Final Fantasy XIII

 PlayStation 3
User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 2976 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,797 out of 2976
  2. Mixed: 513 out of 2976
  3. Negative: 666 out of 2976
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  1. ozarmidrashim
    Jul 24, 2011
    1
    To put in simple, this is not a final fantasy, this is not even a jgdr.
    There is no exploration, no freedom in character upgrade, no strategy, no city, no secondary mission, is only a long, very long highway.
    The combat system is spectacular but very ripetive, you can win almost battle with the same formation, with one button only. you may need just one or two more formation for the boss    To put in simple, this is not a final fantasy, this is not even a jgdr.
    There is no exploration, no freedom in character upgrade, no strategy, no city, no secondary mission, is only a long, very long highway.
    The combat system is spectacular but very ripetive, you can win almost battle with the same formation, with one button only. you may need just one or two more formation for the boss battle. The gameplay is surprisingly linear and in the end very boring besides the the difficulty of the game is too low.
    The characters don't leave you anything and soon you forget them, especially they are very poor if you compare with the glorious character of the past (cloud, terra, tidus).
    The story may be attractive but is too confused and the characters with there poor dialogues don't help.
    Is my personal opinion but i believe that this game don't offer anything beyond the graphycs, is better replay the real Fianal Fantasy, FFVI-VII-VIII-IX-X, the game of the squaresoft.
    Probably the Final fantasy Saga, the real Final fantasy games, is dead.

    PS sorry for my English.    … Expand
  2. pdhenrique3
    Mar 19, 2012
    1
    GRAPHICS ARE THE MINOR ASPECT OF A GOOD RPG GAME. Final Fantasy XIII is not a RPG game for me and another million of FF fans. Yes, the graphics made stop playing and stare at the scenario many times, but this is it. The development system SUCKS, It's linear, there is no "level-up". You can't talk to people (actually there are not so many people around to try to speak with). The game is soGRAPHICS ARE THE MINOR ASPECT OF A GOOD RPG GAME. Final Fantasy XIII is not a RPG game for me and another million of FF fans. Yes, the graphics made stop playing and stare at the scenario many times, but this is it. The development system SUCKS, It's linear, there is no "level-up". You can't talk to people (actually there are not so many people around to try to speak with). The game is so linear that if someone who never played Final Fantasy before plays it will call it an ACTION game. WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THE MAGICS AND THE KNOWN MONSTERS?!?! The battle system is different, but far, VERY FAR from better than the older series. Side mission? What side mission?! Ah, you mean that cieth stones... Come on... What were they thinking about while they were developing this game?!?! There are no SHOPs, no INNs, only some F%$#&* flying computers where you do everything. Where is that epic harp melody that everybody loves on the Main Menu?! I can't tell more, it's frustrating, I can't believe it, the SquareEnix killed it... You you are a FF fan, pretend this game never existed at all... I gave it 1 only for the graphics, but a prefer to play Final Fantasy 2 on NES than this one...… Expand
  3. sirojasb
    Jan 22, 2013
    0
    this game it´s the most dissapointing installment of the series since the playstation era, the gameplay it´s not enjoyable at all, the character development it´s boring, the soundtrack it´s well produced, but it´s far behind from emotions that can bring uematsu´s soundtracks. There are a bit of memorable moment´s, what saves the game is itsthis game it´s the most dissapointing installment of the series since the playstation era, the gameplay it´s not enjoyable at all, the character development it´s boring, the soundtrack it´s well produced, but it´s far behind from emotions that can bring uematsu´s soundtracks. There are a bit of memorable moment´s, what saves the game is its impeccable production and presentation. Gameplay linear, boring and frustrating which only makes sense in the middle of the game until the end… Expand
  4. JayS
    Mar 17, 2010
    9
    i'm a 100% ff fanboy no game gives me more hours of fun then final fantasy's.. for me 10 & 7 were my favourites and obviously i can't expect them to stick to the same routines lvl up, towns, run around spawning endlessly fights .. well all that said this game is totally different i've play maybe 6-7 hours and the graphics are brilliant as you would expect the story i'm a 100% ff fanboy no game gives me more hours of fun then final fantasy's.. for me 10 & 7 were my favourites and obviously i can't expect them to stick to the same routines lvl up, towns, run around spawning endlessly fights .. well all that said this game is totally different i've play maybe 6-7 hours and the graphics are brilliant as you would expect the story line is a little dull battle system is average but treat this game as a new rpg and not a final fantasy game and it makes it feel alot better.… Expand
  5. Novi4ekNone
    Mar 10, 2010
    9
    good game
  6. ThowraL
    Apr 8, 2010
    8
    As someone who's never played any of the FF games before, I have to say I don't mind the linearity the slightest bit. In fact, I rather liked. It saved me time worrying over, 'oh crap, I forgot to go to so so's house, did I miss out on anything important?' It was nice having a direct goal in sight, with a path completely traced out for you. The only thing I As someone who's never played any of the FF games before, I have to say I don't mind the linearity the slightest bit. In fact, I rather liked. It saved me time worrying over, 'oh crap, I forgot to go to so so's house, did I miss out on anything important?' It was nice having a direct goal in sight, with a path completely traced out for you. The only thing I don't like is the amount and length of cutscenes. I felt like I was watching some really long movie, and not playing a game. Other than that, it's great.… Expand
  7. RockmanX20
    Mar 15, 2010
    10
    I am a old school Final Fantasy Player. I have played the original on the NES and have continued on all of the American Versions. I have retired on Final Fantasy and haven't played seriously since Final Fantasy 7. After about 13 years, I decided to play this one and I am extremely happy with it so far. I am about 10 hrs into the game and I recognize this highly as being Final I am a old school Final Fantasy Player. I have played the original on the NES and have continued on all of the American Versions. I have retired on Final Fantasy and haven't played seriously since Final Fantasy 7. After about 13 years, I decided to play this one and I am extremely happy with it so far. I am about 10 hrs into the game and I recognize this highly as being Final Fantasy. People say that this game is linear, but this must be the new generation of kids talking. Every Final Fantasy has been linear(at least what I played so far) and I have no problem with them telling me the story. The real treat is in the fighting system. The fighting system is AWESOME! I love the Paradigm system and how it requires you to switch between different Paradigms to beat your enemies. It's all so fast pace, yet it's still turn based. Music so far is wonderful and the graphics are very detailed, not quite Uncharted level, but it's great.… Expand
  8. Diogenes4evr
    Mar 14, 2011
    7
    After 70 hours I really wanted to hate this game but I can't. It's a long way from perfect (other than graphically) the story needed some clarification and some more character development wouldn't have been a bad thing. The battle system while responsive was a bit oversimplified for every battle but the major bosses and the stats adding was far too linear. As I played though I grewAfter 70 hours I really wanted to hate this game but I can't. It's a long way from perfect (other than graphically) the story needed some clarification and some more character development wouldn't have been a bad thing. The battle system while responsive was a bit oversimplified for every battle but the major bosses and the stats adding was far too linear. As I played though I grew attached to the characters and the story does have merit the surroundings change although they have to considering the linearity. Not perfect but if you like JRPGs pick it up.… Expand
  9. Chaeote
    Feb 24, 2013
    7
    I'm not going to go into great detail here, as there's already plenty of that.

    All I'll say in addition to a list of pros and cons is this: The game is NOT bad. It's very pretty. The characters and the world grow on you. I did not finish it. (I got about half-way through chapter 11, and said "screw it". The game just makes SUCH an incredibly huge difficulty spike at that point, that    I'm not going to go into great detail here, as there's already plenty of that.

    All I'll say in addition to a list of pros and cons is this:

    The game is NOT bad. It's very pretty. The characters and the world grow on you. I did not finish it. (I got about half-way through chapter 11, and said "screw it". The game just makes SUCH an incredibly huge difficulty spike at that point, that honestly, the story isn't worth it. It's easier just go go on You Tube and watch the cutscenes.

    Now, pros and cons:

    Pros:
    - Pretty
    - Combat system is interesting, once you understand that it's less about choosing attacks, and more about choosing and timing the right paradigms and targets.
    - Characters are believable, and for the most part genuinely likeable.
    - The world is very interesting.

    Cons:
    - There's NOTHING to do except fight, or watch cutscenes. Even the one "side quest" that's present is just the mark hunting system from FF12. It get repetitive fast.
    - As I mentioned, the HUGE difficulty spike when you get to Pulse.
    - The crystarium's exp requirements, mean you either grind the hell out of your characters, or just stick to their top two primary roles so you can actually get some decent abilities.
    - Upgrading weapons is weird... I dunno what else to say about it, it needs a better explanation.
    - No side quests
    - No mini-games (triple triad, blitzball, etc)

    That being said, I am gonna play FF13-2 still, see if the changes they made catches my attention, especially since just looking at the titles of the articles on gameFAQ makes it look there's actually side quests and mini-games.    … Expand
  10. archonome
    Feb 16, 2014
    1
    Do yourself a favor... stop caring about graphics and go play FF7,FF8,FF9.

    This game was a huge let down...but I expected this after FF10. This isn't a Final Fantasy Game, they should give it a new name. 1. No overworld map 2. Unlovable characters 3. Overly Feminine characters, Emos everywhere 4. Overly complex story that doesn't make any sense Basically, this game lacks the    Do yourself a favor... stop caring about graphics and go play FF7,FF8,FF9.

    This game was a huge let down...but I expected this after FF10.

    This isn't a Final Fantasy Game, they should give it a new name.

    1. No overworld map
    2. Unlovable characters
    3. Overly Feminine characters, Emos everywhere
    4. Overly complex story that doesn't make any sense

    Basically, this game lacks the atmosphere of the previous FF series... it doesn't have the Charm anymore.

    Rule #1 of FF games: You must have an outstanding Story and the Main characters must be EPIC.... "lightning" lol what a joke.    … Expand
  11. Aelvir
    Aug 19, 2015
    4
    It is straight-on insulting to be considered an RPG. The battle system is nothing more than a dummed-down pseudo real-time battle system. In the sense that its just turnbased while they move around on their own. And the worst of all is they restrict you to only one person to control. You can only control the party leader but guess what? You can choose who the party leader is. ..near theIt is straight-on insulting to be considered an RPG. The battle system is nothing more than a dummed-down pseudo real-time battle system. In the sense that its just turnbased while they move around on their own. And the worst of all is they restrict you to only one person to control. You can only control the party leader but guess what? You can choose who the party leader is. ..near the end of the game. Whoop-de-freakin' do. And Masashi Hamauzu does god-awful music in this. Blinded By Light is the only thing remotely close to decent song in the game. We couldn't have Takeharu Ishimoto do the music again? No, no, we had to put this random guy no one knows of. The game layout is nothing more than a straight hallway. It's even more insulting that SQUARE thought this would sell and not Saga 3 DS, saying Saga 3 wouldn't sell very well That's a pure insult .Play FFXII or Saga 3. They are far better.… Expand
  12. SnowDay
    Oct 11, 2015
    7
    What can I say about Final Fantasy XIII that hasn't already been said? Yes, the game is very linear, there is no world map, and the story is deep, yet empty. However, the battle system is quite intriguing and the graphics are incredible. Final Fantasy XIII's tag line should be: "Well, it's still better than XII".
  13. DeepDive
    Dec 20, 2012
    7
    in retrospect this is not the greatest nor it is critically acclaim as the previous entries however this does not mean it is a bad game, while it certainly has it flaws (I mean what game doesn't?). Many of the game's shortcoming can be heard from the fans that are dissatisfied with the game, most notably that it's infamous for it's lack of immersive exploration and story-wise filled within retrospect this is not the greatest nor it is critically acclaim as the previous entries however this does not mean it is a bad game, while it certainly has it flaws (I mean what game doesn't?). Many of the game's shortcoming can be heard from the fans that are dissatisfied with the game, most notably that it's infamous for it's lack of immersive exploration and story-wise filled with confusion terminology and obnoxious characters. While on these sectors it falls flat, there are other elements which stands out crediting the fast-pace combat, the well designed environments which for an outdated engine (that's running on the Crystal Tools) still looks visually absorbing and the cg cinematic which invigorated many past final fantasy. While the FFXIII is not necessary abhorrent as many fan many fan has describe, it is still one of the weakest title in the series and may disappoint many die-hard fan of the the turn-base genre.… Expand
  14. Tridus
    May 20, 2011
    4
    This game got high praise because of its name, and because it's got very shiny graphics. As a game, it fails. Player involvement is minimal, and uninteresting when it does actually need you. There's no exploration at all, and for most of the game not even a need to go any direction other then forward. As a corridor simulation it's great, though.
  15. KnucklestheEchidna
    Mar 9, 2010
    10
    Very few games I've played can match up to the quality gaming Final Fantasy XIII. The linear complaints ae all empty, as the linearty helps you understand the plot and gameplay. The battle system is by far the best and most ineractive in a Final Fantasy. The plot will suck you in, and, by the time you've beaten the game, you'll want to do it all over again. The characters Very few games I've played can match up to the quality gaming Final Fantasy XIII. The linear complaints ae all empty, as the linearty helps you understand the plot and gameplay. The battle system is by far the best and most ineractive in a Final Fantasy. The plot will suck you in, and, by the time you've beaten the game, you'll want to do it all over again. The characters are, with a few exceptions, are well-explained and interesting, though maybe not the best. the graphics? This game is a techinical milestone for the entire gaming industry, as teh environment, character, and enemies are so beautiful you WILL try to walk into the TV due to the realism. Hands down, this is the best Final fantasy ever. If you're an RPG fan, or a fan of action games, or a gamer in general, try out Final Fantasy XIII. You may be disappointed due to the linearty in the first half, but other than that, you'll love it.… Expand
  16. DustinW
    Mar 9, 2010
    10
    Ok, I am getting sick and tired of the prototype critic out there nowadays. This game is a classic, it has all the same elements that previous Final Fantasy games had, with beefed up graphics, how this can get rated worse then a 9/10 makes no sense to me. Everyone needs to get out of there blood spilling first person shooter/action game mode, and remember what a good RPG is.
  17. JamesB.
    Apr 20, 2010
    9
    This game is gorgeous, fun, inventive, and really is the best RPG series ever. Though, the only thing that confused me was the fact there was no multiplayer. the AI is good and all, but i would have liked to add in at least one friend to help me, but its just a small problem. i havnt played the entire thing, and i will do another review to overview the entire thing, i just think there This game is gorgeous, fun, inventive, and really is the best RPG series ever. Though, the only thing that confused me was the fact there was no multiplayer. the AI is good and all, but i would have liked to add in at least one friend to help me, but its just a small problem. i havnt played the entire thing, and i will do another review to overview the entire thing, i just think there should be a multiplayer, see u guys later in another review.… Expand
  18. Laggron1111
    Apr 19, 2017
    0
    Final Fantasy XIII is a very bad Final Fantasy. This game is not interesting. The characters are really boring.
    The scenario is very bad. It's the worst Final Fantasy .
  19. qu4nt0
    Nov 14, 2014
    0
    This is the worst video-game I have ever played in my life. First of all there is no challenge, 90% of the game is just about walking narrow paths and have boring fights with enemies.
    Second the fights are more boring than in previous Final Fantasy games, because the system is doing everything for you. You basically just have to choose a class and the Game is doing the rest of the fight.    This is the worst video-game I have ever played in my life. First of all there is no challenge, 90% of the game is just about walking narrow paths and have boring fights with enemies.
    Second the fights are more boring than in previous Final Fantasy games, because the system is doing everything for you. You basically just have to choose a class and the Game is doing the rest of the fight.
    Please don't buy this video-game.    … Expand
  20. Myst
    Apr 16, 2010
    10
    It may not be a 10, but I can't bring myself to give it a 9. Beautiful look, fast pace fun battle, interesting story line. I haven't played that many FF games, but this has to be a benchmark in the FF series.
  21. TonyA
    Mar 12, 2010
    10
    Lets be honest, anyone who gives this game a bad score, has done so because it is a new direction for Final Fantasy. People expected something different. To me, the battle system has the feel of the old turn based FFs but faster, much faster., and the reason you control one character only is purely to keep the intense pace of the action running. It is a masterpiece of graphical art, the Lets be honest, anyone who gives this game a bad score, has done so because it is a new direction for Final Fantasy. People expected something different. To me, the battle system has the feel of the old turn based FFs but faster, much faster., and the reason you control one character only is purely to keep the intense pace of the action running. It is a masterpiece of graphical art, the loading times are virtually none existant, and the story, fighting and cutscenes blend so well. There are many linear games out there that get top scores, this one is a frantic, beautiful, incredible piece of software in its own right, and is unmistakebly, still, a Final Fantasy game.… Expand
  22. DougBefell
    May 2, 2011
    5
    This could have been oh so much better. The graphics are astonishing. Backgrounds are truly pleasing to the eye, and you'll find yourself, even 50 hours in, just rotating the camera and taking in the sights. The battle system is good. Not fantastic, not what Square wanted, either (Battles of equivalent excitement to Advent Children), but it's really interesting for about 35 hours. (thisThis could have been oh so much better. The graphics are astonishing. Backgrounds are truly pleasing to the eye, and you'll find yourself, even 50 hours in, just rotating the camera and taking in the sights. The battle system is good. Not fantastic, not what Square wanted, either (Battles of equivalent excitement to Advent Children), but it's really interesting for about 35 hours. (this game has a ridiculously slow and tedious learning curve, not putting much trust in the player.) Unfortunately, you'll be spending at least half of your time with very unpleasant and unlikeable characters. All they do is whine, have irrational flashes of anger, and pout. During loading screens, a scroll tells you what the characters are feeling, and why they're acting so poorly. Ever hear of 'show, don't tell,' Square? Voice actors are OK, with the massive exception of Vanille, who spends the entire game making little gasps, grunts and sighs. It is embarrassing. I am serious. No matter the levity or gravity of a situation, Vanille's reaction will be some sort of awful giggle, or moan. The plot doesn't go anywhere for the first 30 hours of the game. It just meanders as the characters all slowly grow up and decide to act like decent human beings. Only Sasz and Fang act decently. Vanille probably does too, but it's impossible to get over the voice acting. The bosses, and villains of the game stink. They have paper-thin motivations, and are cackling 'mu ha ha ha' stereotypes. The various gameplay systems are not nearly deep enough for a game of this length, they are hideously dumbed down. But I keep coming back to the characters. I didn't want to spend even an hour with them, why would I want to spend 70? Square failed in every conceivable way with this plot. It bores us with its lack of direction. It annoys us with its self-pitying 'heroes' by circumstance only. You will spend half of your time with this game bored and annoyed. Worst of all, this doesn't feel like a Final Fantasy game, and I've never really felt that of one of the core titles before. There are chocobos.... The spell names and some item names are familiar... that's it.

    In the end, I played this game for two reasons: it was a graphical showcase for my new-to-me PS3. And I played it out of obligation, like many old Square fans. No more. Square has been living off the legacy of FFVI, Chrono Trigger, and FFVII for far too long. I've played exactly two Square games worth playing in the last decade (that wasn't a re-release): The World Ends With You, and Final Fantasy XII (and hey, they fired the director of that game). I'm done. Every Bioware game, or Shin Megami Tensei/Persona game, I've played has been better than all the Square games of the last decade combined. That's coming from someone for whom FFVI is still the best game ever, who used to be a giant Square fanboy. Don't reward Square's awful, juvenile, melodramatic, garbage storytelling with your money anymore. This game is not good. This game's story is a catastrophe.    … Expand
  23. JoshS
    Mar 14, 2010
    9
    I love movies so much more than games. I do, however, love Final Fantasy games more than all of the movies in the world. Why? Because to me, getting to know and love a cast of characters for 40+ hours is so much more impactful than after 2 hours. Yeah, a multi-entry saga like The Lord of the Rings can have a serious impact after its total 10+ hours of film, but it still can't come I love movies so much more than games. I do, however, love Final Fantasy games more than all of the movies in the world. Why? Because to me, getting to know and love a cast of characters for 40+ hours is so much more impactful than after 2 hours. Yeah, a multi-entry saga like The Lord of the Rings can have a serious impact after its total 10+ hours of film, but it still can't come close to emulating the emotional satisfaction I feel when I complete a Final Fantasy game. It's been nearly a decade since I've experienced this. Final Fantasy X was the last entry in the series that I consider to be a "real" FF (Final Fantasy). FFX is also what first inspired me to pursue storytelling and animation as a career. It's definitely one of the greatest stories ever told, and without a doubt, my personal favorite story. Ever. Imagine my anticipation for the coming of what appeared to be the first "real" entry to the series in nine years! Finally, another FFX! By the way, all FF games are completely self contained and featured unique worlds, characters and stories. Only a few elements carry over to each, giving it a familiar, yet entirely original feel. So, did it meet my expectations? Well, I'm pretty sure that would be impossible. It is, however, a great game. Unfortunately it's not one of the stronger entries. Luckily, Final Fantasy XIII is far greater than the sum of its parts. The futuristic city world of Cocoon floats above the abandoned wilderness of Pulse.Hovering above the wilderness of the world called Pulse is Cocoon, a self contained human paradise. It was created by the god-like beings known as fal'Cie (pronounced fal-see) to protect humans from the dangers of Pulse. The fal'Cie would occasionally deem a human their servant, which would be known as a l'Cie (pronounced luh-see). If the l'Cie falied his (or her) "focus" or took too long to complete it, he would turn into a cie'Th (pronounced seeth). If success was achieved, he would turn into crystal and gain "eternal life." To humans, either fate was worse than death itself. In Cocoon, there was no need for l'Cie, in fact nobody had been turned into a l'Cie in hundreds of years. They were deemed myth, and everything of Pulse origin was feared and loathed. When six Cocoon citizens are turned into l'Cie by a Pulse fal'Cie, they are labeled enemies of their home, Cocoon. Can they defy their fate? Final Fantasy games are story-centric. They always follow a similar formula, too. A group of unlikely heroes must band together to topple some form of corrupt government, which usually leads to the reveal and pursuit of a much higher, world-threatening power. Nearly every entry in the series has done a great job of keeping that concept completely original and fresh. The members of the creative team at Square-Enix are expert storytellers. They've proven it time and again. It's a little unfortunate that the first time it comes across slightly stale (at least when compared to their enormously positive track record) is with the first game whose level of production matches that of CG movies (thanks to the PS3). It really does have an INCREDIBLE story at it's core, but the way in which it's told certainly isn't as masterfully crafted as its predecessors. The world is deep and vast, and once I finally got a grasp on what had been going on behind the scenes, all of the seemingly aimless segments of the game's plot fell in to place. Still, some plot aspects seemed awkwardly forced, as if the great cast of characters were constantly being thrown into situations that the writers deemed "had to happen." It's not always like this, as there are a few multi-hour segments that feature some of the best storytelling in the series. Outside of the cutscene-featured plot I also had to read many entries of the "datalog" to really appreciate the world and story. This is something I really loved. Similar to the appendices at the end of The Lord of the Rings, the datalog provides a vast amount of information about the deep workings of the huge world Square-Enix created. Unfortunately, a lot of this game's players simply aren't going to take the time to read it, and will therefore miss out on a LOT of the game's inner plot. Although it's a great addition to the game, I really wish a bit more of it had been worked into the cutscenes to make the plot flow a bit better. A few slow areas and forced events aside, FFXIII really does have a great story. It's really the characters that make it work. They are some of the best characters in the series. They're endearing, relatable, and by the time I reached the end they had become an active part of my life. Yeah, they start out as jerks and have some seriously messed up motivation, but the realization of their own flaws just makes them that much more relatable. I became incredibly involved in their struggle to defy their fate. On many occasions I found myself yelling at the bosses I was fighting because I was so furious at what they were putting my dear friends through! And now it's all over. I miss them already! Complementing the story is a fantastic battle system. A heavily evolved version of the classic turn-based combat the series founded two decades ago really takes the gameplay in a great new direction. Rather than inputting the commands of each party member and waiting for your next turn while enemies wallop you, the player controls only the party leader in a seemingly real-time experience. You enter manual commands (multiple chained abilities per-turn) while also actively switching sets of "roles" for your party to fit the current situation. The system really puts you in control of the tactical flow of the battle, rather than having you input every single command. It takes a LOT of strategy, especially since the battles are moving incredibly fast. The handy "auto-battle" command sounds like a cheap way to let the game play itself, but it's honestly a life saver. The complex battle system can be excruciatingly punishing at times, but that just makes it all the more rewarding. Leveling through the Crystarium (a simplified version of FFX's sphere-grid leveling system) is also a welcome change to simply gaining level-ups after a battle. It allows some freedom to choose which roles you develop for each character. There's also a fancy weapon/accessory customization feature. As far as level design goes...Yeah, it's linear. Linearity doesn't really bother me as long as there's a great story driving me. I mean do many gamers seriously enjoy getting lost? Not me! During some of the plot's slower chapters I did start to notice just how claustrophobic and narrow some areas could be, but it did little to detract from how beautiful the scenery is. The narrow corridors do have one huge benefit. When you finally make it down to Pulse, the reveal of the open landscapes and natural environments rank among my absolute favorite moments in gaming history. It's just so liberating! The game looks and sounds great. No need to elaborate much here. It may not be as visually impressive as Uncharted 2, but it's got a level of polish that generally isn't seen in a game. There are tons of changes in scenery, each containing equal attention to detail. The character models, however, are hands down the best seen in a game. Ever. Best facial animation, best motion capture, best hair...You name it, FFXIII wins. Prerendered FMV's (full motion videos) are also the best ever seen. and run in full 1080p on the PS3. The music is also fantastic and memorable, despite a few tracks that seriously don't fit the mood well (harmonica solo...). Oh, and the voice acting is top-notch. It adds yet another layer of believability to these incredibly human characters. It may seem like I'm tearing the game apart, but it's really just nitpicking. Though I wasn't entirely thrilled with the experience while I was playing, it now all blends into a single fantastic memory. If I had never played a Final Fantasy game and then dove straight into FFXIII, I would probably call it the greatest game ever made. The team at Square-Enix has made so many absolute masterpieces that even a game like FFXIII, which I consider to be one of the greatest games of the current console generation, will come across a tad disappointing when compared to FFVII, FFIX and FFX. It really is a masterpiece. It's just that I've come to expect nothing short of perfection from Square. FFXIII makes a number of missteps; some large and some small, but for each of the game's downsides, there are many upsides that blow all games in recent memory out of the water. In the end, the game comes to such a satisfying climax that my mixed reactions of the past 45+ hours all instantly melded into a single, complete memory of fondness and love. Go in with an open mind and I assure you that an incredibly satisfying fantasy epic awaits you. Overview: Pros: +Has a great story at is core. +Endearing, relatable characters. +Fantastic character backstory, development and drama. +Top-notch voice acting. +English lip-sync! +Cutscenes are beautiful and are at the same production level as a CG movie. +Emotionally investing and rewarding. +Satisfying ending. +Some great and memorable music. +Epic. +Enthralling action scenes. +Pretty scenery. +Nice art direction. +Exploring Pulse is fun. +Deep and involving battle system. +Incredibly addicting. It makes the hours pass like minutes. Literally. I played for 22 hours straight at one point and it felt like 5. +Challenging difficulty once it gets going. +Incredible final bosses. +Generally impressive AI. +Tons of deep coverage on the worlds of Pulse and Cocoon in the datalog. +Snow getting punched in the face. Cons: -A few long stretches of seemingly unmotivated plot developments. -Some claustrophobic level design. -Paradigms (sets of battle roles) reset whenever characters are swapped. There seriously needed to be a "save paradigm set" feature. -AI-controlled party members don't always target the leader's target. -The great story isn't told as well as it could have been. -Lots of essential plot will be lost to players who refuse to read the datalog. -Menu animations are too slow. I wanted to click faster than it would let me. -Gameplay could use more variety. Towns to explore, sidequests other than monster hunts, more mini-games, etc. -Some music has awkward placement. -The final location in the game is really ugly. Consensus: Far greater than the sum of its parts, Final Fantasy XIII overcomes its would-be glaring flaws with great characters, a fantastically addicting battle system and a deep, complex world. There's also a great story hidden away at its core, but it might require a little extra effort to uncover it than simply watching the cutscenes. Go in with an open mind and I assure you that an incredibly satisfying fantasy epic awaits you. 9/10.… Expand
  24. JamesP.
    Mar 15, 2010
    9
    Not the best ps3 has to offer, not the finest of the series but still an incredible work of art you have to experience..I admit i had my reservations at the start (for all the known reasons) but the innovative battle system, the beautiful graphics, the tight storyline and douzines of other smaller touches won me over. Must buy!
  25. DannyV
    Mar 16, 2010
    10
    This game is definately a love-it-hate it kinda game. You either love the new, fast paced, quick acting nature of the game, or you are a fat slob living in your mom's basement who needs 78213 minutes without the enemy being able to do anything in order to have "fun" playing an RPG game. The graphics are phenomenal, and the story line is pretty good too. Good day sirs.
  26. ShawnF
    Mar 17, 2010
    9
    Honestly people, Square is never going to make another "old-school" RPG like VII-IX again, might as well accept that and move on. Catering to a wider audience makes more money and they probably won
  27. TimothyH
    Mar 19, 2010
    9
    Final Fantasy 13 is an excellent example of how JRPG's can evolve into more action-based genres and succeed. The game has managed to sell over 5 million units worldwide since the release in Japan and continues to sell in big numbers today. The story is simple and easy to understand and you can easily emphasize with the characters and their plights. The battle system requires a large Final Fantasy 13 is an excellent example of how JRPG's can evolve into more action-based genres and succeed. The game has managed to sell over 5 million units worldwide since the release in Japan and continues to sell in big numbers today. The story is simple and easy to understand and you can easily emphasize with the characters and their plights. The battle system requires a large amount of tactics and forethought before rushing headlong into battle with overpowered characters that kill everything in one hit. The music is superb, if not the most memorable. Final Fantasy is definitely a game that RPG lovers will enjoy, go out any buy it today.… Expand
  28. JamesB
    Mar 23, 2010
    9
    Simply put: This game deserves better reviews. Do not trust very low scores (I do not believe that the people who gave the low reviews even played the entire game). On the linear and lack of freedom argument: The hand holding is a minimum. By the reviews I read, I was under the impression that it was for half the game, but truthfully, it is only in the first few chapters. Also, Western Simply put: This game deserves better reviews. Do not trust very low scores (I do not believe that the people who gave the low reviews even played the entire game). On the linear and lack of freedom argument: The hand holding is a minimum. By the reviews I read, I was under the impression that it was for half the game, but truthfully, it is only in the first few chapters. Also, Western gamers seem to forget that non-linearity often creates endless glitches which require patch after patch. FFXIII was released in perfect working order and that is a lesson Western developers should learn. The entire game flows seamlessly, the quality of the textures and graphics is incredible without any errors, the orchestrated music is by far some of the best of the series and for video games in general, and the storyline still manages to be fresh and exciting. The 13th installment in the Final Fantasy franchise has been made very well but cannot impress the gore and war obsessed Western gamers.… Expand
  29. HenryJ
    Mar 26, 2010
    9
    I give this game a 9 for just being the first FF title to the PS3 platform. They did pretty well for themselves the first time around. Yes, the game was pretty linear in the beginning to end (except for Chapter 11). But I still found it to be extremely fun with the intriguing battle system that they have created to this franchise. The game certainly changed a lot from previous FF titles, I give this game a 9 for just being the first FF title to the PS3 platform. They did pretty well for themselves the first time around. Yes, the game was pretty linear in the beginning to end (except for Chapter 11). But I still found it to be extremely fun with the intriguing battle system that they have created to this franchise. The game certainly changed a lot from previous FF titles, but it is still crazy fun.… Expand
  30. dobserver
    Nov 8, 2011
    7
    Final Fantasy has always been about the great story and gameplay. That is what has made it a very successful franchise, even today. Lately, though it seems that the developers are focusing more on the graphics then the core competencies. Final Fantasy XIII has great graphics, the cinematics are amazing and everything is pretty smooth. The gameplay and difficulty level is not bad, but it isFinal Fantasy has always been about the great story and gameplay. That is what has made it a very successful franchise, even today. Lately, though it seems that the developers are focusing more on the graphics then the core competencies. Final Fantasy XIII has great graphics, the cinematics are amazing and everything is pretty smooth. The gameplay and difficulty level is not bad, but it is not especially amazing either. The story is a bit recycled and linear but I didn't find it really 'bad' either. This game is simply 'okay.' There isn't anything particularly bad about it, but there isn't anything particularly amazing about it either. I'd get it if it was on sale. The difficulty level of the game is really easy until near the end, in which you have to grind a bit to catch up. But after grinding, the game is pretty easy in general. This might make it a turn-off for many players. It's not that this game was bad, but Squaresoft has been known for making groundbreaking games and it was just surprising to find that this isn't one of them. (Score: 7.0)… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

37
#37 Best PS3 Game of 2010
2
#2 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2010
3
#3 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2010

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 83 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 73 out of 83
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 83
  3. Negative: 1 out of 83
  1. RPG Fan
    81
    As an RPG, it is an excellent experience that provides a beautifully crafted world and engaging battle system. However, as a Final Fantasy game, it falls short of expectations somewhat.
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  2. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    90
    Ten hours in you might have doubts, but stay with it and you'll be smitten right through to the frankly unbelievable end. [Apr 2010, p.104]
  3. Everyeye.it
    85
    An unexpected Final Fantasy. The 13th chapter has a great story and some of the most incisive characters of the whole series, and even the battle system works very well, being deep and complex (even if you control only a single character). But on the other side the overwhelming linearity of the plot, the absence of cities to explore, and the small amount of side quest will disappoint fans' expectations.
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