Final Fantasy XIII released. Question regarding XBOX version

[NikolaeVarius]

A list of complaints from players

The whole game is completely linear until halfway through [approximately 20 hours].

There are hardly any towns.

The party is always fixed. The whole game just repeats the movie-battle sequence over and over [In fact the progression is closer to movie-run-battle-run-movie-boss-movie-run-battle…].

There are rather a lot of movies.

Moving around is like a long marathon.

The whole game system is just a clone of FF10.

You can’t flee battles [You can’t avoid most battles either as there is no sneaking past enemies, including weak ones].

Your party is completely healed after each battle.

If the main character in your party dies it is game over [There are only ever 3 characters in battle, often less, and often fixed].

The best tactic is almost always endlessly attacking. There is next to no strategy or skill involved.

The summons’ transformation scenes are a joke [i.e. Odin turning into a horse].

The story is rubbish… [Spoilers omitted, but complaints centre on Snow’s constant and cringe inducing insistence that he is a hero and will “protect” whatever it is the antagonists are menacing this time]

Shopping is only done at “online” shops on save points, with no proper shops to be found.

However, this doesn’t matter as you hardly ever get any money [and you can never buy anything more powerful than what you already looted].

There have been next to no changes from the demo.

The status screen displays no real information.

There are only 8 items usable in combat [For that matter, there are hardly any weapons or accessories, and the “crafting” system mostly consists of spending drops to upgrade their 2 stats].

There are no levels.

With all their advertising money, just how was it they failed even to get Famitsu to give full points?

http://img4.sankakustatic.com/wp-co...c-ii/final-fantasy-xiii-extreme-linearity.jpg
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Linearity doesn't really bother me that much, but other things like, only 8 usable items in battle, losing when main character dies in battle, unescapable battles and auto heal are really strange design choices..

 

[warcrow]

I gather from this collection of comments--and let's be honest, the accuracy of the hardcore (who are the ones importing this game and are most likely the ones talking about it on Internet gaming forums) can sometimes be less that 100% accurate so who really knows--makes it looks like Square is reducing the complexity of the game to try to make it more accessible. I havent played a second of the game but I would bet that they're trying to ride the (fine!) line between keeping the game just hardcore enough for the traditional fans and at the same time make it easier to pick up for new people.

Who doesnt want more people to play their game right? Especially when you invest this much time and money into a title. Hell, Square is even multi-platform. It's a different time these days in gaming.

Overall I think it's a wise business decision, but I dont know how well it will pan out for the game overall. I honestly have felt little excitment for this title since its announcement and that's saying something since I have loved many of the games in the series (favorites being FF3, FF7 and FF10 in that order). After some thought though I'm sort of glad they're changing things up a bit. I am a ready for something new from this series! Unfortunately I dont know if these are the changes that will make the game more fun.

I think, for me, the massive progression of the western RPG has really affected the way I enjoy playing these JRPGs. It's a little unfair to compare I know, but I can't help but want more insane loot drops I can throw on my character to see how badass his new armor is, skill trees that span multiple directions turning me into a demon or an angel or a character, dialog trees allowing me to be boyscout or a skinhead and (even less) cliche storylines.

These newfound feelings dont make me appreciate my favotire past FF games any less, but they do affect the way I feel about their future titles.

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

I'm curious as to how this thread went from a question about the XBOX version of FFXIII into a general FFXIII thread.

Anyway, since it has, I will just say that I have no interest in this game whatsoever. The quality of Final Fantasy has been steadily declining since Final Fantasy VII and the transition to the PlayStation. I only bought FFXII after it was out for three years and was $20. That's the first Final Fantasy game I haven't bought on launch day. To date, I still haven't played more than ten hours into that game.

If Odin, Shiva, etc. being freaking MOTORCYCLES doesn't clue people in to the fact that Final Fantasy has long jumped the shark, I don't know what will.

 

[Naeeldar]

I can't wait. I will be getting it for my PS3 and annoying the wife while I play it on the big screen so she can't watch her nightly programs.

Lol. I told the gf yesterday that FF13 would be one of the few games I'd be buying for our blu-ray player (PS3) especially since I just purchased a 65inch plasma. I told her she'd be kicked off our main tv for a little bit.

 

[Beev]

[...](favorites being FF3, FF7 and FF10 in that order)[...]

Real 3 or 6?

 

[warcrow]

Real 3 or 6?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Fantasy_VI

 

[pathos]

I prefer the 360 controller for everything but fighting games (which I have arcade sticks for both systems for, so its a moot point). It just "feels" more comfortable. Thats really subjective on my part though. Perhaps part of that is the weight. I always feel like I'm going to break my ps3 controller. And that is definately just appearance, since I'm on my 3rd 360 controller, and still use my original ps3 controller.

That being said, I'll get this for the ps3. After the disc swapping fiasco of Star Ocean 4 (not that I think ff13 will be like SO), I'd just prefer the game being on one disc now, thanks.

Early on though, for games that were on both systems, I'd normally get the 360 version.

 

[Beev]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Fantasy_VI

You could have just said 6 I was just curious on if I should be agreeing with you. Now I know that I should be.

 

[warcrow]

You could have just said 6 I was just curious on if I should be agreeing with you. Now I know that I should be.

I wasnt trying to come across as a smartass there, I was just linking to wikipedia for clarity because the whole NA/Japanese release thing can be confusing to me.

 

[bl4ckfl4g]

A list of complaints from players

The whole game is completely linear until halfway through [approximately 20 hours].

There are hardly any towns.

The party is always fixed. The whole game just repeats the movie-battle sequence over and over [In fact the progression is closer to movie-run-battle-run-movie-boss-movie-run-battle…].

There are rather a lot of movies.

Moving around is like a long marathon.

The whole game system is just a clone of FF10.

You can’t flee battles [You can’t avoid most battles either as there is no sneaking past enemies, including weak ones].

Your party is completely healed after each battle.

If the main character in your party dies it is game over [There are only ever 3 characters in battle, often less, and often fixed].

The best tactic is almost always endlessly attacking. There is next to no strategy or skill involved.

The summons’ transformation scenes are a joke [i.e. Odin turning into a horse].

The story is rubbish… [Spoilers omitted, but complaints centre on Snow’s constant and cringe inducing insistence that he is a hero and will “protect” whatever it is the antagonists are menacing this time]

Shopping is only done at “online” shops on save points, with no proper shops to be found.

However, this doesn’t matter as you hardly ever get any money [and you can never buy anything more powerful than what you already looted].

There have been next to no changes from the demo.

The status screen displays no real information.

There are only 8 items usable in combat [For that matter, there are hardly any weapons or accessories, and the “crafting” system mostly consists of spending drops to upgrade their 2 stats].

There are no levels.

With all their advertising money, just how was it they failed even to get Famitsu to give full points?

http://img4.sankakustatic.com/wp-co...c-ii/final-fantasy-xiii-extreme-linearity.jpg
-------

Linearity doesn't really bother me that much, but other things like, only 8 usable items in battle, losing when main character dies in battle, unescapable battles and auto heal are really strange design choices..

Umm that actually sounds pretty horrible. Sounds even worse that 12. Guess I'll wait.

 

[randay]

Umm that actually sounds pretty horrible. Sounds even worse that 12. Guess I'll wait.

i would wait for some credible info first...

 

[bl4ckfl4g]

i would wait for some credible info first...

Well that's what I'm saying. I was gonna import it but I'll just wait until NA release. More info will be out by then. I just hope there is a Japanese language option. Games are good practice.

Seriously though...full heal at the end of each battle? That and some of the other stuff mentioned sound like deal breakers.

 

[jrphoenix]

Honestly though, DVD level quality versus BRD quality for the FMV sequences is hardly going to be a make or brake point for most people. I think having to swap disks would be a much larger issue then degredation of the FMV- if it was in game assets that would be something totally different.



There are trophies to counter that.

I agree that DVD / BRD won't make much if any difference. I think there may be no noticeable difference other than one is compressed and the other isn't. Without viewing side by side the user won't know the difference.

I don't think disk swaps are that bad or may not be necessary at all if they go the Forza 3 route (install disc 2 permanently). I actuall played and beat Lost Odyssey. It took me 60 hours and it was pretty fun. 4 discs / 60 hours means a disc change once every 15 hours. That is about the length of a normal game so I don't think disc swaps will be an issue. FF 13 should take more that 30 hours to beat.

I think many people that bought xbox 360's early on are experiencing the same thing as me. We have had achievements since day 1 and it took me about a year to get hooked. Early games I played in 06 I didn't even score that many points because I didn't pay attention. I didn't pickup my PS3 until November 2008, over 2 years after my xbox. Many of the games at that time didn't support trophies. I guess Sony just messed up by not making it mandatory from the begining and now all of the OCD players are hooked on 360 achievements

 

[Fallen Kell]

Achievements.

In case you haven't noticed... PS3 has had them for a while as well...



I also don't pay $50-80 a year for the privilege...

 

[mugs]

In case you haven't noticed... PS3 has had them for a while as well...

A couple of people have already explained why they'd rather get XBL achievements than PSN trophies; no doubt there are people who would rather have PSN trophies for the same reason. That reason is in this thread.

I also don't pay $50-80 a year for the privilege...

No one pays a dime for the privilege of unlocking achievements and earning gamerscore points.

If the $50-80 a year you're talking about is the cost of Xbox Live Gold in your country, I assume that's approximately equal to the US$30-50 it costs in the US? And really, only suckers pay $50 for Xbox Live Gold in the US.

 

[dighn]

Well that's what I'm saying. I was gonna import it but I'll just wait until NA release. More info will be out by then. I just hope there is a Japanese language option. Games are good practice.

Seriously though...full heal at the end of each battle? That and some of the other stuff mentioned sound like deal breakers.

What's wrong with full heal? Like people aren't gonna load up on items and heal after each battle anyway. It's not so different from console FPS where there is no HP bar anymore, or something like Dragon Age/KOTOR where you automatically heal and resurrect after each battle. It just removes tedium.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I am going to wait on the NA release, no reason to get it early really...unless my friend from Japan ships me one, hehehe.

 

[bl4ckfl4g]

In case you haven't noticed... PS3 has had them for a while as well...



I also don't pay $50-80 a year for the privilege...

Since when do you gotta pay for xbl to unlock achievements?

 

[Dumac]

Since when do you gotta pay for xbl to unlock achievements?

If the achievements require online play...

 

[mazeroth]

The 360 should have just stuck with HD-DVD as its own proprietary media and released games on it. At least piracy wouldn't be such a huge deal then.

Games like this and Rage are going to be ugly for the 360.

+1

I never thought about this idea but it does make sense.

 

[Oyeve]

Quote:
Originally Posted by viivo
The 360 should have just stuck with HD-DVD as its own proprietary media and released games on it. At least piracy wouldn't be such a huge deal then.

Games like this and Rage are going to be ugly for the 360.

+1

I never thought about this idea but it does make sense.

Yeah, but not too many people bought the HD-DVD drive so even if it didnt die, It would still be released on DVD for the 360 because thats the lowest common denominator.

 

[MStele]

Quote:
Originally Posted by viivo
The 360 should have just stuck with HD-DVD as its own proprietary media and released games on it. At least piracy wouldn't be such a huge deal then.

Games like this and Rage are going to be ugly for the 360.


Yeah, but not too many people bought the HD-DVD drive so even if it didnt die, It would still be released on DVD for the 360 because thats the lowest common denominator.

In hindsight its better that a HD-DVD drive hadn't been included. I would agree that it would have been great, but it would have added 100-200 dollars on the price of each 360 which would have removed its price advantage over the PS3. That, accompanied by the failure rates of early units, would have destroyed the 360. Plus, few 360 games even need more than one dvd. It was the right move from a business standpoint to go with the good old DVD drive.

 

[jrphoenix]

In hindsight its better that a HD-DVD drive hadn't been included. I would agree that it would have been great, but it would have added 100-200 dollars on the price of each 360 which would have removed its price advantage over the PS3. That, accompanied by the failure rates of early units, would have destroyed the 360. Plus, few 360 games even need more than one dvd. It was the right move from a business standpoint to go with the good old DVD drive.

This is true... if not more. The PS3 was SOOOO expensive when it came out 499 - 599 because of the Blu Ray inclusion. This was AFTER the xbox 360 had been out for 1 year. MS was probably looking at a $500 arcade / $650 pro and decided it would be too niche to gain any mass market traction.

Sony was willing to sacrafice the PS3 main stream acceptance... to cement blu ray's future. If they would have come out of the gates w/o blu ray they probably would have had a console for 349 / 449 and killed the 360 but, may have lost the high def war. I guess to them blu ray was the more important fight because they wagered on their 9 years of console domination and that fanbase.

 

[prism]

In case you haven't noticed... PS3 has had them for a while as well...



I also don't pay $50-80 a year for the privilege...

I guess I'm willing to pay the $50 a year to play on far superior servers with 80000 times as many people as the PSN.

 

[Queasy]

Since when do you gotta pay for xbl to unlock achievements?

You don't. And who the heck pays $80 a year for Live Gold???? Unless you're talking about Australia or another country where everything game related is always more expensive.