Final Fantasy XIII named "The Biggest Swindle in History"

http://www.destructoid.com/final-fantasy-xiii-the-biggest-swindle-in-history--160046.phtml

FF XIII is one of my most anticipated games of 2010. I really dont wanna believe this review. Your Thoughts?

That's...a rather bold statement.

well some people might not like it, it seems to be aimed to please western audiences.

It is just one website after all, or magazine or whatever it is. Haven't heard any other reviews like that about the game so the majority must have given it good reviews.

The complete opposite from what someone told me on another forum having the JP release of the game. I'll make my own opinions on the game once it's lands or the demo appears on PSN. In any case, I'll be buying it regardless.

Cheers :)

It is just one website after all, or magazine or whatever it is. Haven't heard any other reviews like that about the game so the majority must have given it good reviews.

dragonage22

I suspected as much to be honest. There's no way this game could be taking as long as it is and not suck. :P Na, I'm still keeping my hopes up, but the game being linear sounds pretty bad. RPGs aren't supposed to be linear. They aren't supposed to have button-mashing gameplay, either. I just hope that part about the "borderline retarded non-gamer" is true or were're all in for a huge let down. TheEldestGod

[QUOTE="TheEldestGod"]I suspected as much to be honest. There's no way this game could be taking as long as it is and not suck. :P Na, I'm still keeping my hopes up, but the game being linear sounds pretty bad. RPGs aren't supposed to be linear. They aren't supposed to have button-mashing gameplay, either. I just hope that part about the "borderline retarded non-gamer" is true or were're all in for a huge let down. TerroRizing

Final Fantasy Hate Rule 1: Whatever Final Fantasy does wrong is an epic fail, but whenever any other non-enix game does it, it's more than okay.Symphonycometh

Check the score: Scenario:

2.0 - "An epic tear jerker"

System: 1.0 - "Such a crude system barely warrants being called an RPG at all."

Graphics: 9.0 - "Full marks here." Sound: 7.0 - "Mostly quality."

Enthusiasm: 1.0 "As if you could play this for 100 hours! I could put up with 8."

Total: 4.0 - "To think it got this bad…"

Only a kid would rate like that. By looking at the scores this game should be equal to Big Rigs just prettier and with better sound. Haha.

Oh BTW from the article:

No idea how you can get a 2.0 for something considered an "epic tear jerker," but there you go. Apparently the review was so intense and surprising that even the magazine issued a disclaimer calling the journalist in question a "non-gamer" and "borderline-retarded." So yeah, if you value the opinion of retarded non-gamers in Hong Kong, steer clear of Final Fantasy XIII!

Check the score: Scenario:

2.0 - "An epic tear jerker"

System: 1.0 - "Such a crude system barely warrants being called an RPG at all."

Graphics: 9.0 - "Full marks here." Sound: 7.0 - "Mostly quality."

Enthusiasm: 1.0 "As if you could play this for 100 hours! I could put up with 8."

Total: 4.0 - "To think it got this bad…"

Only a kid would rate like that. By looking at the scores this game should be equal to Big Rigs just prettier and with better sound. Haha.

Oh BTW from the article:

No idea how you can get a 2.0 for something considered an "epic tear jerker," but there you go. Apparently the review was so intense and surprising that even the magazine issued a disclaimer calling the journalist in question a "non-gamer" and "borderline-retarded." So yeah, if you value the opinion of retarded non-gamers in Hong Kong, steer clear of Final Fantasy XIII!

danish-death

It's just that FF is so good is that now there's a huge double standard between FF and every other RPG.

I highly doubt FF XIII is that bad.

I cant really defend FFXIII because i havent played it but I have a feeling that the "problems" of the game were greatly exagerated by this journalist. Correct me if im wrong but I dont think any final fantasy, even the rereleases of older games, have ever scored as low as this person scored FFXIII. So it seems kinda fishy to me that someone would give this game a 4/10 and it kinda makes me question the reliability of this journalist. However i realize that everyone has their opinions even gamesites and game magazines so what might be not such a big deal to me might be a major annoyance for another person. All we can really do is wait for the game to come out, play it ourselves and then be the judge of how good it is for ourselves.

I cant really defend FFXIII because i havent played it but I have a feeling that the "problems" of the game were greatly exagerated by this journalist. Correct me if im wrong but I dont think any final fantasy, even the rereleases of older games, have ever scored as low as this person scored FFXIII. So it seems kinda fishy to me that someone would give this game a 4/10 and it kinda makes me question the reliability of this journalist. However i realize that everyone has their opinions even gamesites and game magazines so what might be not such a big deal to me might be a major annoyance for another person. All we can really do is wait for the game to come out, play it ourselves and then be the judge of how good it is for ourselves.

i_love_lucy

Its probably just the anticipation. Some people, if not most, are expecting this to be likeone of the greatest games ever(maybe with good reason given the time waited for it, maybe not) Im sure FF fans wont be disappointed, for me Ive only played FF VII, some of VIII, and some of X I wouldnt call myself a die hard fan but Ill be pickin it up sometime. I enjoy the way Square-Enix ties a fantastic story into the gameplay, on-rails or not and I dont think its 100% on rails but eh we'll see.

I wonder how many people are now looking to vs. XIII with a new set of eyes. I mean, vs. was getting a lot of flak compared to XIII, so it must be looking pretty good to all the non-believers right about now.

From the sound of it the game is just different than most JRPGs. Review it for what it is then and stop whining about how it isn't like every other JRPG.

A button mashing puzzle game with no real strategy

I'm sick of reviewers and previews complaing about this, almost no JRPGs require any skill or strategy besides the SMT and old Persona series. Just about every other series just has you fighting in easy battles against enemies that you just attack, use your strongest spell, or use what the enemey is obviously weak against, then you get to the stupidly overpowered final boss and have to go back and gain a few levels then fight the boss as normal. Turn based games like Ogre Battles, Fire Emblem, and Final Fantasy Tactics require strategy and tactics. RTS do as well. So do some WRPGs like Baldurs Gate and Dragons Age. Turn based JRPGs only require someone with a heal all spell and enough health for everyone to survive one attack.

@Legolas: After reading your post, I worry about what kind of JRPGs you've been playing. See, I know of of no such games where you can button mash your way through it.

I suspected as much to be honest. There's no way this game could be taking as long as it is and not suck. :P Na, I'm still keeping my hopes up, but the game being linear sounds pretty bad. RPGs aren't supposed to be linear. They aren't supposed to have button-mashing gameplay, either. I just hope that part about the "borderline retarded non-gamer" is true or were're all in for a huge let down. TheEldestGod

...what the hell JRPG have you been playing? Linearity isn't exactly a new concept for RPG's, especially for Final Fantasy. It hasn't stopped SE from releasing some fantastic games.

Anyways, that review doesn't affect my decision in the slightest. I'm gonna buy it, I'm gonna play it, I'm gonna gape in amazement the whole time, then I'm gonna gush about it whenever I have the chance. Such is the duty of a fanboy.

I'm playing the Japanese version of FFXIII and I can't understand what the reviewer actually hates about it, I bet it's one of those FFVII fanatics (the really scary type, you know which people I mean) who hoped to get a pseudo FFVII-2. He's right about the liniarity, but after playing it for 10 hours straight I can't actually complain. Now for the Battle System: I must say, it's really fun. I remember playing earlier FF titles and completely hating to battle at certain times. Not so in FFXIII, I actually seek the battles because it's so much fun. And with the new Optima Change System (called Paradigm Shift in English version) there's quite a strategy involved and some battles require you to change the jobs of your players. Anyways, the reviewer is just an ass and it seems that he just ripped off every negative comment about FFXIII and put it in his review...about the story, well it's clearly a matter of opinion, it gets really cheesy at times, but it's quite refreshing imo XD

My two cents ^^

I'm playing the Japanese version of FFXIII and I can't understand what the reviewer actually hates about it, I bet it's one of those FFVII fanatics (the really scary type, you know which people I mean) who hoped to get a pseudo FFVII-2. He's right about the liniarity, but after playing it for 10 hours straight I can't actually complain. Now for the Battle System: I must say, it's really fun. I remember playing earlier FF titles and completely hating to battle at certain times. Not so in FFXIII, I actually seek the battles because it's so much fun. And with the new Optima Change System (called Paradigm Shift in English version) there's quite a strategy involved and some battles require you to change the jobs of your players. Anyways, the reviewer is just an ass and it seems that he just ripped off every negative comment about FFXIII and put it in his review...about the story, well it's clearly a matter of opinion, it gets really cheesy at times, but it's quite refreshing imo XD

My two cents ^^

Limality

I agree about the FFVII fanatics. Too many fans of anything can't get past the glory days, with Zelda and Final Fantasy fans being the main ones. Far too many times have I seen "Why can't they make them more like OoT?" And I actually read "They should make a new FF exactly like FFIX." the other day. I questioned him about it, asking him what the point was in making such a similar game, and he was confused. Basically "Cause it would be awesome." I facepalmed.

On that note, you'd think the FF fans would know full well by now that major changes occur with every new installment of the mainstream FF's. Yet they act like it's completely out of the blue. They're given a new advancement system and all they can do is ask where the Materia slots are. Many FF fans seem to hate change, it's so weird.

@Legolas: After reading your post, I worry about what kind of JRPGs you've been playing. See, I know of of no such games where you can button mash your way through it.

Symphonycometh

im NOT that big of a fan of FF games but i did like my share of ff games. a friend of mine iimported the *** version and i played, while graphics and sound and scenario and all that are awesome and story couldnt really understand all of it since it wasnt in english but the game is linear i was disappointed, now by all means that doesnt mean the game is bad u shouldnt pick it up u might like it. but it really didnt feel like an rpg to me, u cant backtrack, u cant explore its just ONE WAY. and the whole point ( to me at least) is to explore the world when u in a rpg game, be able to go back and forth and talk and do side missions with NPCs but overall i think the only reason this game sold good like the review said was for its name, final fantasy....again this game is going to be hated or not liked by some and some might absolutely love it. but overall in MY OPINION and from wat i played it was a BIG BIG let down.

and the reviewer is RIGHT to a DEGREE though, to a certain limit. he over exaggerated abit, but it really wasnt worth all the wait, this game doesnt really have much replay value, u can beat it in 8 to 10 hrs, and thats it. its not like other rpgs where u can spend 100 hrs in it and still enjoy it. man sometimes i wonder wat SE are doin. maybe they shouldnt have gone multiplat. who knows. but for those who were really excited id do myself a favor and rent it first. but if ur a BIG fan then u already know wat u going to do, which is buy it and enjoy it. by all means i dont mean to bash the game even thoguh it mite sound like it. again graphics are good, story was good ( my friends ***) so he basically told me wats going on, but overall if i was to rate it is a 7 outta 10. not cuz of graphics or story was bad, but well guess read the review from the link.

im NOT that big of a fan of FF games but i did like my share of ff games. a friend of mine iimported the *** version and i played, while graphics and sound and scenario and all that are awesome and story couldnt really understand all of it since it wasnt in english but the game is linear i was disappointed, now by all means that doesnt mean the game is bad u shouldnt pick it up u might like it. but it really didnt feel like an rpg to me, u cant backtrack, u cant explore its just ONE WAY. and the whole point ( to me at least) is to explore the world when u in a rpg game, be able to go back and forth and talk and do side missions with NPCs but overall i think the only reason this game sold good like the review said was for its name, final fantasy....again this game is going to be ahted ro not liked by some and some might absolutely love it. but overall in MY OPINION and from wat i played it was a BIG BIG let down. JoKeR_421

People complained that there were too many side quests in XII, and now that there's not enough in XIII. Go figure.

And again, linearity isn't exactly a new concept. Sure, you can wander the landscape in search of side quests and extra things to do, but you can hardly fault a game for not having much in the way of them. Sure, Triple Triad, Chocobo treasure hunting, Blitzball, all fun stuff. Did you buy the game for them though? Did you pick up your copy of FFX thinking "I wonder what side quests and mini-games are in this game?" I sure didn't. And has nobody else noticed that with each new generation of Final Fantasy comes less towns and NPC's? Yet people only seem to notice now? Odd.

[QUOTE="JoKeR_421"]im NOT that big of a fan of FF games but i did like my share of ff games. a friend of mine iimported the *** version and i played, while graphics and sound and scenario and all that are awesome and story couldnt really understand all of it since it wasnt in english but the game is linear i was disappointed, now by all means that doesnt mean the game is bad u shouldnt pick it up u might like it. but it really didnt feel like an rpg to me, u cant backtrack, u cant explore its just ONE WAY. and the whole point ( to me at least) is to explore the world when u in a rpg game, be able to go back and forth and talk and do side missions with NPCs but overall i think the only reason this game sold good like the review said was for its name, final fantasy....again this game is going to be ahted ro not liked by some and some might absolutely love it. but overall in MY OPINION and from wat i played it was a BIG BIG let down. Khadaj32

People complained that there were too many side quests in XII, and now that there's not enough in XIII. Go figure.

[QUOTE="Khadaj32"]

[QUOTE="JoKeR_421"]im NOT that big of a fan of FF games but i did like my share of ff games. a friend of mine iimported the *** version and i played, while graphics and sound and scenario and all that are awesome and story couldnt really understand all of it since it wasnt in english but the game is linear i was disappointed, now by all means that doesnt mean the game is bad u shouldnt pick it up u might like it. but it really didnt feel like an rpg to me, u cant backtrack, u cant explore its just ONE WAY. and the whole point ( to me at least) is to explore the world when u in a rpg game, be able to go back and forth and talk and do side missions with NPCs but overall i think the only reason this game sold good like the review said was for its name, final fantasy....again this game is going to be ahted ro not liked by some and some might absolutely love it. but overall in MY OPINION and from wat i played it was a BIG BIG let down. JoKeR_421

People complained that there were too many side quests in XII, and now that there's not enough in XIII. Go figure.

Okay, and you compared two completely different genres why? And as to your other post, saying you can beat FFXIII in 8 to 10 hours...um, no. It's an easy 40+ for just the main story, and that's if you're rushing.

[QUOTE="JoKeR_421"][QUOTE="Khadaj32"]

People complained that there were too many side quests in XII, and now that there's not enough in XIII. Go figure.

Khadaj32

Okay, and you compared two completely different genres why? And as to your other post, saying you can beat FFXIII in 8 to 10 hours...um, no. It's an easy 40+ for just the main story, and that's if you're rushing.

I have no doubt this game will most likely "flop" on the major review sites, but I'll still enjoy the hell out of it. The combination of me wanting it so bad, experiencing a FF game on a current gen console, and being a RPG fan will not interfere with my excitement for the game. All I know is I will be too absorbed in the game to judge it fully until I actually beat it.

I have no doubt this game will most likely "flop" on the major review sites, but I'll still enjoy the hell out of it. The combination of me wanting it so bad, experiencing a FF game on a current gen console, and being a RPG fan will not interfere with my excitement for the game. All I know is I will be too absorbed in the game to judge it fully until I actually beat it.

yokofox33

Whenever there is something that is universally hailed as brilliant, there is always going to be one d-bag who calls it crap for the sole purpose of getting some attention. This is probably what is happening here. I havn't played the game so only time will tell for me, but it seems like he's taking the negatives and blowing them out of proportion. Final Fantasy X was 100% linear too (aside from some side-quests and airship freedom at the end of the game) however it is still wideley regarded as a brilliant game and one of my favourites to boot.

I wonder how this "review" actually got posted in a magazine. They probably just wanted to do something outrageous to draw attention.

I haven't played the game yet; I don't know if it'll be amazing or not, but anyone who gives scores so low and elaborates so little is likely just a person who is a "hater" of the series, or later iterations in the series.

I'm a bit weary of hearing about this "omg too linear!" business. It's different than some previous games and a lot of RPGs in terms of linearity, but they do this so they can focus more on the narrative. Some people are going to like that (myself), some won't. From what I've read, once you do get to later parts in the game, they did add lots of expansive content and sidequests to explore. Some people won't want to wait that long, some will see it as a cherry on top of the main quest. It's all perspective, but this review is obviously a joke.

Im actually more excited for a game now after the bad reviews.

Such as...

-No stratagy in the combat system (battles consist of only using the attack button)

-limited exploration

-too many cutscenes

These are more like bullet points than complaints for me! :)

[QUOTE="TheEldestGod"]I suspected as much to be honest. There's no way this game could be taking as long as it is and not suck. :P Na, I'm still keeping my hopes up, but the game being linear sounds pretty bad. RPGs aren't supposed to be linear. They aren't supposed to have button-mashing gameplay, either. I just hope that part about the "borderline retarded non-gamer" is true or were're all in for a huge let down. Khadaj32

...what the hell JRPG have you been playing? Linearity isn't exactly a new concept for RPG's, especially for Final Fantasy. It hasn't stopped SE from releasing some fantastic games.

Anyways, that review doesn't affect my decision in the slightest. I'm gonna buy it, I'm gonna play it, I'm gonna gape in amazement the whole time, then I'm gonna gush about it whenever I have the chance. Such is the duty of a fanboy.

I have no doubt this game will most likely "flop" on the major review sites, but I'll still enjoy the hell out of it. The combination of me wanting it so bad, experiencing a FF game on a current gen console, and being a RPG fan will not interfere with my excitement for the game. All I know is I will be too absorbed in the game to judge it fully until I actually beat it.

yokofox33

Whenever there is something that is universally hailed as brilliant, there is always going to be one d-bag who calls it crap for the sole purpose of getting some attention. This is probably what is happening here. I havn't played the game so only time will tell for me, but it seems like he's taking the negatives and blowing them out of proportion. Final Fantasy X was 100% linear too (aside from some side-quests and airship freedom at the end of the game) however it is still wideley regarded as a brilliant game and one of my favourites to boot.

FreshTillDeath

[QUOTE="Limality"]

I'm playing the Japanese version of FFXIII and I can't understand what the reviewer actually hates about it, I bet it's one of those FFVII fanatics (the really scary type, you know which people I mean) who hoped to get a pseudo FFVII-2. He's right about the liniarity, but after playing it for 10 hours straight I can't actually complain. Now for the Battle System: I must say, it's really fun. I remember playing earlier FF titles and completely hating to battle at certain times. Not so in FFXIII, I actually seek the battles because it's so much fun. And with the new Optima Change System (called Paradigm Shift in English version) there's quite a strategy involved and some battles require you to change the jobs of your players. Anyways, the reviewer is just an ass and it seems that he just ripped off every negative comment about FFXIII and put it in his review...about the story, well it's clearly a matter of opinion, it gets really cheesy at times, but it's quite refreshing imo XD

My two cents ^^

Khadaj32

I agree about the FFVII fanatics. Too many fans of anything can't get past the glory days, with Zelda and Final Fantasy fans being the main ones. Far too many times have I seen "Why can't they make them more like OoT?" And I actually read "They should make a new FF exactly like FFIX." the other day. I questioned him about it, asking him what the point was in making such a similar game, and he was confused. Basically "Cause it would be awesome." I facepalmed.

On that note, you'd think the FF fans would know full well by now that major changes occur with every new installment of the mainstream FF's. Yet they act like it's completely out of the blue. They're given a new advancement system and all they can do is ask where the Materia slots are. Many FF fans seem to hate change, it's so weird.

That's funny.

I mean, I know you're smarter than the average FFVII idiot fanboy, but it's just the irony about this post coming from a guy with Khadaj in his avatar that made me chuckle a bit.

Anyway, I agree wholeheartedly with that last statement. lol, There's irony all over this post.

My flop senses are tingling!

this game doesnt really have much replay value, u can beat it in 8 to 10 hrs

I probably wouldn't have even noticed it being all that linear VS other FF games if not for various news sites and forums commenting about it, lol. FFX was pretty damn linear and on a straight path most of the way as well, and I loved that game. FFXII's areas were somewhat more open, but the main story was still strictly linear.

The only thing that really concerns me as a fan of the series is no towns. :( I love exploring towns, but I'll get over that. I don't really remember FFX having a lot of towns, either really. It's been a while, maybe I just don't remember them.

I suspected as much to be honest. There's no way this game could be taking as long as it is and not suck. :P Na, I'm still keeping my hopes up, but the game being linear sounds pretty bad. RPGs aren't supposed to be linear. They aren't supposed to have button-mashing gameplay, either. I just hope that part about the "borderline retarded non-gamer" is true or were're all in for a huge let down. TheEldestGod

@Legolas: After reading your post, I worry about what kind of JRPGs you've been playing. See, I know of of no such games where you can button mash your way through it.

It is just one website after all, or magazine or whatever it is. Haven't heard any other reviews like that about the game so the majority must have given it good reviews.

dragonage22

I probably wouldn't have even noticed it being all that linear VS other FF games if not for various news sites and forums commenting about it, lol. FFX was pretty damn linear and on a straight path most of the way as well, and I loved that game. FFXII's areas were somewhat more open, but the main story was still strictly linear.

The only thing that really concerns me as a fan of the series is no towns. :( I love exploring towns, but I'll get over that. I don't really remember FFX having a lot of towns, either really. It's been a while, maybe I just don't remember them.