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[coredecepts]

As far as I know, literally every major and minor plot point and bizarre thing in the game is explained somehow, either by NPC text or codex entries or something else.

It's not intuitive, you have to check just about every corner of the game, and in the case of some codex entries, you have to fulfill special conditions just to unlock them.

It's a point against the game, but the story does make sense if you put in the time.

 

[Wagram]

Are proper nouns like l'Cie and Fal'Cie that difficult for people to comprehend? I've never had trouble with the concept but this seems like a reoccurring theme at this point.

 

[Skilletor]

I'd hate to generalize, but it seems to me, people that think ff stories have gotten worse probably grew up playing the games. They seemed better because you were younger and not exposed to much in the way of writing or stories. I think the games haven't changed much, as far as narrative anyway, the people playing them have grown up.

 

[RPGCrazied]

Wait, this game is timed based? Like it forces you to do story missions, or what?

 

[Z3M0G]

Just got my game.. and holy shit this camera is crazy stupid. MASSIVE motion blur at any camera movement.

I'm getting the game and am excited to play it, but I've been dreading this from every video I've been seeing...

 

[threelights]

As far as I know, literally every major and minor plot point and bizarre thing in the game is explained somehow, either by NPC text or codex entries or something else.

It's not intuitive, you have to check just about every corner of the game, and in the case of some codex entries, you have to fulfill special conditions just to unlock them.

It's a point against the game, but the story does make sense if you put in the time.

It is, pretty much everything is explained (even during the first playthrough).

The problem is, they don't explain it during the cutscenes of the main game, a lot is explained, but you have to look for it.

But to say the game outright doesn't explain it is wrong.

 

[Blitzhex]

I'm getting the game and am excited to play it, but I've been dreading this from every video I've been seeing...

It's janky, but I'm getting used to it now.

 

[TheChillyAcademic]

The camera is obnoxious but I just don't think I've ever seen it be so big an issue for potential purchasers lol I mean, it isn't BROKEN, just slightly annoying. Though thinking about it, I can see how those with motion sickness or issues with blur might find it a big deal.

 

[coredecepts]

Wait, this game is timed based? Like it forces you to do story missions, or what?

Between missions, you are afforded "hours" to do things. I put them in quotes because it's not a ticking clock, it's more like points you can spend to perform actions. Talking to special NPCs takes 2 "hours", going out to the world map takes 6 "hours", no matter how long you spend out there.

It's pretty lenient, and as the game went on, I tended to have more time than I could spend.

 

[jorgeton]

I'd hate to generalize, but it seems to me, people that think ff stories have gotten worse probably grew up playing the games. They seemed better because you were younger and not exposed to much in the way of writing or stories. I think the games haven't changed much, as far as narrative anyway, the people playing them have grown up.

I agree with this. Also there was no voice acting back then so a lot of the characters were informed by your imagination. If you approach video games expecting the story to be on par with Saturday morning cartoons instead of Ulysses, you'll enjoy it more! But anyway, that's a whole different topic.

Got a call and my copy awaits after work. Hype!!

Been looking forward to this game and the demo for a long time.

 

[cleveridea]

Wow nice metacritic, green score so far. I find it bizarre that Dying Light got mixed yellow. I would not have thought it would turn out that way round.

Preordered CE with BB GCU, looking forward to the actual game itself not just the demo key

 

[entremet]

Fabulo Nova Chrysalis really did a number to FF's rep.

 

[RDreamer]

I'd hate to generalize, but it seems to me, people that think ff stories have gotten worse probably grew up playing the games. They seemed better because you were younger and not exposed to much in the way of writing or stories. I think the games haven't changed much, as far as narrative anyway, the people playing them have grown up.

That and the stories were presented with cute little sprites and no voice acting. You could fill in the awkward blanks with your own imagination. Now it's all there in your face.

 

[Squire]

As far as I know, literally every major and minor plot point and bizarre thing in the game is explained somehow, either by NPC text or codex entries or something else.

It's not intuitive, you have to check just about every corner of the game, and in the case of some codex entries, you have to fulfill special conditions just to unlock them.

It's a point against the game, but the story does make sense if you put in the time.

This could literally be a post about FFXIII and that's not good. At all.

 

[TheSlySoul]

Fabulo Nova Chrysalis really did a number to FF's rep.

Definitely. Even if I did not like 12, I got how people could like it. XIII was one game franchise where I had a hard time liking it.

 

[UberTag]

This could literally be a post about FFXIII and that's not good. At all.

I'm sure I made the exact same defense of FFXIII. And it's fair to argue that the storytelling failings in both games are comparable.
XIII-2 and Lightning Returns took things a step further into that pit of fail.

 

[coredecepts]

This could literally be a post about FFXIII and that's not good. At all.

Well, not entirely. FFXIII doesn't have NPCs

 

[Deleted member 20920]

Sounds like the VB reviewer didn't realize you can leave the academy between missions and go to other towns across the world map, all of which have their own NPCs and sidequests.

Sounds like it.

 

[Kagari]

Sounds like the VB reviewer didn't realize you can leave the academy between missions and go to other towns across the world map, all of which have their own NPCs and sidequests.

:V

 

[RPGCrazied]

Between missions, you are afforded "hours" to do things. I put them in quotes because it's not a ticking clock, it's more like points you can spend to perform actions. Talking to special NPCs takes 2 "hours", going out to the world map takes 6 "hours", no matter how long you spend out there.

It's pretty lenient, and as the game went on, I tended to have more time than I could spend.

So after the "hours" you have, your forced to do the story? Still don't know how I feel about that. I want to continue with the story when I feel like it, not when the game says I do. Can't be as bad as Lightning Returns I guess.

 

[Wagram]

So after the "hours" you have, your forced to do the story? Still don't know how I feel about that. I want to continue with the story when I feel like it, not when the game says I do. Can't be as bad as Lightning Returns I guess.

As much as I love Final Fantasy, I will never play a game with a clock again (unless it's Atelier). That thing absolutely ruined my experience.

 

[GatticusFinch]

I'd hate to generalize, but it seems to me, people that think ff stories have gotten worse probably grew up playing the games. They seemed better because you were younger and not exposed to much in the way of writing or stories. I think the games haven't changed much, as far as narrative anyway, the people playing them have grown up.

IMO, the most adult of all the plot lines in Final Fantasy has to be 6. There are a lot of heavy topics in there for an SNES game I played in grade school (the villain's plot to destroy the world succeeds, characters seriously consider suicide as the only viable option, racial discrimination, terrorism, chemical warfare, etc.). No FF story has had that many thought provoking themes and I played it when I was 11.

The games since then have been "safer" with their plot. No risk, no reward.

 

[robotzombie]

how bad is this game in terms of "missables"? Can you really screw things up by not spending your hours wisely or something and down the road realize you can't get some ultimate weapon?

 

[Toth]

So after the "hours" you have, your forced to do the story? Still don't know how I feel about that. I want to continue with the story when I feel like it, not when the game says I do. Can't be as bad as Lightning Returns I guess.

Did people really have that much trouble with LR's clock? Once you took the time to play with Chronostasis, it was not that bad at all tbh. The ability to sleep away time at the inn made progression quicker too.

I don't know, I always found things to do with my time each day.

 

[coredecepts]

So after the "hours" you have, your forced to do the story? Still don't know how I feel about that. I want to continue with the story when I feel like it, not when the game says I do. Can't be as bad as Lightning Returns I guess.

That's correct. It's unusual for the series, but it's not so bad. If you get to a moment like that and you feel like you're underleveled for the mission (which you shouldn't be, the curve is very gradual), you have one more option.

When you're not in a mission, save and quit to the main menu. Choose "Missions". From there, you can re-play missions you've already completed, and at various difficulty levels. Finishing missions this way and saving at the end will let you earn more experience, money, items, equipment, and other unlockables.

 

[sensui-tomo]

how bad is this game in terms of "missables"? Can you really screw things up by not spending your hours wisely or something and down the road realize you can't get some ultimate weapon?

IIRC ultimate weapons are NG+ material. Read at your discretion

Spoiler

I think you get them from gilgamesh in a NG+ battle which he can also take away your current weapon if you loose

 

[MaverickHunterAsh]

Hmm, I had heard Type-0 was this amazing Japan-only gem that we should be overjoyed we're finally getting, but the reviews are REALLY mixed. It's giving me a bit of pause.

That said, I'm a big fan of modern Square Enix where many others are not. If I loved FF XIII and XIII-2 in terms of both gameplay and story but didn't care for Lightning Returns' gameplay, how much mileage will I get out of this? I loved Crisis Core too, though more for its story and presentation than its gameplay.

 

[coredecepts]

Hmm, I had heard Type-0 was this amazing Japan-only gem that we should be overjoyed we're finally getting, but the reviews are REALLY mixed. It's giving me a bit of pause.

That said, I'm a big fan of modern Square Enix where many others are not. If I loved FF XIII and XIII-2 in terms of both gameplay and story but didn't care for Lightning Returns' gameplay, how much mileage will I get out of this? I loved Crisis Core too, though more for its story and presentation than its gameplay.

A lot of the more negative impressions seem to be because the game shows its PSP roots very easily, and that counts as a negative for a lot of people who are expecting a PS4 game.

I have a hard time seeing "like a PSP game" as a negative, since a bunch of my favorite games are PSP games. That sort of thing just doesn't matter to me, but I understand how others would think otherwise.

 

[WordsintheWater]

Just picked this up at a local store, excited to dive in, don't know a lot about type-0, but it looks like I will enjoy it, still scared about that camera though.

 

[DarkLordMalik]

Sounds like the VB reviewer didn't realize you can leave the academy between missions and go to other towns across the world map, all of which have their own NPCs and sidequests.

I fully agree with your quote here. Some of the most memorable moments of the game are not from the main story, instead they are from the exploration

 

[UberTag]

I love reviews. English va is good for destructoid and terrible for another one. I can really only trust myself

From what I've picked up from streams over the weekend, the game seems to be well-cast but poorly directed. It's certainly not Star Ocean: The Last Hope or anything disastrous like that but there's a fair bit of stilted delivery. I would say FFXIII's voice acting was better without much reservation.

 

[Squire]

who even reads VB reviews

 

[Lakerchick4life]

Ive never played any of the Final Fantasy games before..would you all recommend this game to me or should I pass on it..if I should get it, for what console, X1 or PS4 or are they both pretty much the same as far as graphics

 

[Illucio]

Hmm, I had heard Type-0 was this amazing Japan-only gem that we should be overjoyed we're finally getting, but the reviews are REALLY mixed. It's giving me a bit of pause.

That said, I'm a big fan of modern Square Enix where many others are not. If I loved FF XIII and XIII-2 in terms of both gameplay and story but didn't care for Lightning Returns' gameplay, how much mileage will I get out of this? I loved Crisis Core too, though more for its story and presentation than its gameplay.

Pay attention to the reviews and not the actual score. People who been giving the game low scores are from some unknown websites, let alone they are complaining that the game is not a tradition Final Fantasy turn based game, it still has some noticeable elements of being a PSP game, and or they are simply turned off by the environments. Hardly any of the reviews are detailing on how the actual game or gameplay itself is, let alone saying a story is good or bad in a game is highly opinionated on it's own.

For a good example of a great game getting mixed reception is Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 for the PSP. The game received very mixed reviews, mostly bad. But people who have played the game, or fans of the Final Fantasy series hails it as a great game. For not only it's story and presentation, but the gameplay was fairly praised for what it was.

 

[Inuhanyou]

Seems like a lot of the scores are because its a PSP game. Which makes sense. It is indeed a PSP game. The main issue however is this thing of "tell not show" going on, where your confused with the plot because you have to look inside the journal to even see what happened.

How hard is it to craft a story where all of the plot threads are placed in the game itself??

Crisis core never had that issue, even though it already had an established world...man that game was great.

 

[RDreamer]

Hmm, I had heard Type-0 was this amazing Japan-only gem that we should be overjoyed we're finally getting, but the reviews are REALLY mixed. It's giving me a bit of pause.

That was the hype before the game was actually released. I paid a good amount of attention to the OT here when it was released and players had just as mixed of reactions as these reviews.

 

[SoraanTribal]

People complained about XIII's story being hard to follow and even worse, that terms like l'cie and fal'cie were "confusing". It just made me laugh because the story isn't that hard to follow and the terms were pretty simple to learn. If that's the worst of Type-0's problems for the story, it'll be fine.

 

[Chaos2Frozen]

If the camera is the worst thing about this game then I'm pretty sure I'll be fine.

After all, I'l be playing Bloodborne as well =p

 

[NoirVisage]

Fabulo Nova Chrysalis really did a number to FF's rep.

its sad because the way they explain L'cie in THIS game is actually quite awesome, no convoluted explanations, just straight to the point (a "classroom" leveling skit pokes fun at this) L'cie are overall trending toward emotionless, they are few, they are stupid powerful, but slaves to the will of the crystal they are bonded to. Two of them crossing paths does not bode well for anything within a certain radius. like gorillas wresting near sandcastles.

I fully agree with your quote here. Some of the most memorable moments of the game are not from the main story, instead they are from the exploration

There are quite a few cutscenes that explain alot about certain character relationships that only show up in certain conversations while you are certain characters, I know i'll find myself switching often to try to find them all -__-

 

[Inuhanyou]

People complained about XIII's story being hard to follow and even worse, that terms like l'cie and fal'cie were "confusing". It just made me laugh because the story isn't that hard to follow and the terms were pretty simple to learn. If that's the worst of Type-0's problems for the story, it'll be fine.

For me, XIII's plot wasn't just about being confusing, but also very stupid for what it did explain. So Type 0 already has that far above it.

 

[SougoXIII]

Did people really have that much trouble with LR's clock? Once you took the time to play with Chronostasis, it was not that bad at all tbh. The ability to sleep away time at the inn made progression quicker too.

I don't know, I always found things to do with my time each day.

In later game sure, you could probably abuse Chronostasis for infinite time. However, in the beginning of the game where you just want to wander around and explore the cities, the time limit seems that much overbearing since most mobs give a pitiful amount of CP and the fact that you have to enter the menu every 5 mins to refresh the stasis also didn't endear people to the mechanic. Furthermore, it also shows how confident they are with their time mechanic when they provide the players with ways to completely bypass it.

 

[Chris R]

Solid enough scores. Only buying it day 1 for the XV demo but it's nice to see that the game packaged with the demo is worth it as well

 

[RDreamer]

Anyone know if you can pick this up at Gamestop's Battlefield midnight release tonight? Do they do that? I've never tried to pick up a different game than the actual reason they were open at midnight.

 

[KiefbladeMaster]

Reviews are looking solid, and the FFXV demo is an added bonus. Gonna pick it up! Want to go digital but I don't see it on PSN as of yet.

 

[Victrix]

For me, XIII's plot wasn't just about being confusing, but also very stupid for what it did explain. So Type 0 already has that far above it.

13 was fine, 13-2 was a horrid abomination that I'm still internet angry at gaffers for recommending to me (it managed to pee all over both the story and the combat system, so I have to give it points for effort).

If the main complaint against Type 0 is the story is sort of off in the weeds, rather than it is terrible/not present at all, I'm ok with that.

 

[Geg]

So basically the story is less of a traditional narrative and more of a collect the pieces/connect the dots kind of deal? Though there is still an actual narrative obviously

 

[Inuhanyou]

13 was fine, 13-2 was a horrid abomination that I'm still internet angry at gaffers for recommending to me (it managed to pee all over both the story and the combat system, so I have to give it points for effort).

If the main complaint against Type 0 is the story is sort of off in the weeds, rather than it is terrible/not present at all, I'm ok with that.

If we're talking relatively, sure. FF13 is miles ahead of the nonsensical time travel bullshit of XIII-2, and 'defeat god with the power of friendship' of LR. Atleast it had a stable backstory, even if it didn't explain it particularly well

 

[Hibiki Kurosawa]

Anyone know if you can pick this up at Gamestop's Battlefield midnight release tonight? Do they do that? I've never tried to pick up a different game than the actual reason they were open at midnight.

Usually midnight launches are for all the games releasing that day, to my knowledge. I know my local EBGames is doing it for both.

 

[Bsigg12]

Usually midnight launches are for all the games releasing that day, to my knowledge. I know my local EBGames is doing it for both.

Is this getting a 12am ET release nationwide like Battlefield though? There could be a lock on this until midnight local.

 

[Ibuki]

Is this getting a 12am ET release nationwide like Battlefield though? There could be a lock on this until midnight local.

I can confirm GameStop had the go ahead to do a rolling release. No idea about EB though.