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Am I the only person who didnt like Ffxiii/13-2?

HEAR ME OUT, I bought BOTH games and did them as far as possible before giving up on both.

I dont know why, but I have never been much of a fan of the Final Fantasy series. My first foray was through FF10, I finished it and I can say that was a legitimately good game whit a nice story twist. Soon after I picked up FF10-2 - And I hated everything that game stood for. Sure the combat was good, but the story took a serious hit because Square attempted to mass-market to appeal to the female audience.

I tried to give them redemption with a PSN download of FF7 and honestly, I dont see what all the rage is about. Slow story, lacking script and any good attack is given much too late in the game for me to want to stay with it.

But there was one shining light - Final Fantasy 12.
That game was masterful in the means of skill distribution - It let us choose how we wanted to play, and even the half original/Half generic story was good. The characters evolved, took sides and showed real emotions. But it wasnt perfect- menus were pretty bad and sometimes the game would attack or use items too late, forcing a Phoenix Down/Retry.

But heres the meat of the story. The sad, sad travesty that is FF13. I couldnt finish FFXIII because I kept falling asleep. Im not just saying that, I was LITERALLY falling asleep watching the generic cutscenes of Snow repeatedly whining about Serah, Lightning being sorta badass, then emo, and Hope trying his hardest to be badass, and you sit here and tell me that the end-boss was good. The only characters I ended up caring about were Fang, Vanille and Sazh. They were the only ones who showed that the adventure was really changing their outlook on things. Everyone else seemed to just be along for the ride. I even bought XII-2 to give the series a 2nd chance, knowing that it was centered around time travel, i was INSTANTLY enticed by the concept - Seeing as how Square also made one of my favorite games of all time: Chrono Trigger. Sadly, I only got to the Serendipity casino and gave the f up. It was too generic of a story and even the combat seemed boring. Plus it didnt really tell you what to do and most times I ended up with a side quest, when all I wanted was a hint at what the heck to do. Sure It was real-timed but still. I dont know what they did, but Square needs to take it back to how FF12 was. ALL TRUE real time and ALL fun. Or at least take a note from what Chrono Trigger did and let the player handle the story how they wanted. In Trigger, the end boss- Lavos could be fought just MINUTES after starting the game, I you so choose. Then once you reached the End of Time, you could go challenge him at ANY time and there would be multiple endings, depending on who was in your party and when you destroyed Lavos. All this from an SNES game.

Now the 13 series wasnt all bad, In XIII i really enjoyed the Scenery, Audio and character designs (Looks mostly, the only personalities that stood out were Vanille, Sazh and ONE part when Snow and Hope confronted each other). Heck, my favorite character designs were of 2 NORA leaders and Fang.

[h=info]Too Long, Didnt Read[/h]
FFXIII and XIII-2 were supposed to be this big revolution that - to me - fell flat be cause of generic "Dead Wife" story and lacking character development. XIII-2 specifically was a sometimes non-linear story, that just didnt pull me in. Compared to the story of their classic SNES Time Travel RPG, this story was trying desperately to be an anime instead of a game, and just ended up being a fumble of accidental main quest-boss fights. The gameplay wasn't bad, combat was good, and quest organization made sense - But the story was too weak to get me hooked. But hey, If you enjoyed it, good for you huh ?

SIDE-NOTE
I like a variety of RPGS, from Earthbound and Mother 3 to your MAIN Pokemon games (Mostly Emerald, Blue, Black, and Crystal/SoulSilver). I even like hybrids like Mass Effect and Borderlands (Im TOO hyped for BL2 tomorrow <3! Its a crying shame that only one Claptrap is left though )

September 18, 2012

28 Comments • Newest first

pinoymystic

Disappointed in FFXIII-2 but I still enjoyed the battle system.

I thought you could use lightning, but you get to use her sister.
And the story is very confusing. I think they kinda rushed this one.
Also, they took out the eidolin system. I really loved that about ffxiii. I was really disappointed. I still have to finish it though because I liked FFXIII even though not many people liked it.
I probably just played for lightning.

Reply September 18, 2012
BlueBlueBandit

@MapleXAnime247: Dayum, if i give you a dollar can you also make a joke about my mom?
P.S. It was a typo, please don't make fun of me i'mma cry

Reply September 18, 2012 - edited
MapleXAnime247

[quote=BlueBlueBandit]@MapleXAnime247: Wow, you're really good at thing dumbass thing aren't you? Keep it up, it's entertaining.[/quote]

And aren't we the little English scholar? Youre so illiterate that you rely on expletives to be witty/offensive. Does anyone else understand " you're really good at thing dumbass thing"? BlueBlueBandit = http://i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/010/277/genius-meme.png

Reply September 18, 2012 - edited
WakelessDream

@MapleXAnime247: Yes the whole l'cie fal'cie thing is definitely confusing in particular even with the beginner primer thing on the menu screen that kinda recaps the events of XIII, I guess I'll have to get current with the lore when I have time lol...I don't really think its that I didn't understand the story but more that it could have been explained better, I guess.

Reply September 18, 2012 - edited
BlueBlueBandit

@MapleXAnime247: Wow, you're really good at thing dumbass thing aren't you? Keep it up, it's entertaining.

Reply September 18, 2012 - edited
MapleXAnime247

@BlueBlueBandit: Aww, is Trollie a little mad over there under his bridge?Besides, I wasnt serious "Cuz, i intended to annoy you and it seems like it worked."

But okay, I'll take advice from someone who is too illiterate to read under 4 paragraphs of text on a FORUM site, and kill myself. But you first, since youre the one who really deserves it.

Reply September 18, 2012 - edited
icalvin123

i've been playing final fantasy since IV, and honestly, I loved XIII as well as XIII-2. I personally found the cutscenes to be entertaining and it showed character(to some extent), but yes, I agree the storyline and script could have been better. But just looking at the general idea and themes of xiii as well as -2, you can say they were brilliant. Just not told to the best of SE's ability. (in my opinion.) Also, the graphics for XIII and XIII-2 were amazing for a final fantasy game and the newly implemented battle system was somewhat entertaining, if you actually tried stuff other than the auto fighting option handed to you, that is. But meh, it's just gamer preference. what you like is what you like, and what others dont is what others dont.

Reply September 18, 2012 - edited
BlueBlueBandit

[quote=MapleXAnime247]TooStupid;Don'tComment...

LOL I love it when people like you get told off, so you say it was a troll. DO A BARREL TROLL [/quote]

I love how when people think they told someone off, while they actually didn't, and think it's such a compliment. Go kill yourself please.

Reply September 18, 2012 - edited
MapleXAnime247

[quote=WakelessDream]I started by playing XIII-2 I totally skipped over FF XIII idk why, I probably shouldn't have done it like that, but the graphics and environments were pretty, and I liked some of the music that played in the different time periods. I'm big on stories when I play games, and although I didn't really understand the story, probably because I hadn't played XIII it was overall an okay game though, I need to get XIII and possibly XIII-3 which I believe is in the making or something.[/quote]

Story MAKES the game if you ask me, thats why I enjoy games like Gears of War, Call of Duty, Skyrim and GTA. People randomly hate on CoD, but the stories are linear, gripping and they seem relevant to the modern world - Like they can happen any day now. But if lore is important to you, get ready to take some noted when playing FFXIII. The whole l'cie, fal'cie, focus lore is SO damned confusing when they couldve made it much simpler. I mean, 10-15% of the game's script could be cut out if they just simplified what in the blue hell they wanted to say.

Reply September 18, 2012 - edited
WakelessDream

I started by playing XIII-2 I totally skipped over FF XIII idk why, I probably shouldn't have done it like that, but the graphics and environments were pretty, and I liked some of the music that played in the different time periods. I'm big on stories when I play games, and although I didn't really understand the story, probably because I hadn't played XIII it was overall an okay game though, I need to get XIII and possibly XIII-3 which I believe is in the making or something.

Reply September 18, 2012 - edited
MapleXAnime247

[quote=christien]The gameplay and story were weak but the graphics were revolutionary.
Just how many games have you seen like that? I swear they could've made a legit movie from that.
The game played itself with the "Auto-attack" function, but it was watching the game play that made it enjoyable - Ohmygod did you see the newly built Arcadia in FFXIII-2?[/quote]

All Im saying is, I dont pay $60 for a DVD. I want to have some type of control and better gameplay - It should only feel like a movie during the cutscenes. And the movie could at least have a decent story for $60 bucks...

Reply September 18, 2012 - edited
MentalDrugg

Nahh I didn't like it either. Bought all the costumes and extras. I thought they would've done better but its some what progress. I like the story line in the first one though.

Reply September 18, 2012 - edited
MapleXAnime247

[quote=Ratchetness]13 was just horrible. 1 Hour Battle Scenes. Barely any cutscenes. I remember when FF games used to been good.[/quote]
Barely any cutscenes
Barely any cutscenes
Barely any cutscenes

That echoed in my mind. There were TOOO GOD-D--N MANY CUTSCENES. It was like this,
cutscene,
2 minute free roam,
platforming segment,
3-5 battles,
2 more cutscenes,
Intro cutscene to next chapter
Repeat.

And did we forget this---> http://www.inquisitr.com/wp-content/2010/02/Xbox-360s-Final-Fantasy-XIII-coming-on-three-discs.jpg
There were so many cutscenes, one disc couldnt contain them all. Two discs couldnt contain them all. It took 3 discs. 3. Name any other game with 3 discs.

Reply September 18, 2012 - edited
christien

The gameplay and story were weak but the graphics were revolutionary.
Just how many games have you seen like that? I swear they could've made a legit movie from that.
The game played itself with the "Auto-attack" function, but it was watching the game play that made it enjoyable - Ohmygod did you see the newly built Arcadia in FFXIII-2?

Reply September 18, 2012 - edited
Zero765

Your not alone, a lot of people really hate mainly XIII and on.
However, you should be worried if you hate VII. People place that game on a pedestal and worship that game. I find it good, but all the characters...it's kinda...ehhh.

Reply September 18, 2012 - edited
nopaycheck

I played around 70% of the Final Fantasy games (yes I'm a Square Enix dork), and out of the franchise, only Final Fantasy 12 and re-release of the original Final Fantasy Tactics (relayed as 'War of the Lions') were deemed superb games for me (Not 100% perfect, maybe like 93~95%).
Rest were meh.

Reply September 18, 2012 - edited
Liam

I have to agree, I am just not a fan of the XIII/XIII-2 series.
•the characters are really boring (almost as boring as 12's) just because they're characters you've already seen in the predecessors
•the plot was as predictable as when you find out that basch...had a twin brother. Honestly, i felt like the story was something out of a square-enix ad-lib
story you've heard before..then they expect you to memorize the terms from the glossary they give you. which makes a lot more sense on second playthrough.
•it was bad enough that XIII held your hand for the longest time, but then they basically ditch you out of nowhere saying "kay. NOW we added free roam" and then you're left sitting in your chair going "...what?"
•battle system was repetitive and terrible. I can understand repetitive since it's final fantasy. but it was terrible. i can only control one character and replace the phrase of "job switch" to "paradigm shift" to be honest-- it just felt like final fantasy 13 was just being safe. They didn't try to do anything revolutionary in this game, it's just the same old perfected formula you know & loved..yet grow so tired of. I mean even the the FF12 system wasn't altruistically good, atleast it [i]felt[/i] like they were trying to do something.
•lastly, I do like final fantasy 13-2. I truly respect that square enix was just trying to fix the error of their way, but unfortunately the story and variety failed in the game. And instead of getting to switch your old team..you just switch one character now. so now it's like Final Fantasy 13: Soul Silver.

with the addition of these recently released final fantasies it just honestly feels like square enix changed its slogan to
[i]Square Enix. Because F--- You![/i]

/rant

Reply September 18, 2012 - edited
MapleXAnime247

[quote=Crossfit]Awful storyline, but good graphics and decent battle system.[/quote]

But should good graphics and a battle system be the saving grace of a game? Sure all CoD games have the same story(Terrorist threatens Nukes), but they at least present it in a way that feels fresh.

Reply September 18, 2012 - edited
Phong128992

I have to admit lol... I didn't like the game for the storyline. I was more enticed by the graphics and music. It's definitely one of the games with the most beautiful graphics of all times. I only wish the storyline was better. It would have made the game so much better.

Reply September 18, 2012 - edited
Deciduous

it's usually more of a surprise when somebody likes FABULA NOVA SAUSDJBUSLF CRYSTALASS
i have only experienced 13-2 through watching an LP and i can easily say the story is pretty weak aside from Caius (he's got weird charisma?). some of the battle system is appealing (wounds, paradigm shifts, combat roles) but the fact that your battles can (and do) essentially boil down to the game doing it for you is pretty lame. "overworld" exploration seemed weird and tedious, mostly when it required "platforming." there should also be no reason to require you to use a chocobo for faster travel when they can just make your character faster/give checkpoints.

what i've read about 13 interests me, at least with the individual Eidolons and having to fight them (i guess slapping a new term on Summon Spirit made me somehow more interested). i don't fully understand the Fal'Cie/L'Cie thing that seems to be the center of everything but whatever.

Reply September 18, 2012 - edited
ValorEye

Everyone after 10 sucked. This is from someone who has played almost every one.

Reply September 18, 2012 - edited
MapleXAnime247

[quote=williamy2k]http://imgur.com/a/tVg8K#0 [/quote]

TooStupid;Don'tComment...

[quote=BlueBlueBandit]MapleXAnime247: Cuz, i intended to annoy you and it seems like it worked.[/quote]

LOL I love it when people like you get told off, so you say it was a troll. DO A BARREL TROLL

Reply September 18, 2012 - edited
MapleXAnime247

[quote=BlueBlueBandit]tldr
Sorry, that's what you get for making wall of text.[/quote]
If you werent gonna read it, why comment? Plus I made a TLDR section at the bottom for people with your mental capacity.

Reply September 18, 2012 - edited
Omegathorion

No, you're not the only one. A very large number of people didn't like XIII.

I did like it. FFXIII did a lot of very daring design choices (can't control party members, autobattles, no mana system) and I think they all made combat much more engaging and fun.

Reply September 18, 2012 - edited
WorkOfArt

I basically just ignored the story entirely and focused on the overall outlook. The setting is amazing, the whole idea behind fal'cie and l'cie and whatnot is amazing, the whole concept behind Gran Pulse / Cocoon / Bhunivelze is amazing.

Although the way the story is executed is cheesy and rather unsettling, it's still pretty good. I, for one, can't wait for FFXIII-3.

Reply September 18, 2012 - edited
Nolen

They are lackluster

Reply September 18, 2012 - edited
BlueBlueBandit

tldr
Sorry, that's what you get for making wall of text.

Reply September 18, 2012 - edited