Final Fantasy XIII - Gen. Discussion & Info

Playing a single player game for the first time with friends rambling in your ear really ruins a game. I don't know why anyone would want that.
 
[quote name='Josh5890']I still can't believe that we aren't getting a Collector's Edition.[/QUOTE]

Did anyone ever see a quote from S-E on why exactly that was? I've been keeping my eyes open but haven't seen anything.

I'm still assuming it's because Microsoft paid a ton of money and locked up exclusive "collector's edition" rights and chose to use them on the waste of a console bundle and the faceplate. I'll continue to assume that's the reason until shown otherwise.
 
[quote name='Ryuukishi']OMG at two missing pieces of foliage in the background... Xbox 360 version IZ GIMPZORREDDD!!!!!1111

;)[/QUOTE]

It's not that two pieces of foliage are missing, it's that there is two pieces of SOMETHING missing and you won't even know what you will be missing elsewhere.

Anyway, I am a 360 fanboy but a Final Fantasy fanboy even more. I bought a used PS3 two years ago knowing it would primarily be my FF machine. I've played some interesting games along the way but this was my main reason. The 360 will still be my primary machine but I'm glad my PS3 will be dusted off.
 
Hey, I freely admit that if I had both systems, I'd get it for PS3. I don't though, so at least I know that the differences aren't monumental. And I certainly won't mind the gamerscore in any case.
 
[quote name='Ryuukishi']Hey, I freely admit that if I had both systems, I'd get it for PS3. I don't though, so at least I know that the differences aren't monumental. And I certainly won't mind the gamerscore in any case.[/QUOTE]

I have an interesting dilemma in that I have both, but my PS3 is currently bricked. Even though I started the repair order last Monday, Sony screwed it up somehow and didn't ship my coffin until yesterday, so the possibility exists I might not get it back in time for FFXIII. Right now I'm still keeping my PS3 pre-order and my fingers crossed, but if release day comes and I still don't have it (It's already bad enough I have to stare at my copy of Heavy Rain for two weeks) I might need to re-consider waiting for a drop on the 360 version.
 
no Towns! T_T I wanted to waste my life in BS and NPC!

Ps3 is a winner vs. 360, let ps3 have this one, you can have every other cross 360/ps3 game and bayonetta. However compressed audio will always lose, especially when the composer has made one winged angel.
 
:wall: not the same composer.

Anyways I could care less about CE anymore, they're never worth the money. I doubt I'll ever buy another one.
 
(collector's editions) [quote name='J7.']
they're never worth the money. I doubt I'll ever buy another one.[/QUOTE]

I keep telling myself that but...
 
I might wait to get this until after gow comes out. That or rent it and see if I like it. Or I can wait for another b2g1 sale on some site
 
[quote name='phantasyx']
However compressed audio will always lose, especially when the composer has made one winged angel.[/QUOTE]

Uematsu doesn't compose for FF anymore. :wall:
 
Whoo! My gf won two tickets to the FFXIII Launch Party in SF. I hope they give out copies of the game... Anybody else win the sweepstakes or get a pink ticket during that bus tour last month?
 
mykevermin, I know you've played the JP version. Is the gameplay basically like WKC gameplay? I've played WKC for a while (grindfest gets boring) but to me it looks like the gameplay is kinda similar.
 
I'm thinking of waiting to start this game until the summer, there are just so many damn games coming out this spring. After I finish my backlog of spring games around June I'm thinking it's go time on this game. I thought about canceling my Amazon pre-order but in the end decided to just stick with buying it at launch. Even though it's apparently very different from the "normal" FF games I think I will like it. I'm not the biggest fan of the series by any means (have only finished FFVII) but I think I could find myself liking FFXIII quite a bit.
 
This isn't specifically aimed at Myke, but since you're one of the people that has imported the game and played it, does Bazh really have a lowrider car summon? I'm going into this thinking that idea/action is going to be incredibly stupid... does it make sense at all (if it actually exists) - does it fit into the story somehow? Or is it totally random? As silly as it sounds, something like that could really kill my enjoyment of the game.
 
Anyone know what, if any, are the differences between the PS3 and 360 versions? Decided to pre-order and now I just need to figure out which console to buy it for.
 
PS3 version is reported to have better graphics in general (including higher resolution FMVs). Supposedly the frame rates are similar though.
 
I don't know why I'm so excited for this game even though I absolutely hated the last installment, am disappointed with the lack of full party control and the lack of towns/side stuff. My god I'm such a retarded and giddy school girl. I'm only setting myself up for disappointment at this rate, here's to hoping that Bad Company 2 will help me wind down until its release.



[quote name='thegoldenage']what is the difference between final fantasy 13 and versus 13. However miniscule I guess I'll have to get both of them.[/QUOTE]

They're completely different games in every aspect.
 
[quote name='Draekon']I don't know why I'm so excited for this game even though I absolutely hated the last installment, am disappointed with the lack of full party control and the lack of towns/side stuff. My god I'm such a retarded and giddy school girl. I'm only setting myself up for disappointment at this rate, here's to hoping that Bad Company 2 will help me wind down until its release.





They're completely different games in every aspect.[/QUOTE]

Well, it's going to be quite an experience, good or not.

I've never seen so many contrasting opinions over a game than I have for the current reviews of FFXIII.

You will literally find multiple reviews directly contradicting the other.

The characters are bland. The characters are awesome.
The music is forgettable. The music is the best of the franchise.
The game is too linear. The game design is unique and superb.

From my experience, opinions on FF games are never safe to follow. The games are so wildly different from each other that if you don't approach them with an open mind they are sure to disappoint you.

It's a shame people just can't give an objective analysis on game instead of a heavily biased score based on personal taste.
 
[quote name='n4styn4t3']Anyone know what, if any, are the differences between the PS3 and 360 versions? Decided to pre-order and now I just need to figure out which console to buy it for.[/QUOTE]

Considerable differences.
Here is why you should get it on PS3:
Bigger pics here:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=19857881&postcount=12055

- 1024x576 2x MSAA on 360
- 1280x720 2x MSAA on PS3
- lower quality textures on 360
- graphic details cut out on 360
- 720P FMV on 360 vs 1080P on PS3
- compressed audio on 360, 7.1 uncompressed on PS3
- 3 DVD Disc swapping on 360, 1 scratch resistant PS3 Bluray

Final Fantasy 13 xbox 360
FF13_360_res.jpg

(* PS3 version's running at 1280 x 720 2 x MSAA in case you didn't know)
FF13_lighting_PS3.jpg

FF13_lighting_360.jpg

* PS3 shot's from the demo build.
FF13_field_PS3.jpg

FF13_field_360.jpg

* both shots from teamxbox site.
 
360 version is the peasant version. The entire game + all the movies are 576p. But hey, if the 360 is your only system, put it on craigslist and get yourself a PS3 slim! IT ONLY DOES EVERYTHING!! Including a true HD version of final fantasy lol.

(p.s. - I am joking around)
 
I was excited too and even preordered the game... BUUUTTT

I am now leaning towards canceling it lol. The lack of JPN tracks for the PS3 annoys me. Call me a dub-hater, but after watching the intl trailer for the game, the voices were pretty lame. Other than looking pretty, it's pretty lame on Square's part to not include the audio tracks for the PS3.

Also I have never heard of Leona Lewis until now. I can't stand her voice and this song is just abysmal. It almost has that One Republic feel to it which doesn't fit the genre (J-RPG) IMO. And the worst part about it, is they grabbed the song from her latest album... so much for a song written specifically for the game.
 
[quote name='Draekon']the lack of towns/side stuff.[/QUOTE]

It's stuff like this that made me cancel my pre-order and hope GameFly ships me a copy. I'm not ready to drop significant money on this one. I know it's definitely not the most popular game in the series, but my first Final Fantasy was IX, and it's what got me hooked on RPGs. I liked traveling around and doing the side missions.
 
Holy god these reviews that are coming in all directly contradict each other! I've seen reviewers differ before but this is nuts -- it's like they are all playing different games.. 0_o

One is dissing the music, one is calling it the best ever recorded for a video game.
One is bashing the plot/characters, another calls it the best in the franchise.
One says the linear design ruins the experience, another calls it a risky and rewarding decision.

Gaming journalism is hilariously terrible.
 
[quote name='bigdaddybruce44']I know it's definitely not the most popular game in the series, but my first Final Fantasy was IX, and it's what got me hooked on RPGs.[/QUOTE]

Same here. :D
 
does anyone know how picking up an online in store pickup order works with a midnight opening? I ordered FFXIII online and i wanna know if ill be able to go to the midnight opening for this.
 
[quote name='vkyosho']Call me a dub-hater, but after watching the intl trailer for the game, the voices were pretty lame.[/QUOTE]

You may want to sit down for this... all digital or animated creations that speak are... dubbed. I know... it is crushing.

I much prefer what I have heard of the English version. I can't stand high pitched whiny Japanese girl voices or little waif boys who sound like they eat gravel. But that is me.
 
I don't really understand the need to remove the original dub whenever they decide to do an English dub, of course, this doesn't only apply to FFXIII. I just like having the option, especially since my preference differs on a game by game basis for me. Hell, I loved that Street Fighter IV let me change voices per character.
 
Square had the balls to remove the stupid bullshit of pointlessly sprawling towns, McNPCs, and world maps.

It's really no surprise that Western media suddenly hates the game despite its reported engrossing story and visual/aural experience (which is what every reviewer ever will immediately say made FFVI/FFVII stand out from the crowd) -- the veneer of non-linearity is gone.

Face it. JRPGs are totally linear. World maps are cute and all, but if you wander to a town you're not supposed to be in yet the most interaction you can get it generic lines from the McNPCs and maybe a vendor that allows you to buy items a tier or so above your level. You can't actually get any quests or progress the story by wandering. You have to do the towns in order, for at least 20 hours, before you can get any kind of reason to go out and wander around.

McNPCs are pointless. Maybe all of five matter for hidden quests, the rest have totally generic messages that... well, I don't know what they accomplish. They don't really add to immersion, they don't provide useful information, and they don't provide quests. So what's the point?

The McNPCs and their lack of actual contribution to gameplay makes towns kind of pointless too. I can wander around this beautifully rendered place, but all I'm really here to do is buy new gear and talk to the town elder to unlock the next dungeon. The town is beautiful and imaginative, the dungeon is a generic cave with some weird glowing thing at the end that causes a boss to ambush you or a generic temple with a weird glowing thing at the end that causes a boss to ambush you.

Further, there's the fact that these reviewers seem to have pretty short memories when it comes to how the modern FF games handled the first 20 hours. For instance, FF7 had you in Midgard for quite a while, following the linear storyline and only having access to, what, four characters? FF10 had you walk in a straight line for 20 hours, at which point you got an airship that let you choose a location from a menu.

The minigames have always sucked and always been an annoyance or grind, not anything fun (with the exception of the card game which actually had some depth to it). You only played these things to get the phat lewt carrot at the end, like a Gold Chocobo or access to the secret super-boss. A game about high adventure makes me watch ostriches run around in circles and fornicate for hours just to get access to the strongest treasures?

Western reviewers crave non-linearity. Even the illusion of it is fine. Mass Effect 2 is totally linear, it just happens to be a flow chart. The fact you can acquire companions in a handful of different orders and tediously scan planets for five-minute shmup missions when you feel like it is omgosh nonlinear. Likewise with Dragon Age (minus the planet scanning). Now, Fallout 3, Oblivion -- I'll hand em those. They're definitely non-linear games, and very good ones at that.

When someone finally says "let's stop pretending -- use what's unique about this genre and ditcth the rest" it drives a chasm between the eastern mindset and the western mindset just like everyone with half a brain said it would.

Now, the only thing that pisses me off about FFXIII is it apparently assuming I'm an idiot for twenty fucking hours. You want to assume I know nothing of RPGs and can't read a manual? Ok, fair enough, there are newbs out there. Two hours of tutorial, cutscenes included, is fair. You want to introduce all the characters in detail? Great, I have no problem with you dictating the parties I get to control -- all your other games have included only 4 or 5 characters after 20 hours anyway, with two of them being totally inconsequential. Good for you if you want to go into all of them in depth before I can make my own party and the characterization basically slows to a drip.

But over ten hours before I can do shit as minor as leveling up? lolwut?

I've made up my mind -- I'm buying the game. These culture wars are stupid and result in both sides losing out on very good games from the other side. If someone didn't stand up and say "hey, Demons' Souls is kind of like Ultima Underworld," no one would have ever even looked at the game, except for the brave importer or two (who then may have been disappointed since it's not really the JRPG they were assuming it was).

Of course there's also the fact that I love RPG combat, and if there's one thing every review agrees on, it's that FFXIII's is quite good. Which is really the main factor here. Thanks for reading the rest though!
 
Thanks for the post lord_ebon, I agree with almost the whole thing, although I must guiltily admit I enjoy almost all mini-games... I even enjoyed Blitzball . But although I will miss them, I don't think the lack of them in any way destroys the game. After all PSN can keep me swimming in mini-games (Critter Crunch anyone?) for years. The main reason I play RPG's is for the characters (these are actually more important to me then the story itself, so in my case fully fleshed out characters is a huge plus), but also for the micro management of navigating menus, leveling up, buying/creating items, dealing with equipment and a fun, involving battle system (which everyone seems to agree this has).

I will support this game fully by buying it on Day1 (RD shipping with Amazon Prime to be specific) if for no other reason then I would love to see a wider variety of games being released. And although I won't go as far as to buy games that are broken or awful to play, nothing I have read about this game, even including the negative comments, have given me the impression that this game is broken or awful.
 
[quote name='leeloo1977']although I must guiltily admit I enjoy almost all mini-games... I even enjoyed Blitzball . But although I will miss them, I don't think the lack of them in any way destroys the game.[/QUOTE]

I agree that it certainly won't ruin a game for me, but I'm still gonna rent and see if I still like it. I don't know. I just like the random wandering around and playing stupid mini-games. Even when they dropped the world map wandering from FFX and replaced it with just picking the spot you wanted to go to, I still liked going around, finding the best weapons and the hidden Aeons. I also enjoyed Blitzball for some unknown reason. I remember I was a freshman in college when it came out, and one of my friends and I would talk about the players we had. We were talking about fucking Blitzball lol.
 
[quote name='Morphx2']360 version looks fine on 32 inch tv. it looks bad on 94 inch screen. Here is hoping PS3 is better![/QUOTE]

Like I said in another thread, it has been confirmed that the Xbox version is running at 576p, both gameplay and cutscenes.
PS3 is 1080p cutscenes and 720 gameplay.

http://www.n4g.com/News-485472.aspx
 
I know, but the wait until Tuesday is kiiiiiiiiilling me!

I played a little more on the 360 :(

[quote name='Teh Nitwit']Like I said in another thread, it has been confirmed that the Xbox version is running at 576p, both gameplay and cutscenes.
PS3 is 1080p cutscenes and 720 gameplay.

http://www.n4g.com/News-485472.aspx[/QUOTE]
 
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