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OPM UK: First English FFXIII Review

OPM: "Final Fantasy XIII makes the hours past like minutes - a testament to the way the game teases you along with one incentive or another at just the time. It's next generation Final Fantasy, and thats all you need to know. "

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Noct5214d ago

First English review and as expected it receives a great score.

Never doubted. It's FF...will never please everyone but it will still provide countless hours of fun and excitement for the majority.

Mainly because the majority of gamers don't over examine every single thing and just have fun.

Grimm105214d ago

This game is gonna be an epic cinematic experience.

Can't wait to glue my eyes to each and every single cut scene :D

WildArmed5214d ago

Agreed. I always try to keep my info on FF games VERY LOW.
I've enjoyed all the FF series (except their last installment XII).

But I'm still looking forward to XIII. I simply can't hate a franchise that hasn't let me down since childhood :)

THE MAX SPEED 215214d ago

So americans love the game and japanese hate it?

I guess the Westernisation of the game did the thing.

OmarJA-N4G5214d ago (Edited 5214d ago )

Day 1 huge FF fan here...

But Versus interest me more, can't wait to play it along side with XIV.

Saaking5214d ago (Edited 5214d ago )

I'm gonna buy the game regardless of reviews. I already know the game was really gimped and I know not to expect much. I reserve that hype for FFvsXII.

@Sack-boi

I'm not trying to bash anything. I'm just saying that I've accepted that the game is gimped and thus have lowed my expectations. That way I won't be disappointed.

camachoreloaded88065214d ago (Edited 5214d ago )

BOO-YA!

Edit: I was hoping the reviewer would mention the music, which (from what I've heard and from what others have said) promises to be one of the best soundtracks in like...ever.

sack_boi5214d ago (Edited 5214d ago )

For christ's sake Saaking, you're a grown man. Don't you ever get tired of this sh!t?

Baka-akaB5214d ago

@THE MAX SPEED 21

I dont even understand where the hell you saw that . Western importers and previewers/reviwers have posted here have been giving lower than expected scores , but that's it .

From all account on japanese sites , boards and forums , the japanese public is quite ok with the game . There are a few haters of course , but each episode got it's share .

camachoreloaded88065214d ago

That fool always goes into every FFXIII article, saying something along the lines of "Yeah, I'm gonna get FFXIII...but wait! Remember everyone that Versus is gonna be better."

It makes me glad these games become multiplatform, so that people like him can brood and get all butthurt about it.

Eamon5214d ago (Edited 5214d ago )

The only reason I am cautious about FF13 is due to its new battle system and I have stated many times before that I am a fan of the old menu & command turn-based system.

Although, if most reviewers rate this game low enough, I might have to think twice about getting it.

Immortal Kaim5214d ago

Saaking is an adult? No way, I refuse to believe any adult could be that naive and utterly stupid...

Anyway, my anticipation is starting to build for FFXIII, anyone think we will get a special edition?

iamtehpwn5214d ago

It's getting to the game portion that is bothering. You won't start enjoying the game until about 25 hours in, And you will be able to get to Grand=Pulse in like 30 or so. The combat system is plenty of fun once they actually allow you to fully unlock the Crystalium and customize your roles as you pleased.

Story is kind of dumb to be honest though, but the gameplay becomes very engaging later on to make up for it.

Bodyboarder_VGamer5214d ago

I would be saying the same thing as Saaking on every thread if I knew that one of my most anticipated games was gimped due to other console limitations after the game was announced as a multiplat title. And in fact, I am but apparently I can ignore the feeling better than him but deep inside of me I'm really screaming "FUK YOU Micro$oft!" and hoping that Aarong Greenberg and the rest from the M$ gang die while taking sh*t.

But let's forget it and just move on to wait 5 more years until FFvsXIII gets a release date.

This review is a 9 but all he says is: "Oh my god the graphics", "OMG the detail", "the graphics are so good!". This is like GTAIV all over gain... Hype. But then you read the second opinion and you see that she says that she didn't like the new battle system that much. The battle system is half of what a JRPG is you know, that's the gameplay but who cares! "graphics are incredible!", Final Fantasy? *faints*

Sm0k3y_Bac0n5214d ago

FFX battle system was the best imo. My favourite FF game. New one looks good, but a little too much like XII for my liking

FamilyGuy5214d ago

The battle system looks great. Really action packed and strategic once you get into the tougher fights later in the game.

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Malebaria5214d ago

Great score!
Versus is where it´s at atleast for me.

Baba19065214d ago

cant wait for this. =D awesome score.

RadientFlux5214d ago

"It's next generation Final Fantasy, and thats all you need to know."

That really doesn't tell me much, especially since the I've played FF9 and FFX and didn't notice a big change, besides the graphics.

Yarite5214d ago

Well judging from my import copy the new battle system screams next gen(obviously graphics also).

I doubt they could have replicated the same system and pulled it off to give the same feel on the PS2.

So much happening on the screen at once and it's insanely fast paced. Also during all this it's completely real-time meaning no waiting to take turns.

jmare5214d ago

So it's like the ATB system of previous Final Fantasies? The combat does not happen in real time. You have to wait for the gauge to fill up and then give your commands. The enemies have to do the same thing, but they will not wait until you take your turn to take their turn.

silvacrest5214d ago

thank you for some useful feedback unlike the haters who post nothing but opinion based only on other peoples opinions, ironic really

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Kurisu5214d ago

And after reading the review, I'm even more hyped. Less than two months! So what if this game isn't all what it lives up to be...it's still my most anticipated game of 2010.

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The 7 Best Final Fantasy Characters: Unveiling the Legends

While FFVII ranks highly, there's more to the series than one game. Here's Chit Hot's picks for the seven best Final Fantasy characters.

220°

The older it gets, the more I respect Final Fantasy XIII

Alex Donaldson: "Hindsight is a hell of a thing, however, and in the years since Final Fantasy XIII, my respect for the decisions its developers made has skyrocketed. In the two Final Fantasy titles since we see both the brilliance and the folly in alternative approaches - and in Final Fantasy VII Remake, we get a more nuanced understanding of what FF13 was trying to accomplish from many of the same development leads."

Einhander1972128d ago

FFXIII is actually one of the best Final Fantasy games.

I also sort of was disappointed at the time, never as much as the bandwagon. But really all the fantastic 3D rendered cutscenes and I actually liked the characters and the story though convoluted was actually fantastic and the ending was extremely emotional. So much budget and time were put into that game Square had such big plans, I actually have always felt kind of bad for how things played out.

I have been thinking for years how great it would be to get all three games on one disk for PS4 or 5.

Nyxus128d ago

I always liked this game, and I agree, a rerelease for current gen would be nice.

Shane Kim126d ago (Edited 126d ago )

Gotta take off the nostalgia glasses. It's the worst FF. Shiva as a bike, I mean come on.

Elda126d ago

Shiva as a bike is strange but saying FFXIII is the worst FF is not at all a fact, that's simply your opinion.

Terry_B126d ago

*One of the 3 equally bad FF's

DivineHand125126d ago (Edited 126d ago )

When I got my series X a year ago, I bought FF13 for nostalgia reasons but ended up being disappointed. When I first played it around the time it launched, I didn't have a lot of experience with final fantasy games, so I enjoyed it. Fast forward to when I played it again, I found that the game had many unnecessary filler moments instead of just giving us meaningful content.

The game is also very linear and a quote on the article said it best. "It is like a sewage pipe that leads to the ocean until it opens up on Grand Pulse."

The story didn't make much sense either and I believe it is my mistake as I played the FF7 remake on PS5 prior which is a night and day difference in terms of pacing, storytelling and likeable characters even though cloud is aloof.

FinalFantasyFanatic126d ago (Edited 126d ago )

Probably was a mistake to play any of the golden era FFs first (e.g. FF6 through FF10), it makes it harder to enjoy some of the FFs that aren't as good. I think FF12 was where major issues with the series started becoming apparent, and it just got worse from there.

FinalFantasyFanatic126d ago (Edited 126d ago )

I didn't really care for it that much, the only saving grace was that it had a better story than 15 (overall it was better than 15) and possibly 12, and even then, you had to read some of it through primers, like reading a book. Plus the battle system was reasonably fun for what it was, even if it was more the spectacle that was exciting for me (e.g. summoning). And to be fair, the 13 trilogy got better with every games, I still don't like Snow though.

Gamingsince1981126d ago

Ff13 is only good if you haven't played a ff before, or any other games that are decent for that matter.

-Foxtrot126d ago

It is in fact no way the best Final Fantasy game, it's one of the worst

Linear corridors, Cutscene, Fight, Cutscene...rinse and repeat

Dialogue and characters are pretty bad, especially Lightning as the main FF hero, they literally said they tried to make a "Female Cloud" and they failed.

Story was pretty awful

I could go on

I think the only alright thing that came from the game was the music.

Elda125d ago

That's not a fact that's your personal opinion. The game sold 11 million copies between its 2009 release up until 2014 including critically reviewed as an 8 out of 10 or an 80 out of 100. The game does have some issues but it's not at all a fact as one of the worst FF games.

-Foxtrot125d ago

Elda

Not just mine mate

A large majority

So….

Traecy125d ago

N4G commenters such as yourself aren't the majority. The game was well received.

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gold_drake128d ago (Edited 128d ago )

i liked the game alot but i didnt like how they handled the terminology.

i dont mind reading data logs but it had soo many.

but i always loved the music and how it looked. the battle system wasnt too bad either.

but i like 13-2 more :)

i still dont understand why we never got a remaster of the trilogy

Eonjay126d ago

Xbox kinda did. Besides the video files of course which are still best on PS3 due to bluray.

Snookies12128d ago

XIII is a pretty solid game, but XIII-2 is WAY better. XIII-2 was one of the few games I decided to go for a Platinum trophy in, early on. Had so much fun the entire way through getting it too!

Eonjay126d ago

Totally agree. FF 13 was okay but 13-2 is my favorite FF game ever.

shinoff2183127d ago (Edited 127d ago )

I hated this to when it released. I haven't much liked a ff game since ff10 as much , aside from ff7remake. I decided to give it another shot on my series x since it's not on a current ps and was liking it quite a bit(just takes me some time to get over things ) until star ocean 2 remake came out I was all over that.

Square should definitely remaster it or something for ps4 ps5

KillerB126d ago

my favorite jrpg trilogy ever

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70°

Interview: Making music with Masashi Hamauzu

Square Enix Blog: "How do you compose iconic songs that help define a legacy? We speak to legendary composer Masashi Hamauzu about his work on Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy XIII, and Final Fantasy VII Remake, and how to make unforgettable music."

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square-enix-games.com