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 Do not listen to obsessed haters. March 11, 2010
T. Conomos
I really don't like writing reviews but I felt I had to because of the unfair reviews that this game is getting from nostalgia obsessed meme spouting individuals.
Let me start by saying that if you feel that the developers of Final Fantasy are somehow obligated to give you the same exact features with every single installment because you feel that a game isn't Final Fantasy unless it doesn't evolve any concepts then you will not like this. However, if you are one of the more reasonable minded individuals who judge each installment with the Final Fantasy title as an individual game rather than a chapter in a entire series as they are meant to be judged (with the exception of X-2, none of the titles have anything to do with the others), then be prepared for an excellent RPG experience.
Graphically this game is beautiful. Played on 1080p will offer you a total immersive experience like no other. The environments are absolutely breathtaking. Details are incredible and the characters look and move like real people even during battles. The map areas are huge as well. Here is where we tend to find the first group of fools. After reading all these other reviews I honestly wish the word "linear" never existed. People seem to forget that every other Final Fantasy title also featured a linear plot even if it had a large empty world map that had you progressing from one town to another in a LINEAR fashion in order to progress the story. For some reason, unreasonable people have decided to take the word linear and use it in a literal sense when describing this game. The maps are huge. The total area of one of the larger maps is nearly as big as all the dungeons in 7 combined. What they lack are random side paths that lead to dead ends. Instead you get short side paths with treasure on the side. Still convinced you need some giant world map? Fear not, play the game for more than 20 minutes like it seems most 1 star reviewers have done and you eventually get to that gigantic world map that the slavering masses desire called Grand Pulse. Filled with gigantic creatures and dangerous encounters, it should sate your mindless exploration needs while giving you a real sense of wonder. Wait until you encounter your first gigantic adamantoise.
The next complaint people have are the lack of towns. There isn't much to say about this. If you play the game you will realize that the early part of the story would make little sense if the characters had time to stroll about small towns filled with generic townsfolk that repeat the same line of script over and over. The first half of the game is a desperate escape from forces that wish to destroy you. When would you have time to hang out in down and do absolutely nothing? Even if you did stop in a town, would you have time to save the farmers cat from impending doom? No! You MUST escape. That feeling of desperation is apparent throughout.
Another complaint is the battle system. The battle system is fluid, innovative, fast paced, and very very challenging. The first 3 chapters don't offer you much in the way of abilities which is where the x button mashing meme comes from. Once you get into chapter 4 the game really ramps up in difficulty. Your auto battle command will suddenly be useless as you will constantly be changing your tactics which is done quickly and fluidly through the use of the paradigm shift which changes the abilities every character in the party has access too. Need healing? Change to a paradigm like "Lifeguard" which has one character switch to sentinal mode which provokes enemies and blocks their attacks while another character switches to medic and will start casting heal spells. You don't have to force characters to heal like 12 with its complicated and unreliable gambit system, they simple start healing based on the tactics assigned and it works without fail. Once you are healed you switch back to a damage paradigm or a debuff and it works much in the same way. You control the lead party character while the party members take care of themselves with your leadership tactics. It is fast and it can be very difficult to master. Once you get a hang of it you will love it totally. As the game progresses, characters will open up more roles whether they are caster like ravager or the physical damage dealing commando and with it they gain more and more abilities. Technology has allowed for the most riveting and intuitive battle system yet.
But how is the AI? Once you scan a creature for it's weakness' the AI party members will adjust the spells and attacks they use to be more effective even when you switch paradigms. No cases of casting blocked elements or even worst, absorbed elements.
Finally we have the story. It's fantastic and engaging. The characters motivations are real and every character is likable (with the exception of whiny teenager Hope but he gets better as the story advances). I won't call it the best of the series which I feel still belongs to 6 but I do feel it's top 5.
There are a couple flaws. The camera can be wonky sometimes. It will either seem too sensitive or move sluggishly. It's a minor complaint but it can be noticeable. Also the complete lack of money early on makes it seem like those shops at the save points are just mocking you since you can't really afford anything until chapter 9 or so when there are ways to get tons of money.
This game was created with a lot of love. Even the characters mouth movements were completely redone with the localization in order to get them to match up with the words. Again, if you feel that every Final Fantasy must have a turn based slow combat system with generic towns and a wide open world map that is completely devoid of life besides the scattered towns then this game is probably not for you. However, if you aren't afraid of progress and want to play a great game, then do not hesitate. I have been playing Final Fantasy for 20 years and have watched as the game has progressed and grown and evolved. I am very pleased with the direction the series is going and I look forward to further innovations in the series from here on out.
 Just another mini-review: generally great game March 11, 2010
Gregory Parks (SFBay, California, USA)
The graphics, and much of the game play is great. I enjoy the ability to see the enemies and the fact that you can sneak up on them before entering the "battle dimension" (that so many final fantasy games have - not XII).
I have about 4 hours into the game, and so far the game seems to be moving fairly quickly through the story (although my sense of the size of the story could be completely wrong - as it was when I played VI). I like the story a lot. There are some things that are not quite clear, but that is typical of FF games. The idea that you are put in the middle of the story, and that the past will be revealed as you progress (same as VI, VII, VIII to some extent, though not as much in IX, X, or XII).
As a fan of the FF series, I enjoy this game to no end. The playability is great. The music, visuals, and the fighting system is pretty cool to me. It actually pulls back from the XII gambit system, but at the same time increases the AI control. Another way to express this, is that you aren't setting the characters to act in specific ways any more (gambit system), but the adaptable AI based on styles of battle (paradigms) is generally smarter than most. For instance, if a monster is immune to fire magic, at first your party will not know this imformation and might use that kind of attack. But once you have Libra'd the monster, and your party knows that fact, they will avoid using useless attacks, and if there is a weakness, will instead work in that way.
I haven't found out whether there is any timing attack mechanism (as in X), but I'd actually prefer that there wasn't. The swagger function in the game is a bit weird, but I like it, it reminds me of fighting games and gives you a built in bonus that you have to earn through strategy instead of timing. One disconcerting thing about the fighting system is that you cannot overtly control were your characters will situate themselves, which is odd considering the game uses physical location to determine whether the attack hits and how much damage it does (note: near misses will be a miss as I have seen this many time).
The only thing really weird about this game is the inability to lvl up. Instead that function has been replaced with XP (called CP) that allow you to work on a skill set (similar to XII) except that the skills only open as you go through the game. While I generally like them combining the ideas of leveling and skill allocation, I think it would have been more useful if they had gone with a more developed system of increasing different aspects of the character (like the skill map in XII, but more complex). Just generally, it seems a little under developed, and simplistic. Maybe they could have developed it more similarly to the skill maps used by every MMO, but then added more complexity since this is essentially the leveling up function of this game.
So, overall I think this game is great. I would really only give it 4.5 stars because the skill system seems underdeveloped, but that might only be because I am not through the tutorial phase of the game (even 4 hours in).
 This is not what I would expect from a Final Fantasy or Square Enix.... March 11, 2010
Nicholas A. Karigan
After playing this game I have noticed some very HUGE differences from any other games in the series of Final Fantasy. I have been addicted to this type of RPG ever since FF 3 and Chrono Trigger way back in the day on Super Nintendo not to mention how awesome 7,8,9 were. So lets get started...
Gameplay: First and foremost...this game is very linear! There is no open world map for you to explore which is very unlike any other FF. Also, the need to shop, upgrade and look for items is pretty much gone due to the fact that you only have a weapon and an accessory. Towns are gone, replaced by a cheap shop system integrated into save points which leaves you wanting more. The weapons can be upgraded but in the entirety is very pointless due to no need on how easy the game is.
Battle system: The battle system is very unique from using Paradigms and your characters roles. Constantly switching through these to obtain the best possible time for defeating the enemy will reward you with tech points and a five star rating...although once again pointless due to the fact that there are soo many easy battles in between tough ones that I never seemed to run low on tech points. You only control one character and if they get KO'd its game over which can easily be retried which leaves little room to actually develop skill to play this game. The auto battle function always picks the best route and most the battles including boss battles can be completed by simply tapping x time and time again while popping potions every now and again so that you dont get KO'd. The summon system is replaced by Eidolons but is a very cheap rip off of any other summon during the series with a Gestalt mode that makes them a type of rideable vehicle which in turn can use their ultimate attack...which most the time is not that devestating. And no Ifrit?? Comeon Square...wheres your dedication?
Sidequests: Replaced by a cheaply thought up and put together hunting system, poorly thought up basically only put in the game to make people play it longer.
Graphics: Prob. the only reason I enjoyed this game even a little bit. Stunning as if I was watching a 30+ hour Avatar movie with a better story and characters with more interesting personalities. It seems this game was built only for this as its the only thing in the game that made me give it three stars.
Fully I'm very upset that I bought this game and didnt wait for it to come in the bargain bin. Its not a true Final Fantasy and the game does everything for you. Yeah the story and graphics are good but they knocked out most all of the gameplay that us true FF fans loved and wanted out of the game. I think we have all gotten ripped off this time by Square Enix, and I truly believe that after this game the old school RPG's are dead.
My Advice: Either rent or wait for the bargain bin...
 Why.... March 11, 2010
Matthew Siebert (Fenton)
15 out of 18 found this review helpful
I remember when FFXII came out, after watching the opening scene I had a tear drop from my eye because I *knew* they did the game right. Now, after playing FFXIII I've had several tears flow... tears because all the lower reviews are nonsensical crap, tears that there are so many 5 star reviews, and most of all... tears that this game was privileged with the title Final Fantasy...
Lets start off with the good, which undoubtedly is unanimous and undeniable amongst anyone who plays this game. The graphics are breathtaking, the story is deep, the character development is perfect, the battle system mechanics flow smoothly, and the game sucks you into a world unlike any other.
So what could be wrong... what could possibly substantiate a two star review? Unfortunately... plenty... in fact way too much....
First, let's look at how linear the game is. At first I didn't think it would bother me, I am generally one to go right through the game without a break to do many side quests. But the presentation of this game is indeed beyond ridiculous... it is *literally* like running through a series of tubes from point A to point B.Granted beautifully designed breath-taking tubes, but tubes none the less.
Along with this there are no towns. Again, I didn't think it would be that big of a deal... just a slight change. But it soon became apparent I was exploring a world all but devoid of life. I feel like the game is more like a prototype for a final fantasy rather than the game itself.
Next we come to the battle system... oh lord... where do I begin. The battle system is gorgeous but flawed. If you have one character attacking and another casting spells to reduce defense (see Saboteur), eventually all the enemies defenses will be minimalized. It is at this point you would expect the character casting the spells to lower defense to join in and attack, but you would be wrong. The character instead just sits there with a thumb up their (explicit). This is mainly a problem early in the game where character roles aren't as developed... yet I cant believe it was overlooked. The problem is consistent when the computer uses the medic - it heals a character with almost full HP three times in a row while completely neglecting to heal itself despite the fact its in critical condition.
Also, the battles seem like nothing more than pressing X to auto-battle. The battle system goes so fast it is almost as if the game doesn't want you to choose your characters actions, only switch roles. I feel absolutely no sense of accomplishment after winning a battle, it wasn't me that won... it was the auto-battle. Sure I switched roles to heal and maybe cast some spells but all the actions were chosen by the computer. And I hear some of you screaming already, FFXII's battle system is also impersonal, how do I get off complaining about FFXIII? Yes FFXII was impersonal compared to other final fantasies but it was still ME modifying the actions it was ME choosing what EACH character was going to do next. It wasn't the computer. I just don't feel the same accomplishment switching "roles" during a battle, especially as unnecessary as it generally is.
Even though you control one character, it doesn't feel like it. When exploiting an enemy's weakness using Libra the characters automatically attack using the appropriate spell. Ugh, its sickening - I have absolutely sense of accomplishment yet again, the game does everything for me. Does no one recall in the original final fantasies how GOOD it felt to find a weakness against that one enemy who whooped you butt, then exploit that weakness and get a buttload of experience and gold? You EARNED that experience and EARNED that gold, dammit YOU found its weakness. Not anymore.
Then again, you don't even get money after battles in this game, further making them pointless. Sure, their required to advance character skills, but to what avail? Now the computer will do more for me as I sit there and watch and continuously press X to do auto-battle. Gone is the feeling of going to town and upgrading all your equipment after hours of hard work and coming back into the world to dominate your opponents. Gone again is that sense of accomplishment. And for what? I get to watch the computer do my battles for me!
I would dare say that if you compared every persons game file at the end of the game there would be little or no difference. Where are my bragging rights for having rare unique items? My bragging rights for having the best equipment? Anything? Nothing.
There not even mana or magic points in this game for frick sake! In the original final fantasy only certain characters could cast certain spells period... this has been a downfall in other final fantasies as well - diffuse roles amongst characters. But to have a final fantasy without any form of mana or magic regulation?!?! Blasphemy I say, blasphemy!!!
Also after each battle, characters automatically gain all their health back. Again stripping me of any accomplishment I have from exploiting enemy weaknesses. Status alignments? Haha, what a joke. Hardly used at all and minimally threatening. And if for some reason I do die I just click retry. Never mind scratch that, if I start off a battle poorly and wanted I could just click retry. No need to be prepared for a malboro getting a sneak attack on me completely debilitating my characters, killing two right off the bat, yet by some miracle, being able to make a comeback and kill the SOB... I just click retry.
Now let me touch on the equipment - or lack there of. The only equipment slots you have are one for a weapon and one for an accessory. No shield, no armor, no boots, no gloves, no helmet. You upgrade your weapon and accessory by finding components or winning them after battles. The game boasts a hundred different components, what it fails to mention is that they all serve the same function - to give an item experience! Sure some components boost how much experience an item gets but experience is experience, there's absolutely no point in having so many components unless they each have a relatively different function. This feels like just another way to make the game stripped down while looking like theres more at play.
And on top of everything else the game chooses, it also chooses your party... sick. This is truly a game that plays itself.
I feel like this is a bad joke. Like square-enix was sitting around saying "You know what would be really cool, and funny, well screw with the entire Final Fantasy fanbase. Lets make a final fantasy with no gameplay where the computer decides everything, yah, lets also make it devoid of any content, just one single line after another. But to keep people from thinking it's a joke, well have the best visuals the world has ever seen along with an amazing story and unseen character development."
I wont lie, they have something good here. They have something real good, but its only the beginning. They have great characters and a beautiful battle system. They need to make the REAL final fantasy 13. One where I have a sense of control, one where I have a sense of accomplishment, one where my characters are MY characters. This game does not feel like a game, it feels like a demo, or a VERY early beta. I cannot for the life of me understand how this got released and, more so, how so many people like it. I can't imagine that other people have played the other Final Fantasies, enjoyed them, and had this game appeal to them in any manner whatsoever.
I have no problem with people calling this a breath taking adventure with a story and visuals beyond what the world has ever seen. I do have a problem with people calling this a video game. I just want to break down and cry when I hear people call this a Final Fantasy.
Pick Up the Game Today March 11, 2010
Susan W. (So Cal)
the following are quick blurts of my opinion of the game:
the game is stunning, it's just too pretty to look at, cut scenes and all. the gameplay is a bit different from the previous FF versions in a way that it doesn't hinder the game or the story line. no more optional sidequest, character leveling up, and MPs. you now only control the main character while the rest of your party are on AI support during battles. and as for the game being too linear, that doesn't bother me one bit, direction is good, it's better to have a purpose during the game that progresses the story along, rather than running around a vast world trying to figure it out.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 62
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