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Final Fantasy XIII
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Square Enix
Genre: Action RPG
Release Date: March 9, 2010
Platforms: Playstation 3, Xbox 360
ESRB: T - Teen
Reviewer: Eric
I am a huge Final Fantasy fan as am I with the whole RPG genre. But when it
comes to a game like Final Fantasy XIII I have to start thinking that there is
more than just swords, sorcerers, and treasure. Final Fantasy XIII continues to
follow down the same path as the last few games in the series, less fantasy and
more futuristic. The finished product, in my humble opinion, is a game that gets
an RPG label but it really deserves to sit next to games in the video game
industry.
Final Fantasy XIII really is still a role playing game at heart, but that is
all. It doesn’t have the things that made other games in the series feel
superior to all of the other RPGs. You don’t have magical powers and you can’t
sit there, from the start, level grinding until your best friend gets jealous
over the fact that you beat a boss much faster than he did. Final Fantasy XIII
is a game that Square Enix failed to delivery properly after all of the hype we
heard from the start.
This game promised to be the best role playing game ever. Square Enix was
promising gamers a experience like they have never seen or played before. Pretty
graphics is not everything; Final Fantasy XIII is a next generation game on
steroids that lost (shrinkage) all its cool at some point in the process. Why
couldn’t Square Enix used all of their technology on something more than the
graphics? Maybe they could have realized that the games title, Final Fantasy,
had the word fantasy in it. Not only that the series is known for being a true
RPG experience that gets the attention from all sorts of fans, even Madden
gamers. This…this game just does not feel right at all.
Since the start of the series on the original Nintendo 8-bit console, Final
Fantasy was known for its turn based system. Even the dismal Final Fantasy XII
proved that trying something new was a mistake for the series. A MMO-like battle
system in a Final Fantasy game? Fans had to take sides and then Square Enix goes
in a whole new direction. Instead of going back to plain old turn based
fighting, Square Enix combines the two battle systems in an interesting sort of
way.
Battles are fast paced, constantly moving (MMO battle style still in effect).
There are still “turns” as your meters build up to input moves. You can either
input your own attacks or you can let the game do it for you. Square Enix is
trying to take the RPG concept in a realistic movement but at the same time they
are confusingly making a battle system that will make hardcore role playing fans
look elsewhere and make new RPG fans feel like they are pros.
Characters can learn different attacks (basic magic too but nothing like other
games) with the different job classes. I personally found the upgrading system
in the game to not do its job properly and the flower-movement skill tree is
confusing. I would do what I should to upgrade my attacks but for some goddamn
reason I couldn’t go down that path. I met the criteria but instead of going
down that path I learned something else. Square Enix has managed to make job
building annoying and stupid.
Your team, in battle, is made up of three characters. At any time you can only
control one character, that’s all. The other two team members will do what you
say, to a certain point with simple commands (MMO style in play again). That
main character of yours is the main individual so they are the juggernaut, the
big cheese. Doesn’t feel like a role playing game to me truthfully because
battles are easy (if you die just start over again) and big boss battles always
play the same way? Do so much damage, switch your team to heal/support, then go
back to attack. When you build up your attacks and you can deal more damage you
go all out. Rinse and repeat for the whole game.
But hey don’t worry about the easy battles, disappointing upgrading system, and
a few other things. Towards the end of the game, and I mean the end, you can
unlock more depth in the whole Final Fantasy XIII Universe. More building your
characters with the jobs and battles won’t be completed in a minute or less
(excluding boss battles).
Some of the games strongest points are the graphics and music. The graphics in
Final Fantasy XIII are some of the best in the I have seen in the series, maybe
even the best on the market. Animations are fluent and it is difficult to see
when cutscenes are occurring since they blend together real well with the
actually in-game footage. Final Fantasy XIII will be a top contender for best
graphics in 2010. I would even go as far as to say that it might take longer
than a good, solid year to contend with Final Fantasy XIII’s graphics.
Final Fantasy X composer Masashi Hamauzu got his hands dirty with the
soundtrack. I was a fan of the older music but Final Fantasy X had some good
things, as goes Final Fantasy XIII. The game really didn’t deserve such good
music because of the story (saving that for the last topic of my review). There
are many highs and lows in the game and Hamauzu does a great job letting us hear
this through his composing. Final Fantasy XIII has something for everyone in its
music and this time around all of the different kinds of music sound real good.
The basic story of Final Fantasy XIII is basic. There is a godlike power that is
making those who want something different very angry. They are so angry that
they are taking action. I can’t really recall every stupid detail because we
have character names like Lightning and Snow. Not only that there are parts in
the game where you start to question if Square Enix wanted to finish the game
and get it on store shelves or if they ran out of time.
At points in the story there are such corny occurrences like “sorry I didn’t
tell you” or “I’m fighting, just because”. When in the hell did Square Enix
throw in shit like this? Some might argue and say they could be the case since
children are involved, but there are how many other children in past Final
Fantasy games. NORA (a resistance group) might be helping the innocent by not
getting purged into I’Cie. Yeah its bull shit and the more I think about the
overall plot I just tell myself more than I love the series and I am being
forced to play everything with the words final and fantasy.
Final Verdict
I waited just like everyone else to play this game, Final Fantasy XIII. When I
got the chance to do so, I couldn’t help but think that this game was not the
real Final Fantasy Square Enix promised to us before all those years ago at an
E3 event. Both the graphics and music are out of this world and up to par with
Square Enix standards.
That is where it stops though. Square Enix is leaping into new directions with
new games. Maybe they should have stuck with the RPG style fans loved and used
this game as another new series. If they happened I would have given this game a
much better write up and rating.
Rating Breakdown
Gameplay: 4 out of 10
+ The gaming mechanics are interesting and enjoyable at small increments.
- As an RPG Final Fantasy XIII is almost rotten to the core.
Graphics: 10 out of 10
+ Best looking game on the market today.
- Nothing.
Audio: 10 out of 10
+ Even though the story isn’t the best the games score makes up for it.
- Nothing.
Replay Value: 4 out of 10
+ There is enough to enjoy on the side, maybe even get a second play through.
- Not as much to do in the game (Final Fantasy XIII = Final Fantasy for
non-gamers)
Overall
7 out of 10
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