Final Fantasy XIII - Playstation 3

So far I have played Final Fantasy 7, 10 and 12 and have liked all of them. With all of the hype going on around Final Fantasy 13, I decided to give this one a try and here is what I thought.PROS.PARADIGM COMBAT SYSTEM: This game utilizes unique turn based combat system. To me, this combat system was the BEST ASPECT of the game. In Final fantasy games so far (other than 12), you have to do each action such as attack, healing, magic one by one by one. This game gives you option to do that or you can have "auto battle" mode where things are taken care for you. So the enemies you want to deal with "personally" you can combat them yourselves, but then you are not stuck hitting same command again and again for each fight you do in the game. Think of it this way, in other final fantasies, you are acting as individual soldiers while in this game you are mainly acting as commander. So instead of controlling each of the party member's action individually, you can set up a "paradigm" where you can focus more on physical or magical or healing or combination of these actions. At first you will find it a bit puzzling but once you get it, you will most likely love it.STAGGERING ENEMIES: To win a battle, you have to punish an enemy (or enemies) up to the point that they "stagger". At this point, the enemy will take a lot more damage and is less likely to attack. While it is not necessary to stagger an enemy to defeat it, for most game, you will find it difficult to defeat enemies without staggering them. So what is so special about staggering enemies? In order to stagger them in most cases you will have to use variety of paradigms and will have to come up with different strategies. Again, in the beginning you may find this difficult to understand, but once you get it, it gets to be quite fun.VARIETY OF BOSSES AND ENEMIES: Yup, there is great variety of enemies and different bosses in this game (as expected of "final fantasy"). Before you finish the game, you will have defeat quite a few different enemies and bosses and to defeat them you will have to use different strategies. While most enemies you may find it pretty straightforward to beat (especially in the beginning of the game), many later on enemies and bosses will be quite difficult until you figure out the right strategy. But don't worry there are ways to defeat them and you will find these challenges fun rather than frustrating.CRYSTAL LEVELING UP SYSTEM: This game has similar leveling up system as Final Fantasy 10. Defeating each enemies gives you points and then you use these points to level up different characters. The difference is you can level up a character in different direction (i.e. you can make a character better at magic, physical attacks, healing, sabotaging enemies, etc.) Each character will have 3 specialty areas and later on you can develop the character in all 6 different classes. Pretty addicting if you ask me.TONS OF SIDEQUEST BOSSES: So it takes a while to get up to this point, but once the open world portion of the game begins, there are tons of (>60) mini and major bosses to beat in the game. There is this portion called TITAN CHALLENGE (won't spoil much) which is very interesting. Here you will have to defeat a series of enemies in certain way. I liked it.SPECTACULAR SUMMONS: In this game each character gets a cool summon. While you don't have control over when you can obtain it, in order obtain them you have to beat them. LOVED IT. Once you obtain them you get to use their awesome powers and most importantly limit breaks. This has been my favorite part in many of the final fantasy game and just like previous final fantasies, this game has delivered them nicely.BEAUTIFUL AND ELEGANT FANTASY WORLD: The creation of Cocoon and Pulse are just mind blowing. Everything in these worlds is very elegantly designed. If you look carefully designers have truly given attention to details. Loved just loved each and every level.WEIRD BUT UNDERSTANDABLE STORY: Really can't tell you much without spoiling it, but like in many Japanese games, this one also has a very strange, but unique story with a great underlying theme.WEAPON AND ARMAMENT LEVELING UP: I am happy in addition to character they also have weapon leveling up in this game. To level up your weapon though you have to collect and use different items in a unique manner. For example, certain weapons can only be leveled up to level 11; however, if you obtain these unique item you can break that limit and level it up even further turning it into a completely different weapon. If you like this type of stuff the game will keep you occupy for a LONG TIME.CONSLACK OF CONTROL OVER BATTLE TEAM: As described in pros, you have to design specific paradims and you can use them in the battle to your liking. However, these combination are not limitless. In other words, you won't be able to control all three of the party members in the exact manner you want to. For example, with characters A,B, and C, I want both characters A and B to attack the same enemies with physical attacks, I don't have that option. Also if I want to revive character B before healing character C that is also not an option (unless the character I control is the healer). While it seems like a major issue, it really is not. There is not a single enemy you won't be able to beat due to this problem.WHINY CHARACTERS: Ever since Final Fantasy 10, they have been having so many whiny characters in these games. Hate it, just hate it. Good thing is whiny character in this game will only whine for first quarter of the game. Also, what Japanese people and Westerners find "awesome" and "funny" are quite different. Some dialogues that Japanese may find awesome will simply sound lame to us. So that is also a problem in this game.CONCLUSIONContrary to the cons I described, this is a great game. Battle System, leveling up and hunt for different bosses and items will keep you busy and entertained for a long time. With side quests, it has taken me about 84 hours and I am still not quite done. With lowered prices, I would say this is a MUST OWN game.

I had known about this game since the summer, and i could not stop reading about it. and the day i finally got it, i was blown over by how much fun this game is. The combat system is alot of fun, the graphics are breathtaking, the characters are intriguing and interesting, (except Hope). I am not trying to rush thru this game, im trying to soak in all the fun from it i can get.in the start, your on this train with Lightning and Sazh, and some serious shiz goes down. All thru the level of the Hanging edge, your thinking "what is everybodys purpose to be here? what are they doing?" and it makes you want to keep playing to find out. and from then on, the game just keeps on building. throughout the first level, things are slow and repetitive, but after that, when the powers of a l'cie are yours to command, the game gets heated up and everything becomes explained over time.The way the combat works is you have a guage (ATB) and you need to wait for it to charge, and while its charging, you can either choose auto battle or make your own chain. some specific moves that may have a different effect may take up more than one segment of the guage. once the game proceeds, you get more atb guage segments and learn new moves with the Crystarium.This game has many aspects, and i could list them all and go on for hours on end. but ill say the best.For exploration, the first half of the game is quite linear, but dont let that ruin your enjoyment. I found it still very fun. there are sometimes little snippits of places you can go to get an extra fight or 2 or a treasure chest. But then with the arrival of Gran pulse, you just feel as if all the time in the world isnt enough to fully experience everything, like the Yascham Massif, Archilyte Steppe, and much much more. And with Gran Pulse, thats when its actually easy to skip fights if you need to. i try to never, because i need to train my guys up.For Equipment and training, i think its overall easy and un frustrating. But once you are allowed to upgrade your weapons, you feel as if you never want to change that certain weapon. Thats how i feel, and getting Gil in this game is not as easy as the rest. but once u learn raise for a medic, you dont really need pheonix downs or potions. For training, the Crystarium expands every time you beat a Major Boss. there are six roles for you to learn, Ravager, Commando, Synergist, Saboteur, Medic, and Sentinel. about 20 hours into the game, all 6 of these classes become available to all 6 characters. and every fight, you get crystogen points which is used to navigate thru the Crystarium.For story, there is not much to say. ITS AMAZING, HEART WRENCHING, EMOTIONAL, BEUATIFUL, ENGAGING, AND INTERESTING. you will want to find out the end every second you play it. its that awesome. i dont want to ruin it for you, because the only way to truly enjoy it is to experience it urself.Graphics, same with story. Beuatiful and amazing, engaging, and interesting. you feel as if the normal gameplay is just as amazing as the cgi cutscenes, which are also breathtakingAs much as i hate to admit it there are some cons in this game, but if you think past them and fully embrace the scope and beauty of the game, you will not even notice them.1. Character Hope is annoying, sometimes whiny, and more or less weak. i never really use him. i stick with Fang, Lightning, and Snow, and use the rest if i feel fun.2. Sometimes, the game can b very difficult, and some frustration pops up.3. 2 or 3 pieces of the music dont seem as enjoyable as the rest of the sagas, but there are still alot of amazing compositions.4. during the un important cutscenes, the character is talking and doing a minor motion, but then stops doing it and is standing rigid while still talking and that may b a bit of a bummer in some cases.BUT DONT LET THESE CONS FOOL YOU. THE GAME IS WORTH EVERY PENNY, AND (...) IS CHEAP IN MY OPINION FOR THIS MASTERPIECE!!!get it.