Honestly, I didn't expect to enjoy this game as much as I did.
Final Fantasy XIII is often regarded as one of the weakest games in the Final Fantasy franchise, and I understand why, this game suffers from many problems, with the biggest problem being the main story, the writing is bad, the pacing is very monotonous, and the linear corridor levels can be boring, but everything else about it managed to surprise me.
The visuals are amazing, and easily the best part of the game, I love the art-style, the graphics, the details and the cutscenes, this whole game feels like a playable movie.
The soundtrack is great too just as I expected.
As for the gameplay, at first, it was kind of repetitive but it got better as I progressed, and even though there aren't any deep RPG mechanics, it's servicable and fun.
I really like the Paradigm Shift system, swapping through different roles and creating your own combinations is very satisfying, and I enjoyed upgrading my characters in the Crystarium. Also, I loved using the Eidolons, they all have their own movesets and unique attacks, and they look cool.
Another thing I like is how the game can be difficult at times and requires strategy to beat it, the boss fights are challenging, and the game wants you to be prepared every time you face a formidable foe.
Where the game fails specifically, is the way it tells its story.
The game starts and the player has no idea what's happening, the characters talk about random things, and mention names that you don't know yet, and the game doesn't help you understand. This forces you to use the in-game datalog and read in order to understand some things, which is a ridiculous way to tell a story in my opinion.
Also, I have mixed feelings about the characters, while some of them are likeable and interesting, most of them are forgettable or straight up infuriating. I really appreciate how the game tries to make the player either relate or understand the characters by giving them backstories, and reasons to do what they do, and some times it works, but overall it just feels a bit forced.
Having said all that, I still like this game. It's a mess and I totally understand why it gets some hate, but even with all its flaws, it's a decent game at its core, and I had a lot of fun playing it.
Final Rating: "Almost Good" ~ 6.5/10.
Final Fantasy XIII is often regarded as one of the weakest games in the Final Fantasy franchise, and I understand why, this game suffers from many problems, with the biggest problem being the main story, the writing is bad, the pacing is very monotonous, and the linear corridor levels can be boring, but everything else about it managed to surprise me.
The visuals are amazing, and easily the best part of the game, I love the art-style, the graphics, the details and the cutscenes, this whole game feels like a playable movie.
The soundtrack is great too just as I expected.
As for the gameplay, at first, it was kind of repetitive but it got better as I progressed, and even though there aren't any deep RPG mechanics, it's servicable and fun.
I really like the Paradigm Shift system, swapping through different roles and creating your own combinations is very satisfying, and I enjoyed upgrading my characters in the Crystarium. Also, I loved using the Eidolons, they all have their own movesets and unique attacks, and they look cool.
Another thing I like is how the game can be difficult at times and requires strategy to beat it, the boss fights are challenging, and the game wants you to be prepared every time you face a formidable foe.
Where the game fails specifically, is the way it tells its story.
The game starts and the player has no idea what's happening, the characters talk about random things, and mention names that you don't know yet, and the game doesn't help you understand. This forces you to use the in-game datalog and read in order to understand some things, which is a ridiculous way to tell a story in my opinion.
Also, I have mixed feelings about the characters, while some of them are likeable and interesting, most of them are forgettable or straight up infuriating. I really appreciate how the game tries to make the player either relate or understand the characters by giving them backstories, and reasons to do what they do, and some times it works, but overall it just feels a bit forced.
Having said all that, I still like this game. It's a mess and I totally understand why it gets some hate, but even with all its flaws, it's a decent game at its core, and I had a lot of fun playing it.
Final Rating: "Almost Good" ~ 6.5/10.