An Epic and Exciting Adventure Like None Since FFX.
The story for this chapter starts off fairly complicated, similar to FFX's, where you are immediately placed in the action. I won't spoil any set up for you, but suffice to say, things kick off with a bang in a flashy and exciting, as well as excellently choreographed, action sequence, the first of many. As you run through the initial parts of the game, tutorials will pop up to introduce you to the aspects of the gameplay. Anyone who has played a FF game knows that it will take some time to get into the thick of things as much of the gameplay doesn't open up until hours into the game. And when it does, it's a blast. Initially, you might be put off by the lack of options during gameplay, but this quickly changes. Soon, you will have a variety of strategic focuses to keep your hands full. Between deciding which Paradigm is best and keeping an eye on your combo chain and teams health, there is no shortage of strategic elements to keep you busy. And all these options lend themselves to an enjoyable gameplay experience that contains some of the most cinematic battles ever created. Even when the gameplay seems to get repetitive, simply watching battles unfold is a fantastic experience. It's a combination of the things that make good rpg gameplay good: experimental gameplay systems and endless gameplay options.
As expected, everything else is marvelous. The graphics are pretty much as good as you get on these machines, and even more so in HD. The detail, both in the environments and characters is fantastic, and you might just find yourself staring at it for some time. These visuals support a new cast of excellent characters, all of whom have their own reasons for fighting. While they may seem a bit one note, each character displays a multifaceted personality through, which is thankful, because initially they come across as a bit cliche. Still, some might be off put once again by the fact that we have seen these archetypes before: Lightening, the lone, cold warrior, Vanille, the ever cheerful young girl, Hope, the angry, emotional young kid. At times these characters come across as a little too been there, seen that. But, as you stick with them, you come to enjoy their company.
Many people also complained about the linearity of the game, with a lack of minigames and extra missions. However, the game seems little affected by it. You spend so much time simply pushing forward that you don't really have time to think about it. It does seem to be a bit overwhelming at times, but the story and characters are good enough that any exploration issues aren't really missed.
All in all, Final Fantasy XIII isn't quite what I expected, but then that's a good thing. The gameplay is fun, the game looks and sounds as good as you could hope for, and the story and characters are epic and cinematic. For fans, there is little here to disappoint. But anyone who has been craving a worthy JRPG amidst a sea of more westernized roleplaying should look no further than this brilliant masterpiece.