can only give it a 9

This game has me split into two. One part of me hates the corny story and mostly lame cast. The other part of me is addicted to the combat mechanics of the game and is only thinking about getting that platinum trophy. I think the combat is good enough for me to forget the lame story and just enjoy the game when I can. Oh and by the way this game looks insanely amazing, I still don't know how they pulled this graphics on a PS3, you would need a massive PC to replicate them.… Expand

a perfect Final fantasy game, from the story to the graphics to the actual gameplay. i could literally play for most of a day at a time and still want to keep going

Final Fantasy XIII is an interesting game to say the least. As an old time Final Fantasy fan since PSX Final Fantasy games, I was eagerly anticipating FFXIII. Before I bought it I heard a lot of controversial opinions about this game. In fact, my own opinion about it wasn't clear until about 2/3 of my own playthrough of FF13. The thing is, FF13 is different from its predecessors in many ways, but there is one thing that is the same. The quality, my friends. This game was meant to be exactly what it is and the execution is pretty much perfect. And here comes the major problem. A lot of people are expecting traditional Final Fantasy elements to be in every new numbered Final Fantasy games, and they will see the lack of aforementioned elements as a major flaw. In short, don't buy this game if you're looking to see many traditional Final Fantasy elements, you will be severely disappointed. However, if you're looking for a good JRPG with high-production values, plot that focuses on main characters (personally, I haven't seen that in the main series since FF10, 10 years ago), fun and fast battle system, stunning design and graphics and an outstanding soundtrack from one of the FF10's composers then Final Fantasy XIII is definitely worth checking out.… Expand

For the typical Final Fantasy fan, you will love this game, but to those who are hardcore FF fans might find this game a bit displeasing due to the changes made into the overall game compared to other games in the series. Regardless, Final Fantasy XIII brings in a breath of Fresh air when it comes to Character Design, Battle System, Music and overall story telling. You will enjoy this game and it is worth every penny!… Expand

This game is a masterpiece. The best RPG of this generaion (but XIII-2 looks even better).
Everybody should buy and enjoy this masterpiece.
A true Final Fantasy, and one of the best games of all the story (or maybe the best).

Good story, interesting and flashy combat, excellent soundtrack, lush enviroments. Very linear though to the point you may find it annoying if you prefer to just wander. Never the less, quite an enjoyable game.

Great story, great battle system, and an amazingly beautiful game. Sure there are no towns and the game play is linear but when the story is about these characters fleeing from the purge, is it realistic that they have time to poke around towns with NPC's being friendly, or to wander on meaningless side quests as if they had all the time in the world? Sure these things could have been written into the story, but it wasn't and I respect that decision. The game was worth the $60 I paid at its release and it is surely worth the $20 it costs now, especially with its sequel XIII-2 coming out on 1/31/12, which will have towns and side quests etc. I highly recommend this game.… Expand

This game was my first final fantasy and I enjoyed it. Battle system was great. The characters are great, The story is OK. This deserves a well earned 10

Despite being a polarized Final Fantasy, especially for letting many elements of previous titles aside, there is much to enjoy in Final Fantasy XIII. With a fast and functional battle system, flawless artistic direction, great narrative and a high quality soundtrack, Square-Enix proves that traditions are not necessary to forge an excellent game in the series.

I thought this game was great. Awesome battle system, beautiful graphics. The story was going along great until I got to the final boss, then i was like, "WTF"?! It's also pretty difficult when you get to the last level, but other than that, I think this is a great entry in the series and it shows the company moving forward and trying new things.

Yet again another amazing story line, i was disappointed in how linear it was, but the story so made up for it, FF XIII - 2 had an amazing gameplay but even so still a good story, but not quite as good as ff XIII, IX still has the best story of em all, then VIII is second, id say XIII is third and VII being fourth

Final fantasy 13, a game so divisive that the mere mention of it can cause fan rage all over the internet.

I am one of the few that actually liked the game, because for the first time in years I was interested in the story, From the very beginning I was hooked, shocked, intrigued and I kept playing just to see what was going to happen. Exploration may seem linear, but is it really an issue? Were earlier final fantasies really open world to begin with? In earlier installments it was easier to fake non-linearity by using technical limitations as cheap tricks.
I think that a lot of content was cut or dumbed down in order to fit into the xbox dvd format, even the lack of back tracking, it's obvious that each area is stored in different dvds.
Fighting is fun, fast paced and it's very different from "press x until the monster dies". I loved the paradigm shift system because now fighting requires more strategy.
I thought that the main content of the game was the fighting itself instead of running around during useless fetch quests.
I also thought that it would have been better to be in control of some situations instead of watching an action cutscene.
In the end, though, I have to admit that I loved the game, I reccomend it if you like a mature story with a lot of twist and engaging characters.
Linearity can put off someone, but give it a chance, you might be surprised.… Expand

Spending time in the world of Cacoon and Pulse, I've come to realize that what we have here is a fresh approach to the FF series. Some scoff at the fact that the game is linear, but I say to those scoffers, "Isn't this a Final Fantasy game we're talking about?". If you're looking for an amazing rpg with an inspiring combat system and awesome story....then look no further.

Just play the game before giving it a bad score. There is exploration in the game, it even says so in the manual. And be patient it takes some time before you get there. FF13 is similar to FF10. Leveling system is getting more interesting as you advance in the game.

A new direction for the franchise. Beatiful graphics, incredible soundtrack, great characters and storyline and adictive battle system. Althougth some problems, like few side quests and frenetic rythm sometimes get tired, is a great great, with new perspective.

I don't understand why such a game only get 82 for PS3 and 83 for 360. I think it can get better. Hmm... But, as I knew before, I think the PS3 ver is slightly better than 360 ver due its graphic. Only slightly. But, why did it get lower score than the 360 ver. What happen man???

Within the first 5 hours of playing this game, I was upset knowing that Gamestop would only five me 47% value back....I was greatly dissappointed. I am so glad I decided to give it a chance because the game REALLY picks up. I thought the story was great, good to see SE stepping away from the love triangle stories and focusing in on groups and teamwork. Most people bash the linear gameplay, but it didnt bug me at all, wouldnt even notice a diffence from ffX in that respect unless you look at the map. As for no towns......they WOULD BE POINTLESS!!!! The whole story has them trying to avoid people because they are seen as the enemies. The music is good, not mindblowing. The visuals are GREAT......definately not the best i've ever seen. Combat is traditional, only disguised to make it look faster. I didnt care much for controlling one character at a time, however the strategy of the system and the fast past nature of combat make it necassary. Lots of people complain about the auto combat making it so the just have to press the X' button. I on the other hand welcome it just as I enjoyed the auto combat in the ffiv ds remake. Lets be honest, most of us only focus or need to try on boss battles in FF games anyway....same here.… Expand

Fantastic! Much better looking than even MGS4. I put that game in my console just to compare and couldn't believe how drab and washed out it looked next to FF13 and I loved MGS4. In fact, I still think it is the greatest single player game ever! It just isn't the best looking anymore. As great as the Heavy Rain people did with there awesome attempt at realism this game still is the most visually engaging video game experience yet. The gameplay is also leaps and bounds beyond it's predecessors and explains why so many so-called FF fans are upset. They are like your Grandfather who is afraid of change, even if it's good change. No having to heal between battles? Great! No pointless annoying mini-games? Awesome! Being able to buy, sell and upgrade from all save stations which are placed generously? Hear Hear! I did find the end to be a little unnecessarily torturous. I actually found Hope to be a much more annoying character than Vanille but by the end the great storytelling had me caring about all the characters. Not perfect but a great effort in a great new direction where RPG's are less of a chore and more fun for your valuble time.… Expand

On each of the two previous generations of Playstation consoles the first Final Fantasy game was an awesome and groundbreaking experience. Nothing has changed in that regard here. This game is a solid and engrossing experience in no way simplified or dumbed down for modern gamers (e.g Wii owners). Graphics are awesome we can all agree. Story is good enough but it's the actual gameplay that shines through. The battles are fast and action packed and to someone watching may look like they are totally hectic and random but iare actually fully controlled and the player knows exactly whats going on. With a battle system this sophisticated theres no wonder it's all introduced so slowly. People seem to be complaining about trivial things like the fact that there are no towns or shops and that you only control one character. Regarding towns all i can say is they were the most boring part of every RPG i've ever played and i couldn't get out quick enough and i doubt anyone found running from one shop to the next to purchase weapons and armour particularly fun. As for controlling one character it was exactly the same in FFXII and that didn't stop it getting rave reviews by the same hypocrites complaining about it now. In conclusion FFXIII has taken out all of the boring and unnecessary RPG elements and kept what matters as well as adding some innovative additions e.g when you die you can retry from right where you were before the fight. Who hasn't died unexpectedly in a game and wished they had saved their game? Final Fantasy will never get a fair break from certain people (see Edge magazine and Teletext Gamecentral reviews) it seems that when FF7 defected to the PS they felt personally injured Square had betrayed THEM not Nintendo THEM. That decision has made Sqaure their enemy for life. These two also gave Super Mario Galaxy 100% score even with it's flaws e.g camera problems when backtracking. Hardly impartial are they? My advice is to check this game out for yourself and dont let biased opinions deter you. If you are an RPG fan you can't get better.… Expand

Anyone who rates this less than a nine obviously hasn't played for more than few hours. All the rubbish about it being too linear has to stop, every Final Fantasy game has been linear, they just had the illusion of not being so because of the world map. Also, bashing it because it doesn't have towns is stupid. The whole concept of going from town to town just wouldn't work with this game.… Expand

I give this game an 8.5, but round it off to 9 instead because of the people who give it less than 7. I thought I would be disappointed in this game after seeing a few reviews, but I was wrong. The most defining thing about every final fantasy game is its graphics. I have to say that this doesn't disappoint. The graphics are just gonna amaze you and it is one of the best this gen of gaming. The cutscenes are rendered in 1080p and it is sweet! The game itself runs at 720p (for PS3), but it still looks great. Another good thing about the game is the battle system. In my opinion, the battle system is the best out of any Final Fantasy game I've played. It's more traditional ATB than one would think and I thank Square Enix for drifting away from the FFXII battle system. You get to play in roles: Commando (the traditional melee/warrior-type class), Ravager (the mage/magic-user), Medic (the healer), Synergist (the party buffer), Saboteur (the enemy enfeebler), and the Sentinel (the defender role). All of these can be arranged withing your party and it is called a Paradigm. In-battle you can switch paradigms to take advantage of a situation/enemy weakness. For example, if you find your attacks to be insignificant, make a paradigm shift that has a saboteur and allow them to cast Deprotect and Deshell, then quickly swap to attack-specific paradigm to chain attacks and stagger an enemy making them even more vulnerable. This allows great room for strategy and it is executed well. Yet another great thing in this game is the abscence of random encounters as well as healing to full life immediately after battle allowing for less healing on the main menu as it was in previous FF games. The characters are generally likeable and the story picks up later on in the game. These things make the game great, however, there are also flaws that need to be adressed. First is the very linear nature of the game. The game forces players to follow very linear dungeon type maps. It's basically get from point A to point B. There's also a clear lack of town and world map. I miss these things because it allowed the player to rest in between story sequences. The game does, however, turn less linear when you reach a certain point in the game, but it is way too late in the story. Overall though, this game is a very good addition to the FF series as it has one of the most exciting battle system in any JRPG game. I hope this helps!… Expand

absolutely stunning game, much better than i anticipated, when it was first announced i thought it would have been like Final Fantasy XII which was a major disspointment, but it wasn't it went back to a Final Fantasy X style of battles and stat increasing which IMO was the best way to do it, so you could choose your experience and what to focus on. The Paradigm Shift system gives for alot of variations on battles, with many different ways of approaching them, of course there is always the best and worst way but that doesnt mean the worst way will lead to a Game Over screen, and with them easy to sue and switch you can easily change the tide of a battle in just a few buttons. The story is deep with massive backstorys for all characters and with regular flashbacks of what led to the current situation that you play through. The game itself is broke down into a chapter system which is just nice, doesn't enhance the story of make it worse, just interesting. The actual in-game graphics them selves vary from absolutely amazing to mediocre, but most are amazing especially the CGI cut-scenes which are better than anything i have seen. Music, if your are a true Final Fantasy fan, you will be dissapointed to hear its not from Nobuo Uematsu as he is doing the music for FFXIV at this moment in time and thus doesnt have the same feel, but the composer they brought in, Masashi Haumazu was co-composer on Final Fantasy X so its still up to scratch and definately works, but there is one or two annoying tracks. The game is as linear as Final Fantasy X was until you got the Airship so i don't see the problem people have with that, in Final Fantasy XIII it opens up once you get down to Pulse which is also were you can tell there has been care taken to make the graphics the best they can be, with skylines and such looking completely realistic. A must buy for any Final Fantasy fan.… Expand

This game is as close to a masterpiece any JRPG has come for a long time. The battle system is absolute genius, you've never experienced anything like it. The story is intriguing, the characters lovable, the world enthralling, everything is polished to perfection. It does have flaws; early in the game the battles are too simple, the maps are too linear and the pace can seem one sided. Towns never really materialize, which certainly removes something from the experience. Trust me though, you'll hardly notice. Don't pay attention to the people rating this game lowly. I doubt any of them have actually touched FF13; they're all so caught up in "tradition" they can't see when a masterpiece comes along. If you're at all a fan of RPGs, fantasy and drama, epic journeys, tactical bouts or artistic genius, buy FF13 right now.… Expand

FFXIII uses a streamlined approach to JRPGs, the graphics are stunning, the music is great, and so far the story has me wanting to play every second I can. I've read a lot of people/critics complaining about the lack of towns, but if they have ever played a Final Fantasy title, they should know that FF towns only serve a few purposes: 1) Heal/Rest your team 2) Has the NPC that will trigger the next series of events in the story 3) Has shops to purchase weapons and items FFXIII takes care of all three of these, just in a little bit different of a way than past FF titles. 1) If you survive a battle, your team will be completely healed. And I'm not sure if this can be unacceptable in the critics eyes as their concesus has Mass Effect 2 at a 96 and it handles team healing the same exact way. 2) This is where it gets a little shaky for traditional FF fans. The game is very focused, and doesn't allow much exploration (at first) so there isn't really a need for this as you are mostly on the story path anyways. This comes down to player preference, though I will say that if you are a Final Fantasy and are dismissing it for this reason, you are probably missing out. I'm not saying it will be for everyone, but I bet a lot of players would enjoy this kind of approach. 3) This one is probably the best IMO, FFXIII has save points which also serve as an access point for online shopping. Instead of going to a weapon store in a town, you have to acquire a login for a weapon store online and gain access to the store through the save station. Overall the game feels very polished and has an extraordinary battle system. If this game came out and wasn't a Final Fantasy title and wasn't put out by Square, the critics would be hailing it as RPG of the year, but unfortunately for FFXIII, it carries the legacy of Final Fantasy and with that comes unmeetable expectations in the eyes of critics, fans, and all gamers. For those of you that are unsure wether you should pick up this game I'll say this, go in without any expectations of what it should be like and you will most likely come away with a great gaming experience that ranks up there with the best of all time.… Collapse

@Brett J You provide no factual evidence supporting your claim. Everything you've said about XIII's graphics being inferior to KZ2 and MGS4 are utter bullshit. Factually speaking, XIII is technically superior to those games in nearly every single way. I think everyone here would benefit from not having you troll the comments section. About the game: This game is wonderful. I9;ve played other final fantasy titles before, but this one takes it to a whole new level. The battle system is easily the game's best feature, as it's taken a leave of micromanaging individual attacks, and has you focusing on micromanaging your Paradigms. It's a wonderful strategy that has you changing classes on the fly with accordance to how the battle plays out.… Expand

This game is an outstanding blend of Final Fantasy VII and X. The characters and overall story are more reminiscent of VII while the setting, music, and aesthetic remind me more of X. The battle system is tremendously fast, fun, and flexible. After four years of waiting, Final Fantasy XIII is even better than I'd hoped.

Great game. Music is fantastic, graphics are DECENT (they are not as great as everyone says, but hey, who cares), great animation, fun and exciting new battle system which is both frantic AND tactical, and an intersting storyline. Im guessing that people will either love or hate this game. If you LOVED FFXII, I'm betting you won't like this so much. However, if your like me and found XII to be dull and uninspiring, this is probably the FF game for you.… Expand

I don't see how this game was reviewed as poorly as it was, does it give people happiness to know they bashed a great game? Exploration isn't what it used to be, but it's still there. The new atb battle system works wonderfully as a cross breed between real time and turn-based fights. Square also doesn't dissapoint in graphics or sound (unless you have to listen to one of the few Vanille-themed tracks, which are pretty much high-pitched japenesse pop music) and make this game friendly to the senses.… Expand

I really don't understand all the criticism of this game. First of all yes there aren't any little villages to wonder around, get over it! Why do you want to have to walk to separate shops to buy weapons, armour, potions etc...? Yes it's linear, just like all the others, it just doesn't try as hard to disguise that fact. I am pretty certain from reading the review by Edge magazine that they have now become totally corrupted by bribes from publishers! Bayonetta got 10/10, a totally linear game with terrible screen tearing, dodgy voice acting and an overly complex plot. Then they give Final Fantasy 5/10?! Final Fantasy 13 is an epic, huge and beautiful game, totally absorbing with an incredible story, great characters and one of the greatest battle systems I have ever come across. Stop nit picking about the lack of Japanese soundtrack(!?!) lack off little villages with silly shops and lack of attempts to disguise the linear story and just enjoy this fabulous games, You won't find another game that provides this many hours of solid entertainment for your money until the next one!… Expand

Awesome game. Don't get discouraged by some of the bad reviews. This is one of the best, and the most beautiful, final fantasy games ever made. The battle system, one you get into it, is arguably the best the series has ever seen.

Although not perfect and dissappointing is some ways. Having actully finished the game I can say I really enjoyed the story, characters, new battle system & the dense atmosphere. I hope people take the time to get at least halfway before making their verdict. I think the reason its get so badly judged is because the story in the first few chapters has been exposed so much on game sites etc, its not enough to carry the game at first because we already know a lot of what will happen at the beginning. I think there shouldve also been a bit more depth into the fal'cie origin in the main story not just the datalog. But of course this is planned as the first in a complication of games. So I'm looking foward to seeing how this series pans out. Definitly an intense & exciting game.… Expand

Never before have i been compelled to write a user review until this game. but after experiencing this masterpiece i felt obligated to share my opinion of it. never before have i seen visuals on par with this game. now im a huge gamer and have played through all the recent graphical masterpieces such as uncharted 2, killzone 2, and am currently playing gow 3 when im not plating this title. i got both gow3 and ff13 at the same time and began playing gow 3 first. at that time i thought there was no way a current gen game could look any better. then i began ff13 and was absolutely blown away. the in game graphics are like playing a cg movie. nothing out there can compare. as far as it being to linear, that is actually a plus for me as i enjoy a focused game experience over wandering around lost all the time in a game. The truth is that its a shame this game didnt score over a 90 just because so many fans of the series felt like they know the direction the game should have took as opposed to what square decided to do with it. i have played ff10 and ff3 on the snes so i cant consider myself i hardcore ff fan. that works out to my advantage because i can just enjoy the game rather than wishing it was more like ff games in the past. don't let bad review scores stop you from playing this game because you'd be missing one of the biggest moments in gaming history.… Expand

In my opinion, the best game ever. Final Fantasy IX is very different thematically to FFVII and FFVIII since it returns to its roots. Instead of a modern world with mobiles and emails, the setting is pretty simple (although there are airships). It truly feels like a fantasy game and one that is done extremely well. The characters are all unique and are brought to life by a beautifully written script. Nobuo Uematsu returns for his last solo FF sound track and the results are spectacular. From the beginning piece 'The Place I'll Return to Someday' to the emotionally powerful 'You're not alone', the music never fails to pull at those heart strings. The gameplay is solid, deep and enjoyable despite its lack of uniqueness. The familiarity of FFIX works well as the game is in many ways a throwback to earlier Final Fantasys, taking elements from each which were fun and satisfying whilst eliminating any annoying quirks. The plot, characters and setting too are not ground breaking but all these aspects are done so damn well that Sakaguchi, the series founder, called it the best Final Fantasy yet. Uematsu said the same. In conclusion, FFIX is a magnificent game containing a vibrant world filled with exciting events and deep characters. Unfortunately it failed to make the impact that many FF fans (such as me) feel it deserved. So, for those of you who haven't played it, now is your chance to experience this classic. And remember, it is more than just a fun game; the experience and memories may well last you a lifetime.… Expand

This is an epic game. 1. graphics are awesome. 2. Good RPG elements are still there (upgrading, equipment) 3. Great action in battle (for everybody out there who doesn't does it yet: Switch to ABILITIES as standard) 4. Whatever everybody saying the story is really good 5. It's not repetitive 6. saying this game has no side missions is a lie! There are 64 7. The game has 60+ hours of gameplay I'm going to stop here cause I'm going to play it some more, but I could go on for days with good sides.… Expand

After almost 10 hours of mediocre Gameplay and Story, Final Fantasy XIII really takes the player to an unforgettable Journey. Once youre into the System, you'll be able to enjoy this Game more than everything else available on Current-Gen Systems. worth a try!

There has been a lot of talk about the linearity of this game, and yes... this game does force you down a narrow corridor for the first 20 or so hours. That being said, this game is a lot of fun, and the story is very immersive (I actually think this is the first game that I have watched all of the cut-scenes while playing). I didn't really mind the linearity or the actual levels, however the fact that the leveling system is somewhat linear drops this game from a 10 to a 9. I also would have liked to have the ability to pause combat to select actions.… Expand

Although this is the first FF game I've played thoroughly (Played 7 for a little bit), I really liked it because the stories were for the most part completely seperate. There are a couple similarities, but they don't cause major confusions. I would have given this game a 10, but there were two problems that become apparent later in the game. The earleir of which is the difficulty spikes. Sometimes, you'll play 2 or 3 easy bosses (yes, bosses, not just big monsters) that you can knock down on your first try. But then, you come to one that will murder you the first 15 minutes you play him. This occasionally happens with the monster encounters, but that's not that big of a spike. The second problem I have, is that sometimes, the AI can make you want to throw your remote through your TV. You can be fighting something and have two members take hits from it. One will be a huge hit, the other will be a glancing blow. Your designated healer will sometimes heal the one with more health, causing the dying one to take another hit and die. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING!!! Especially on bosses. All-in-all, a very fun game I highly reccomend, despite its occasional shortcomings.… Expand

As great as, say, Valkyria Chronicles and Demon's Souls, but still an excellent Rpg, despite being linear, the plot and characters compensate the abscence of side quests, and the graphics are second to none when it comes to rpgs! 4-year-wait was worthy!

Its a new, fun take of the Final Fantasy franchise, but lacks the old Final Fantasy feel. Its a very good game, but after growing up playing most of the Final Fantasy out their, it doesn't give you that nostalgic feeling that others might give you. The plot is great, even though it extremely hard to understand in the first 10-12 hours. The graphics are amazing and the combat is great (although with some fights it does get repetitive). But in the end, its a great addition to the franchise (especially since the last 2 were really weak) and hope we come to see many more Final Fantasy in our future.… Expand

8 seems too low and 9 just a bit high, so I'll round up. First few hours (Chap 1-3): good storyline, boring combat. Next few hours (Chap 4-6): boring storyline, repeatative combat. From there on out (Chap 7+): FANTASTIC gameplay and where the game really does show it's colors. By the way, once you get past Chapter 11 it opens up and throws away the linear-ness to a point where you will hate yourself for ever doubting the game. In my opinion, this game is amazing, just give it a bit and don't judge a book by it's cover. Oh, and the story is pretty freaking awesome.… Expand

People need to stop bashing on it just because it doesn't follow the trend of Final Fantasy games - the developers tried something new, and in my opinion it worked great. I'm almost done the game and I can safely say, it isn't always linear (but then again this wouldn't be the first FF game that was linear, right?) and even though it is, that doesn't hinder the game. I do miss limit breaks, but with the fast paced action in the new one, having limit breaks wouldn't work. The stagger system and paradigm shifts work great and by the end of the game the fights are very frantic (if you are still getting 5 stars, that is).… Expand

I'm 27, and have ben playing since FF 1. The series has changed things once again, but if I really think about it, they haven't changed at all. Any complaints are usually about something that FF has had before. Hatres, and nostalgia goggles are the only reason for low scores. I'm 42 hours in and loving every minute.