this game was a good news, bad news situation for anyone (like myself) who found XIII flawed with a lot of potential. the good news: they fixed a lot of the core issues that plagued XIII (i.e. your character death being a game over, lack of player self-determination/expression in paradigm choices until endgame, etc.). the bad news: the characters are rancid and the plot is even more indecipherable. would've probably liked this more than XIII if i gave even a fraction of a shit about any of the main characters.
Amazing soundtrack, ridiculously stupid ending(s).
It proves itself the better game, even if it lacks the same focused storytelling as the original.
FUCK the dragons, they're the only reason i never beat the game
It's better as a "game" than FFXIII but at the expense of so much of what I liked about XIII. There's a good portion of this game that almost feels like it's an apology of sorts for FFXIII not being what fans expected and I'm not a fan of that direction. It's a far cry from bad, however competent but boring is not a fun time.
expands on xiii's gameplay substantially, but tells a far less compelling narrative. there's way too much filler-y side content and endgame grinding, but it's all worth enduring for the godlike finale and excellent soundtrack
also: the steam port is ABYSMAL. DO NOT play this on pc
also: the steam port is ABYSMAL. DO NOT play this on pc
not as good as Chrono Trigger
Caius is probably the best villain this series has had since VII. If only because the Hamlet wannabe is always on your ass like a good Final Fantasy villain ought to be.
It's over the top, indulgent, festive fantasy drama with incredible costumes and locals that had a lot of work put into then. Three of the characters are from a future where the world is basically over and there are literally only those three humans left in existence living in barren wasteland desert. Despite this all three dress like royalty from a healthy, opulent kingdom and wield ornate swords larger than their torsos. So just chill out I guess. Collect monsters, level up your jobs, read the insane datalogs to learn the centuries long story of Gogmagogs travels through the Rift Between Eras.
The final boss is a bunch of bullshit.
It's over the top, indulgent, festive fantasy drama with incredible costumes and locals that had a lot of work put into then. Three of the characters are from a future where the world is basically over and there are literally only those three humans left in existence living in barren wasteland desert. Despite this all three dress like royalty from a healthy, opulent kingdom and wield ornate swords larger than their torsos. So just chill out I guess. Collect monsters, level up your jobs, read the insane datalogs to learn the centuries long story of Gogmagogs travels through the Rift Between Eras.
The final boss is a bunch of bullshit.
(╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻
It does away with XIII's linearity, but adds time travel to the plot, which is a trope that is almost never done well, leading to a narrative that is convoluted. Combat is still great and the visuals are excellent for their time.
killer soundtrack and actually really funny and unexpected ending.
Meio merda, parei no meio
A time travel minefield bullshit story, OST is a banger tho.
Beautiful but it sucks
They really fixed all the problems wrong with the combat and pacing with the first game. It's a shame that nobody played it.
BABY
IM GONNA SEE THE NEW WORLD
WITH NOTHING BUT THE LOVE YOU GAVE ME
ONLY THING I CAN DO
IS TO TRUST THE TIME WE SHARED
amplifies the incoherence of the original game tenfold through the introduction of norse afterlife myth/time travel paradoxes and forces us to embody Serah, maybe the blandest jrpg protagonist of all time--but TOTALLY develops the OG's experimental but flawed combat system and makes it SING as something dynamic, deep, and stylish that no longer holds your hand for 35 hours before loosening up. The eclectic new age technopop soundtrack is an all time great and Hamauzu is a fucking genius. The ending of this game is an iconic troll that forces the entire cast of detestable cardboard anime hotties to endure immense tragedy and regret as all their misguided efforts are foiled and it's honestly wonderful to see these blandies suffer!!!
IM GONNA SEE THE NEW WORLD
WITH NOTHING BUT THE LOVE YOU GAVE ME
ONLY THING I CAN DO
IS TO TRUST THE TIME WE SHARED
amplifies the incoherence of the original game tenfold through the introduction of norse afterlife myth/time travel paradoxes and forces us to embody Serah, maybe the blandest jrpg protagonist of all time--but TOTALLY develops the OG's experimental but flawed combat system and makes it SING as something dynamic, deep, and stylish that no longer holds your hand for 35 hours before loosening up. The eclectic new age technopop soundtrack is an all time great and Hamauzu is a fucking genius. The ending of this game is an iconic troll that forces the entire cast of detestable cardboard anime hotties to endure immense tragedy and regret as all their misguided efforts are foiled and it's honestly wonderful to see these blandies suffer!!!
i dont know what the fuck is going on but it seems cool
The story and the characters are worse than the first game, but the gameplay is a big step up and a refinement of the Paradigm system, allowing much more freedom of builds since the beginning instead of halfway through the plot. Instead of being linear like the first game, you explore a bunch of locations in different timelines while you complete the main quest. If you prefer gameplay improvements over a better story, then XIII-2 is definetly the better game.
This review contains spoilers
As a big fan of wacky time travel stories, this game hit all the right notes for me. The concept of traveling between the same couple locations but in different time periods is great and makes the world of XIII-2 more memorable than most of the original XIII. Gameplay-wise, it polishes some aspects of XIII's combat, which was already really good, but I prefer XIII's iteration of the Crystarium and the traditional party members over monsters. Splitting the party up in XIII allowed for a great exploration of those characters and their motivations, so although in this sequel we only have 2 protagonists to focus on, Serah and Noel remain pretty consistent throughout the story. Still super happy to see Serah's character being explored after her role in the events of XIII. And Noel's backstory, dealing with time travel shenanigans, was really appealing to me. I would say the first game was better, but I got so hooked into this game trying to 100% everything that I have to give it some extra points. XIII-2 shines in different areas than XIII, and I'd say that makes it a worthy follow-up.
I finished this out way back in the day, but I thought for some reason I'd write a review to a game that I think has been unfairly judged both when it came out and over the years. I played this through when I was beating all of the numbered Final Fantasy games back to back, and I gotta say that it was a breath of fresh air compared to 12 and 13, with a story that might be simple in comparison to those, but because of it being stripped down they were able to improve the mechanics and actually introduce a villain with some presence and a goal. These games were always made in part by their villain, and just the fact that Caius existed and his goal was relayed to the player put him far above any villain from 12 or 13. I also just really liked the atmosphere and music(the soundtrack is electronic, ethereal, and still bumps occasionally. Listening to it in part inspired this review), I felt like it had a really original tone and some creative ideas i.e. the location where the sky appeared to be more land. The fan service with Ultros and Gilgamesh also filled my heart with glee, and the two characters the game sticks you with are actually likable for once. Would have made the Moogle less obnoxious but at least you can chuck him like a football. All and all I still think this was the best main FF game since 10 when it came out, and my enjoyment while playing it still rivals 15.
In conclusion, it was the one saving grace to come out of this whole trilogy. I like the cheeky tone of Lightning Returns too, but ironically for the most part.
In conclusion, it was the one saving grace to come out of this whole trilogy. I like the cheeky tone of Lightning Returns too, but ironically for the most part.
This game is without a doubt, my favourite in the XIII trilogy.
This game made me fall in love with the XIII trilogy after a difficult and rocky first playthrough of the first game.
The gameplay for me is solid - they significantly improve the battle system of XIII, as well as adding the Historia Crux - making the game a little less linear and making it more "chapter based" for lack of a better term.
Noel, Caius and Yeul are all very welcome additions to the cast and I honestly adore them. Caius in particular is a fantastic villain in my opinion, and Liam O Brien does a perfect voice for him. I recognise the story for this game isn't exactly "well written", but I personally couldn't care less, for me it was not only entertaining, but emotional, and really made me care for Serah in particular. The box art for this game is of course misleading - this game is Serah's story, and while Lightning does play a part in it, she is absent for the majority of the game.
The ending is truly crushing but delicious, and gets you super hyped for Lightning Returns.
This game made me fall in love with the XIII trilogy after a difficult and rocky first playthrough of the first game.
The gameplay for me is solid - they significantly improve the battle system of XIII, as well as adding the Historia Crux - making the game a little less linear and making it more "chapter based" for lack of a better term.
Noel, Caius and Yeul are all very welcome additions to the cast and I honestly adore them. Caius in particular is a fantastic villain in my opinion, and Liam O Brien does a perfect voice for him. I recognise the story for this game isn't exactly "well written", but I personally couldn't care less, for me it was not only entertaining, but emotional, and really made me care for Serah in particular. The box art for this game is of course misleading - this game is Serah's story, and while Lightning does play a part in it, she is absent for the majority of the game.
The ending is truly crushing but delicious, and gets you super hyped for Lightning Returns.
Better than FFXIII, but the ending is a punch in the balls to anyone that suffered through the experience
I have mixed feelings about this one. Coming from FFXIII, I think this game hasn't the powerful characters XIII had, and Serah and Noel felt a bit off and weak to me. I liked the time travelling, even If has some flaws too.
What I've loved the most in this game is the gameplay. It feels an even better version of FFXIII's, with the monster thing happening (having a chocobo as your COM and leveling him up was 10/10) but the Crystarium feels a bit odd. Yes, it has more rules, but I LOVED how simple, powerful and rewarding was on XIII.
I can't say I didn't like this game, but I'm playing it to get to Lightning Returns, so here we are.
What I've loved the most in this game is the gameplay. It feels an even better version of FFXIII's, with the monster thing happening (having a chocobo as your COM and leveling him up was 10/10) but the Crystarium feels a bit odd. Yes, it has more rules, but I LOVED how simple, powerful and rewarding was on XIII.
I can't say I didn't like this game, but I'm playing it to get to Lightning Returns, so here we are.
I thought this was ok when it first came out, but I've replayed it a bunch of times since then & it may actually be one of my favs in the whole series. I rarely have the stamina to replay JRPGs but this is just the perfect length, the perfect vibe.
The story is written episodically - mostly light-hearted with a more serious arc simmering in the background. The battle system is a refined version of the fast-paced one from FF13, with added monster catching. It's not super challenging (until you hit the coliseum at least), the emphasis being more on exploration & puzzle-solving this time.
SPOILERS:
The plot is about time travel - not just using it as a device but quite often actually about it, exploring different tropes, types of paradox, etc. It also ends on a cliffhanger, naturally, being the middle game in a trilogy. If you're weak & baby-like you may take issue with these things. But it's Good Actually.
The story is written episodically - mostly light-hearted with a more serious arc simmering in the background. The battle system is a refined version of the fast-paced one from FF13, with added monster catching. It's not super challenging (until you hit the coliseum at least), the emphasis being more on exploration & puzzle-solving this time.
SPOILERS:
The plot is about time travel - not just using it as a device but quite often actually about it, exploring different tropes, types of paradox, etc. It also ends on a cliffhanger, naturally, being the middle game in a trilogy. If you're weak & baby-like you may take issue with these things. But it's Good Actually.
This review contains spoilers
"This is our ark - our haven. It will be called Bhunivelze..."
A shockingly well-told story of people who cannot conceive of a better world other than what we have, and doom it as a result, with one of the tightest, leanest scripts you'll see in a modern JRPG. Caius Ballad, the man raging aginst the unjustifiable injustice of the world, is not the villain here: it is Hope Estheim, the nice boy who over the course of 500 years, is never able to imagine a future for the human race beyond regressing to the Cocoon that trapped them. Hope sees the doom that will one day face the earth - ecological collapse and extinction - and decides that the way to prevent it is to just do what humanity has done before, and hope it works differently this time. I don't want to say something as pithy as "Hope Estheim is Final Fantasy's Elon Musk", but it's not like that's a million miles off the mark.
The moment Hope utters the word "Bhunivelze", the name of the malevolent deity who made this world and hangs over the cosmology of this game like the Sword of Damocles, you know the world is doomed.
The combat is stellar and brings out the potential of FFXIII's system, the music is fantastically varied and uniformly great, and you get to put little rail worker hats on monsters and oh my god it's so cute.
Fairly rubbish DLC aside, this is short, sweet, and powerful, with an jaw-droppingly good ending. Secretly one of the best RPGs of it's generation.
A shockingly well-told story of people who cannot conceive of a better world other than what we have, and doom it as a result, with one of the tightest, leanest scripts you'll see in a modern JRPG. Caius Ballad, the man raging aginst the unjustifiable injustice of the world, is not the villain here: it is Hope Estheim, the nice boy who over the course of 500 years, is never able to imagine a future for the human race beyond regressing to the Cocoon that trapped them. Hope sees the doom that will one day face the earth - ecological collapse and extinction - and decides that the way to prevent it is to just do what humanity has done before, and hope it works differently this time. I don't want to say something as pithy as "Hope Estheim is Final Fantasy's Elon Musk", but it's not like that's a million miles off the mark.
The moment Hope utters the word "Bhunivelze", the name of the malevolent deity who made this world and hangs over the cosmology of this game like the Sword of Damocles, you know the world is doomed.
The combat is stellar and brings out the potential of FFXIII's system, the music is fantastically varied and uniformly great, and you get to put little rail worker hats on monsters and oh my god it's so cute.
Fairly rubbish DLC aside, this is short, sweet, and powerful, with an jaw-droppingly good ending. Secretly one of the best RPGs of it's generation.
I don't think the world is ready to talk about how this is one of the best JRPGs of the 2010s that got overlooked because "it's more XIII" when it stands so sharply in contrast thematically to its predecessor with a unique direction unlike any other Final Fantasy game, let alone XIII. Secret kino.
This game sucks ass, 9/10
literally what the fuck
The story for this game was (literally) all over the place, but the battle system and soundtrack are still great.
please if u want to play this game dont play on pc, the worst port ive ever played