[Tom4784]

There is an FF thread somewhere but oh well this is specifically about XIII anyway. Who's got it? Wants it? ETC?

I had it today, I haven't got that far (This Crystal lake part about 2 hours into it) but it's left a good impression on me so far. The story's a slow burner but the graphics and the gameplay are amazing, it's definately got one of the better battle systems of the series (although you got to wait a while for it to open up). It's kind of reminding me of FFX a lot, how you level up the characters is very similar to the sphere grid.

I like the characters so far but I think Vanille's gonna become very annoying, that strange English/Australian/Smurf accent is going to irk me I think.

So what's your thoughts on it those who have played it? If you're past the first few parts it might be a good idea to use the spoiler tags if you talk about any storyline points.

[*spoiler] [*/spoiler] Remember those are the spoiler tags minus the stars.

[Stu]

I love Vanille. She satisfies some camp gay urge in me. Token negro with the chocobo in his afro steals the show though. He is incredibly likeable and realistic. Come to think of it, the entire cast is likeable, except for that emo boy.

I'm on Chapter 4 now. Last one of the disc, apparently, but the other discs are far longer.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Judas Iscariot

I love Vanille. She satisfies some camp gay urge in me. Token negro with the chocobo in his afro steals the show though. He is incredibly likeable and realistic. Come to think of it, the entire cast is likeable, except for that emo boy.

I'm on Chapter 4 now. Last one of the disc, apparently, but the other discs are far longer.

She might grow on me but I'm not sure yet, she's definitely got one of the most bizarre weapons. I quite like Hope really though, although it won't let me use him yet although he's in my team which is annoying me. I love Sazh though 'Run! I meant AWAY not towards it!'. I'll get a few more hours on it tommorow though and will be able to say more about it.

[Stu]

Fanboy Orgasm #1 - Shiva is apparently a transformer who can become a motorbike at will.

Seriously.

Anyway, this shiz is far too linear. I'm already at that stage where I am itching to beat it purely to trade it in. How can so many smart people in a development team be so dumb? It's just lazy I think. You can still have your great story and graphics. Give me some towns, you tools.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Judas Iscariot

Fanboy Orgasm #1 - Shiva is apparently a transformer who can become a motorbike at will.

Seriously.

Anyway, this shiz is far too linear. I'm already at that stage where I am itching to beat it purely to trade it in. How can so many smart people in a development team be so dumb? It's just lazy I think. You can still have your great story and graphics. Give me some towns, you tools.

Yeah all the summons channel the Transformers in this one, I haven't got far enough to use one yet but it's something I'm looking foward to.

I don't mind a linear game really, non-linear's becoming a bit of a fad I think. As long as there's one or two sidequests and the story is good then I don't mind linearity.

[Novo]

I really want to read this thread but at the same time i don't want to see Spoilers

So am just going to wait til i get the game and come back

[Stu]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

Yeah all the summons channel the Transformers in this one, I haven't got far enough to use one yet but it's something I'm looking foward to.

I don't mind a linear game really, non-linear's becoming a bit of a fad I think. As long as there's one or two sidequests and the story is good then I don't mind linearity.

Linearity is one thing, this just takes the piss though.

Thankfully the beauty of the game and the story have kept me going thus far, but I doubt it's going to last for long.

Even that sphere grid knock off is linear. Character progression is an illusion.

I just don't understand Square's rationale this time around, omitting so many loved features. It just reeks of laziness in my opinion. They had this wonderful game engine that I'm sure cost them an obscene amount of money to develop so they concentrated on a linear story and left the rest to rot.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Judas Iscariot

Linearity is one thing, this just takes the piss though.

Thankfully the beauty of the game and the story have kept me going thus far, but I doubt it's going to last for long.

Even that sphere grid knock off is linear. Character progression is an illusion.

I just don't understand Square's rationale this time around, omitting so many loved features. It just reeks of laziness in my opinion. They had this wonderful game engine that I'm sure cost them an obscene amount of money to develop so they concentrated on a linear story and left the rest to rot.

So far I don't think it's any worse then FFX really, that was basically a straight path until the end when you got the airship and from what I heard this is a similar deal. I do like the level up system but I do agree it's saddeningly linear although I'm guessing it might open up later like FFX when you can choose to learn roles and stuff for characters that they wouldn't normally have.

I think the only thing that's really annoying me at the moment is that it's not letting me pick my own teams when there's more then enough in the group so I hope I unlock that feature soon.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Novo

I really want to read this thread but at the same time i don't want to see Spoilers

So am just going to wait til i get the game and come back

Any storyline points will be in spoiler tags so it should be safe really.

[Enid]

I haven't got it. Want it but meh. I can wait till 2nd hand/

[Damaris]

I got it last night.

My Brother took the ps3 controller round his friends i cant wait to play

[Stu]

Second disk.

Slowly loosing the will to play.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Judas Iscariot

Second disk.

Slowly loosing the will to play.

I'm in the scrap place, Vile Hills or something. I'm on Chapter 4 now. It's quite a slow burner of a game I think so far.

[Stu]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

I'm in the scrap place, Vile Hills or something. I'm on Chapter 4 now. It's quite a slow burner of a game I think so far.

Aye, that's near the end of disc 1. Slow burn is being generous .

I really wanted to like this game. It's hardly as if I am a troll of the series, because I love every other title in the series, but apart from upgrading my weapons and switching paradigms every now and then for a difficult fight [and once you figure out which paradigm to use and when, Odin is flattened in 20 seconds] this game is completely uninvolving.

Honestly, negro with a chicken in his head is still the high point for me.

I'll probably trade it in tommorow when the value is high for it. Pointless playing on just to feel like I am getting my moneys worth.

Still undecided should I pull an all nighter tonight and ebb a few more hours out of it purely for the sake of it.

All hail Bioware - king of the RPG.

[Enid]

So, not a scratch on FFX?

[Stu]

Originally Posted by Enid

So, not a scratch on FFX?

Not a chance. People are saying that FFX was linear, but it was GTA compared to this farce. At least in X you could run around anywhere you wanted getting into battles to level up, spend points on a sphere system that didn't actually go in a straight line and get a sense of exploration. X worked because as you went in a straight line you discovered more about the characters and Spira.

This is just ... just ...

http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360...ntasy-XIII/p1/

[Tom4784]

I'm about 10 minutes into the second disc now, It's not perfect but I do like it although the first disc seemed to be just an elongated tutorial. Hopefully the pacing gets better soon and the story kicks into high gear (and it allows me to choose my own teams).

In times when it gets a bit to repetitive though I just think of FFXII and III and the game becomes flawless in comparision

So far I'd say 8.5/10.

[Amanda.]

want. this. so FREAKING MUCH.

[Tom4784]

I'm starting to get into it a lot more now, the pacing is better and the team isn't changing every five seconds.

Did you get rid of it in the end Stu?

[Damaris]

I love it im in monority i think.I love the story.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Damaris

I love it im in monority i think.I love the story.

Yeah same here, in terms of linearity and such it's no worse then FFX without Blitzball. How far you got in it?

[Amanda.]

Spoiler:

Supposedly, there are NO towns at all in the game.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Amanda.

Spoiler:

Supposedly, there are NO towns at all in the game.

There are, it's just there's not many and they're not very Town-y.

[Amanda.]

I never liked the towns very much anyway. I mean, it gets kind of lame talking to NPC's who are wondering where Stan went with the cows or some such.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Amanda.

I never liked the towns very much anyway. I mean, it gets kind of lame talking to NPC's who are wondering where Stan went with the cows or some such.

Having town sections like that doesn't really make much sense for the story really either. One thing I do like though is when everyone has voice acting, If you do coem across someone looking for Stan and his cows they'll say so which is a cool little detail.