Final Fantasy XIII

[Rendakor]

Canceled my preorder on this; unless I hear some positive word of mouth feedback this may be the first numbered FF I skip completely.

[stray]

Just picked this bitch up at midnight. Interesting experience. Beards, brown pants +hello kitty handbags. And proof that I'm the only pathetic otaku in a 30 mile radius (or more!) who could still effectively cosplay.

Christ, I need to get a life.


Oh wait. The Game. Probably will just play it a couple hours tonight. More to come.

[stray]

My initial/brief/uninformed impression is that these are the coolest FF characters in awhile. Lightning is a bit like Cloud though... but a chick, so I'm sure she's different in ways unknown as of yet.

The story is cool from the getgo... and yes, the cutscenes are heavy, but more in an interwoven sort of way. Like, cutscenes between/leading up to battles. They come and go --- but so far, it's a good thing. It enriches the battle experience by giving it a narrative flow (opposed to battling for long periods of time.. and then watching cutscenes for long periods afterwards). It gives off a feel that you're playing in a story better than other FF games have.

As for the battles themselves, they feel like an odd cross between old school FF and FF12. Or, rather, how FF turn based would play out if you had to play it faster. There's a bit of strategy involved, but I haven't played enough to see how deep it gets. So far, I just know you want to quickly focus fire on opponents to "stagger" them. Perhaps there's more shit to do with different enemies (effective dmg types etc) that could cause things to get hairy if you don't think quickly enough. That's all spectulation though.

It doesn't exactly feel like an "RPG", but the story could be cool and it looks fucking fantastic. If it keeps it up, I'm not going to complain.

[schild]

Just picked this bitch up at midnight. Interesting experience. Beards, brown pants +hello kitty handbags. And proof that I'm the only pathetic otaku in a 30 mile radius (or more!) who could still effectively cosplay.

Wait. What?

[stray]

lololol


...

Still so far so good. Don't hate one character.

[schild]

Did you dress up as Cloud, stray? Or Biggs, from Final Fantasy VI? If you don't say Biggs then you did it wrong.

And if you dressed up like Vincent, I hope you got attacked by a person in a fursuit... named Twilight.

[stray]

Hah I didnt cosplay, don't worry. But Biggs would work now that you mention it. I am saying however there were strange looking dudes there.....and I'm kind of sad that I'm actually as big of a dork as they are (at least, taste wise).


Anyways, the game's pretty easy, but I finally died on a boss. About time. If anyone was playing FF mostly for the stories though, then they wouldn't be missing too much here. It's very engaging on that level --- while only somewhat engaging on the gameplay so far.

[Falconeer]

Lightning is a bit like Cloud though... but a chick

I'm sold.

[rrazcueta]

My initial/brief/uninformed impression is that these are the coolest FF characters in awhile. Lightning is a bit like Cloud though... but a chick, so I'm sure she's different in ways unknown as of yet.

He's a pirate wearing sandals and skintight leather pants.

[Rasix]

Yah, but that was too easy. He was a British Han Solo with an 8' tall bunny chick as his Chewie. 

[NiX]

Lightning is like Cloud. Colour me surprised.

[Kitsune]

They're apparently packing a raffle code to get into FFXIV's beta inside FFXIII.  If anyone has 13 and doesn't care about MMORPGing it up in 14, I'd appreciate your raffle code.

[Velorath]

They're apparently packing a raffle code to get into FFXIV's beta inside FFXIII.  If anyone has 13 and doesn't care about MMORPGing it up in 14, I'd appreciate your raffle code.

Keep in mind, if you apply for the PS3 beta (which is what the code is for) it supposedly overwrites you PC beta application.

[stray]

She isn't like Cloud in every way... Just kind of starts off like Cloud does.... ummm... I think Cloud was a soldier or something, who was helping the other side for personal/unknown reasons (at first). Also, she's kind of quiet and determined and only gives vague, moody answers to everything.

Vanille looks like her, so some people might get them confused. They both have pink hair, but Vanille is the rambunctious, cute girl.

[edit] umm i'll just reiterate that the characters are great... typical archetypes though they may be. the hottest chick in the game is not on my team yet though (mean looking brunette.. reminds me of lulu or vincent)

[schild]

You can only use the promotional code once (from FFXIII for FFXIV). Not that it matters since, well:

The promotional code entered is either incorrect or has already been registered.

OH HAS IT?

[Rasix]

Copy/paste doesn't work.  It'll copy the first 4 parts of the code with spaces.  Remove the spaces then input the last 4 digits.

Yah, I bought this.  With Mario Kart and SMG going back to Gamestop it cost me $8. 

[schild]

Yea, just figured it out. How stupid.

[stray]

Beta for a PS3 MMO? Hmm, I might do that. I didnt know what the code was for. It just says a "gift" or something.

[Velorath]

Beta for a PS3 MMO? Hmm, I might do that. I didnt know what the code was for. It just says a "gift" or something.

You get some in-game items for FFXIV and a chance at the PS3 beta.  No word on when the PS3 beta starts or how long it will run for (the PC version is supposed to start on the 11th, but is currently limited to selected FFXI players).

[stray]

Hmm i'd be down with a PS3 mmo, but not sure about PC. I'll give a heads up if I want to give it away (PS3=gaming with controller on bed ... PC= gaming on awkward laptop meh).

[MisterNoisy]

She isn't like Cloud in every way... Just kind of starts off like Cloud does.... ummm... I think Cloud was a soldier or something, who was helping the other side for personal/unknown reasons (at first). Also, she's kind of quiet and determined and only gives vague, moody answers to everything.

You could have just said 'a soldier and emo about it'.  :)

[Rasix]

So far.. I like it.

[schild]

This game is so lovingly crafted it's not even funny.

Everything from the sound to the menus to the fucking status screens, it's all goddamn impressive.

I feel like we should just move on to cloning Demon's Souls and retire the JRPG.

[schild]

I should clarify before people get wack about this:

This is the perfect JRPG, whether that is good or bad is up for debate. But it's pretty much everything the genre has been working towards since gaming immemorial.

[stray]

She isn't like Cloud in every way... Just kind of starts off like Cloud does.... ummm... I think Cloud was a soldier or something, who was helping the other side for personal/unknown reasons (at first). Also, she's kind of quiet and determined and only gives vague, moody answers to everything.

You could have just said 'a soldier and emo about it'.  :)

I haven't gotten into what her deal is yet. She's more of "the badass who can't even admit to emotions" than an emo though. Umm if that's archetype. I think she's already bitchslapped Snow about 5 times (Snow being the self-proclaimed "hero").

[stray]

I think it's probably for the better too Schild. While I wanted to bemoan the lack of certain RPG staples (like towns... which may still yet to appear... I don't know), I'm not missing them actually. Not missing side quests.. nothing. This game just moves you along a story, and that's a good thing. And like I said, I love these characters.

[Ragnoros]

I should clarify before people get wack about this:

This is the perfect JRPG, whether that is good or bad is up for debate. But it's pretty much everything the genre has been working towards since gaming immemorial.

So in becoming the greatest JRPG FFXIII has become a glorified movie. Likewise in becoming the greatest Western RPG Mass Effect 2 has become a glorified movie.

I don't think this is a bad thing, just interesting. Movies are far better and well refined devices for telling stories than games. These modern games are just doing what works best.

Not that there is anything wrong with games that just want to be games: Diablo, Civilization, Street Fighter, etc. I just expect games like Dragon Age to be a dying breed (as if that wasn't obvious).

[schild]

Likewise in becoming the greatest Western RPG Mass Effect 2 has become a glorified movie.

Other than Deus Ex and Planescape are still better.

It's not really up for debate, sorry. 

[Quinton]

Some thoughts after an hour and change of play:

- Very pretty.  I agree with Schild's "lovingly crafted" remarks.  Looks stunning on the 46" LCD TV.
- I can live without towns, but I'd kinda like a bit more loot then "weapon" and "accessory".  I don't need individual equip slots for a ring on every finger, but 4-6 equipable items would be more fun for me.
- The hopping around between sets of characters is a little jarring -- nobody's even leveled up yet and I'm still all very basic attacks.
- The voice acting is variable.  Lightning and Sazh are solid.  The other characters a bit less so.  Vanille is a bit grating -- and the actress doesn't seem to know what her accent or speech style is supposed to be...

Not hating it, but not entirely sold on it yet.

[Rasix]

Still remains to be seen if this will be a better game than Shadow Hearts: Covenant.  Probably not, but this definitely isn't the death of the Final Fantasy franchise and through, what is the essentially the tutorial, a gripping and well crafted experience.

It's just so well done.  Nothing left to chance or half assed.

/off_topic Heh, sitting in a stack next to my PS3: FFXIII, Heavy Rain, and Valkyria Chronciles.  That's a lot of beauty.

edit: Vanille's voice acting is a bit odd.  Sounds like someone that's used to voicing puppets.. if that makes any sense.

Also, playing on a 23" HD widescreen monitor.  It looks really good.

[schild]

There are towns. They're just computer terminals. Much like the hermit does not go to a mall, the FFXIII character shops on Amazon.com.

All they took out was pointless yammering.

I miss the idea of towns, I don't miss the implementation. I'll take this "maybe-almost-a-third-of-the-way-there" approach.

Edit: This is far more the impressive JRPG than Shadowhearts 2. Is it a better EXPERIENCE? Nah, not a chance. Square doesn't have the balls to construct the world in a way that would even be allowed to knock on Shadowhearts 2's door let alone step on it's front lawn. But is it the better JRPG? Yea, probably. I expect to put down FFXIII either halfway through or when I finish it and never, ever play it again. The characters are all passable to me, but not much more. It's a Final Fantasy game, for sure. Music is better than great, graphics are the best in class, and the design is impeccable. It has absolutely zero soul.

[Rendakor]

Is it a better JRPG than Persona 3/4?

[stray]

Not sure about that. Equals perhaps? Hard to judge. The sim stuff makes PErsona almost a completely different type of series.

Umm on a sidenote, I believe whoever designed Vanille is a Leah Dizon fan (who conveniently even has a song called Vanilla).


[edit] RE: "Movies"

It's not any different than typical action games.... God of War for example is just a mix of combat and cinematics too. You don't go to shops there or dilly dally around with things that have no tie to the overall plot. So I guess, just look at it that way, if you can. They didn't take away too much out of this to the point where it's not an "RPG" though. It's very streamlined, but I'd hardly call it an action game either. It still essentially feels like an RPG to me..... just one where the narrative is absolute king.

[schild]

Is it a better JRPG than Persona 3/4?

Yes. Considering the core of a JRPG is combat -> story -> upgrade -> combat -> story -> upgrade, Persona 3/4's weakest points were its combat. They were worse than Digital Devil Saga and Nocturne and far worse than Shadowhearts. At least FFXIII doesn't screw with a proven formula. Admittedly, Persona 4 had vastly superior combat than Persona 3 - also the PSP version will further improve. Still won't be as good as FFXIII. That said, Persona 3 and 4 are both better games.

Look, in the annals of history, FFXIII will not be remembered as one of the best games ever except by the bland and whorish. It will be considered a technical feat (that rivals Gran Turismo and Heavy Rain) for years to come. As a game though, it's no masterpiece. If I threw all the technical stuff out the window right now, I'd give it a 6 or 7 out of 10. With it, it's basically a 10, that's how polished it is. Razor sharp shine.

-

It's a JRPG Stray, no one ever claimed there was much role-playing in the genre, it's just a moniker.

[stray]

This is true...

...

Persona 4's combat is only better to me because it's a little harder and required you to remember more enemy types. I like how this one feels... I'm not just not encountering enough shit that makes me recall specific tactics.