It probably goes without saying that this is one of the most gorgeous games to grace a video game console. FFXIII's in-game graphics look like other games' cutscenes. Its cutscenes look like other games' full motion video, and its full motion video looks like a Hollywood blockbuster.
Like Mass Effect 2, FFXIII seems to be an attempt to answer the question of how to create an RPG for the modern, console-owning masses. Square Enix's solution is certainly different than BioWare's, but it's arguably just as effective in its own way.
One of the best final fantasy games ever created. The charcaters, music, artstyle and combat system are among the best. Absolutely worth a playthrough.
A game that impresses easily – merely looking at this game will have eyes popping and jaws dropping. However, get beyond that and there is a very linear game with many prototypical J-RPG elements in place. While there is some latitude for how battles are fought, for the most part, the game holds the player’s hand and escorts them through this fantastical land that is part fantasy and part sci-fi.
While it's not quite the final word on JRPGs, Final Fantasy XIII represents the felicitous first steps on the path to a destination well worth reaching.
For fans of traditional RPG games (and especially for fans of the Final Fantasy series) this should be unmissable. However, for those more casual players or newcomers to the genre it may be slightly overwhelming and the repetitive nature and sheer linearity of the early level design might be quite a disappointment for fans hoping for more from this generation’s first Final Fantasy RPG.
It takes more than graphics to make a game, and Final Fantasy XIII offers very little else other than eye candy. Ultimately, this latest addition to the Final Fantasy series is a pompous and masturbatory affair, created seemingly to promote the developer's ego first, and the player's enjoyment second.
Game is all round beautiful from the score, and graphics during it's time. However, the game doesn't really open up until 50 hours in. Yet I still enjoyed myself because not all JRPGs have to be open/sandbox, a linear story driven experience can have its own benefits.
But my biggest problem was being forced to be stuck with whiny characters like Hope, there was no new game plus (but to be fair, if it is with hope, just nvm then), and it was kind or rpg lite.
While it does have a couple of redeeming qualities, they all get buried under a long list of issues and poor design choices. I really wanted to like this game, but after 40 hours I 100% agree with the poor reviews.
In short, the game has an interesting world, decent characters and an (on paper) good strategic combat system, that all gets buried under a mountain of issues ranging from development struggles to, poor gameplay design to technical issues on PC. I dont think even a full remake can save this game.
The world itself is great; futuristic with unique designs and ideas. The characters, however, are not great, some are okay, while others are just horrible (Vanille). The way they are presented just makes it really hard to relate to them. The story is decent on paper, but how it is told in-game is just confusing and hard to understand. I feel like the story is a reflection of how the game's developers felt working on it: they were lost and hopeless with no clear direction.
The pacing of the game is probably the worst part: the first 13 hours are a tutorial with a huge info dumps into the story and characters with "mash X button" gameplay and long straight corridors. I guess it is meant to invest you into the story, but does a poor job of it due to the confusing story-telling. This mind-numbing section leaves players a bad impression of the unique combat system, which does have a few redeeming qualities.
The next section, about 13-25 hours in, is probably the best part about the game. It focuses on teaching the paradigm system, giving the player fixed party composition and fights that are designed to introduce the player into the advanced combat mechanics. The levels open up a bit, instead of long straight corridors you sometimes get branching paths and hidden items, but it unnecessarily long, and often you just wait for each section to be over already.
The last part of the game, about 26 hours in, is like playing a different game. You get thrown into a huge open area, where 99% of the encounters literally 1-shot your team. This is where the gameplay goes from "I need to think what's a good paradigm for this fight" to ""oh, you didnt have the perfect setup of 6 paradigms and characters for this fight? Too bad, you die". You will die, a lot. This is also where the issues with the combat system begin to show.
Basically, every encounter has specific paradigms setups you are supposed to use. If you use the wrong paradigms, you will either A) die instantly B) fight he enemies for 7-10 minutes and win C) fight he enemies for 7-10 minutes, then die instantly to a mechanic that you have no idea about. Since you cannot chance padargims of characters mid-battle and there's a only 6 paradigms setups at a time, this results in gameplay where you basically "need to die" to change to the correct setups, which is not great. In short, instead of playing the game the way you want with the characters you like (the point of any RPG) you have pre-determined setups you are SUPPOSED to use, but no way of knowing what they are beforehand.
All these issues regarding the combat system are far too many to list here, but another major issue that stands out is the difficulty curve. The first section of the game is mind-numbingly boring, the second is decently challenging, the third is nuclear difficulty. in the third section, once you near the end of the game you catch up in levels and the fights become doable, but then towards the ending normal mob fights become nuclear difficulty again, unless you have grinded 30 extra hours to max all your characters. Additionally, the difficulty of encounters (regular and boss fights) varies greatly. This may be a relic of the PS3 era of games, but overall it was just painful seeing your player character get 1-shot with no way to resurrect them.
To see such a legendary franchise create such a pretty-looking yet abysmal game was shocking. I recall playing this game for about 30 minutes before recognizing my own immense boredom and frustration. This was one of the first games I played that I would have truly considered to be "bad," and was taken aback by my own boredom.
If you have enjoyed other Final Fantasy games, you might find this marginally tolerable. Otherwise, do yourself a favour and give it a pass.
SummaryIn Final Fantasy XIII, you will embark on a journey through the cityworld of Cocoon and the outerworld of Pulse. Along the way, you will encounter diverse allies who will fight alongside you. Execute powerful attacks with weapons and magic, and summon the enigmatic Eidolons with an evolved Active Time Battle system. Experience seamless t...