Lightning Returns XIII-3

[Spira]

i think XIII suffered from a case of bad impressions. in most aspects XIII is not much different from other FFs, especially X.. in its linearity and lack of minigames along the way. If you take the game as a whole, it doesn't actually suffer from "lack of side quests" or other content.. The only issue I really saw with it was that it was far too restrictive as a game, as a whole.

Firstly, restrictive because each chapter is self-contained. For the purposes of the story, i understand that you can't vist each area again.. but thats a pity because some people like to go back to an old area and faceroll enemies or to find secrets that were locked away that they can only access later. This was only possible in chapter 11, wherein ch11 and 13 are so close together it didn't make a difference.
XIII-2 completely reversed this, and pretty cleverly too. Each time zone changes as you progress the story.. but you can choose to return to old areas as and when you like, and even replay them from the start of that episode. The game also encouraged returning to old areas with the use of exploration mechanics like the Mog Throw and whatnot.

Secondly, restrictive in leveling. I don't know about most other players, but I like to play easy games, so long as I've put in some effort into either grinding or mastering the system. Thats what other FFs have generally been like. XIII blocked this with tiered releases of the Crystarium. Grinding is made pointless due to the blocks. Meaning that players could never overpower enemies and bosses in each chapter, making it always a challenge for some, but also meaning its always a chore for others. I like when my FFs give me the option to choose my level of difficulty.

The other forms of inflexibility are pretty minor, and don't mean much by the end of the game. Characters locked into roles, party choices, party leader stuff.. Nothing too critical.. and some were useful in getting people to learn the battle system (like how to use syn/sab pairings etc). But perhaps a bit too instructive for some, and leaving very little room for experimentation.

I'd say XIII-2 made good on every single aspect that XIII was considered restrictive.. which is why it is one of the best FFs out there, and possibly underrated due to the fact that people were put off from XIII. I'm looking forward to LR:XIII, but i don't expect it to be anything like an FF (JRPG) at all, because it really isn't.

instead, i seem to get the impression that it's paving the way for FFXV, seeing as that one has pretty strong Action RPG elements as well.

[Grey Jorildyn]

I found the character development to be overall very shallow compared to some of my favorite FFs. That contributed to the bad impression it left on me and I did not pick up the sequel as a result.

Meanwhile I am looking forward to XIV for now. Hopefully it won't suck.

[Ayn]

Pretty much agree with everything Spira said.

And actually, with Grey as well. I just couldn't bring myself to give a shit about Serah. I was more ok with her in 2, but it pains me that the focus on her came at the expense of other, more interesting characters..

[Ratatapa]

I found the character development to be overall very shallow compared to some of my favorite FFs. That contributed to the bad impression it left on me and I did not pick up the sequel as a result.

Meanwhile I am looking forward to XIV for now. Hopefully it won't suck.

You mean XV?

[Cichy]

If you're interested in the lore or need a refreshment course check out http://whiplashdesigns.deviantart.co...rt-1-408897364
This guy read all the XIII novels and outside sources which are mostly in Japanese to write this summary.

[Elcura]

If you're interested in the lore or need a refreshment course check out http://whiplashdesigns.deviantart.co...rt-1-408897364
This guy read all the XIII novels and outside sources which are mostly in Japanese to write this summary.

Good summary, but ultimately makes me lol

Better story telling and this could've been interesting but nope.

[Odin'sLaw]

Good summary, but ultimately makes me lol

Better story telling and this could've been interesting but nope.

so it's perfect SE standard then :D

[Lucavi]

Wait, so people complaining about XIII being too linear stopped playing in Gran Pulse? Aka, the area that's a massive sidequest?

Its called burnout. Its entirely possible and logical to burn the fuck out of something to the point of losing all interest in the total product because of being forced to endure shit through large portions of it (especially if that large portion was the entire period prior to the aforementioned period).

I don't need much to be satisfied by a FF title these days. Decent characters, decent combat, enough "good" stock RPG tropes (towns, dungeons, bosses, plot twists!) bitchin' music and at least one "hook" that grabs me somewhere in the game. Bonus points if its a game like Chrono Trigger or Xenogears that has about 15 hooks.

XIII (up until the point I stopped playing) had about 3 of those, which isn't enough when I have so many other games to play, and lets not split hairs; I played the shit out of XIII until I hit the burnout wall. I put about 27 hours into the game prior to gran pulse, and put in another good 15 grinding the shit out of my characters while there And yes, while beating the hell out of behemoths and keeping chains high on those annoying dogs out there in the good camps was fun for awhile, the burnout hit me harshly and that was that. No more XIII, and no more interest in the "trilogy" aside from wanting to see Sahz in some other form of medium.

It is what it is. The game sold enough, I suppose, to be considered a success, but I wonder what types of "successes" mean more to SE these days, because odds are they aren't hitting both Critical and Financial successes with the same game anymore.

There's a reason we call the SNES era the golden era for RPGs.

[Cichy]

Good summary, but ultimately makes me lol

Better story telling and this could've been interesting but nope.

Exactly my thoughts, story isnt bad just badly told

[Serra]

It is what it is. The game sold enough, I suppose, to be considered a success, but I wonder what types of "successes" mean more to SE these days, because odds are they aren't hitting both Critical and Financial successes with the same game anymore.

There's a reason we call the SNES era the golden era for RPGs.

I have this faint hope that Bravely Default is a sign that SE is shifting direction back to what made it great. But it's very faint. Even if not, I have faith that X will continue to carry the rpg torch.

[Gokulo]

I have this faint hope that Bravely Default is a sign that SE is shifting direction back to what made it great. But it's very faint. Even if not, I have faith that X will continue to carry the rpg torch.

The game first came out in 2012. They have released other stuff of the 'usual' quality since then.

[Serra]

Lalalalala, I can't hear you!

The Bravely Default franchise is the new FF.

[Tsutsumiko]

Just caught up on XIII-2 so I'd understand everything by the time Lightning Returns comes out.

At least that was the plan.

What the fuck is this story?

Gonna scroll back up and read a summary cause it's really hard to follow as to why Lightning is even a servant of God in the first place.

Maybe this game's plot wooshed me or it really is as bad as I'm thinking it is.

[Bregor]

Just caught up on XIII-2 so I'd understand everything by the time Lightning Returns comes out.

At least that was the plan.

What the fuck is this story?

Gonna scroll back up and read a summary cause it's really hard to follow as to why Lightning is even a servant of God in the first place.

Maybe this game's plot wooshed me or it really is as bad as I'm thinking it is.

It's that bad.

[6souls]

[Lucavi]

Just caught up on XIII-2 so I'd understand everything by the time Lightning Returns comes out.

At least that was the plan.

What the fuck is this story?

Gonna scroll back up and read a summary cause it's really hard to follow as to why Lightning is even a servant of God in the first place.

Maybe this game's plot wooshed me or it really is as bad as I'm thinking it is.

Its not a woosh. Kingdom Hearts suffered from essentially the same thing. Shitty, convoluted plot getting in the way of the action and scenery.

I'm just not used to a series having this many throwaway characters. Yeah Biggs and Wedge die, and so does Bannon in FFVI, but I get this badass dude with a machine gun in my party early on, then never see him again for no reason other than "yeah we're on this other planet now, so uhh, bye." Meh, such a bad taste in my mouth.

[Elcura]

It hurts that the KH story is dumb (it's definitely more interesting the more you get into it) but easy to enjoy because KH actually has some fucking charm to it. I bet a lot of confusion would be solved by switching the names of Heartless and Nobodies lol.

[Ayn]

I blame the LaLiLuLeLo.

[Spira]

i think that there is some value in the story for the XIII saga.. but it really depends on how you interpret the story. Some ways of looking at it can make it seem a lot deeper than it is (which is a good thing in any kind of literature work), but nothing could hide the fact that the story in XIII was very poorly executed.

I think one of the biggest flaws in XIII going into XIII-2 was the fact that most of what was REALLY important and would matter in XIII-2 was hidden in the data log and rarely brought to the fore. They didn't retcon very much. It was all there, just hidden. The other problem really is that each story seems to shit on the previous one. It also seems to give the impression that theres really no point in completing the game, because it changes nothing. Thats what I felt at the end of XIII-2, at least.

Anyway, I prefer to look at XIII in terms of (greater) Fal'Cies.
XIII was the tale of Pulse and Lindzei. The plot basically originated from them (or maybe just Lindzei) wanting to wake Bhunivelze up, resulting in their scheme to cause mass genocide on Cocoon. Its a pity we dont ever get to fight Pulse or Lindzei, otherwise it'd drive home the idea that its their tale even further. However, we do get to fight Barthandelus, who appears to be the closest thing we get to fighting Lindzei.

XIII-2 was all about Etro, and examines the workings of the goddess who died. It incidentally also explains that she caused the whole mess that occurs in XIII-2. Gods aren't very smart. Lightnings purpose was apparently to protect the Goddess and Etro's Gate, which is actually also a key plot point in XIII, but never really discussed at length. (What i never get is how Caius cannot kill the Goddess himself even though he possesses her heart)

LR is Bhunivelzes tale.. which supposedly ties up all the loose ends. All in all these story issues exist because the universe is just so fucked up and there are certain things that suddenly matter. Its all about how they just throw new concepts right at people.. which don't make sense because they should have been there from the very beginning.. but just suddenly pop up conveniently when they need to.

[Insanecyclone]

Okay that's just funny