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A look back at Final Fantasy XIII: Was it that bad?

May 16, 2011 in Blog comments 28

Final Fantasy XIII was a pretty controversial game - somes loved it, and others hated it with a passion. But in looking back, perhaps it was just a good game with the wrong name.

Of the Final Fantasy series’ very long history, perhaps the most controversial release it has ever seen to date is also its most recent “numbered” single player game – Final Fantasy XIII.

The epic story of a small group of heroes fighting against destiny saw a relatively lukewarm critical response (83 on metacritic) and a substantial backlash from many of the Final Fantasy faithful fans.

Was it that bad compared to the greats in the series?
WaltzIT via otakugaming.com »
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  • 1
    ShadowGuard May 17, 11
    no, it was a solid RPG that did not live up the extreme hype and expectations everyone had for it. Plus, everyone has been corrupted by mindless wRPGs that give you a bunch of useless sidequests and pretend there is a story somewhere...
    • 0
      Paradox May 17, 11
      Wait what?

      'Corrupted' by WRPG's? Yeah okay. I find it funny how you criticize WRPG's for having bad stories when most JRPG plots are *bleep*ing stupid on so many levels. It's like all you judge WRPG's by are the dumbed down games Bioware makes.
    • 0
      Shinobi_razor May 17, 11
      like all JRPGs have deep stories too, right? most of the time its just [insert super powerful villain here] is trying to destroy the world, and a rag tag group of heroes have to stop him.
      • 0
        Paradox May 17, 11
        And ANGST ANGST ANGST ANGST ".... Whatever".

        http://i.neoseeker.com/mgv/488153-Paradox/153/20/1293929312246.jpg

        I enjoy some JRPG's though. Combat is usually enjoyable.

        Not that I don't agree with you somewhat ShadowGuard. I'm a big fan of old WRPG's, and WRPGs now are sort of dumbed down. But the same can be said for JRPGs (don't even get me started how linear some of them are), and there's been a lack of notable JRPG's this generation. Both WRPGs and JRPGs have their classics, I mean I'm fine if you hate on modern WRPGs but holllyy shit you can't appreciate games like Deus Ex, Baldurs Gate, or Icewind Dale, then all hope is lost for you.

        FFXIII was killed by hype imo, but I just found it linear and boring. I forced myself to finish it, and I'd give it a solid 7/10, but really the hype around the title crushed it in the long run. Same thing happened to GTAIV.

        It also doesn't please me how Square is destroying my favorite game series with Human Revolution.
        • 0
          Seproth May 17, 11
          I don't think hype destroyed it. It certainly didn't help, but tbh I wasn't all that amped about it and I still hated it.

          and as far as mindless wRPGS? It doesn't get much more mindless than autobattle.
  • 0
    longview01 May 17, 11
    RPG's just arn't as good as they used to be
  • 0
    Solid Snake 4Life May 17, 11
    You ShadowGuard have obviously not played anything by Bioware. If your gonna tell me Elder Scrolls and the new Fallout's have a flimsy story then fine I'm more than inclined to agree.
    But Knights of the Old Republic (both of em), Jade Empire, Dragon Age 1, Deus Ex, Demon Souls, and of course Mass Effect 1 & 2 have some of the strongest stories of any RPG's ever. Hell both JRPG's and WPRGs have provided some of my favorite gameplay experiences ever but don't try to place the declining quality of the RPG genre soley among the shoulders of the WRPG.
    • 0
      Paradox May 17, 11
      Wait what? Biowares new RPG's are just shit imo. Obsidian RPG's actually have good writing, Bethesda has okay writing, but Bioware's new RPGS has the shittiest writing I have seen in a long time, which hurts because I used to be a massive Bioware fan.

      Don't get me wrong, loved ME1. Thought ME2 was okay... DA:O didn't deserve the title as Baldurs Gates spiritual successor, DA2 was terrible imo. I loved KOTOR as well by KOTOR 2 was a lot better too.

      TES never had a good story line, but it has good lore. Fallout has an excellent one. Demons Souls doesn't really have a deep story either, and it's a dungeon crawler.


      Really, if all ShadowGuard has played is current-gen Bioware WRPG's, then I can see why he doesn't like them.
      • 0
        bowlingotter* May 18, 11
        Bethesda's writing over Bioware's? You lost me.
  • 0
    Solid Snake 4Life May 17, 11
    Your seriously placing Bethesedas writing above Biowares? I would place Obsidians as closest to Bioware but your statement just baffles me good sir.
    • 0
      Paradox May 18, 11
      You've probably never played a game made by Bioware before KOTOR.
    • 0
      ShadowGuard May 18, 11
      You guys are arguing over what tastes better: Poop or Pee... With the exception of Mass Effect, not one wRPG has a solid story, they all rely FAR TOO MUCH on pointless side-quests just to give the gamers a sense of scale.
      • 0
        Solid Snake 4Life May 18, 11
        quote ShadowGuard
        You guys are arguing over what tastes better: Poop or Pee... With the exception of Mass Effect, not one wRPG has a solid story, they all rely FAR TOO MUCH on pointless side-quests just to give the gamers a sense of scale.
        Once again proving you have never played KOTOR, Jade Empire, or any of the original Fallouts.
        • 0
          Paradox May 18, 11
          Anyways Solid, it's just preference tbh, but I don't like Biowares current gen RPG's.

          I love how ShadowGuard can say that Fallout, a game with probably the most interesting worlds, has a bad story. He probably just thinks it's all about purifying water and doesn't care about all the other messages the series (or at least the old ones) had.
        • 1
          ShadowGuard May 18, 11
          Actually, I have played KOTOR, and fallout 2 and 3 (didnt bother with New Vegas). you two seem to think it is about content of the story. wRPGs have no sense of story progression. the only thing they have is a set-up for why the world is the way it is. Then have a bunch of side-quests. The stories rarely have any character development. It is not a matter of whether you like zippers or not Paradox, jRPGs have develop their characters and develop the story... not a backdrop and leave it at that. wRPGs seriously lack quality stories, but new western gamers seriously believe that is what makes a good story in a video game...
        • 0
          Paradox May 18, 11
          So the game didn't have enough angst for you?

          I mean I get what you're saying, but JRPG's don't have good character or plot progression either. You've probably never played Deus Ex and all the twists and turns the plot has, and the brilliant pacing. JRPGs tend to either focus on love, friendship, or something like that where it focuses the ties the character has with other people.... it really is different. It's like JRPG's focus more on 'emotion'.

          And even if everything you said was true, JRPG's are terrible when it comes to actually have a good world/lore and have terrible story concept/content. So yeah, that would just mean both genres have their faults.


          Fallout 3's sidequests aren't just fetch quests you know. In games like that, it focuses on exploration. FFXII was basically "RUN DOWN A CORRIDOR, STOP, RUN DOWN ANOTHER ONE".
        • 0
          ShadowGuard May 19, 11
          I did not really like FFXII for that reason, it felt like a wRPG that had weak story and characters and focused on exploration with side-quests. However, I guess that is what makes wRPGs and jRPGs different and why people prefer one over the other. It is just sad to see western reviewers (who affect sales) rely on their wRPG habits to grade games like FFXIII.
      • 0
        Paradox May 18, 11
        Lol what.

        JRPG: A GANG OF RAGTAG HEROES SAVE THE WORLD FROM AN ANCIENT DARKNESS. ALSO, ALL MAIN CHARACTERS LOOK LIKE ANDROGYNOUS FAGS, CARRY SWORDS TWO TIMES BIGGER THAN THEM, AND HAVE ZIPPERS AND BELTS EVERYWHERE.

        Honestly, the only JRPG plot I've ever really liked was Valkyria Chronicles, and that's tactical role playing.

        Oh, and I love how you're basically saying "STOP LIKING WHAT I DONT LIKE".


        Lol you probably have never played an old wRPG. At least I can admit that some JRPG's are good, but jesus christ, the story in JRPGs are just stupid. Especially Final Fantasy's. Square can't pull off a good story at all, they should stick to cutscenes. You're basically saying "herp nuclear apocalypse, space age, medieval, and political plots are gay let me have more 17 year old boys in tights fighting giant squid monsters".
        • 0
          longview01 May 18, 11
          wow....do you want to come off anymore obnoxious?

          I'm getting sick of your capital letter talking down to people bullshit
        • 1
          FinalFantasyFanaticc May 18, 11
          Square can't pull off a good story? Is that why to this day Final Fantasy VII is perceived as one of the best story's in an RPG? Is that why it has such a damn cult following? Also why it's the most demanded remake game basically EVER?

          I'm a MASSIVE RPG player and still to this day have not found a WRPG story that has been as amazing and gripping as one of the previous Final Fantasy titles, hell Breath of Fire and Star Ocean have better stories than most WRPGs.

          Your just so damn ignorant. Hell, I love all my RPG's Western and Japanese, Oblivion/Fallout/Mass Effect are some of my favorite series.

          But to be so petty and say all that about JRPGs? You really are a loser and obviously haven't played much JRPGs, here have a look at FFIV (That's FOUR if you can't read roman numerals) tell me, wheres the swords that are too big? Weres the zippers and belts everywhere? Wheres your *bleep*ing generalisation now?

          Seriously, take your hating shit somewhere else if you can't appreciate a good game and just need to flame it instead.
        • 1
          Zero and X May 18, 11
          You can't be serious, you must be trolling, is he trolling? Either that or never played any pre-square-enix games like Chrono Trigger, Xenogears. Parasite Eve, Secret of Mana, Threads of Fate and a ton of other classics.
  • 0
    reaver11 May 17, 11
    My opinion of it remains unchanged. It was a good game, but as a FF game, it was atrocious.
    • 0
      ShadowGuard May 18, 11
      I would not say atrocious (that is such a strong word) but I do agree with your post overall though. which is the same way I felt about FFXII. FFXII was probably one of the best RPGs at the time of its release, but it was not a very strong title in the FF franchise. Same with this.
  • 0
    longview01 May 18, 11
    Its funny reading kids comments and its so obvious that they take their opinions of websites and other people on the internet haha
  • 0
    FinalFantasyFanaticc May 18, 11
    No, it wasn't bad at all. The only negative thing about it was it took about 20hrs to finally kick off Final Fantasy style, the rest of the game is insanely enjoyable filled with a FANTASTIC storyline and some great extra missions. I seriously can't wait till FFXIII-2 now.
  • 0
    Drogo Baggins May 18, 11
    I played this game for about 2-3 hours, and it seems that the combat just relied on hitting the X button until things died.

    Does the combat become more challenging later on? If so, I might give this another chance since that was really my only huge problem with the game.
    • 1
      FinalFantasyFanaticc May 18, 11
      It does, later on in the game you really need to think more about what combination of classes to use at what time, you get it wrong and you really are *bleep*ed.
      • 0
        Drogo Baggins May 18, 11
        Hmm, thanks for the info.

        I just recently (finally) started playing Bioshock for the first time, when I'm done with that, I might have to give FFXIII another go.

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