Your first thoughts on FF XIII

I know it only comes out tuesday on pal regions, but im posting it already.

Since ffs have been with sony, (since FF VII) gamespot has only given less than 9.0 to 2 real ffs (and also ff x-2 and ff 11).

Anyway the two real ffs are ff9 and, guess what!? ff 13.

Because its very linear, and theres another rikku (aka annoying character).

What do YOU think?

So far the levels play a lot like X to me, and the battling is really great. I am going to enjoy the **** out of this game 

I'm personally enjoying the game. I do admit that the beginning did not feel like Final Fantasy at all for awhile until the party meets up with each other. The lore is actually kind of hard to follow; I get the impression that the game expects you to know certain things. The graphics are beautiful, and there are some moments where I have a hard time distinguishing what's CGI and a in-game cutscene. The music is by the far one of the best soundtracks I've heard in Final Fantasy game. Dialogue on the other hand can be a bit cheesey.

The linear design isn't much of a huge disappointment(for me anyway); it reduces back tracking but I can understand how some might hate this direction. The game is indeed a storybook with an excellent combat system.

So far, I am really enjoying the game too. I'm about 5 hours into the story. I see a lot of previous games in the characters and a bit in the story thus far, but I'm still interested to see where it goes from here.

I know I love the graphics and the soundtrack as well, but I feel overly confined by the linearness of the levels. I understand that they are trying to get you from point A to B to drive the story, but a little bit of leeway would have been nice, even if it's just making the path forward wider.

Absolutely love the battle system! It is the fastest of any FF and a ton of fun. There are a few times I died just watching what was going on instead of minding my health though... But I'm getting the hang of the Paradigm Shifts, so some of the "tougher" battles aren't as bad.

I'm personally enjoying the game. I do admit that the beginning did not feel like Final Fantasy at all for awhile until the party meets up with each other. The lore is actually kind of hard to follow; I get the impression that the game expects you to know certain things. The graphics are beautiful, and there are some moments where I have a hard time distinguishing what's CGI and a in-game cutscene. The music is by the far one of the best soundtracks I've heard in Final Fantasy game. Dialogue on the other hand can be a bit cheesey.

The linear design isn't much of a huge disappointment(for me anyway); it reduces back tracking but I can understand how some might hate this direction. The game is indeed a storybook with an excellent combat system.

NeoGen85

  Are you reading all the datalogs? It helps A TON! Fills in all the gaps  

Loving it so far.

The new combat system is great, it's deep but also easy to understand. It's just too bad that you can't set it on 'wait mode'. I also dislike that you can't choose your party members, it makes some areas of the game (like chapter 4) rather frustrating.

Story is a bit whack and some of the dialogues are just facepalm bad. :lol: Oh, but I'm loving the main characters: Lightning is being an ass to everybody, Hope is kind of whiny, Vanille is mentally challenged, Snow is a trench coat-wearing pedo, Sazh is AWESOME and hilarious and Fang is a smartass. If that's not the best crew ever, then I don't know what is.

Also wish the game was less linear - what's the point of dungeons if you can't explore? :?

Loving it so far.

The new combat system is great, it's deep but also easy to understand. It's just too bad that you can't set it on 'wait mode'. I also dislike that you can't choose your party members, it makes some areas of the game (like chapter 4) rather frustrating.

Story is a bit whack and some of the dialogues are just facepalm bad. :lol: Oh, but I'm loving the main characters: Lightning is being an ass to everybody, Hope is kind of whiny, Vanille is mentally challenged, Snow is a trench coat-wearing pedo, Sazh is AWESOME and hilarious and Fang is a smartass. If that's not the best crew ever, then I don't know what is.

Also wish the game was less linear - what's the point of dungeons if you can't explore? :?

Gamer4Iife

After playing a bit more. I am going to agree with everything you said. ESPECIALLY the "wait-mode" idea. Sometimes, I'm just pushing buttons to push buttons.  I hope the story gets more interesting. Even with the datalog I find everything to be contrived as if Ale Gore made up a story so he can have friends(South Park reference). Maybe I'm ready to leave Cocoon and get on Pulse..I don't know. Speaking of the relationship between Serah and Snow...I was like..."WHAT?! she's 10"! If Lightning just turned 21 then how old is Snow and Serah?

I love it, the story, the battle system, the characters (Except Hope and Fang).

No towns and linearity keep your head in the story, sometimes I might go on a bonus dungeon or sidequest or mini-game for too long then forget what the story is all about.

Right now, i stuck on Odin, hes really tough. But so far I am enjoying FFXIII

I also dislike Hope, he takes whining to a whole new level

Right now, i stuck on Odin, hes really tough. But so far I am enjoying FFXIII

I also dislike Hope, he takes whining to a whole new level

dbz987

  Yeah, he is pretty much a punk ***. So emo, jeez! Sazh makes up for it though 

I really like the battle-mode, I was kinda worried first of the fast tempo, but I found myself enjoying it ^^ I love the swift movements and the paragrim shifting...I can FEEL I'm a part of that battle!

I gotta agree with everyone, I hate the linearity ._. it's hard to get lost in the world when you're tied in a leash -_-' also, I have to say I'm disappointed of the lack of side quests...and there's just a few Cie'th stones. I already have 75 percent done and it's NOT a good thing. I want moar :x

 Still, something good too; the crew is pure awesomeness and graphics are delicious. Sometimes I just forget about my missions and find myself going in circles, just admiring the view :P

The game is ok, its fun but not what id expect from a FF. I hate the cast of characters.. Lightning and fang are cool, but the rest are annoying and boring. The summons are a joke. The graphics are beautiful. The battles are fast and fun. The story is what id expect from a FF, a little confusing but reading the data log helps. Its a good game but not my favorite final fantasy.. not even close.

EDIT: Perhaps i was a little harsh. I just played for 5 or 6 straight hours in chapter 11 where the game opens up abit and some side quests can be done. The more i play and get used to it the more im enjoying it.

Well my FIRST thoughts on the game were, UGH no exploration, and UGH I can only control one person! :) hehe but I am warming up to it because the paragrim shift lets you control the other party members, to a degree. And it is one of the most beautiful games I have ever played!