Author Topic: Final Fantasy 13, the day has finally come (Read 15427 times)

sephiro499 · « **Reply #20 on:** March 09, 2010, 07:34:57 PM »

If you like exploration, towns, Npcs, meaningful loot and equipment, being able to control your party, and hate mashing the A button you will hate FF13.

It's a radical departure from the first 10. It's more like an interactive movie a la MGS or something but MGS gave you actual control over your character.

Be prepared for tubes and tubes of endless A mashing, paradigm shift, A mashing, cutscene, cutscene, cutscene, etc.

"The game’s linearity was just because depicting towns and so on like we did before was impossible to do on an “HD” console – it was too much work."
quote from dev

LOL

"If the main selling point of the software is the non-interactive story scenes rather than the actual gameplay then it's not a game." ~ Shigeru Miyamoto (Director: Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)

"If a games designer chooses to have the story be the most important part of the video game then they must find a way to tell it interactively to the player. Even if it's a strictly linear and pre-scripted story, there needs to be some form of interactivity from the player when it's being presented. To have the most important part of a video game not require any interactivity from the player is a serious game design mistake." ~ Fumito Ueda (Director: Ico, Shadow of the Colossus)

"The most important part of a RPG is the player feeling like they are taking the role of a character in a fully realised fantasy world. They can explore, visit various towns and places, talk to people, customise their character, collect various items, and defeat monsters. The story is not the focus of the experience and is only there to make the atmosphere of the fantasy world more interesting and engaging during the course of the game." ~ Yuji Horii (Creator of the JRPG genre/ Supervisor: Chrono Trigger)

"Although the FF series has greatly advanced over the years, it's still a RPG. FF tends to be mostly story driven so I always try to balance the experience by putting more effort into the RPG gameplay." ~ Hiroyuki Itou (Director: FFVI, FFIX, FFXII)

Carnivus · « **Reply #21 on:** March 09, 2010, 08:02:40 PM »

I'm a bit reluctant when it comes to the FF series...but this is the first FF for PS3,so I'm tented to buy it.I'm kinda scared of its legacy,of the previous titles,mostly of its story(looooong one) and gameplay(not a big JRPG fan).
So,do you recommend it to a FF virgin?

sephiro499 · « **Reply #22 on:** March 09, 2010, 08:09:53 PM »

I would say like mass effect 2, if you have no basis to judge the game (as in played others int he series) you could like it. Just keep in mind taht the auto battle system allows you to control only one character. The AI controls the other two. Also if your char dies it's game over.

It's not a bad game totally; I dislike the story but it has excellent production value. Just realize you'll be watching alot of cutscenes.

Carnivus · « **Reply #23 on:** March 09, 2010, 08:17:26 PM »

Nothing bad until now...So,is it completly linear or the player can actually decide something?

sephiro499 · « **Reply #24 on:** March 09, 2010, 08:20:58 PM »

You don't have any control over anything until you get to pulse very late in the game. It is entirely scripted. One thing the combat system has gonig for it is it is very fast and flashy.

You literally run down corridors or a non elaborate map. There isn't a cohesive 'world' it feels just like action rpg levels, not a role playing experience.

Carnivus · « **Reply #25 on:** March 09, 2010, 08:39:07 PM »

Heard there a lot of cutscenes.Can you explain this a bit more?I mean,set up tactics-atack-cutscene?

nstgc · « **Reply #26 on:** March 09, 2010, 09:45:35 PM »

All the good parts are contained in the cut scenes. To say this is an interactive movie is giving it too much credit. Its more like this:

Take a movie, and then every time you would have some epic fight scene, pause the movie, then start mashing the "X" button. If your HP gets low press "L1+down" wait 5 seconds and then do it again. When your done, go back to the movie.

I pitty those who have this for XBox. The main draw is that its 1080p. They had to seriously cut back on the HD side of the game due to technical limitations in the XBox version.

fohfoh · « **Reply #27 on:** March 09, 2010, 10:30:36 PM »

Quote from: nstgc on March 09, 2010, 06:06:39 PM

This is how you kill a franchise.

FF 13 is bad. I eagerly awaited its arrival and stood in line last night in the cold for the doors to Game Stop to allow people in. I have played it for 5 hours, am on chapter 4 of 13, and am far more disappointed than I expected.

The game is far more linear than I expected. Yes, FF games tend to be pretty linear, but this beats them all. You also can't change the party leader until chapter 10. I got pissed off so I decided to look it up. They brought back the sphere system and made it worse. The combat itself is just a bunch of rinse and repeat.

Anyway, I'm pissed. I wasted $60 and 7 hours of my time.

Ha ha. You bought a $60 movie.

But seriously. JRPG as stated in the other thread are very linear. Duh.

Natheria · « **Reply #28 on:** March 10, 2010, 02:45:15 AM »

It's already been stated that the game doesn't stop the usual hand holding that all Final Fantasys have till you're about 25 hours into the game. Be happy it's not a single player MMO like 12 was.

nstgc · « **Reply #29 on:** March 10, 2010, 04:04:26 AM »

13 turned around when I picked it back up. Battle became more involving, but the story is still the most linear of any FF game. I wasn't expecting something like Dragon Age (kick ass game by the way), but I was expecting something at least on the level of 12. I do like 12, it had its problems, but it was still good. I wish 13 had the gambit system.

The new sphere system is better than the only one in my opinion. I've played an additional 3 hours and my oppinion of the game has turned around. Still the result of putting all the other FF in a blender and seeing what comes out, but I'm no longer completely pissed.

fohfoh · « **Reply #30 on:** March 10, 2010, 04:36:20 AM »

Quote from: nstgc on March 10, 2010, 04:04:26 AM

13 turned around when I picked it back up. Battle became more involving, but the story is still the most linear of any FF game. I wasn't expecting something like Dragon Age (kick ass game by the way), but I was expecting something at least on the level of 12. I do like 12, it had its problems, but it was still good. I wish 13 had the gambit system.

The new sphere system is better than the only one in my opinion. I've played an additional 3 hours and my oppinion of the game has turned around. Still the result of putting all the other FF in a blender and seeing what comes out, but I'm no longer completely pissed.

Way to flip flop after only a few hours.

godcheese · « **Reply #31 on:** March 10, 2010, 11:21:33 AM »

Ive enjoyed it very much so, English Ps3 release owner here.

I have two complaints... Vanille's voice acting... and the fact you get next to NO back story.

I love the combat system. Even if the "gameplay" is linear... the story unfolding is quite awesome. And, unliked the mentioned MGS likeness, the cinematics aren't "excessive" upwards of like 5-10 minutes at a time separated by gameplay. Versus the MGS (especially 4) where you have 5-10 minutes of gameplay separated by 30minutes upwards of an hour of cinematic. The story reminds me of how 10 developed, and I relatively liked 10's story... very lovey dovey.

I love how fast the combats are as well... the ATB gauge fills very quickly, and the combat animations are spot on.

ive got a crap ton posted on another forum about this game... but in a nutshell, I love it. The "level" system reminds me of a Job mixed with SphereGrid, and I loved both of those.

Spanks · « **Reply #32 on:** March 10, 2010, 11:31:42 AM »

Work uni Work uni AHHH havnt had the time go and buy it. All the negativity will not destroy that giddy feeling you get when you cant wait to get a game. But if there isnt a good 50+hours of game play then I will be pissed.

samfisher1 · « **Reply #33 on:** March 10, 2010, 11:41:52 AM »

looked like a good game (story line was said to be difficult to understand (cutscenes make no help))

Sakubo · « **Reply #34 on:** March 10, 2010, 12:50:06 PM »

Quote from: godcheese on March 10, 2010, 11:21:33 AM

Ive enjoyed it very much so, English Ps3 release owner here.

I have two complaints... Vanille's voice acting... and the fact you get next to NO back story.

I have only played for a few hours but they have given some of the back story at a latter part of the game. Maybe they will keep giving it a little bit at a time as the game progress'. Also if you read the entries in the datacom thing there is alot of info about stuff that has happened there (it also updates as story goes on with more backstory info). Combat gameplay kinda reminds me of persona 3 for those of you that have played it where you only control the main toon and the others are controled by ai based on what you select as there tactic. Its a little different than I expected but so far it has worked out pretty good. Im so glad I own a ps3 though to play this on I would not want to have to play it on a 360.

nstgc · « **Reply #35 on:** March 10, 2010, 12:59:28 PM »

Quote from: fohfoh on March 10, 2010, 04:36:20 AM

Quote from: nstgc on March 10, 2010, 04:04:26 AM
13 turned around when I picked it back up. Battle became more involving, but the story is still the most linear of any FF game. I wasn't expecting something like Dragon Age (kick ass game by the way), but I was expecting something at least on the level of 12. I do like 12, it had its problems, but it was still good. I wish 13 had the gambit system.

The new sphere system is better than the only one in my opinion. I've played an additional 3 hours and my oppinion of the game has turned around. Still the result of putting all the other FF in a blender and seeing what comes out, but I'm no longer completely pissed.

Way to flip flop after only a few hours.

Hey it started picking up a few hours after I started playing again. Thats just how the game was designed I guess. I only changed my opinion once, and it wasn't a complete changed.

Nikran · « **Reply #36 on:** March 10, 2010, 01:21:23 PM »

Quote from: Sakubo on March 10, 2010, 12:50:06 PM

Quote from: godcheese on March 10, 2010, 11:21:33 AM
Ive enjoyed it very much so, English Ps3 release owner here.

I have two complaints... Vanille's voice acting... and the fact you get next to NO back story.

I have only played for a few hours but they have given some of the back story at a latter part of the game. Maybe they will keep giving it a little bit at a time as the game progress'. Also if you read the entries in the datacom thing there is alot of info about stuff that has happened there (it also updates as story goes on with more backstory info). Combat gameplay kinda reminds me of persona 3 for those of you that have played it where you only control the main toon and the others are controled by ai based on what you select as there tactic. Its a little different than I expected but so far it has worked out pretty good. Im so glad I own a ps3 though to play this on I would not want to have to play it on a 360.

Persona 3 type combat system is fine with me. My only complaints about that system came up when the party AI went dumb. Such as when this boss used phy repel spell (All they had to do was hit him once and spell was gone, instead just stood there doing nothing) and when they didn't make proper use of healing spells (Single target heal when whole party needed a heal). I suppose there will be more complex/difficult boss battles in FF13 where such problems might also raise there heads.

Sakubo · « **Reply #37 on:** March 10, 2010, 05:01:57 PM »

Did you have a group healing spell already? Its possible they only had a single target heal spell. Also if you really need the whole party healed can use a potion since they heal the whole party at once and it doesnt effect your atb anyway.

vicious796 · « **Reply #38 on:** March 10, 2010, 05:29:52 PM »

By no stretch of the imagination is this going to be one of the best FF games I've ever played. Typically, after 2 hours of playing a game (especially an RPG) I will know whether or not it's a keeper. 13 doesn't really give me that as the first 2 hours were, more or less, tutorials mixed with cutscenes mixed with monster killing that doesn't even garnish XP of any sort (I do have a shit ton of potions though). If this game were not:

1.) The sexiest looking game I've ever seen (graphics wise)
2.) A Final Fantasy game

I would have taken it back already and picked up something new. I understand the desire to get players familiar with each part of the battle system and get a tad bit of background going but, 2 hours? Really? It takes 2 hours to even be able to gain XP? C'mon Square, even new players aren't that retarded.

kyubixmunky · « **Reply #39 on:** March 10, 2010, 07:34:46 PM »

The first 4 hours of the game I had no idea what the hell the story was. After you get a bit farther, it explains a lot. They went Clint Eastwood on us. It does make me angry that I can't even change party members even though they're with me, I can't even use them. Sure I can handle controlling only one person while the AI does the other two, (like ff12 on easy mode), but at least let me choose my party...