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Showing reviews 1-5 of 531
 Maybe I'm just getting older, but... July 28, 2010
Natalie
Like many reviewers have probably started, the Final Fantasy franchise were the games in my childhood that really lit the flame within me for my passion for rpgs, and really all serious gaming in general. I remember literally losing my mind in the wait for FFVIII, IX, and X, and I don't like telling people in good company how many days of my life I lost in FFXI. I've been following XIII's production closely for years now, and was excited with Nomura's return to the main series, as well as the return of the sci-fi setting and advent of a strong female lead. With all this said, I really, really, REALLY wanted to like FFXIII. But, there is just something missing from this, something very integral that I can't seem to put my finger on, but I just can't seem to overcome. Maybe I've gotten older and I can't appreciate these games like I used to without my nostalgia goggles on, but there is a lack of a certain type of soul in this game that leaves it feeling rather incomplete. Maybe its the lack of a world map, a battle system that relies more on reflex than real strategy, no cities, the rigid linear nature of the gameplay, forgettable cookie-cutter characters, Vanille's voice actor, or shallow character interaction. I think more probably, it is the lack of the simple charm that the older FFs had with the help of Sakaguchi/Matsuno or Uematsu's contributions. Instead the game lets more action, a kin to the flashy visuals of FFVII:AC, do the talking instead of well thought out dialogue. The developers are so afraid of the attention span of the audience to their story and world that most of it can only be pieced together by reading the included database! Overall, Final Fantasy XIII is a shallow entry to the series developed with the intent to please a broad variety of gamers, which it fails at, instead of focusing on any certain niche. I wish Final Fantasy XIII had instead used the tried and true formula of past games and catered to its very large fan base, and not insulted our interest in the narrative and gameplay, as well as our attention span. The experience of this game can be said to be very similar to that of FFVII:AC; you can spend a long time preoccupied with it, but in the end you walk away still not feeling like you have taken anything from the experience or been emotionally/intellectually invested.
Early Review of Final Fantasy 13 July 27, 2010
MD
Note: I just started playing final fantasy 13 and i just recently beat final fantasy 12 on ps2 a week ago (i know very late, i just finally got time)
Who am I: I would say im a decent final fantasy fan. I'm nowhere near hardcore. I played final fantasy 7 on ps, final fantasy 10 and 12 on ps2, and i just started final fantasy 13 on ps3.
Early on i noticed that it's back to the turn by turn basis, unlike final fantasy 12 where you are able to move around and are more free of your environment. Early on the the game play is nice and the graphics is definitely a 5 out of 5. The map seems very linear and i hope it changes as the game goes on. The storyline is alright so far. One thing i noticed is that it doesn't really have a final fantasy feel to it. 7, 10, and 12 have that signature final fantasy feel to it but 13 really feels very futuristic and feels more technological i guess? i can't put my finger into it but ff13 feels quite different.
anyways i am early into the game. Im sorry to say that i got bored early in the game. i'm going to keep playing and hope i get into it.
 The best of Final Fantasy yet! July 26, 2010
Jesus Rodriguez (Caracas, DC Venezuela)
This game is by far the best Final Fantasy I have played and I have played FFI, FFVII, FFVIII before and loved them!, the graphics are stunning, the gameplay is awesome and the story is amazing.
At first the game is kind of linear and somewhat limited, nonetheless the story evolves as so your characters, and so the gameplay drowns you in large amount of hours without tire.
There is a new way to evolve the characters and can evolve them as you wish, very different as any other FF games, which makes it interesting and makes it strategic.
And as I mentioned, the story is catchy, is like watching a movie form beginning to end, as well as the soundtrack, and cannot imagine any other than the one they chose for the game.
I have about more or less 40 hours so far and cannot play anything else but Final Fantasy!
It is a must have Final Fantasy game if you have played any other before.
Great Story, Great Game July 26, 2010
O. Schmidt (Little Rock, AR)
I think to many people are forgetting one of the best aspects of games and that is the story. Final Fantasy 13 does not fall short on story, it constantly draws you in and you want to know about the characters and the overall story.
Game-play is phenomenal and battle system is back to the standard RPG (Finaly fantasy 12 battle system was horrible). Skill tree is done nicely as well. Final Fantasy fans as well as RPG and fans of a great story should consider this game a must buy!
 Back to the drawing board July 25, 2010
John Galt (Randolph, NJ United States)
Before we get in to what went wrong, let me start by differing a bit from some other critiques of the game. Linearity. Yes, this game is rather linear, but if you think about it so too are most of the other final fantasies. Being story driven this actually makes sense. To be fair this game is more confining with level design less open than previous games. The glaring exception to this comes midgame where there is breathing room and missions galore. I think, however, if the story were more engaging this wouldn't really be such an issue.
Which brings us to the story. Ugh. For starters, the characters are the weakest (not literally) perhaps in all of the final fantasy games. Absolutely no depth at all and each of them more annoying than the last. And the story. I get that final fantasy and metal gear are in a competition for the most inane and confusing storyline ever created, but come on. Here they are just rehashing used up plot threads from previous final fantasy's. Throw in a dash of oversentimental deus ex machina and you're all set.
Art design. On the one hand I guess this is the logical culmination in the long march from Final Fantasy VII, but truly there were some glimmers of hope with IX and XII. But are there really people clamoring for more art design like Final Fantasy VIII, just with a worse color palette and mechanical summons? Do Japanese people like this because the solution seems so simple to me. "Fantasy," it's even in the name. This bad, pastel, steam-punk wannabe art direction needs to go. End of story.
Is there any good news? Well, unsurprisingly, the game looks beautiful, although I did feel that much of this was marred by bad art direction. Also, this was the first game where I felt the cg was poorly directed and not used to optimal effect. So I guess that is half and half news. Also, I actually felt that the paradigm system was fairly solid. Along with the crystalarium and party building, it added a decent bit of strategy and work in to the battles (which could have otherwise proven dull considering the use of auto command in an active time battle).
All in all for a series which relies so heavily upon its story, I'd say give this one a pass. Go back and play VII, IX or X. Or tactics.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 531
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