Final Fantasy XIII

1. chare11

   Aug 2, 2011

   10

   While still playing this game, I can assure you that Square-enix took one step in the right direction. In Final Fantasy XIII you will findWhile still playing this game, I can assure you that Square-enix took one step in the right direction. In Final Fantasy XIII you will find everything a game should have: Great story, well-developed and compelling characters, stunning enviroments, one of the best musical scores of the series, entertaining battle system, and DIFFICULTY. Every role is vital, and strategies are key for some battles. For those who like to compare FFXIII to other FFS just remember how great were FFVIII & FFVII, but how easy they were as well. I found that FFXIII is the oppossite of FFXII. Whereas FFXII gave you the freedom you 'need', tons of quests, it offered, IMO, the weakest story and character development of the series. In contrast, FFXIII is brilliantly developed, as characters and story is concerned. Sure, some things can be improved, some towns and quest can be added, but I, for one, cannot complain, as this game exceeded my expectations and I can't wait for its sequel. It's not a 10, as I gave. I would probably rate it as a 9.5, but hey, some put 0s and 1s so I wanted to raise the user score.… Expand

   • 47 of 115 users found this helpful
2. Snakespeere

   Oct 10, 2022

   10

   There are many controversial talks about FF XIII in part of fandom, but as long-time Final Fantasy fan who played every main entry in theThere are many controversial talks about FF XIII in part of fandom, but as long-time Final Fantasy fan who played every main entry in the series, except XI and XIV which are MMORPGs, I can say sincerely and with full responsibility that this is one of the best games in the series. Final Fantasy XIII was made by practically the same team who brought us Final Fantasy X, which is arguably the best in the legendary franchise. Lead developers from this team also worked on titles beloved by many, such as FF VI, FF VII, Chrono Trigger and FF XII which too was coldly received on release but regained some praise with time. With this knowledge, every gamer who doubts in FF XIII just needs to think: how could these veterans fall so low with this sequel? And they didn't.
   Final Fantasy XIII holds great in nearly all aspects except one that appears in game’s discussions most often — big linearity and lack of towns and NPCs. But FF X was very linear game too. The hint is that it hides this in more delicate and clever way, and there are much more NPCs interactions for sure, so FF XIII defintely lacks in this regard. However, this game has many of its own highlights.
   First of these are, of course, fantastic visuals and overall aesthetics. Technology, art and music of this game are superb. The Crystal Tools engine was capable to show in 2009 such beautiful and detailed locations, characters, scenes and effects that FF XIII still looks great. And every element and effect, even in game menus, purely from artistic side is carefully crafted and placed. But what I appreciate even more in Final Fantasy XIII it's music. Soundtrack composed by Masashi Hamauzu who also greatly contributed to music of FF X is simply magical. It's four hours of rich, sophisticated and unbelieavably gorgeous music that evokes full scale of various feelings and emotions. One of the best soundtracks ever. This music shows that Hamauzu is worthy to stand on its own in one league with legendary Nobuo Uematsu.
   Another strong side of FF XIII is highly underrated battle system that combines qualities of classic turn-based ATB and fast-paced action to some degree. It feels just like classic FF game but with added dynamic and even more involving of strategic thinking than before. It doesn't show in early part of the game, but with your progress battles will become more difficult and variative. There are many fans who try to put down FF XIII for option of "Auto-Battle". They claim that game could be finished with using of only this command, but that's pure and shameful lie. It's useless to rely on this option because of two things. Main one is that basis of combat in FF XIII holds on paradigm system. Paradigms are unique take of FF XIII on classic job system from previous games of the series. To put it simply, you can, or even more correctly, you need to thoughtfully change roles of the warrior, mage, healer or other support class during battle for success. Paradigms cannot be formed and changed automatically. There are many paradigm patterns for the party that will be more or less effective in various situations, and this factor adds a lot more of strategic value in battle system of FF XIII in comparison with most games of the series. Other thing that makes "Auto-Battle" more like useful option for casuals and novice gamers than anything else is rating system's addition. Your efficiency in combat will be rated in 5-star range after each battle, and following rewards depend from it. Of course, only manual control in combat will give you the most effective results. Gils and items are very valuable in FF XIII because of advanced craft system of eqipment. Crafting was rarely included in series before. Only FF IX and X added such systems, and, as I think, FF XIII offers the best example of crafting mechanic in the series for now, at least in its single-player library.
   And last but not least of highlights is surely story and form of its narrative. Lead scenario writer of FF XIII is Daisuke Watanabe who also was co-author of story of FF X and main writer of FF XII after game director Yasumi Matsuno left project's leading. FF XII was stuck in development for years and it affected the execution of game's storyline but, at the same time, it was beautifully written and contained some interesting ideas. FF XIII shares similar traits and adds above. It's not the best story in the series but most ambitious and detailed. There are more than 7 hours of beautifully staged cutscenes and the most complex arcs of main characters. FF XIII concentrates on story of every protagonist in a manner similar to FF VI but manages it even better. The world of FF XIII is also very complex, and, just like in FF XII, it has its own text codex in form of "datalog". It contains all lore info and also serves as some kind of libretto to main events for those who could skip some valuable details of storyline.
   I would give FF XIII solid 9/10 but for balance the game just needs 10/10 (: .… Expand

   • 1 of 2 users found this helpful
4. Harurei

   May 7, 2017

   9

   Todo mundo critica Final Fantasy 13 por ser linear mas esquecem que o 10 também era e todo mundo ama. Final Fantasy 13 traz uma das melhoresTodo mundo critica Final Fantasy 13 por ser linear mas esquecem que o 10 também era e todo mundo ama. Final Fantasy 13 traz uma das melhores protagonistas e uma grande quantia de personagens carismáticos como Vanilla, Sazh, etc. Seu plot político mesmo sendo um pouco confuso traz criticas sociais bem interessantes… Expand

   • 5 of 6 users found this helpful
5. WhiteEagle

   Apr 27, 2022

   7

   I love some of the characters, namely Vanille and Fang, but the battle system is just too underwhelming. So often I find normal roadsideI love some of the characters, namely Vanille and Fang, but the battle system is just too underwhelming. So often I find normal roadside encounters developing into long, tiring and excruciating ones and I've died more times than in any other Final Fantasy game even at normal difficulty. To me the battle system in FF 13 is just unenjoyable at all, in comparison, the polished version of this battle system in FF 13-2 proved to be much more entertaining and also reasonable. The battle system aside, the extreme linearity of the first 10 chapters(the game has 13 chapters) is also a big problem.… Expand

   • 0 of 1 users found this helpful
6. XuDavella

   Jan 4, 2011

   5

   Didn't like the idea that the entire game was all about fighting and pretty much nothing else to do on the side that didn't have something toDidn't like the idea that the entire game was all about fighting and pretty much nothing else to do on the side that didn't have something to do with fighting. You hear people talking about how it takes like 10 hours before you get to the part of the game that you can really appreciate....and that would have worked 20 years ago when people were living at a slower pace, but this is the 21st century. I know I'm taking this out of proportion, but if I want to learn how to do something, I would like to learn how to do that quickly, not have to take a gradual step - lots of fighting and then another small step. Now I'm not saying the fighting is bad, in fact it really is kind of impressive - oh wait, all I have to do is set the damn thing on autopilot and it does it all for me! Now that's 21st century right there. *sigh* So the review is not 'all' bad. The graphics are to die for, and the story line will echo in my mind for a long time. It was musically heart warming and the relationships between the characters developed very very nicely. Oh and the weapon upgrade system was retarded.… Expand

   • 4 of 11 users found this helpful
7. ArcticZombie

   Nov 18, 2011

   3

   Industry leading graphics, really good music (minus that disgusting fruity-pie song that was "popular" for a bit), and some really great menusIndustry leading graphics, really good music (minus that disgusting fruity-pie song that was "popular" for a bit), and some really great menus and options. But why the failing score? For starters; the cast is completely forgettable. The story is predictable and poorly dialogued. And the game is very much on rails most of the time. The inventory system overall feels overly-simplified. Actually, the main problem here is: everything essential about this game seems too streamlined and simplified. I've been hoping since FF8 that the series would grow in complexity and challenge, and offer me an even bigger open-world to explore. But what's happened is that SE is only interested in making things "more accessible" to gamers. In this case it shows. And it shows way too much. No open-worlds to explore, just graphics, graphics, graphics. A boring, cheesy, lame-charactered snore-fest that should have never been included in the Numbered Series of FF. Not where games (especially RPGs) should be headed. It's an interactive movie with battles tacked on, with a weak character building system and world. This game broke my faith in the franchise. The final nail in the coffin for me.… Expand

   • 5 of 12 users found this helpful
8. XenobladeFan007

   Jun 10, 2022

   0

   I discovered the series with this FF 13 is the magic and very present, The graphics are simply sumptuous, the charm of the game is partly dueI discovered the series with this FF 13 is the magic and very present, The graphics are simply sumptuous, the charm of the game is partly due to its magical environments and wonderfully
   and has an extremely successful scenario with endearing characters with a crazy back ground all right away I think of (sazh, noel, lightning, hope and vanilla) this game is only good memories: heart: I would like if he released the trilogy on switch/ps4 that would be cool.… Expand

   • 0 of 3 users found this helpful

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