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[BudokaiMR2]

Is there so much variety in your average jrpg? You go to a town, trigger the event, go to the dungeon, go to the town, trigger the event, go to the dungeon, with cutscenes between. In town you can shop or talk to NPCs who have 1 line. Out on the map you can go to places you've already been too or the dungeon/town you are supposed to go to next.

That describes most jrpgs! And XIII has a similar experience just presented differently. It's "different" but I don't think it's much "worse".

This is not your average JRPG though, and yes FF games have always had variety. Maybe some people didnt like it but it was there. I really don't want to start listing things.

You accused me of oversimplifying FFXIII, but now you are doing the same thing. Maybe shitty RPGs are like that, but I usually find the FF games to be better than that.

 

[BudokaiMR2]

I would agree with Shouta. While the linearity does not bother me and I understand why Toriyama's scenario backed them into a corner, it would have been nice to have some time to dawdle during the first ten chapters. Not going to argue there at all. A sidequest here, a sidequest there--even some kind of superchallenging mob in each zone to try and take down would go a long way.

Exactly, and this has always been one of the strongest points in FF games, partially because it helps immersion and realize the game's world. Even in FFVII where you aren't allowed to leave midgar for a big part of the game there is a ton of variety and interesting quests. Who didn't have a smile on their face as they ran around collecting items for crossdressing? Or who didn't stop to marvel at the Shinra building while they decided which way to take.

FFXIII holds your hand way too much, and has basically centered it's whole design concept around less variety. Now aesthetically there is a lot of variety, and I understand that. However, this is an interactive medium and there just isn't much to interact with in FFXIII's world...

 

[imtehman]

WHAT!?

WHAT!?

Guys someone translate this for me

3d cost more than 2d ?

With a fraction of the budget, it managed to do everything FFXIII apparently can't even with its super ridiculously large budget which went almost entirely to grotesquely self-indulgent CG.

Do you not see the problem here?

something that tales doesn't have?HEY guess what, some people like grotesquely self-indulgent CG

FFXIII is the way it is because of a DESIGN CHOICE. SquareEnix didn't say "Well we either have to make the game really linear or we'll have to cut the content down to 20 hrs." They consciously decided, for whatever reason, that the type of next-gen experience they wanted to provide for their RPG was an extremely streamlined (read: linear) cinematic RPG, with virtually no room for deviation.

now that you know this and has voiced

Spoiler

trolled?

your opinions numerous times already in this thread, isn't it time to move on?

 

[Bebpo]

Still even if it's more linear with less "variety" than the other FF games, I don't agree that because the game has some serious flaws that it's not worthy of the FF mainline games. A lot of the main FF games have had huge serious design flaws as well. Like I said earlier, if you look at threads discussing FFVI->FFXII most people think each entry has huge problems and is a bad FF entry. It's almost impossible getting a board of people to even agree on a single FF they all think is good.

I expect FFXV and beyond to be just as big of a flawed mess of great parts that FFVI+ have been. It's how the series is because of high ambitions and real world time/budget constraints. But I'll still love them despite their flaws.

 

[Amir0x]

3d cost more than 2d ?

But...Tales of Vesperia IS 3D! What the... is this a time warp?

something that tales doesn't have?HEY guess what, some people like grotesquely self-indulgent CG

So you're now admitting you're totally OK with them giving up all these rad things that make RPGs so appealing in the first place, as long as they have this rad totally non-interactive Advent Children sploogefest for you to wank to?

Hey, like they say... it's your opinion.

I just want you to acknowledge that it's not a choice between super linear or 20 hrs of game length. SquareEnix decided that they wanted to streamline the experience, and some people really dig that. I can understand THAT. What I can't understand is someone trying to convince me that this is somehow a necessity due to the rising costs of next-gen or the impossibly high cinematic standards the game has or something. This simply isn't the case.

now that you know this and has voiced your opinions numerous times already in this thread, isn't it time to move on?

Everyone has voiced their opinions numerous times in this thread, positive and negative. Is it time for them to move on too? Of course not. Accept it.

 

[Segata Sanshiro]

3d cost more than 2d ?




something that tales doesn't have?HEY guess what, some people like grotesquely self-indulgent CG



now that you know this and has voiced

Spoiler

trolled?

your opinions numerous times already in this thread, isn't it time to move on?

Vesperia is 3d, goofball.

 

[Sipowicz]

3d cost more than 2d ?

it isn't 2d man

Is that the choice now? Have Square Enix really brainwashed its fans so dramatically as to make people believe that you HAVE to choose lone tube level design or else stick with 20 hours of gameplay?

agree with this. mass effect isn't a good example because it sacrificed length and stuff for shooter mechanics. stuff like fallout 3 and dragon's age manages to be a decent length while still innovating and having excellent gameplay

i'm one of the people who's not that optimistic about this game any more. i dont really like nomura designs anyway, and i was pretty put off by the characters and voiceacting in the english trailer. but after seeing the stupid cliched ending on youtube and reading stuff about the game i#m pretty sure it wont be my cup of tea

 

[BudokaiMR2]

Still even if it's more linear with less "variety" than the other FF games, I don't agree that because the game has some serious flaws that it's not worthy of the FF mainline games. A lot of the main FF games have had huge serious design flaws as well. Like I said earlier, if you look at threads discussing FFVI->FFXII most people think each entry has huge problems and is a bad FF entry. It's almost impossible getting a board of people to even agree on a single FF they all think is good.

I expect FFXV and beyond to be just as big of a flawed mess of great parts that FFVI+ have been. It's how the series is because of high ambitions and real world time/budget constraints. But I'll still love them despite their flaws.

Yes I understand and I even feel that way about some of them. I despise FFVIII in part because of the draw system. I hated it back in the day.

However, in the other games they might have made changes to certain systems or game content, but at least it was there. It just feels like there is a big hole where stuff used to be in FFXIII. Yes they took out towns, NPCs, sidequests, mini-games, exploration, world map, etc. etc. That would have been fine if they would have put something else in, but they didn't. The game consists entirely of dungeons, battles, and cutscenes.

 

[TTP]

I think I've hit the point where the language barrier doesn't allow me to proceed. I can't beat the

Spoiler

guy that turns into some kind of angel in chapter 11 or 12 (the one after you beat the "pope")

. I bet some proper item equipment would help me greatly but I can't understand anything. Till now I've been using upgraded versions of all the equipment I started with basically. Never changed it. Never purchased anything from the shop. Oh well. :/

 

[Y2Kev]

Yes I understand and I even feel that way about some of them. I despise FFVIII in part because of the draw system. I hated it back in the day.

However, in the other games they might have made changes to certain systems or game content, but at least it was there. It just feels like there is a big hole where stuff used to be in FFXIII. Yes they took out towns, NPCs, sidequests, mini-games, exploration, world map, etc. etc. That would have been fine if they would have put something else in, but they didn't. The game consists entirely of dungeons, battles, and cutscenes.

I would say things like towns and NPCs (not even talking about mob hunts or whatever) ARE in the game, they're just presented differently.

 

[badcrumble]

So is this game like Disc 4 of FFVIII, except without the cool maze-dungeon? Nooooooo

 

[BudokaiMR2]

I would say things like towns and NPCs (not even talking about mob hunts or whatever) ARE in the game, they're just presented differently.

Yes they are there, but it is just purely aesthetic. Again, I just feel like this game has taken a farther step from interactivity than any other FF game. Sure it was pretty, but I just see Nautilus as a missed opportunity.

 

[0405]

I think I've hit the point where the language barrier doesn't allow me to proceed. I can't beat the

Spoiler

guy that turns into some kind of angel in chapter 11 or 12 (the one after you beat the "pope")

. I bet some proper item equipment would help me greatly but I can't understand anything. Till now I've been using upgraded versions of all the equipment I started with basically. Never changed it. Never purchased anything from the shop. Oh well. :/

What's your party setup? I was having issues in that fight until I started using a Defender.

 

[Bebpo]

Yes they are there, but it is just purely aesthetic. Again, I just feel like this game has taken a farther step from interactivity than any other FF game. Sure it was pretty, but I just see Nautilus as a missed opportunity.

I think Nautilus is the last place I would use to describe a lack of towns in XIII. In Nautilus you still had the same amount of NPCs as you would have in a normal rpg town. You could still walk up to them and get their generic NPC dialogue just like any rpg town. There was even multiple areas to it. It was basically an rpg town but smaller and you couldn't shop. I thought it was a really cool area.

The other towns though are more aesthetic sure. The database helps fill out the background though. There's a lot of world lore and interesting places in XIII's world. It's like taking a vacation on a travel tour around the worlds of XIII.

 

[TheExodu5]

How do you fight the bomb like enemies in Chapter 4 (I think)? I tried dousing them with water to stop them from blowing up...but no dice.

edit: I was in attack mode and that wasn't real water...it works.

 

[NewLib]

FFVIII had a horrible story and battle system and I hated it, but I still contend it had the best mix of exploration, pacing, and sidequests of any FF game. I think all FF games should emulate VIII when it comes to pacing.

Edit: Im not going to cast judgment on FFXIII but I just dont understand how you can go from one direction (FFXII) with its open areas and very loose pacing to the completely opposite direction in the next game.

 

[BudokaiMR2]

I think Nautilus is the last place I would use to describe a lack of towns in XIII. In Nautilus you still had the same amount of NPCs as you would have in a normal rpg town. You could still walk up to them and get their generic NPC dialogue just like any rpg town. There was even multiple areas to it. It was basically an rpg town but smaller and you couldn't shop. I thought it was a really cool area.

The other towns though are more aesthetic sure. The database helps fill out the background though. There's a lot of world lore and interesting places in XIII's world. It's like taking a vacation on a travel tour around the worlds of XIII.

Yes I believe it was amazing aesthetically. I also thought the sound design was great there. FFXIII has blown me away when it comes to ambient sounds and overall sound quality. Every other RPG this gen has done a pretty crappy job in comparison. Haven't felt like a single one has taken advantage of 5.1 like this.

It seems like everyone is point out the things I do like to argue about the things I don't like. I am not complaining about the aesthetics and graphic design of the game. I am complaining about content and variety.

The problem was there wasn't anything to do there.

Spoiler

I mean it was supposed to be a place similar to Gold Saucer. Hell you can even see roller coasters in the background while you are fighting. The fact that there wasn't anything to do there is a huge miss. People talk about the pacing and linearity being a cost to the script. And yes that is the case in a lot of ways. But with Nautilus you have a great opportunity to do something interesting. I can think of a hundred ideas just off the top of my head. But instead you basically walk through a pretty area with absolutely nothing to do. You have NPCs with cookie cutter dialogue that doesn't matter, which a lot of people have pointed out as one of the points they DISLIKE towns. Is it really wrong to want there to be something interesting to do in the worlds?

Honestly, I haven't really touched the Auto-clip yet except for enemy data. I never go through those first, as sometimes spoilers and stuff are mixed in. Plan to look through it after I finish. I am not complaining that the world-lore and stuff isn't interesting. I actually do find it interesting, but I think they fail to represent it well inside the actual game world.

 

[hamchan]

FFVIII had a horrible story and battle system and I hated it, but I still contend it had the best mix of exploration, pacing, and sidequests of any FF game. I think all FF games should emulate VIII when it comes to pacing.

Edit: Im not going to cast judgment on FFXIII but I just dont understand how you can go from one direction (FFXII) with its open areas and very loose pacing to the completely opposite direction in the next game.

Isn't it because it's a different team?
Maybe they're just following the same cycle as last gen meaning FFXV will be like FFXII.

 

[thetrin]

FFVIII had a horrible story and battle system and I hated it, but I still contend it had the best mix of exploration, pacing, and sidequests of any FF game. I think all FF games should emulate VIII when it comes to pacing.

Edit: Im not going to cast judgment on FFXIII but I just dont understand how you can go from one direction (FFXII) with its open areas and very loose pacing to the completely opposite direction in the next game.

Well, when two COMPLETELY DIFFERENT groups of people work on each game, that seems like the MOST obvious outcome.

 

[Deleted member 17706]

Whoa this thread moved fast! I'm gonna have to catch up on the replies.

The problem with gaming communities is that most gaffers think FFXII sucks, I loved it despite the story falling apart in the end. Most gaffers think FFX sucks, I loved it despite Tidus/Yuna laughing scene. Most gaffers think FFIX sucks, I loved it despite the slow battles. Most gaffers think FFVIII sucks, etc....do you see a pattern?

Apparently FF must be a terrible series, because the consensus after months seems to be that every FF game (at least since FF6) sucks! Yet I've enjoyed them all and XIII is no exception. I think people who enjoy FF games will be satisfied with XIII despite it's flaws. Could XIII have more varied locations in the endgame? (though XIII has a TON of locations. They just aren't in the endgame ) Sure, could XII have had a better story in the endgame? Sure. XIII isn't perfect by any means, but if you enjoy what's there instead of what's missing you'll enjoy the good game that is there.

FFXIII is one of the highest budget games ever. There are tons of locations. hundreds of unique enemies, a lengthy main quest, tons of optional battles. There's a lot to love in FFXIII and definitely enough to make it feel like a complete rpg.

This certainly doesn't apply to me. I have liked pretty much all FF games ever since they started really having stories (FFIV). FFXII and FFX in particular are two of my favorites.

FFXIII just didn't work for me. I beat it, did some of the monster missions but I just wasn't drawn in enough. The monster hunts were cool enough, but I really don't like how they took all of the optional content in the game and just lumped it in one area all at the end of the game. I realize the story they went with didn't really allow for them to spread out the optional content, but considering how god awful the story was I think they should have just thrown it out and went with something that allowed for better pacing.

Oh well. I got a good 40ish hours of fun out of the game, but it is definitely the most disappointing main entry to the Final Fantasy series I have ever played.

 

[Let me in]

I don't know, I like the combat and the visuals. I'm getting bits and pieces of the story, but nothing cohesive. I've mainly relied on katakana to get through the game, but since I'm almost 30 hours in knowing little of the story I think the game has done well in entertaining me.

At this point though, I just want to STOP. It feels like I've been on a roller-coaster ride of battle/run/cutscene the entire time. It will feel really great when I can just run around and have a choice of where to go instead of just forward.

I also feel like it took way too long for the battle system itself to open up. I really did not like the two party battles. Now all the roles have opened up to all characters and it feels like now the fun is really going to begin. Like others have said, if you enjoy the combat in this game, the time it takes to get going won't bother you too much.

 

[IrishNinja]

you know...i normally dont buy the whole "THE LAST ONE WAS SO MUCH BETTER" fallacy that comes up around here a lot, in regards to zelda and several other non-zelda games, but...look, if the worst thing FF XIII does is make the fucking heathens realize how great XII was, it's a win/win for me.
still hyped about this.

question for those that played it: for me, just about every FF past VI has fallen to shit, plot-wise, around the endgame. when it wasnt messy plot (VIII, etc), i felt it mightve been about pacing.
but even when the plot was kinda shitty earlier on in said games (VIII, again, perfect exacmple), id still enjoy the moments it offered: hijacking a train, botching an assassination job, giant battle at balamb gardens, etc.
will XIII offer much here for these issues? ie, does the nature of what ive read about being chased (or something similar? im really trying to avoid plot details here) help curb any of the usual pacing issues, and does it have its share of cool & memorable moments/scenes?

Spoiler

also, ooking up endings on youtube is shameful

 

[TheExodu5]

Yeah the pacing is really relentless. I can't take more than an hour or two at a time because it's just non stop. I would like to just be able to run around and do my thing to break things up.

 

[thetrin]

Yeah, I can't play the game for hours and hours and hours because of the relentless pace, but when I DO play for a few hours, I finish exhausted and satisfied.

 

[brandonh83]

you know...i normally dont buy the whole "THE LAST ONE WAS SO MUCH BETTER" fallacy that comes up around here a lot, in regards to zelda and several other non-zelda games, but...look, if the worst thing FF XIII does is make the fucking heathens realize how great XII was, it's a win/win for me.

:lol *high-five*

 

[Bebpo]

Yeah, I can't play the game for hours and hours and hours because of the relentless pace, but when I DO play for a few hours, I finish exhausted and satisfied.

I felt like that for the first half. But once I hit ch.11 I was doing 10 hours straight per day. Hunts are sooooo addicting

This certainly doesn't apply to me. I have liked pretty much all FF games ever since they started really having stories (FFIV). FFXII and FFX in particular are two of my favorites.

FFXIII just didn't work for me. I beat it, did some of the monster missions but I just wasn't drawn in enough. The monster hunts were cool enough, but I really don't like how they took all of the optional content in the game and just lumped it in one area all at the end of the game. I realize the story they went with didn't really allow for them to spread out the optional content, but considering how god awful the story was I think they should have just thrown it out and went with something that allowed for better pacing.

Oh well. I got a good 40ish hours of fun out of the game, but it is definitely the most disappointing main entry to the Final Fantasy series I have ever played.

Well obviously to each his own. I've gotten a good 50 hours of fun out of it and I'm still enjoying it immensely. I'd definitely put it above FFIII and IX so far. But everyone has their own favorites.

 

[Piper Az]

i'm sorry but you're comparing a 2d rpg vs a fully polygonal rpg.

They can get away with more variety exactly because of the 2d.

You can't sit here and tell me that Tales has even a fraction of the budget that FFXIII has.

i'd also like to iterate that you're angst is garnered toward something you haven't played and ALSO in a thread which you professed would no longer have a part of.

Tales of Vesperia is one beautiful 3D game...and it is a terrific game with exploration!

 

[Bebpo]

Honestly, I haven't really touched the Auto-clip yet except for enemy data. I never go through those first, as sometimes spoilers and stuff are mixed in. Plan to look through it after I finish. I am not complaining that the world-lore and stuff isn't interesting. I actually do find it interesting, but I think they fail to represent it well inside the actual game world.

You should read the auto-clip. It's main point is to flesh out the background behind the areas you are visiting, the backgrounds of the characters in the plot, the worldview, the lore. There's also the story of pulse gran that's unlocked by finishing specific quests.

 

[thetrin]

Hunts definitely sound like they're going to be a blast. Can't wait.

 

[Deleted member 17706]

Honestly, I haven't really touched the Auto-clip yet except for enemy data. I never go through those first, as sometimes spoilers and stuff are mixed in. Plan to look through it after I finish. I am not complaining that the world-lore and stuff isn't interesting. I actually do find it interesting, but I think they fail to represent it well inside the actual game world.

That was a big problem for me. The universe seemed interesting enough, but the scenario and characters that are presented in the actual game are so bad that I just had couldn't feel motivated to check out the auto-clip for more information outside of a few entries.

 

[Kagari]

Read up on the requirements to unlock the PS3 themes... damn, some of them are ridiculous.

 

[TheExodu5]

Does changing Optima increase your AP or something? A lot of the time my AP goes to full right after switching Optimas, even though it doesn't look like the animation took nearly that long.

 

[0405]

Just finished it myself. Kind of mixed on the game overall. Quick question, ending spoilers, sortofnotreally:

Spoiler

Did they ever explain why Dodge's crystallized form was different from everyone else's crystallized form?

 

[Shouta]

You should read the auto-clip. It's main point is to flesh out the background behind the areas you are visiting, the backgrounds of the characters in the plot, the worldview, the lore. There's also the story of pulse gran that's unlocked by finishing specific quests.

That actually is a complaint of mine, too much reliance on the auto-clip for world-building.

Anyway, Jazzy chocobo theme ROCKS.

 

[thetrin]

Does changing Optima increase your AP or something? A lot of the time my AP goes to full right after switching Optimas, even though it doesn't look like the animation took nearly that long.

I'm pretty damn sure you get free AP every time you change optimas. You don't always get a full bar (like if you issue a command and immediately change optimas), but more often than not, it does seem like you get a full bar pretty shortly after changing.

 

[Bebpo]

With a fraction of the budget, it managed to do everything FFXIII apparently can't even with its super ridiculously large budget which went almost entirely to grotesquely self-indulgent CG.

Eh, I think more budget went into making 200+ different enemy models that look good by HD standards than an hour of CG. Plus it's not like it has any more CG than FFXII or FFX. Which means if it had a higher budget than those games, the budget went into the actual game making and the assets

 

[Deleted member 17706]

Just finished it myself. Kind of mixed on the game overall. Quick question, ending spoilers, sortofnotreally:

Spoiler

Did they ever explain why Dodge's crystallized form was different from everyone else's crystallized form?

Out of all of the inconsistencies and things left unexplained, that is what you are most curious about? :lol

I never really thought it while playing through the game, but you are totally right. Just more nonsense that probably doesn't deserve being thought about.

 

[akenatone]

has anybody considered that the game was made to try to build a new younger audience that is used to blockbuster movies and not to the old timers who can remember their materia or junction or job setups by heart.

I haven't played the game yet. but from what i read, it seems like they wanted to build a streamlined, fast paced, summer movie experience for the mainstream. Then, they added the optional hard go to a forum to discuss strategies hunts for us.

for the cynical in all of us, final fantasy can't stay the so called best rpg forever.

 

[BudokaiMR2]

I'm pretty damn sure you get free AP every time you change optimas. You don't always get a full bar (like if you issue a command and immediately change optimas), but more often than not, it does seem like you get a full bar pretty shortly after changing.

I think I stumbled upon this on a japanese wiki. Think it was something like free full bar if you change 12 seconds after the last one or something.

 

[7Th]

Spoiler

The Dahj thing is relatively easy to explain: his crystal looked different because he was chosen as l'Cie by a Cocoon fal'Cie while the main characters were chosen as l'Cie by a Pulse fal'Cie.

After a talk with 3pheMeraLmiX, I think that only one inconsistency and one relatively big but fillable gap remain.

 

[0405]

Out of all of the inconsistencies and things left unexplained, that is what you are most curious about? :lol

I never really thought it while playing through the game, but you are totally right. Just more nonsense that probably doesn't deserve being thought about.

Spoiler

I thought of it again during the final encounter, when you see Dodge and Serah next to one another and then once more at the very end when you see them all crystallized. When it first happened to Dodge, I noticed it, but I figured it was because Serah was special or something, but then at the end, you see them all crystallized like that. I wasn't sure if I'd missed something storywise or what. Seems like I didn't.

Edit: Ooh, I guess that makes sense. Thanks.

 

[7Th]

Spoiler

I thought of it again during the final encounter, when you see Dodge and Serah next to one another and then once more at the very end when you see them all crystallized. When it first happened to Dodge, I noticed it, but I figured it was because Serah was special or something, but then at the end, you see them all crystallized like that. I wasn't sure if I'd missed something storywise or what. Seems like I didn't.

See above.

 

[thetrin]

has anybody considered that the game was made to try to build a new younger audience that is used to blockbuster movies and not to the old timers who can remember their materia or junction or job setups by heart.

I haven't played the game yet. but from what i read, it seems like they wanted to build a streamlined, fast paced, summer movie experience for the mainstream. Then, they added the optional hard go to a forum to discuss strategies hunts for us.

for the cynical in all of us, final fantasy can't stay the so called best rpg forever.

i suppose so, but I've been playing since FF1 came out in America, and FFXIII wholly caters to me.

 

[rykomatsu]

holy shit at jumbo cactaur...

This I was most definitely under levelled for, but after 27min, finally killed the mother fucker

Fang/Vanilla/Hope (if someone has an actual non uber slow burn strat, please tell me )

Spoiler

1. Start: Defender/Healer/Healer, taunt spam
2. Optima change: Defender/Blaster/Healer, regenerative guard spam
Repeat 1&2 multiple times while tossing a potion in the fray as time allows

Accessories
Fang: Pain Guard lvl★ x4
Vanilla: White Cape lvl★ x3
Hope: White Cape lvl★ x4

Chance to resist Pain @ 92% so Fang could keep taunting and defending
Chance to resist Fog @ 86 and 92% so Hope could keep healing

Number of times where Fang dropped down to under 1k hp...even with guard, she takes 2999 dmg so it was rather scary...

 

[thetrin]

I think I stumbled upon this on a japanese wiki. Think it was something like free full bar if you change 12 seconds after the last one or something.

12 seconds sounds too long. I've gotten full bars faster than that (I think)

 

[imtehman]

Tales of Vesperia is one beautiful 3D game...and it is a terrific game with exploration!

sorry i don't know the terminology of whatever the difference is, this is why i don't get involved in any of the technical computer discussions on gaf.

i'm going to take another hit at this and say the 3d cartoony look is cheaper to do then the 3d realistic look?

is htat a more accurate assessment?

 

[Deleted member 17706]

sorry i don't know the terminology of whatever the difference is, this is why i don't get involved in any of the technical computer discussions on gaf.

i'm going to take another hit at this and say the 3d cartoony look is cheaper to do then the 3d realistic look?

is htat a more accurate assessment?

What the hell does that have to do with anything?

I haven't played Tales of Vesperia, but from what I have seen of it it looks very good and according to other forum goers there is a lot of optional stuff and it is a fully featured RPG.

Of course they probably spent far less money on the visual aspect of Tales of Vesperia than Square Enix spent on Final Fantasy XIII, but what does that have to do with anything? Both games probably had massively different budgets and team sizes.

 

[thetrin]

I don't know why people are trying to play FFXIII's linearity off as the result of budget/time constraints. It's really really obvious that was the intent of the game design from the very beginning for stylistic/flow reasons.

Maybe that doesn't sound great to some people. I quite enjoy it.

 

[Deleted member 17706]

I totally forgot to post this after I beat the game, but did anyone else think the character's faces looked a little weird in the final fully pre-rendered CG movie? It was like they were a little less detailed than usual or something. I remember Lightning's face looking particularly strange and Snow appeared to have less facial hair than usual.

 

[rollingstart]

Is there a general idea of how long this game is? I keep reading that it's linear, and I wouldn't mind that as long as it's not 80 hours or something.