Final Fantasy XIII-2

Exactly. I really don't know how people prioritize story over gameplay in a video game but whatever floats their boat.

XII was a fantastic game that needs to be replayed in-depth by anyone who didn't like it. I was in that boat before replaying it recently.

I've said quite a few words about it on quite a few threads. If any interest at all check my mini-review on the FFVIII thread I posted. But it's not really important, the first part of this post describes all you need to do to realize it fully.

XIII's gameplay was pretty dire. That much linearity and game over when the main character dies was kinda unacceptable for 2009/2010 lol.

Videogames are simply another medium for presenting an art. It has always been this way since the first arcade game that was based on any form of media (Star Wars for example) - a way to become interactive with a story only previously watched or read. Just because its name happens to include the word 'game' doesn't change anything.

Either way, it's all about experience and an RPG (including non-videogame) is meant to bring a story, atmosphere, and numbers-based thrill to the consumer. XIII did not do any of those things except for misused atmosphere. For the game part of the RPG, though, its battle system had many merits but only standalone; there was nothing great to accomplish within the system (numbers-based) or simply achievement wise (you can kill a special adamantoise and nothing more).

My favourite moment in the game was seeing Ultima for the first time (it was done perfect) and then later having it casted on me by said turtle. That specifically was very reminiscent of the dinosaurs in VI, almost a super HD throwback to the same encounter.

If they actually added DLC or possible mini-online co-op monster takedowns and adding (and requiring) increasing the Crystarium to do so, the battle system could've been used properly. It was a good system wasted on a poor game. The reason I suggest co-op monster killing is Archylte reminds me of a Monster Hunter game.

Well they seemed to have tackled the linear part a little with XIII-2. The death thing did suck though. No idea how that's treated in this one, but I feel as long as you cannot swap characters in battle, then it'll be the same most likely.

Personally, as long as the game is fun, I'll play it. Being able to be interested in the story is irrelevant to me. A good story is nice, yes, but it's certainly not the deal breaker for a game I buy.

That's one of the most important things for me. Story and music. Lol. Graphics are nice, but aren't the deal breaker for me, as you say. Tactics didn't have the best graphics, yet, was one of the best games I've ever played. Lol.

Music is nice, but if it sucks, I just blast my iTunes over it. Conflict resolved. Graphics are the least of my concern.

It's easy to do when the gameplay is crap. Gotta find something positive to defend about it.

I played it through once and then went to youtube and watched all the cutscenes through...twice..and I liked watching it better than playing. I really do like the game and I enjoyed its dinky little ds sequal.

because when something has RPG stamped on it I expect essentially 2 things: The "take turns battle system" and a story to make the battle system worth playing through. Though game creators are getting more creative with their battle systems..which is cool by me but I still expect a story to make all the leveling up worth while.

there are people who swear that the first few FFs are the best because they have the best story and didnt need the fancy graphics..Im not one of those people but I like an RPG thats like a good book but it gives you the opportunity to play in the world you're reading about.

That's why I said play XII to its fullest. It has all the barebones true RPG gameplay that brings such achievement with it. Do it with the powerthrough guide on GameFAQs, I believe by some Arthinillus or something that starts with an A.

And yes I will agree needing to play a game with a guide for maximum (especially the bulk of) satisfaction does reduce merit points. But it is still truly fantastic.


I don't see how we can discern that they tackled anything in that trailer. So far it has the same boring looking characters and crybaby attitude. SE so far isn't really truthful in any of their (very rare) statements they do make. Watch that promotional video for XIII with the very white man in a suit over a white background discussing the history of the series and talking up how XIII is going to be the epitome of everything good we ever loved in it.

I won't trust it until I play it. And I did 100% XIII, and I did enjoy it, I realize my words on it are harsh but I guess I can say try and interpret them a little less seriously. I am diehard FF fan and I buy everyone regardless of disappointments. Critical, yeah, stupid, yeah, have 60 dollars? Yeah.

The story affected me the least in XIII too. It was atmosphere that was a problem. There were no memorable encounters, characters, pivotal plot points (in the move-the-game-along way, not strictly storyline way)... Weapons, anything, gah.

Release is January 2012.

source

I thought FF Games post FFIV WERE all about the story more than gameplay (or many JRPGs in general)?

I think everyone just wants their chocobo raising from 7 :|

Idk I'll be getting XIII-2 anyways. Don't care wat people say about XIII , wich I loved, or what reviews XIII-2 will get. A game is a game, and if all those mindless drones born in the FPS era think that graphics or kill count or having everything handed to themselves is all that matters then they need to ask themselves one thing. When did they forsaken themselves. The above dosnt make a good game, what makes a good game is that people enjoyed it no matter how low of a base. That's success

But people do love/enjoy FPS games :|

lol

My brother gave me ff13 for a while, after 3hours of movies with maybe 15mn of playin all together...i decided to throw it away !
To Square(enix?): you already did Spitit away and Adventure children, no need more MOVIES, we want GAMES !

And if i remember well Square said 2years ago they was NOT goin to do a ff13-II no ? Cause ff10-2 sucked so much...

oh man.

You are my hero.

I think the only exception to the movie vs game thing was MGS4.
I actually enjoyed that approach.
It even motivated me to become a popcorn enthusiast.

My problem with 13 was not the lengthy cutscenes.
After all we get plenty of those in FFXI missions.
Rather, it was the approach of having everything being arbitrarily linear and straight forward. There was virtually no player freedom to cast the party setup to their own liking, nor was there any milestone or checkpoint of significance other than some random floating computer to save your game and buy your items from.
I miss when elements of RPGs were prevalent, allowing open course and the freedom to explore the world at your own discretion and pace, and involvement with NPCs to see how the tide of the story had on everyone in the world.

Instead we have our protagonists running in a straight line for what feels like 70% of the game and summons that were secretly transformers. Frankly such a direction is not only alienating, but insulting as well.

lol @ Adventure Children.

Please don't actually make that into a spin-off series, SE.

Edit: I can see it now. The entire cast of characters would be children. Vaan, Tidus, Hope, just getting it done.

Strangely, X-2 did quite successfully and had rave reviews among the masses of game critiques. To dismiss such a business success of a sequel for the future would be naive. Unfortunately, the only ones that seemed to dislike the manner in which X-2 was executed were the small "niche" of nostalgic RPG players.

What can I say? *** and guns sell. Epic stories in big worlds and the ability to explore no longer do as good.

They tryed something new. It didn't work out. People are always saying they want new experiences with games and SE decided to roll the dice on a story driven game. It may not have worked well but kuddos to them for having the balls actually roll those dice unlike many game serieses that are pritty much just copy paste the last game and shift stuff around a bit for an instant cash in.

I'm personally looking forward to 13-2 as so far it seems like they have taken alot of the feed back in stride. The monster raiseing system looks like it could be cool, I think I read there are 150ish mobs you have access too. Also some puzzle systems added and the world/maps are a bit more open too.

Gonna have to disagree with you here. FFX was a major success, and FFX was clearly a story driven game. You couldn't even access the world map until the very end of the game. Honestly, I think the story of FFXIII is just poor, partly because of the characters. Whether or not you like Tidus, the story clearly revolves around him, and as a gamer, you see the world through his eyes and his alone. I did not feel the same connection to any of the characters from FFXIII. Same with FFXII in fact. They need to return to the idea of a main character, otherwise the story just has no perspective. I'm not living in this world, so why should I care? I need to be attached to at LEAST one of the characters.

You can't give that as the only means of credit for it's success.
I think aside from being a flagship Final Fantasy title, which alone for the time period would make it a success, you have to acknowledge that it was the first FF title to jump to a new, high class, high technology console and introduce voice overs for the first time.
That alone would have people taking out loans on their house just to have a copy.

I want a PS3 and FF13 to play :(

Eh, I thought X-2 was pretty decent, Job system in it kind of reminded me of something along the lines of FFV which was one of my fave's. XIII wasn't a bad game it was just very... linear like a lot of people have stated.... no real way to explore or do anything other than blow through the story. I mean if you look at the past FF games they're all linear, but the changes in the story actually seem to effect people and bring about quests at different points in the game etc.