While some gamers long for - well - long games, many simply want something that would take no more than say 6- 10 hrs max, and along comes one that you'd best plan on having a holiday, if you plan on finishing it within a 7 day period (with adequate breaks of course.)

Many Japanese RPG's are like this, but Final Fantasy XIII was supposed to bridge those gaps, but did it?

Come check out OXCGN's US correspondents review on the game, you may agree, you may not, but you do need to check it out either way.

Final Fantasy XIII is a loong game that is best experienced in large chunks of play. Before you purchase it—and you will not be able to complete it during a rental period—be sure to speak with your loved ones and pre-explain your social disengagement for a couple of weeks. [Ed:- Which is why OXCGN likes to do their reviews over time - as it requires effort, not speed to give a 'good' review.

The original Final Fantasy came out in 1987. It was released by Square while on the verge of bankruptcy, which explains the title. But it wasn’t Square’s “final fantasy,” after all. The game became the oft-replicated genre-defining role-playing game, and the franchise went on to release 13 core games and even more spin-offs over the past 23 years, selling more than 92 million copies worldwide.

During that time, the Final Fantasy franchise has developed some devoted fans, not all of whom will be pleased with the changes in the latest iteration.

First, and most critical is Final Fantasy XIII linearity. For the grand majority of the game, progress is limited to furthering the story, with no stops for the side quests and mini games that have long defined the franchise. It is not until you reach the 11th of 13th chapters that the game opens up to something that more resembles a traditional Final Fantasy title.

XboxOZ360 via oxcgn.com »