Final Fantasy 13
Released: 3/9/10
System: x-box 360/PS3
Player(s): 1 Player
Story:
The story starts out on board a train that was taking civilians to be purged (exiled from Cocoon). At a cue Lightning attacks the soldiers and gets out followed by another character called Sazh. While in the midst of the chaos the group "Nora" led by Snow tries to rescue citizens on their end.
Lightning (on her own followed by Sazh) is trying to find her sister who is a Pulse l'Cie.
]Main story outline:
The world is called Pulse and it's all about the story of fal'Cie. At first it's rather confusing but eventually...as the story progress...the meaning is explained little by little. Fal'Cie are mechanical objects that have a huge amount of power in them. They have the ability to mark people with a brand, which then they are referred to as L'Cie.
Each l'Cie is given a focus once marked which they must fulfill in a certain time. If they fail they become a Cie'th which is a monster that roams without death for eternity.
If the l'Cie completes there focus they become a crystal gaining 'eternal life' which is sleeping forever as a crystal. Which is basically another way of dying so people see becoming a l'Cie as a horrible fate (or a mark of death).
A l'Cie isn't given their goal or focus straight up from the Fal'Cie. Instead they see visions which they have to interpret. So it's like a riddle.
Gameplay: RPG
FF13 is an RPG game but it's rather different from your normal Final Fantasy so expect to play a whole new game with just some installments from previous final fantasies.
For one, there are towns but they're not really interactive explorable towns. The main map is just a straight path that leads you through with just one or two stray paths that lead to chests and bonuses, ect...
While playing this game...it's like viewing a movie. Beautiful graphics and tons of cut-scenes.
-Towns-
There are towns or safe zones in a sense. I wanted to point that there were people who say there are no towns which give you the wrong idea. It confused me for one at first.
Final Fantasy does have towns on few occasions or mini safe zones but these are not like other final fantasy or RPG games. You can't wonder around and talk to people.
If you go near NPC's they will say something but its not like other RPG's where you go up to NPC's and press a button to talk.
-Field Map-
Impossible to get lost. Very hard near impossible to miss treasure chests. It's a straight path but it's rather fun.
When you get near certain places characters can jump over obstacles automatically. You get a beautiful scenery while running around on the field map. The monsters aren't random and players can spot them on the map and see them while running around on the field.
-CG Scenes-
There are many! The graphics are really good. It's even better if you have a PS3 (because it had to be compressed for the 360 or something) but its not that big of a difference so if you have the 360 the graphics still are very lovely.
Expect CG cut-scenes very often. Playing FF13 is like watching a movie. You have one cut-scene after another especially in the beginning.
-Voice Acting-
Very good. Thumbs up for the voice acting for all characters.
Though I found vanilla a teeny bit annoying it's OK.
-Background Music-
I...don't think I paid too much attention so it didn't really grab my attention too much. Each character seems to have their own theme song (Sarah has a voiced song) as well.
Battle System:
The battle system is semi-turn base. There's a gauge that fulls and you can select commands from regular attacks to magic and even later Eidolons. You only control one character (the main character you're playing counting on the storyline you're on) while the CPU controls your allies.
-Battle Team-
The team consists of 3 members fighting.
(in the beginning the beginning of the game it varies. Sometimes you get 2 people in a party when everyone splits but the max number is 3)
-Roles and Paradigms-
While in battle you can change the characters roles. Characters have different roles and up to three. Ravangers are magic users, Commando's are main attackers, Synergist are aiders, Saboteur are defenders, and Medic's are healers.
Paradigm's are set up on the main menu outside of battle. You can choose up to 6 combos for Paradigms.
ex: Medic Commando Ravanger
While in battle the player can choose from the 6 set-up Paradigms to change battle strategy.
-Crystarium-
The level up screen. After battle characters gain CP points which are used to lvl up the character. Using the CP in the Crystarium screen allows characters to gain more magic and abilities or increased life/magic ect...
-Summons-
Eidolons are back and much different than before. While characters can still summon in Final Fantasy edolons belong to special characters. For example...Shiva Sisters (yes Shiva has a sister now) is Snow's personal Eidolon.
During battle characters can summon Eidolons for a short amount of time (there's a bar gauge that runs out after a while). While Eidolons fight beside you in battle the accompanied CPU leaves. Eidolons can be transformed into another form (For example: If Shiva Sisters its a car; if Odin it's a horse.)
During both modes special moves can be performed by the character and Eidolon.
Characters:
-Lightning-
Ex-Solider. She leaves in order to save her younger sister Serah who she found out is a Pulse L'Cie. However while in the midst of trying to save her she herself becomes a L'Cie.
-Serah -
She's Lightning's younger sister who was also engaged to Snow. She ends up becoming a Pulse L'Cie. She fulfills her focus and becomes crystallized.
-Snow-
Snow is the leader of Team Nora (A resistance team).
After finding out that Serah is a Pulse L'Cie he stayed by her and tried to help her find and fulfill her given focus/goal to save her.
He goes to Fal'Cie Anima where Serah becomes crystallized and he gets branded as L'Cie. While not losing hope he holds strong to the belief that he can save Serah and awaken her from the crystallization.
Vanille
A young girl who was separated with others to be purged. She ends up getting rescued with others form the train by team Nora. She encourages Hope to follow after Snow to say his mind where they're tag along and run into Lightning and the others. It's there that they become I'Cie.
Sazh
In the start of the game he joins with Lightning and tags along with her to find the Fal'Cie Anima. In order to save his son he boards the train where people were going to be purged/isolated where he meets lightning. When everyone gets separated he stays with her in order to survive. They end up going to where Sareh is where they also become a Pulse I'Cie.
Rate: 10/10
Personally I love the game so far. It's fun and it is slightly different form your typical FF game but I have to admit I'm not disappointed. This game is one of those games where people love it and then you have a small majority that were really disappointed with it. After reading the review I made it should give more of an idea of what the difference is but it's also a 'rental' suggestion before you run off and buy it for full price. Personally, I'm glad I got it the day it came out. ^-^
Download/Preview:
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