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Final Fantasy XIII Preview: "Will A Step Backwards Push The Series Forward?"

March 31, 2009 in Previews comments 12

Computerandvideogames.com have previewed the upcoming Final Fantasy XIII, focusing specifically on the game's battle system. But instead of moving forward, Square Enix have taken a step back and given gamers a more traditional gameplay style. Will this be the key to winning over new fans, or will it just alienate newer gamers who are into more action-packed battle systems?

I can't help feeling that the new battle system is a giant step backwards. Gone is the World Of Warcraft-style combat system seen in Final Fantasy XII. This saw your party encounter enemies and initiate skirmishes simply by getting within range of them. And while attacks were decided to some extent by the player, the system meant that you only interjected at certain points, lending the battles something of an automated air - they were also easily disengaged by turning tail and legging it! The real-time element worked - and it was a brilliant feature - but traditional Final Fantasy fans yearned for a more hands-on, strategic bent.
Miss Razz via computerandvideogames.com »
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  • 2
    Cruxis Mana Mar 31, 09
    quote
    "Will A Step Backwards Push The Series Forward?"
    Yes, yes it will.

    That is all.
  • 2
    phowell23 Mar 31, 09
    The less it is like XII the better.
  • 1
    Fallen Royalty Mar 31, 09
    XII's battle system sucked; whoever wrote the article should stop playing and immediately microwave his PS2/PS3.
  • 2
    BANDITO ATTACK Mar 31, 09
    god forbid you give a video game some gameplay. a final fantasy 'battle system' is not gameplay, it's just a diversion to make you forget you just spent 60$ for a shitty generic mildly-interactive story with cheesy 6th-grade-fanfic-level dialog, and amateur voice acting. they force you into the same battles 9000+ times throughout the 40 hour ass-dragging story and then it's over. such immense fun, that is.

    whenever square takes any step at all, it's usually a step forward because you *bleep*s will keep buying their crappy games and fapping over their lame 2-dimensional characters no matter what they do.
    • 4
      Fallen Royalty Mar 31, 09
      How I wish we could still give thumbs-downs for comments.
    • 0
      pyramidreaper Apr 1, 09
      xD BANDITO ATTACK, harsh but true about FFs.
  • 1
    Red 9* Apr 1, 09
    He's still right, though. FF games haven't evolved a helluva lot over the years.
    • 0
      Miss Razz Apr 1, 09
      When they did, they sucked. >_>
    • 1
      Gamesta100 Apr 1, 09
      If it's not broken don't fix it
  • 0
    kokushishin Apr 1, 09
    And by WoW they mean Vagrant Story, which is really Tactics Ogre with free movement.

    "More powerful attacks use more action bar" So basically they either have to be massive pwn or everyone will just spam basic melee. I'm also hoping that line about setting 5 things meant commands.
  • 2
    Bale Fire Apr 1, 09
    Considering how much people are going on about how good FF was in the old days I doubt many would complain.

    FFX's battle system was perfect in my opinion, I really wouldn't mind something like that, but I'll try whatever they hand out.
  • 2
    Killosity Apr 1, 09
    FFX had the perfect mix of action-orientated movement portrayed through the turn-based commands. It was quick and held alot of fluidity.

    FF12 had an ok battle system. "Meh".
    Could have easily been 2 player..

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