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On February 02 2012 12:01 holdthephone wrote:16 hours in, will hopefully finish it by the end of the week with a review written soon after. So far though here are my likes and dislikes: The Good:- Noel -- interesting and likable character, biggest surprise of the game for me.
- Voice performances
- Cinematic QTEs -- aren't overdone and are actually pretty fun to execute
- Lovely environments
- Interesting post-Coccon culture
- Good cameos from the original cast
- Developing characters/monsters -- feels rewarding and powerful
- Plot is genuinely interesting
The Bad:- Lightning and Serah's pretentious monologues after every cutescene
- Ugly environments
- Framerate dips
- Inconsistent challenge -- hugely inconsistent. I'm in the middle of an 8 hour lull in difficulty where Com/Rav/Rav gives me 5 stars on everything. This was after a segment where I was almost getting 1 shotted each battle.
- Sidequests -- feel cheap, are pretty vague, and not very interesting at all
- Casino -- it's just weak, and totally forced.
- Cutscenes -- not much happening beyond Noel and Sarah making small take at each time gate.
Uncertain:- Narrative -- hopefully it reaches a climax soon, currently lacks the emotional punch of XIII
- Difficulty -- hopefully it picks up again, XIII was much harder in comparison which is saying something
- End-game content -- will it be as entertaining as XIII's hunts? Or will I be grinding out fast chocobos and sitting at the slot machines?
Very nice post...I'm only like 3-4 hours in, pretty fun stuff.
I really liked XIII (one of the few), and I'm starting to like this one...However, there's one part I'm dreading already....
This was after a segment where I was almost getting 1 shotted each battle.
...
thanks...
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The game is beyond solid, easily. Seems to be more troubled than its predecessor though, hopefully it pulls through in the end.
On a more awesome note -- I have a Behemoth as a Commando.
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On February 02 2012 14:03 EliteAzn wrote:Very nice post...I'm only like 3-4 hours in, pretty fun stuff. I really liked XIII (one of the few), and I'm starting to like this one...However, there's one part I'm dreading already.... ... thanks...
About the 1 shotted each battle dread, not sure it's like that for everyone. Explained in spoilers just in case, although as spoiler free as I could make it (no names of places, people, etc):
+ Show Spoiler +Just got through a part (let's call it pathA) like that where I died every other fight. I found out from a friend also playing the game that you could take a different route (pathB) at the time of chosing, and that route was significantly easier, although the game doesn't tell you it's designed for you to go to pathA first, which would then make pathB easier and pathA not a cakewalk.
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On February 01 2012 17:36 Atreides wrote:My only real complaint so far is the soundtrack. Too much damn vocals wtf... My opinion on story stuff (no game spoilers its just kind of an anti-rant to the VERY common rants like the post above me) + Show Spoiler +First off, its much harder to write a good story for an adult than for a kid. This is in my opinion the primary reason for so much nostalgia towards older games. I've played most of them and I honestly don't think that as a whole the story writing was vastly better 10-15 years ago. Some were better some were worse. Probably they were somewhat better on average I guess. The thing is, if you want plot and character development there are much better mediums than video games. I also find it pretty laughable to try to judge the story of a game from the first hour or two of gameplay... like how does that make sense. Just don't do that, I will never think too much of someone who criticizes a game they have never even played out. (I mean some games are so bad you dont finish, but you know what I mean.) Second, in this particular case there is virtually no starting character development because its a sequel; also the one new character is kind of purposely vague but I think they are doing ok job of developing him. (You can complain that FFXIII had a bad story/character development too I suppose, personally I thought it was ok. Pretty weak story and I hated a couple of the characters but I loved the game.) Finally, from format alone the story of this game is sort of cool. I am nowhere close to finishing it so I can't comment overall.
I am not saying its a great story. I've played 6 hours of it. This is more of a general response to the oh so common nostalgia rants.
But really, I read books (lots of them) for great stories/plots/character developments. Pretty graphics are a HUGE part of singleplayer games to me. Unfortunately so are soundtracks and I am not happy with this one. Its great whenever there are no vocals....
P.S. So far every time you are re-introduced to a character from FFXIII they are significantly improved haha. Seriously the soundtrack though..... la la la... la laaa.... la la la la la for like the last 30 mins I've had the game chilling while I was on my computer. wtf.
If you don't want to read another "rant" don't click this one. Personally I don't think it's a rant as much as an upset fan watching the downfall of a series once great. I don't want to see gaming go backwards in time, quite the contrary. I want to see it progress and evolve (which maybe it has but in my opinion in a poor direction) This is all my opinion, I could be COMPLETELY and utterly wrong. If I am biased and this is all just crazy ranting you let me know. TL;DR at bottom.
+ Show Spoiler +Don't get me wrong I do long for games of the old and I love nostalgia. My complaints of FF13 and FF13-2 are not in any way me wanting them to go back to formulas of the past. My complaints are shit storytelling and a larger focus in visual improvements while taking steps backwards everywhere else. (I understand video games are not nearly the best medium for storytelling, but I happen to love the combination of strategy, storytelling, and dexterity. It's engaging and fun! 1. Pixar understands exactly how to establish characters and make the audience care for them. I'm not saying everything they have done is a master piece but UP as well as the uh robot. These movies quickly and effectively establish back story and tug at the audiences heartstrings through a COMBINATION of visual cues, music, and sometimes dialogue. They use everything in concert to draw you into the experience. For some reason Nobuo and a more experienced/successful Director were excluded from 13 and 13-2's development. Huge mistake in my opinion. Nobuo has managed to pull constant success out of his wazoo and I find many of his songs powerful. (Final Fantasy Distant Worlds is a must buy album for Nobuo/ff Music fans) The director is what brings everything together into a cohesive experience, how could you let anyone but the finest take the reigns on a project of such longevity and success? FF 13 and 13-2 (from what I've seen of 2) have elements of a great game but never all at the same time. It's a shame because Square Enix has the resources and capability to make nearly whatever they want within the limitations of the ps3/xbox 360. Judging the story - Now if you watched the previews and trailers/sneak peaks there is some continuity, you understand that Lightning gets pulled into this alternate dimension somehow. However during the intro you see none of this. Now this isn't to say that you have to tell a story in the sense of ABC. Movies like Memento show how you can escape the traditional formula and come up with something very special. That being said the beginning of ff 13-2 was very jarring. I remember the ending of 13 and where the plot was.Coming into 13-2 I'm thinking what the hell is Lightning wearing, where the hell is she, why is such a strong and independent character praising some god or perished mortal (etro or something?) when she relies on and compliments almost noone? How much time has passed? WHAT THE FUCK IS SHE WEARING? The questions in my mind were endless and all that was provided was more confusion. No I do not expect you to pull the end of ff 13 and make it start off right there in ff 13 2. I do expect there to be some kind of establishment of the plot besides ALL OUT WAR BECAUSE SOME (strange looking character design) DUDES SISTER/DAUGHTER/LOVER DIED AND NOW HE HAS TO END ALL EXISTANCE (with chaos? looool)!? Really? Ok great so there's some kind of war and the two realms are merging or something. Oh and Serah randomly changes costumes into the sexually inviting schoolgirl/80's side hairdoo. To me it just continues to go downhill in confusion. I'm told it gets better, but so what? Why start off in a rut you have to dig yourself out of? The starting was cheesy and confusing. Also I invite you to compare the first trilogy of starwars to the prequel. In an amazing and pretty lulzy review red letter media mentions how much clutter George Lucas starts throwing into every frame. Instead of having the characters and whatever is pertinent to a shot MORE characters are crammed in with MORE explosions with MORE lightsabers. See where I'm going with this? I'm not saying other FF's are perfect. I'm just saying that these ones are going in a poor direction (I think) Some of the visuals in the intro battle with the headband dude were interesting but overall I just thought there were too many explosions or falling buildings or transformers (er I mean gestalts? I think?) onscreen. More stuff does not = better. Although I really like Bahamut in all his incarnations, Why does he suddenly belong to Chaos dude? Is this some kind of impliciation there is a connection between him and fang? These questions continue to arise when doing a direct sequel like this and I just can't see it ending up well. Probably going to be like lost, questions till the end then cop out answer. God did it. Back on track dammit! I bet that FF 13 and 13-2 have decent plots. Not amazing by any means but decent enough. That being said your plot could be AMAZINGLY well crafted but if your presntation is shit you can't really convey it to your audience can you? In 13 the biggest problems to me were the linear nature of environments as well as the jarring switches from character duo's. It bounced all over the place like a camera man with add and a portal gun. Overall I really loved the idea of FF 13's plot, after I pieced it together I had fun sitting down and pondering. I had more fun thinking about it in my head AFTER the game then I did seeing it unfold IN game. Something is wrong there. If this is what people want, then maybe I am some gaming dinosaur and I should move on. I accept that is a possibility and have no problem with that. I'm just sad that I thought the longer you practice a craft the better you get at it. To me Square Enix is a dying old dog and someone else (perhaps bioware?) will have to take up the mantle of single player storytelling champ. Last whine is about gameplay. The new way of controlling characters is automated. It's boring and doesn't actually give you any control. You click a defensive mode and HOPE you're characters cast the right spell in the right order. You won't know for sure but even then why do you want the combat done for you? Isn't that a part of why we love ff? To me this turns the game into automated cut scenes. I found this particularly painful in 13. I actually found 13 offensive. It broke my heart to see the game fail so hard and when my room mate came home with 13-2 we both knew it was a mistake on her part to buy it (she admitted this). Finally to address the nostalgia reference. Yes, I love older games. Do I think those games entranced me more because I played them when I was younger? Hell no, I still play them today! I still find them engrossing and their characters touching. I think society in general has become more shallow and a lot of mainstream entertainment to be watered down. Movies suck, games suck, great musicians are pushed aside for top 100 crap music. Am I nostalgic? Yes. Am I nostalgic because I refuse to embrace change and the future? No I welcome change, but not if looks like a mixture of Jersey Shore/transformers and sounds like Lady Gaga I'd rather live like a hermit.
tl;dr
Great plot is nothing without great presentation, ff 13 didn't have it, 13-2 doesn't seem like it has it.
Music is integral to these games and evoking emotion, Nobuo didn't do the music. Huge mistake.
Games are meant to be played and 13/13-2 seem more and more automated. This is weird and awkward. I'll watch a movie if I want to sit back and do nothing.
I HATE YOU SQUARE ENIX GIVE ME BACK SQUARESOFT!
Change is important for growth but the growth I've seen lately is cancerous.
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On February 02 2012 14:42 Pathology wrote:
rant
If you don't want to read another "rant" don't click this one. Personally I don't think it's a rant as much as an upset fan watching the downfall of a series once great. I don't want to see gaming go backwards in time, quite the contrary. I want to see it progress and evolve (which maybe it has but in my opinion in a poor direction) This is all my opinion, I could be COMPLETELY and utterly wrong. If I am biased and this is all just crazy ranting you let me know. TL;DR at bottom.
You sound like the typical fan in distress, but let's see what you have here.
Don't get me wrong I do long for games of the old and I love nostalgia. My complaints of FF13 and FF13-2 are not in any way me wanting them to go back to formulas of the past. My complaints are shit storytelling and a larger focus in visual improvements while taking steps backwards everywhere else. (I understand video games are not nearly the best medium for storytelling, but I happen to love the combination of strategy, storytelling, and dexterity. It's engaging and fun!
Me and you are the same here, but I'd be hard pressed to find many JRPGs that have better narrative presentation than what Square has put out this generation. Playing XIII-2 after games like Star Ocean 4, Resoance of Fate, Valkyria Chronciles -- I'm tempted to praise XIII-2 more than it deserves for outclassing games like that. Is it still sappy and have some lines that put my eyes toward the ceiling? Of course, I mean, anyone who's played anything Final Fantasy can't deny their melodramatic nature. But onto your rant.
1. Pixar understands exactly how to establish characters and make the audience care for them. I'm not saying everything they have done is a master piece but UP as well as the uh robot. These movies quickly and effectively establish back story and tug at the audiences heartstrings through a COMBINATION of visual cues, music, and sometimes dialogue. They use everything in concert to draw you into the experience. For some reason Nobuo and a more experienced/successful Director were excluded from 13 and 13-2's development. Huge mistake in my opinion. Nobuo has managed to pull constant success out of his wazoo and I find many of his songs powerful. (Final Fantasy Distant Worlds is a must buy album for Nobuo/ff Music fans) The director is what brings everything together into a cohesive experience, how could you let anyone but the finest take the reigns on a project of such longevity and success? FF 13 and 13-2 (from what I've seen of 2) have elements of a great game but never all at the same time. It's a shame because Square Enix has the resources and capability to make nearly whatever they want within the limitations of the ps3/xbox 360.
This paragraph was a bit all over the place but I suppose you wanted to focus on music composition -- which I agree is crucial, and glad to see Square puts an almost stupidly large amount of effort into their OSTs compared to most developers. If you cannot see the amount of resources behind something like XIII's musical score, I don't think I can change your mind, but I will give my take on the subject.
Masashi Hamauzu is no joke. Let's go back to FFX -- great OST, no? Yes Nobuo gets the headline for this game, but many tracks were under the helm of Hamauzu, let's take a look at some of his own work there.
X:
Complete warmth, made the beaches of Besaid the unforgettable memory that they were.
+ Show Spoiler +
Care free.
+ Show Spoiler +
Dutiful and enchanting (Hamauzu is the violin maestro of Final Fantasy).
+ Show Spoiler +
I could list more, but the talent is undeniably there and long been appreciated by fans whether they thought it was Nobuo all along or not. But onto XIII, where you say it was a horrible mistake to continue without Nobuo.
XIII:
Adrenaline rushing, uplifting, and a beautifully layered build up. Is this not the best boss theme?
+ Show Spoiler +
Soothing, everyone loves the track that plays when Lightning enters the Whitewood with Hope under her wing.
+ Show Spoiler +
This track overrides the battle theme for the Oerba village segment, because the team knew how powerful this music and setting were together:
+ Show Spoiler +
The world crashing down around you and an inescapable fate of destruction.
+ Show Spoiler +
I'm getting frustrated now because I want to list nearly every track in XIII's OST. It's consistently great, track to track, without fail. And that violin? It's the only reason I could stand some of the slow pacing in battles early on in the game.
The subject is XIII-2 though, and I will say this -- it is a step down. But considering what it's stepping down from, it's no surprise that it's undeniably still solid in its own right. Its biggest problem is the vocals -- as you stated -- which is interesting because the vocals were one of XIII's greatest strengths (the ones listed above, along with Sulya Springs, Will to Fight, etc...). XIII-2 is after a more industrious and modern approach in its composition because of the game's setting -- people settling into cities on Pulse -- so we see some more rock, rap, and poppy tracks. Few are nearly as terrible as you make them sound (the rap tracks and the metal being the biggest offenders), while some are okay (I like New Bodhum and the Archelyte Steppe, or at least find them acceptable). Those make up a pretty small portion of the entire OST though, and everything between is decent, and sometimes great:
XIII-2
Caius:
+ Show Spoiler +
Battle theme (the violin sings wonderfully here, but it's a shame the battles end so fast):
+ Show Spoiler +
One of the highlights, hear the FFX similarities in the beginning?
+ Show Spoiler +
I'm trying to find a couple of others I really enjoyed but unsure of the track names; I'm still playing the game, after all. And of course, the game revisits XIII's soundtrack many times so that can only be a plus (though you could argue it's also kind of lame, ha).
So if the argument here is that XIII-2 has had a more mixed level of quality in its OST, then I'd agree. Is it something to be frightened of when most of the soundtrack is still fairly top tier in the industry? Please. XIII-2 isn't even a major project like XIII was, they could of just given us X-2 all over again. Let's be thankful here.
Onward!
Judging the story - Now if you watched the previews and trailers/sneak peaks there is some continuity, you understand that Lightning gets pulled into this alternate dimension somehow. However during the intro you see none of this. Now this isn't to say that you have to tell a story in the sense of ABC. Movies like Memento show how you can escape the traditional formula and come up with something very special. That being said the beginning of ff 13-2 was very jarring. I remember the ending of 13 and where the plot was.Coming into 13-2 I'm thinking what the hell is Lightning wearing, where the hell is she, why is such a strong and independent character praising some god or perished mortal (etro or something?) when she relies on and compliments almost noone? How much time has passed? WHAT THE FUCK IS SHE WEARING? The questions in my mind were endless and all that was provided was more confusion.
You are supposed to think all those thoughts. The opening to XIII-2 is one big shocker, or at least supposed to be. It begs the question, what on earth could of happened? Serah is just as confused, you're not alone. The game knows exactly what it's doing, and explains as much as the characters understand at each point along the story. You'll notice Noel often repeats things others say in a dumbed down manner -- this is done for the player. That's the whole point of the dialogue decisions as well -- the game wants you to think, to ponder, and wants you to know it's alright to be lost.
No I do not expect you to pull the end of ff 13 and make it start off right there in ff 13 2. I do expect there to be some kind of establishment of the plot besides ALL OUT WAR BECAUSE SOME (strange looking character design) DUDES SISTER/DAUGHTER/LOVER DIED AND NOW HE HAS TO END ALL EXISTANCE (with chaos? looool)!? Really? Ok great so there's some kind of war and the two realms are merging or something. Oh and Serah randomly changes costumes into the sexually inviting schoolgirl/80's side hairdoo. To me it just continues to go downhill in confusion. I'm told it gets better, but so what? Why start off in a rut you have to dig yourself out of? The starting was cheesy and confusing.
It is bizarre, it knows that. It questions the craziness occurring around the characters at every chance it gets. I am 16 hours in and still have questions like this myself, but I'm comfortable because Serah and Noel never fail to bring up what is on my mind. Why is Serah chosen? What's with the vision? To be honest I think it's becoming a problem, because I'm an adult and I don't like to be babied though my stories.
The failure players seem to make is judging everything at face value as ridiculous. They see Caius and him wanting to "destroy everything," and think "oh, another lame villain!" Yes he has been shown as an obstacle, but I will tell you now he isn't just a Kefka running around being nasty for the sake of being nasty.The beginning of the game shows Caius gently performing a burial ritual for a young girl, the game wants you to notice that -- they put it in goddamn CGI. Shit costs money.
As for the Star Wars comparison, it's a cute and funny one, but you are just beginning a game that revolves around a story that does not come to complete information until probably a climatic ending moment, like its predecessor did. Being angry over not getting the story when there is no way you are meant to yet is pointless. We could argue about other and real flaws of the narrative, like the annoying melodramatic monologues Lightning and Serah have to give us after each scene, but you seem more caught up with the trivial. As for the characters, I will be the last on this board to claim any FF cast is incredibly deep or amazingly well written, but it's miles beyond anything in Star Wars Episode 1, and carries a very meaningful theme that hopefully becomes apparent to you.
Back on track dammit! I bet that FF 13 and 13-2 have decent plots. Not amazing by any means but decent enough. That being said your plot could be AMAZINGLY well crafted but if your presntation is shit you can't really convey it to your audience can you? In 13 the biggest problems to me were the linear nature of environments as well as the jarring switches from character duo's. It bounced all over the place like a camera man with add and a portal gun. Overall I really loved the idea of FF 13's plot, after I pieced it together I had fun sitting down and pondering. I had more fun thinking about it in my head AFTER the game then I did seeing it unfold IN game. Something is wrong there. If this is what people want, then maybe I am some gaming dinosaur and I should move on. I accept that is a possibility and have no problem with that. I'm just sad that I thought the longer you practice a craft the better you get at it. To me Square Enix is a dying old dog and someone else (perhaps bioware?) will have to take up the mantle of single player storytelling champ.
Character split ups were implemented to develop the plights of each individual character in a powerful way (ala FFVI). The linear nature was derived from the idea that they were on a fixed path to an inevitable fate. Are a couple of characters a bit flat? Yes. Are some scenes too riddled with melodrama? Yes. I could discuss these flaws with you all night, but you seem to only be mentioning on the parts that aren't flaws. Linear game design is linear game design, it cannot be wrong by nature. It's the content within in it that counts. And thus I could go on and rip on XIII's slow battle pacing in the first segments of the game, but once again, nothing to do with linear pathways -- those were actually really pretty and fun to walk through.
The linearity kept the narrative on the track it needed to be, it brought us through breathtaking environments and intense character development. To say XIII was not adventurous because it was linear is an argument that stands on nothing but someone's preference for a more open world game. No thank you, I don't want to go raise chocobos while I have a limited time to live as a cursed Li'Cie. Welcome to good game design.
Last whine is about gameplay. The new way of controlling characters is automated. It's boring and doesn't actually give you any control. You click a defensive mode and HOPE you're characters cast the right spell in the right order. You won't know for sure but even then why do you want the combat done for you? Isn't that a part of why we love ff? To me this turns the game into automated cut scenes. I found this particularly painful in 13. I actually found 13 offensive. It broke my heart to see the game fail so hard and when my room mate came home with 13-2 we both knew it was a mistake on her part to buy it (she admitted this).
First, the biggest problem of your attitude is implied when you asked, ..."isn't this why we love ff?" FF is a name, leave it be. It is not your franchise, it is not mine. Square has made it clear it has no qualms in leaving old fans behind to make new ones. XIII is a brand new universe and it will be its own game.
The problem with XIII wasn't the system, it was the occasional lull in enemy encounters in the beginning of the game, as few offered much for the player to think about (sound familiar to other FFs?). From mid to late game, however, I dare say it's one of the finest creations Square has envisioned for one their games. No other FF is as real time as XIII is, in that you literally have to react to what's on screen during animation. That huge hand is coming down on your party! Sentinels!! Okay, now back to Com/Rav/Rav! Have to heal, but watch that stagger bar, you don't want to lose all of your efforts for nothing! Buffs are dying, Synergists! Okay he's Staggered, all out Commandos!!
I loved the moments when FFXIII shined, absolutely loved it. It's dynamic battle, the focus is entirely on switching up your approach at key times. Many of the bosses in XIII seemed unreasonably hard because they forced players to be true twitch fiends with the paradigms, and to be relentlessly offensive in times where it seemed most dangerous to do so. If the Auto option was not there, the game would fall apart, it would lose its appeal, you would not be able to think, you would not be able to appreciate the beauty of your team pacing the field in a menacing manner and unleashing their dazzling combos. No, no and no.
Finally to address the nostalgia reference. Yes, I love older games. Do I think those games entranced me more because I played them when I was younger? Hell no, I still play them today! I still find them engrossing and their characters touching. I think society in general has become more shallow and a lot of mainstream entertainment to be watered down. Movies suck, games suck, great musicians are pushed aside for top 100 crap music. Am I nostalgic? Yes. Am I nostalgic because I refuse to embrace change and the future? No I welcome change, but not if looks like a mixture of Jersey Shore/transformers and sounds like Lady Gaga I'd rather live like a hermit.
tl;dr
Great plot is nothing without great presentation, ff 13 didn't have it, 13-2 doesn't seem like it has it.
Music is integral to these games and evoking emotion, Nobuo didn't do the music. Huge mistake.
Games are meant to be played and 13/13-2 seem more and more automated. This is weird and awkward. I'll watch a movie if I want to sit back and do nothing.
I HATE YOU SQUARE ENIX GIVE ME BACK SQUARESOFT!
Change is important for growth but the growth I've seen lately is cancerous.
settle down, there are plenty of doomsayers out there you can join your opinions with. really i completely understand all your views, but i never like to discuss a game around opinions muddled in emotional ties to the FF name.
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I wanted to respond to him as well, holdthephone, but you obviously put it into much better words than I would have. I still can't believe someone can complain about the soundtrack in XIII or the combat. The combat in XIII was probably by far my favorite in the series and I enjoyed using multiple strategies to take down bosses or even finding the optimum combination to tear through enemies.
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On February 02 2012 16:40 holdthephone wrote:
As for the characters, I will be the last on this board to claim any FF cast is incredibly deep or amazingly well written, but it's miles beyond anything in Star Wars Episode 1, and carries a very meaningful theme that hopefully becomes apparent to you.
Tidus, FFX. Best, deepest, most well planned out character of all final fantasy series...was seriously super sad at the end of that game...that hugging scene at the end!!  (FFVII's cast doesn't count because all that shit that made them epic was written almost 10 years AFTER the original game (Advent Children, Dirge of Cerberus, Crisis Core, Before Crisis, etc.)). 2nd in my opinion would be Cecil from FFIV.
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Really, I just wanted to get across that Final Fantasy is not your Planescape Torment. It does not care for delving deeply into backgrounds or lore, and it does not care for advanced literary devices and professional grade writing. It's about the colorful, the emotional, and the fantastical -- using characters to hopefully send a powerful theme that can be appreciated by all ages. Many things out of Japan are like this, even in their hugely complicated and convoluted games like MGS. Who the hell gets on their codec communicator in the middle of an espionage mission to discuss the philosophy of love and war? That's Japan for you.
I agree that Tidus is a great character, and I'd agree one of the best. He hated his father, he was stripped from the good life, he witnessed his dad return in the form of a monster that took happiness from people he cared about, and yet the game eventually ends with him slapping fives with his pops. Shame on anyone who can't at least respect that kind of story.
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This paragraph was a bit all over the place but I suppose you wanted to focus on music composition -- which I agree is crucial, and glad to see Square puts an almost stupidly large amount of effort into their OSTs compared to most developers. If you cannot see the amount of resources behind something like XIII's musical score, I don't think I can change your mind, but I will give my take on the subject.
Ok deal FFX soundtrack I loved. Almost every single song. I am a bit of a fanboy for Nobuo so I think I got a bit heavy handed with the music. I'll concede that ff 13's tracks are solid but I'm still going with liking a lot of previous OST's more. (Offtrack but I absolutely love the soundtracks from Nier, Chrono Cross/trigger, and all incarnations of Zelda.) I am ALWAYS down for more violin.
As for the Star Wars comparison, it's a cute and funny one, but you are just beginning a game that revolves around a story that does not come to complete information until probably a climatic ending moment, like its predecessor did.
Whoawhoa, my comparison to star wars was the quality of shots and how much clutter there was in the bastard children that the prequels became. Instead of quality cinematography it became chunky visual fecal matter. I found Lightnings initial mounted battle extremely cluttered with one very cool moment (zoom in of her face as she exhaled in surprise). I am not comparing quality of story/characters at all. Any characters written by ANY author most likely outstrip the disappointment of episode 123.
As for combat I cannot agree with you in the slightest. Visually it's impressive but mechanically I don't enjoy the lack of control. That and most of what I've stated is purely personal opinion and if Square goes off in another direction so too shall I. No harm no foul. Also good point on the bosses. A few were difficult to the point of feeling like I was missing some obvious strategy like hitting an explosive barrel next to the boss, only to find no such targetable object and no glaring weakness -__-
Good games and bad games will continue to be released. I guess in a way you proved me wrong. I am nostalgic. I want some of my old school rpg's with updated looks and a fresh story but I feel like since gaming has become such a larger industry it's escaped evolved and become something different then what I used to love. Guess I'll just look elsewhere for my gaming fix.
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what happens if you fail the interactive cinematics?
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Sorry I misread your starwars bit, I personally don't think it's too over the top though.
But listen, it's important to keep your opinions in check. When a beloved franchise goes in a direction you didn't want it to, you're going to sit there and pick the whole thing apart regardless of how much you can actually back up. It's like when you really hate a person's guts, so when you see them do anything, it just makes you angry "Look at that douche bag, talking to his friends...grrr." This is how I looked at Starcraft 2 for a while, but I've come to terms with it as a great game designed for different players. Doesn't mean the game is free of problems though, and that's what we should be able to discuss on a forum.
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[QUOTE]On February 01 2012 17:36 Atreides wrote:
First off, its much harder to write a good story for an adult than for a kid.
I can list 10 things that the story from FFVIII and IX did right (two with the best stories imo) and what XIII did wrong but i won't spoil it for you. I'll tell you one thing though, those stories weren't exclusively for kids judging from the way they deliver it, especially VIII. And FVII is just outright not for kids with all those depress moment and Cid rolf
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Going to get this tomorrow morning (UK Release -_-) IM SO HYPEDDDDDDDDDD
BTW 13's story was awesome. from what i played of it at least, i got to pulse twice. (Once my bro-in-laws PS3 he moved out, then i broke mine) and havent managed to force myself through its linear gameplay again. Its awesome the first time because of story and bearable the second, but after meeeh  will eventually for the Pulse hunting and storyline finish, although 13-2 will ruin that for me im sure. :-(
Hypeeed. The music seems shitty though, FFX's music is really nostalgic for me god...so brilliant.
Once more for good luck.
+ Show Spoiler +HYPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED
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On February 03 2012 03:42 Capped wrote:Going to get this tomorrow morning (UK Release -_-) IM SO HYPEDDDDDDDDDD BTW 13's story was awesome. from what i played of it at least, i got to pulse twice. (Once my bro-in-laws PS3 he moved out, then i broke mine) and havent managed to force myself through its linear gameplay again. Its awesome the first time because of story and bearable the second, but after meeeh will eventually for the Pulse hunting and storyline finish, although 13-2 will ruin that for me im sure. :-( Hypeeed. The music seems shitty though, FFX's music is really nostalgic for me god...so brilliant. Once more for good luck. + Show Spoiler +HYPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED
If you're not sure whether you'll like this game or not, don't hype or you're very likely to be dissapointed
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On February 03 2012 03:54 brachester wrote:Show nested quote +On February 03 2012 03:42 Capped wrote:Going to get this tomorrow morning (UK Release -_-) IM SO HYPEDDDDDDDDDD BTW 13's story was awesome. from what i played of it at least, i got to pulse twice. (Once my bro-in-laws PS3 he moved out, then i broke mine) and havent managed to force myself through its linear gameplay again. Its awesome the first time because of story and bearable the second, but after meeeh will eventually for the Pulse hunting and storyline finish, although 13-2 will ruin that for me im sure. :-( Hypeeed. The music seems shitty though, FFX's music is really nostalgic for me god...so brilliant. Once more for good luck. + Show Spoiler +HYPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED If you're not sure whether you'll like this game or not, don't hype or you're very likely to be dissapointed
Never. Ever. Ever been dissapointed by a final fantasy, EVER. period. :D
People hated 13, i loved the story, maybe im some angsty emo kid in disguise IDK.
It seems like they've fixed alot of things from 13 like the linear pathing etc, so i doubt i'll be disappointed.
Do hope i like noel though :-D
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On February 03 2012 03:57 Capped wrote:Show nested quote +On February 03 2012 03:54 brachester wrote:On February 03 2012 03:42 Capped wrote:Going to get this tomorrow morning (UK Release -_-) IM SO HYPEDDDDDDDDDD BTW 13's story was awesome. from what i played of it at least, i got to pulse twice. (Once my bro-in-laws PS3 he moved out, then i broke mine) and havent managed to force myself through its linear gameplay again. Its awesome the first time because of story and bearable the second, but after meeeh will eventually for the Pulse hunting and storyline finish, although 13-2 will ruin that for me im sure. :-( Hypeeed. The music seems shitty though, FFX's music is really nostalgic for me god...so brilliant. Once more for good luck. + Show Spoiler +HYPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED If you're not sure whether you'll like this game or not, don't hype or you're very likely to be dissapointed Never. Ever. Ever been dissapointed by a final fantasy, EVER. period. :D People hated 13, i loved the story, maybe im some angsty emo kid in disguise IDK. It seems like they've fixed alot of things from 13 like the linear pathing etc, so i doubt i'll be disappointed. Do hope i like noel though :-D
Maybe you're kinda misused the word disappointed. You can both enjoy and disappoint at the same time.
However, if you really think the game is improved every times it release then you're really never disappointed at FF games
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What are some good options for monsters early? I just beat the Atlas and I'm using Caith Sith, Garchimsomething, and a Pulsework Knight, but I'd really like to find a COM and better RAV.
The pulse knight seems pretty cool since I have no other uses for the mechanical parts, but I don't know how useful sentinels are in this game. I saw an Albino Lobo but didn't capture it, and haven't seen one since. I have most of the other monsters in bresha and new bodhum.
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Entering the final area =]
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Picked this game up, haven't played it yet. I have to say, though, despite the ranting of the hatedom (not here specifically, just the entire internet in general) I'm expecting to love it to death. FF13 wouldn't make it to my top 10 games of all time, but I appreciated every glorious non-"realistic-3rd person-action-adventure" moment of it.
Sometimes you need some variety in games, and as good as stuff like Batman and Uncharted are, it gets tiring having every developer shove this "fun = realistic" mentality down your throat. I just want to let loose, enjoy an end-of-the-world plot, and smash enemies with ludicrous animations and flashy colours.
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On February 03 2012 04:09 Sandster wrote:
What are some good options for monsters early? I just beat the Atlas and I'm using Caith Sith, Garchimsomething, and a Pulsework Knight, but I'd really like to find a COM and better RAV.
The pulse knight seems pretty cool since I have no other uses for the mechanical parts, but I don't know how useful sentinels are in this game. I saw an Albino Lobo but didn't capture it, and haven't seen one since. I have most of the other monsters in bresha and new bodhum.
Pulsework Knight is easily one of the best monsters you can have til about halfway through the story. So stupidly easy to level up too, got it in the ruins and already had a bunch of those bolts to level it up to 20 right away.
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EPT
