Final Fantasy XIII

[Correction]

but does the game open up after teh first half and go to old school world map type stuff w/ side quests and all? is this also the first FFXI game that doesnt have diff weapon designs?

Going to lay it straight for you since the answer to this question is buried in the other FFXIII thread:

The game is split up into 13 'chapters' of major plot events.
You spend 10 of these chapters on a rail killing bad guys and defeating bosses, earning your summons and figuring out how the 6 player classes work together along the way.

You may not:

1) switch party members until most of the way through Chapter 10, nor may you level any member's jobs outside of their prescribed 3 until more or less the same point in the game
2) undertake the optional missions (read: bosses) until you beat Chapter 10
3) level your weapons past their second forms until you more or less clear chapter 13 and double back (you get portals back to the open field).
4) Ride chocobos until you've cleared the first 7-ish missions in chapter 11.

In Chapter 11 you get on a space whale and fly to the moon. No not really but that's the scale of the change of venue you see. You're free to switch out party members, do side missions, and by now you'll have aquired all of the summons the game has to offer. There are some very difficult missions that you probably won't be able to clear until you've beaten the final boss (which unlocks the final tier of character abilities/spells/etc). You can level up your characters a lot in chapter 11 but you can't truly max them out until after the end of the game, making the final 10-ish 'hard' missions doable. Clear all the missions and...nothing, congratulations there's nothing in the game you can't kill, go farm dark matters and trapezoihedrons to convert all your equipment to their ultimate forms.

The answer to your second question is yes, there are varying weapon designs, but upgrades along a single weapon 'line' dont' change their form until the ultimate weapon is unlocked. All told there are 5 distinct models for each character in your group, with textures differing to tell the various models apart. The only exception is Snow, who fights with his fists so his 'weapon' is really the design down the back of his coat which changes from upgrade to upgrade.

[Charismatic]

And we know how it ended up ;o

Pretty damn good?

[Sonomaa]

wondering if this will justify a mini section on the forum for all the posts and topics that will be about it

[archibaldcrane]

wondering if this will justify a mini section on the forum for all the posts and topics that will be about it

Probably not a bad idea, we did that for 12 right?

[Cesaria]

wondering if this will justify a mini section on the forum for all the posts and topics that will be about it

Would probably be handy while people are working through it. Course by the time Europe got 12 it was all figured out - I'm grateful SE finally releasing NA and EU versions together for once - long may that particular thing continue.

[Elcura]

The only FF game I'm glad I didn't import was 10, since the international version was better than the US version. Every other time though (except X-2), I've imported it. If there was even a 2 week delay between releases, I'd be importing this too.

[Aevis]

biggest videogames mag in german gave it 88/100, individual notes from the testers were 8-10/10. their main points are what we already know: oldschool diehard ff fans will be disappointed and some new weaks are showing. not a state of the art rpg but still a very good one. if you can read german: http://www.gamepro.de/test/spiele/ps...xiii_test.html

translated the last two sentences of their conclusion: you won't waste time wih endless expeditions but stuff like chocobo raising, item quests or hidden ubermobs created a big part of the fascination which the name Final Fantasy stood for in the past 20 years. at the end, you get an optically stunning rpg with a thrilling story, outstanding battle system and (too) little variety.

[Kurp]

Couple of PS3/360 comparison videos:
http://www.eurogamer.net/videos/digi...fmv-comparison
http://www.eurogamer.net/videos/digi...parency-issues

Still pic of CGI scene:

Spoiler: show

http://images.eurogamer.net/assets/a...CG_001.jpg.jpghttp://images.eurogamer.net/assets/a.../BadCG_001.jpg

Article: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/di...-xiii-face-off

[Kaisha]

They also gave the PS3 copy an 8/10 while they were at it - http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/fi...sy-xiii-review

[Shojin]

Spoiler: show

http://images.eurogamer.net/assets/a...badcg2.jpg.jpg
http://images.eurogamer.net/assets/a...CG_000.jpg.jpg

Good lord..

[Kaisha]

Honestly, those FMVs using ingame assets better be friggen complicated, as I don't see why it couldn't have just been inengine to cut on disc space.
(I'm talking stuff that wouldn't be able to fit into RAM otherwise and what not)

[Arnwulf]

To be honest, I don't really care what other people say, I know I'm going to enjoy the game because I'm not as picky and anal as a lot of other gamers. I've actually liked every single FF game so far AND I liked the SP story in White Knight Chronicles and can't wait for the sequel. lol

[octopus]

Honestly, those FMVs using ingame assets better be friggen complicated, as I don't see why it couldn't have just been inengine to cut on disc space.
(I'm talking stuff that wouldn't be able to fit into RAM otherwise and what not)

They are "friggin complicated" so enjoy :D Some of the cutscenes are really incredible looking.

[octopus]

Going to lay it straight for you since the answer to this question is buried in the other FFXIII thread:

This guy speaks the truth. I enjoyed the game even though some things are annoying enough to bother me. You certainly won't be wasting your money buying this.

[Hyan]

Of course not, only shit games get 4/5!

Final Fantasy getting more than a 2/5 is an extraordinary phenomenon really. Maybe 8.0 converts into 2/5.

It's because the magazine has mostly given the series good reviews in the past (88-93/100) is why I think it's a pretty low score when compared to the rest of the series, but not bad overall of course.

The reviewer brought up some good points, but too much of it was based on personal preference than should be, I think. When a guy who prefers open ended RPG's like Elder Scrolls is reviewing a game like Final Fantasy, bias is almost inevitable.

[miokomioko]

D I liked the SP story in White Knight Chronicles

My condolences.

[avelle]

Wow, I feel bad for people that are buying this for 360, those screenshots are awful.

[Kurokikaze]

Just got a PS3 for this game. :D

[avelle]

Just got a PS3 for this game. :D

Me too... like 3 damn years ago. Damn them for keeping us waiting this long.

[Odesseiron]

Wow, I feel bad for people that are buying this for 360, those screenshots are awful.

I don't feel bad for them. Sure they won't get to play it in 1080/720P, but they still get to play another FF game on their console. It could have not come out at all. That being said I am happy I own both systems so I can pick it up for PS3!