(MY) Final Fantasy XIII Review

Square Enix is back at it again with its most successful franchise of all time, Final Fantasy. After many, many years in development and a slight delay due to the conversion of it going Multiplat, its here, its badass, and its stepping on the competition.



-Gameplay

If you'v played Final Fantasy VII, getting the hang of this battle system is a piece of cake. Its a fluent mixture of real-time combat and turn based. You have a bar that fills up in a short period of time. Each attack takes up one bar and the enemy can attack without you attacking first, forcing you to be quick and smart. However, the first 3 hours of the game will have you constantly mashing 'X'/'A' for the auto-attack. This is done until you get new attacks and strategy takes its toll. Although you will still be mashing auto-attack, you'll need to be a lot smarter switching these things called paradigms. Paradigms are basically classes that you create. A paradigm is made up of sub-classes which your characters can learn. For example, medic + medic + sentinel (tanker) = Combat Clinic. Each character will eventually gain access to all of the classes but not until late in the game.

On another note, there aren't any towns in the game but there are plenty of shops for you to buy and upgrade your weapons. Speaking of upgrading, leveling up has been changed. Instead of leveling up you have a 3D circle called a crystarium. You need points called CP which you gain through battle to make your character stronger. Through the crystarium, your character can get enhanced through HP, Defense, Magic, and Attack. They can also learn new moves through the crystarium. This forces you to use excessive grinding because of the massive amount of CP you will need to 'level-up' your character later in the game. This is no problem. If your into that kind of thing.

Gameplay Recieves: 9.5

- Graphics/Art

The graphics in this game are absolutely stunning. They rival graphics of games like Killzone 2, Mass Effect 2, Uncharted 2, and Heavy Rain. They are amazing. It feels like your watching an UPSCALED Blu-Ray. Thats right I said it. Upscaled Blu-Ray. The character models are excellent, the scenery is jaw dropping, and the monster design is the best I have seen in a very long time. In some cutscenes, your character may look a little clunky but thats if your not using an HD-TV. There isn't anything else to say.

10.0

- Music/Sound

The music doesn't change much from other Final Fantasy music, only this time around, theres actual words in the song. Nonetheless, the music is there to fill the mood and lure you into the game even more than you already are. It fits the mood completely and it makes you feel as if your following your character.

9.8


- Replayability

I definitely recommend a second playthrough through this amazing game. And with possible DLC in the works, I'd best be prepared.

9.5

Overall Score
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9.7

Good review, I am not a fan of Final Fantasy but I have been watching a playthrough by DarkSydePhil (that guy is hilarious), so I understand what you are talking about. I know of some people who may disagree with your opinion and some who agree, but don't worry, these were made to be opinion based.

Thanks ^_^ I wasn't expecting good feedback but I guess I'll keep up the reviews then.

I cant really give my opinion on FF XIII seen has I've never played it. But once I heard it was moving towards a more linear type game I decided to give it a miss.

And tbh ever since Final Fantasy 10 the series has being declining quality wise. As much as it saddens me. (FF VIII was my favourite out of the lot.)

P.S Very well written.

Very good review. Was interesting to read. I've not played FF XIII myself and probably wont get it but yeah, nice review. It was well written

Sounds like a pretty good game, its on my Gamefly Game-Q

Thanks guys n,n. Yeh, its !i. Made a new account because my old one got banned.. I believe that topic is solved already seeing as though I'm not banned on this one and it was discussed. But thanks again ^_^

that score is too high ff13 suxed dick i don't care what any body says it needs to be at least an a game at best f ff13, ff6, 7-10 r the best

Well.. This is MY review. I'v been playing FF my entire life and it has grown to be my favorite series of games. I can look past the linearity of the game. The gameplay reminded me a lot of FF7. In fact, I had nostalgia playing the damn game. But to each his own..

Only thing I can't stand is the damn grinding, it's bullshit to try and fill the crystogen grid, I'm not wasting my time to do that.

Lol.. I was used to it. I'm an RPG fanatic so the grinding doesn't bother me. But did you like the game overall?

GrantedAccess wrote:

Lol.. I was used to it. I'm an RPG fanatic so the grinding doesn't bother me. But did you like the game overall?

Yeah it was great, I didn't like the linear aspect of it, but the game was really great. It's just that after I beat it you could only roam around in Chapters 11 and 12. It made the game feel a little empty.

After I finished the game, I was grinding like there was no tomorrow. I even unlocked all the Ultimate Weapons. But I guess you can feel that way if your not a hardcore JRPG fan.

babshjdajfasdhfjahksjkasdhkfhadfkjhasdjkfhjdksfd i cant believe ur score is above a 1

yes the graphics are good the story is good but the story could have been told a little better

but the gameplay is where its retarded

the game was made for retards since all you do is x x x x x x x x then switch classes (watever its called) and heal then switch back and x x x x x x theres also an auto attack button that will choose the spell that does most damage.

I was extremely disappointed in this game. I love the Final Fantasy series but Square-Enix has lost its mind. What happened to the series everyone grew up with?

I want a story that grabs you by the balls, the ability to control all characters separately, have to actually plan my way through battles, and most of all I WANT F'N TOWNS!!! Not a damn hallway full of pretty pictures...

This game reminds me of the Air Jordan Nike's of the early 90's. Ugliest shoes ever that cost $100 yet the masses bought them up 'cause they had the words Nike and Air Jordan on them.

Yeah, SE needs to keep the game fresh by implementing new ideas but don't abandon the roots that made you the franchise you are today.

Them PS3 fanboys and their gay porn...they sure do like the stuff...