Square Enix: Final Fantasy XIV 'Greatly Damaged' Entire Brand

[miokomioko]

I was hesitant to put 13 under that, but when I was thinking of what the characters are capable of when max'd out... it created a pretty blurry class identity. They all got their main "best" job or two, but while they were mediocre at the rest, they often got spells and abilities not even accessible to those who were "best" at it in attempts to balance it out a bit.

I found myself paying far more attention to the paradigms than what characters were in them... but I generally agree that 13 was a hybrid of sorts. A poor one, though.

IZJS was so superior, I wonder why it wasn't the standard system for the game in the first place.

[Alkar]

Obviosuly FFXIII characters are clones lol. The fact that some characters (Vanille) simply perform better than others (Hope) is a lie.

[Elcura]

No it isn't, lol.

Hope and Vanille get different spells as SAB and SYN, Hope gets Haste while Vanille doesn't, making Hope a far better SYN than Vanille. Fang is the only person I remember getting Faithra or Bravera in SYN, making her more or less valuable depending on what you need. Some times there's a slight (or no) difference, like between Sazh and Hope's SYN.

I can't remember specifics, but the general point is that not all characters are equal on the same job. Combine that with specific abilities (Army of One, Highwind) and certain characters excel in other jobs that other characters lack in.

[Alkar]

No it isn't, lol.

Hope and Vanille get different spells as SAB and SYN, Hope gets Haste while Vanille doesn't, making Hope a far better SYN than Vanille. Fang is the only person I remember getting Faithra or Bravera in SYN, making her more or less valuable depending on what you need. Some times there's a slight (or no) difference, like between Sazh and Hope's SYN.

I can't remember specifics, but the general point is that not all characters are equal on the same job. Combine that with specific abilities (Army of One, Highwind) and certain characters excel in other jobs that other characters lack in.

It was sarcasm obviously. Vanille in general is way more useful than Hope. She may lack Haste but her other roles (especially her Saboteur) make up for it.
Hope is a terrible SAB and he also has less health. Not to mention his special attack isn't as good as Death.
Hope has high Magic stat but Vanille is not that far behind honestly.
Thing is: no one is a clone in XIII, they all have ups and downs... some more than others.

[Kurokikaze]

Fang, Lightning and Vanille all you need.

[Charismatic]

moar like sazh, fang and vanille

[Elcura]

It was sarcasm obviously.

Now you say that it's clear to me lol.

Though my intention wasn't to imply that Hope was better than Vanille overall.

Fang, Lightning and Vanille ftw. Though honestly, every character is viable, though personally I didn't use Snow as much as I could have.

[Hyan]

I couldn't find use for Snow no matter how much I tried. So sad

[Eaglestrike]

Fang, Lightning and Vanille all you need.

^Truth.

Also, to the person above saying all marks in FF12 were easy...you greatly overfarmed every single one bud. They are VERY difficult if you fight them as soon as you unlock them. ESPECIALLY in the IZJS version of the game. I actually went to a wait battle system during a number of marks because of it.

Overall, I think each FF went out to maximize on certain aspects of the game, because if you're going to be realistic, every game has some weakness to it, so they at least focus on certain strengths and expect them to overshadow the weaknesses of the game. FF12 and FF13 are very different with strengths and weaknesses, but I loved them both, because I am able to look past the weaknesses they do have and enjoy the strengths that they have.

[CasualPlayer]

Also, to the person above saying all marks in FF12 were easy...you greatly overfarmed every single one bud. They are VERY difficult if you fight them as soon as you unlock them. ESPECIALLY in the IZJS version of the game. I actually went to a wait battle system during a number of marks because of it.

While it's possible he overfarmed, its equally possible you just suck. Just sayin'

[Eaglestrike]

While it's possible he overfarmed, its equally possible you just suck. Just sayin'

Go get IZJS and try to beat each mark as soon as you unlock them. Good luck.

[Waraji]

Go get IZJS and try to beat each mark as soon as you unlock them. Good luck.

Gotta concur with this. Shit's nearly impossible if you don't come back after a little farming.

[Kaylia]

^Truth.

Also, to the person above saying all marks in FF12 were easy...you greatly overfarmed every single one bud. They are VERY difficult if you fight them as soon as you unlock them. ESPECIALLY in the IZJS version of the game. I actually went to a wait battle system during a number of marks because of it

^
This


FF12 random encounter were generaly easy (like they usually are in ff game), but if you were not grinding, multiple fights and hunts would become incredibly difficult. I remember a few fight that lasted over 20min and involved lot kiting, bouncing the target, and positioning my character to avoid one. One tiny mistake would mean a wipe.


The biggest issue like you said is that if you do everything and explore every map, you easily overlevel most the content, and everything will be a joke. And chain attacks (forgot the name) were a bit overpowered considering how easy they were to use.

[Nevex]

I couldn't find use for Snow no matter how much I tried. So sad

Snow with maxed Feymark is hands down the best Dazebot in the game and a candidate for the best RAV on anything that doesn't resist ice/water/wind having both raw power and speed.
He's also the best SEN which comes handy in a few fights like Neochu and Attacus.

I couldn't find a use for Sazh once Hope got Haste. Sure he's good for killing turtles but so is Fang and she can do much more.

[Spira]

i have to agree with XIII's non-clone gameplay. Even if you can grind out all crystariums, certain key normal skills are locked away for characters that make them weaker in the various aspects. Snow is supposed to be like some kind of ultimate tank character but I never saw the need to use him that way - never saw the need to use him at all, to be honest.

I liked Lightning / Fang / Hope for more balanced play and i'd swap Hope out for Vanille once in a while. I believe I went with Hope / Vanille / Sazh for some kind of Saboteur thing but I don't really remember. I loved Saboteurs as a whole tho. Probably my fave role in the entire game.

[Elcura]

SAB is great, but it starts out so badly. I hated it at first but grew to like it more around Gran Pulse. Snow is indeed a great tank, but I realized that very late and Fang was far better equipped for the job at the time. If I ever play XIII again (not very likely) I'll definitely use Snow more.