Final Fantasy XIII LVL 1-3 Map ... I hope you like Linear [Archive]

Daria

12-28-2009, 03:52 PM

Edit:
Here's the story link: http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2009/12/18/final-fantasy-xiii-as-linear-as-a-piece-of-string/ -WARNING! NSFW (soapy nipple content)

As Vanille remarks in game: “This path is easy to understand, isn’t it?”
There is one small branch (a shortcut) in all this towards the very end, though it involves missing choice treasure. After this the Vile Peaks beget another apparently unending RPG-on-rails experience, the polar opposite of Final Fantasy XII’s MMORPG-like open questing; indeed, there is not a town to be seen anywhere, and shopping is handled through the sterile interface of the save points.
Glimpses of later maps in the hint book seem to indicate this linearity persists to the very end – it is a wonder the game even bothers with a map.
Further fueling the suspicion that the game has been dumbed down to remedial level is the fact that several key gameplay elements remain locked even after 8 hours of playtime, and the game only sees fit to fully enable its leveling system after 4 hours.
Pre-release reviews of course failed to mention any of this…

Map: See above. This thread really doesn't need this monstrosity posted twice.

Guru of Time and Space

12-28-2009, 03:53 PM

The image isn't showing up, plus going to the actual website trying to find it is making me lose massive amounts of brain cells.

Anyway, extreme linearity is the reason I couldn't play Final Fantasy X for more than a few hours. That game was just a straight line the entire time.

-GoTaS

Guru of Time and Space

12-28-2009, 03:56 PM

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/2876/finalfantasyxiiiextreme.jpg

-GoTaS

Daria

12-28-2009, 04:14 PM

Okay now that the thread appears to have been sorted out I'll post a real reply. I don't know how reliable the anime boobies website is, but I'm scared of the notion that the game plays on rails. Sounds too much like Grandia 3 for my tastes- Ooh! Minus the confusing "town exploration" business anyway.

So I guess I'll be taking a wait and see approach with this one.

Raedon

12-28-2009, 04:31 PM

I didn't read the page I just saw the side-boob FF picture (http://img3.sankakustatic.com/wp-content/gallery/ero-misc-ii/final-fantasy-xiii-oppai.jpg) and the map ... one was worth posting.

Not that I care to run around every city breaking into houses but I do like a little bit of exploration. Most of the complaints out there aren't even about the linear nature of the World clearly seen above. Many games are linear by design and still play well.

EDIT: Just doing a search for posts for this game on Destructoid.com brings up far to much fanboy ... I can't find anything unbiased to read on this Final Fantasy game.

kupomogli

12-28-2009, 04:56 PM

Looks like your average map on Castlevania Portrait of Ruin or Order of Ecclesia. Point A to B on either a certain portrait(PoRn) or a specific area(OoE.)

I'm not a fan of extremely linear. A little linear is fine, but when it gets to where you're walking in a straight line the entire time is when boredom starts to kick in.

exit

12-28-2009, 10:10 PM

Querjek

12-28-2009, 10:17 PM

I didn't like the linearity of FFX--this worries me.

boatofcar

12-28-2009, 10:17 PM

How is this different than FFX?

Raedon

12-28-2009, 11:03 PM

How is this different than FFX?

The battle system is different ... Blitz Ball.

skaar

12-28-2009, 11:48 PM

I like how the end has Mr. Boss coffee.

BHvrd

12-29-2009, 12:40 AM

Had no plans on buying this game to begin with, but this just gives me even more reasons to avoid the game. Sounds to me that they're just downgrading the gameplay instead of enhancing it, so much for evolution I guess.

The battle systems is called "Optima Change" in Japan when it hits the states it will be called "Paradigm Shift". Mana is gone.

I suggest you look it up and read about it cause saying they are not enhancing or "upgrading" the combat system couldn't be further from the truth. Truth be told this Final Fantasy is supposed to have much more intense, realistic and tougher battles than any to date.

Also i'm sure you have seen videos where you are given a star rating after each battle? That's to gauge the difficulty, if you defeat enemies fast and get a high star rating the next battle will be fierce, if you get a low rating, easier. It's a constantly active battle system. The sphere grid also makes a return so honing your characters skills will be essential.

As far as the "linear" maps go i'm in it for a good cinematic and gameplay experience which it should deliver in spades.

Raedon

01-01-2010, 12:48 AM

Video of the level in question. 3 hours in.

http://www.viddler.com/explore/Destructoid/videos/1610/

monkeychemist

01-01-2010, 08:29 AM

sfchakan

01-01-2010, 02:02 PM

I think you guys are so funny. You expecting an elder scrolls game when it's a next-gen final fantasy game. When has a FF game given overworld exploration since the SNES days?

FFIX, released in 2000.

Daria

01-01-2010, 02:12 PM

Raedon

01-01-2010, 02:44 PM

ShinGundam

01-01-2010, 07:47 PM

I think you guys are so funny. You expecting an elder scrolls game when it's a next-gen final fantasy game. When has a FF game given overworld exploration since the SNES days? Why would you expect anything different?? Quit complaining about the "straight" map, that's how all those games are, and they still make it fun. FFX was extremely linear but still a ton of fun!

Video looks awesome btw
FF Versus XIII will be more like a traditional FF than FF XIII ,the footage at TGS
showed there were city streets with a day/night cycle, people hanging
around the shops and the streets becoming deserted at night. Not to mention , this
game has an overworld( World -> Region -> Area) is an indication of how
they want to break up the world into load zones Or possibly shortcut travel
methods (world by airship/boat/etc, region by car/animal/train, area = too bad, just walk it?)
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f345/Kamoohiyazada/Storage/FFVsXIII/Versus_cloudmsgpg73_sm.jpg

Sadly ,they didn�t show much about this game because of FF13
beside this Trailer
http://www.gametrailers.com/user-movie/final-fantasy-versus13-english/314553

Zoltor

01-01-2010, 08:05 PM

Lol what a POS game this is sure to be, but lets be real, was anyone surprised at evil scum bag Square continuing with their trend(of killing every aspect that made a FF game what it was)?

That gives new meaning to a Linear game, doesn't it lol.

FF 12 sure as hell wasn't a pure RPG(like the past FF games), and this "thing" Isn't any kind of RPG to speak of(no towns, wth lol, sounds like an action/adventure game to me, and a crappy one at that).

Also I'm surprised Square even bothers to make games anymore, they might as well just make computer generated full lengthed movies, since that has been the only aspect in their games wich have any kind of quality to them (excluding FF 4:The After Years of course, because they brought back the decomishoned team that worked on the original FF 4, to make that game).

Wraith Storm

01-01-2010, 09:01 PM

After beating Final Fantasy X, I told myself I was not going to waste my time with further installments of the series. I had slight hopes for XIII, but they are shot to hell now.

There are lots of JRPGs to pick from that, IMO, do the genre just as good if not better than the FF series. I thought FFX was complete crap. I hated the characters and the story. I disliked it's linearity, but I could deal with it. I also hated the battle system and thought it was the worst of any FF installment. But the sphere grid was the most ridiculous, unnecessary, inefficient, Spec system I have ever used. I will say that the one redeeming aspect of FF X for me was that Umetsus score was marginally better than the one he composed for IX, but when you hit rock bottom, the only place to go is up.

I was halfheartedly excited about FF XIII but after seeing the trailers and reading up on it, it looks like I will be keeping true to my word and passing up this installment as well. I could deal with the linearity, I wouldn't want too, but I could adjust. But if they used a system similar to the Sphere Grid, which is what I am hearing, then I'm out. I HATE the Sphere Grid. Also, where the Fudge are my random battles?!?! Seriously what the hell!? If I wanted to see my enemies then I would go play a Game Arts RPG. I want my random battles. I was hoping after FFXII they would go back... Obviously not...

monkeychemist

01-01-2010, 09:23 PM

FFIX, released in 2000.

touche!

I am also not happy with the game progressing more like a movie than an exploration, but I'm going to give it the benefit of the doubt as the only FF games I disliked were 8 & 11. I'm hoping to be surprised. I like how Square evolves each FF so its relatively different from the previous. The old school gamer hates the changes at first and misses the nostalgic feel of the NES/SNES days but then after a few hours the games grow on me to the point where I am having a blast with it.

ShinGundam

01-01-2010, 09:32 PM

If I wanted to see my enemies then I would go play a Game Arts RPG.
Holy crap LOL do they still make RPGs anymore ?
Seriously guys stop the hate. I'm sure FFXIII will be great as long as you expect the right things :P

backguard

01-01-2010, 09:39 PM

There are lots of JRPGs to pick from that, IMO, do the genre just as good if not better than the FF series.

Like what? I need some new RPGs to play.

Zoltor

01-01-2010, 09:42 PM

touche!

I am also not happy with the game progressing more like a movie than an exploration, but I'm going to give it the benefit of the doubt as the only FF games I disliked were 8 & 11. I'm hoping to be surprised. I like how Square evolves each FF so its relatively different from the previous. The old school gamer hates the changes at first and misses the nostalgic feel of the NES/SNES days but then after a few hours the games grow on me to the point where I am having a blast with it.

There's a big differance between changing one good system to another, and then changing one bad system to an increasingly worse system or dare I say changing genre completely.

All square cares about is making a good looking trailer for a press release(thus allowing them to sell the biggest, and cheapest POS they can come up with).

I think they actually realized RPGs can't go 3D, and they know any true RPGer would know this(3D, and the RPG genre just don't go together, you can do semi 3D though, just not pure 3D), so since all Square cares about is flashy graphics, they changed the genre of the series(twice now).

Lol, not like any true FF fan even buys Square games anymore, but what kind of drugs must someone be doing, to believe this was a good move to a long running series, which somewhere down the road once had an insanely big fanbase.

Zoltor

01-01-2010, 09:44 PM

Holy crap LOL do they still make RPGs anymore ?
Seriously guys stop the hate. I'm sure FFXIII will be great as long as you expect the right things :P

You mean not to expect a RPG then, right(and we should ignore the name of the game as well, because it sure Isn't a FF game)?

Daria

01-01-2010, 09:49 PM

I think they actually realized RPGs can't go 3D, and they know any true RPGer would know this(3D, and the RPG genre just don't go together, you can do semi 3D though, just not pure 3D), so since all Square cares about is flashy graphics, they changed the genre of the series(twice now).

Really now... what makes you say this?

ShinGundam

01-01-2010, 10:02 PM

You mean not to expect a RPG then, right(and we should ignore the name of the game as well, because it sure Isn't a FF game)?
Or there are no explicit rules for how a Final Fantasy game should be :P
Go retro(FF9) - Tactics (FFT) - Pseudo-MMORPG (FF12) - Action RPG(Versus) etc
Hmm, how am I going to explain this? Maybe they always encourage designers
to experiment and allowed them to take risks :P

Zoltor

01-01-2010, 10:11 PM

Really now... what makes you say this?

Ah yea, I'm probally giving square too much credit I'm sure.

It's utterly pointless, and sloppy as all hell to have a 3D RPG(not to mention a complete waste of space), the 3D will always look out of place. Remember we're not talking about a FPS here or a straight up action game.

RPGs aren't the only genre that really doesn't mix with a 3D format, traditional strategy ot Tactic/RPGs don't mix good with 3D either.

Guru of Time and Space

01-01-2010, 10:15 PM

User: Zoltor, are you daft?

-GoTaS

monkeychemist

01-01-2010, 10:19 PM

Ah yea, I'm probally giving square too much credit I'm sure.

It's utterly pointless, and sloppy as all hell to have a 3D RPG(not to mention a complete waste of space), the 3D will always look out of place. Remember we're not talking about a FPS here or a straight up action game.

RPGs aren't the only genre that really doesn't mix with a 3D format, traditional strategy ot Tactic/RPGs don't mix good with 3D either.

Man, where do you come from? a cave stuck in 1996? There have been plenty of awesome 3D RPGs that work well. More recent examples (aside from FF series since you seem to hate them all) can be Oblivion, Fallout, Fables, etc... You don't think those are good 3D RPGs?

...and WTF are you talking about tactics games don't work in 3D? Tactics Ogre sure did a good job (also FFT, yes, a FF game, crap) The 3rd dimension was a cool addition, making the board with levels.

Seriously, don't be so closed-minded... and welcome to 2010!

ShinGundam

01-01-2010, 10:33 PM

Ah yea, I'm probally giving square too much credit I'm sure.

It's utterly pointless, and sloppy as all hell to have a 3D RPG(not to mention a complete waste of space), the 3D will always look out of place. Remember we're not talking about a FPS here or a straight up action game.

RPGs aren't the only genre that really doesn't mix with a 3D format, traditional strategy ot Tactic/RPGs don't mix good with 3D either.
I play both 2D and 3D and they are still RPGs to me :hmm:
Also this is boss battle from FF13 (SPOILER only for you :P)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1489K-DS3YE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mkm7tp44PRo
2D or 3D no one care because they still enjoy it LOL

Zoltor

01-01-2010, 10:35 PM

Or there are no explicit rules for how a Final Fantasy game should be :P
Go retro(FF9) - Tactics (FFT) - Pseudo-MMORPG (FF12) - Action RPG(Versus) etc
Hmm, how am I going to explain this? Maybe they always encourage designers
to experiment and allowed them to take risks :P

Lol you are a joke, do you really considered FF 9 retro, that's ashame(Square tried to make it have a retro feel, but failed horribly, nearly the entire game is movie diven).

Also you have no right to list FFT in that statement, since It's a spin off series.

Wow, you can't be actually defending Square, the single company that is credited with the down fall of the gaming industry, then a few other companies followed afterwards(like sony with their crappy marketing scams, and the worst customer service in the history of the industry).

Actually series based games, should at very least be the same genre(really should have simular art styles as well as dungeon designs, so they have a simular feel) or they have no right to be called the name.

Truth be had though, even if FF 12, 11, X-2, X, and 9(lol not to mention the upcoming 13, and 14) didn't have a FF name, they would still suck, and FF 8 would only be good to possibly very good depending on taste(not great, and sure as hell not "one of the GREATS").

ShinGundam

01-01-2010, 10:47 PM

Lol you are a joke, do you really considered FF 9 retro, that's ashame(Square tried to make it have a retro feel, but failed horribly, nearly the entire game is movie diven).

Also you have no right to list FFT in that statement, since It's a spin off series.

Wow, you can't be actually defending Square, the single company that is credited with the down fall of the gaming industry, then a few other companies followed afterwards(like sony with their crappy marketing scams, and the worst customer service in the history of the industry).

Actually series based games, should at very least be the same genre(really should have simular art styles as well as dungeon designs, so they have a simular feel) or they have no right to be called the name.

Truth be had though, even if FF 12, 11, X-2, X, and 9(lol not to mention the upcoming 13, and 14) didn't have a FF name, they would still suck, and FF 8 would only be good to possibly very good depending on taste(not great, and sure as hell not "one of the GREATS").
Ok ok 3rd RPGs suck and FF games sucks

Zoltor

01-01-2010, 10:50 PM

Man, where do you come from? a cave stuck in 1996? There have been plenty of awesome 3D RPGs that work well. More recent examples (aside from FF series since you seem to hate them all) can be Oblivion, Fallout, Fables, etc... You don't think those are good 3D RPGs?

...and WTF are you talking about tactics games don't work in 3D? Tactics Ogre sure did a good job (also FFT, yes, a FF game, crap) The 3rd dimension was a cool addition, making the board with levels.

Seriously, don't be so closed-minded... and welcome to 2010!

You clearly have no idea what true 3D is(TO/FFT has 3D sprites "only", everything else is 2D with camera angle changing/turning.

You do realise artist draw 2D pictures all the time, with give the impression it is 3D right lol, It's the same thing here). There is a ******* huge differance between True 3D or something drawn in 2D to give a 3D kind'v feel(which is what's refered to as semi 3D, not true 3D which you are trying to make it out to be).

I bet you think FF7 is Pure 3D as well then(sorry to break it to you, but It's not). DQ 7 is another semi 3D game, where DQ 8 was a true 3D game.

I have yet to see any good 3D game made, with DQ 8 probally being the best one, which was craptastic to say the least.

PS. I can't believe I need to debate this, It's very easy to tell between true 3D and semi 3D/simulated 3D(aka 2D made to look 3D)

Wraith Storm

01-01-2010, 11:01 PM

Like what? I need some new RPGs to play.

If you haven't played Wild Arms 4, then I strongly suggest it. It's not current gen but that doesn't stop it from being one of the best RPGs I have played in years. WA 1, 2, and 3 were very similar games and the series started to get a little stale.

Wild Arms 4 came along and completely rebooted the series while still retaining the spirit of the originals. They replaced the standard turn based battle system with the the "Hex Grid" battle system that I found to be every bit as refreshing as Shadow Hearts "Judgment Ring". You actually get involved in the battles. The Hex Grid is one of my favorite battle systems in recent years. It is a very simple idea that allows for a lot of depth and strategy. You can cast spell effects in certain hexes and move around the hexes to corner enemies. It allows for so much variety.

I was also pleasantly surprised by the level design. There are a lot of dungeons in the game where there will be stretches of 2.5d platforming! It's awesome! The game will actually assume a side view and it literally turns into a platformer of sorts where you have to jump over crumbling bridges and moving platforms. There is some really good puzzle solving going on as well. I was amazed at how well placed the 2.5d platforming sections were. They are usually at midpoint in the dungeons and break up the pace of standard dungeon crawling.

I'm not going to explain every detail, but they also added several other features that add a LOT to the game. There is a device called the "Accelerator" that slows down time and allows you to see hidden items. It also works into the platforming and puzzle sections nicely. I also like the unique approach of how you learn characters abilities and how they are incorporated into the game. The story is the same thing we have seen year after year, but it was delivered with solid dialog by characters that I actually cared about.

With each installment Final Fantasy evolves and refines a bit, but equally rehashes. Wild Arms 4 evolved, refined, and reinvigorated the JRPG genre by trying out fresh ideas or putting a unique twist on established ones. Wild Arms 4 may not have the budget or a sweeping story of Final Fantasy proportions, but as a game, IMO is much more fun to play and overall a much better experience than any FF game of the past 10 years.

If you were referring to current Gen JRPGs, then I am sorry, I can't help you out much there. I have only played Blue Dragon and I am only a few hours in at that. I have to say however, that this game has blown me away so far. It got a lot of flack and so far I have yet to see why. Every second I have spent with this game has fired up my imagination and kick started my youthful spirit in a way that no RPG has since Skies of Arcadia. I feel like a kid all over again where everything seems so unreal and fascinating. These kids are on an adventure and I'm right there with them. Hopefully the game will continue to impress.

Overbite

01-01-2010, 11:03 PM

You clearly have no idea what true 3D is(TO/FFT has 3D sprites "only", everything else is 2D with camera angle changing/turning.

You do realise artist draw 2D pictures all the time, with give the impression it is 3D right lol, It's the same thing here). There is a ******* huge differance between True 3D or something drawn in 2D to give a 3D kind'v feel(which is what's refered to as semi 3D, not true 3D which you are trying to make it out to be).

I bet you think FF7 is Pure 3D as well then(sorry to break it to you, but It's not). DQ 7 is another semi 3D game, where DQ 8 was a true 3D game.

I have yet to see any good 3D game made, with DQ 8 probally being the best one, which was craptastic to say the least.

PS. I can't believe I need to debate this, It's very easy to tell between true 3D and semi 3D/simulated 3D(aka 2D made to look 3D)

dude you're kind of stupid

name a good 3D strategy rpg? Valkirya Chronicles.

good 3D rpg? Tales of Symphonia, Abyss, and Vesperia. Wild Arms 5. Dragon Age Origins. Final Fantasy XII. Dragon Quest 8!

Saying that an RPG has to be 2D to be any good is just stupid. It's one of the genres that can go from 2D to 3D and still play the same.

Daria

01-01-2010, 11:11 PM

Zoltor hated Dragon Quest 8. Do we really need to make any further arguments that he's retarded?

monkeychemist

01-01-2010, 11:13 PM

You clearly have no idea what true 3D is(TO/FFT has 3D sprites "only", everything else is 2D with camera angle changing/turning.

You do realise artist draw 2D pictures all the time, with give the impression it is 3D right lol, It's the same thing here). There is a ******* huge differance between True 3D or something drawn in 2D to give a 3D kind'v feel(which is what's refered to as semi 3D, not true 3D which you are trying to make it out to be).

I bet you think FF7 is Pure 3D as well then(sorry to break it to you, but It's not). DQ 7 is another semi 3D game, where DQ 8 was a true 3D game.

I have yet to see any good 3D game made, with DQ 8 probally being the best one, which was craptastic to say the least.

PS. I can't believe I need to debate this, It's very easy to tell between true 3D and semi 3D/simulated 3D(aka 2D made to look 3D)

Hey smart guy, while in TO and FFT the graphics may not true 3D as you say, but the game is played in 3D. You have 3 dimensions of movement, so you, my friend have no idea what you're talking about...and explain to me your incredible logic that FF destroyed the gaming industry??? hahahhaha

Raedon

01-01-2010, 11:23 PM

No need to feed the troll.

Dude is either drunk, huffing keyboard duster, or is just trolling ... probably all the above.

Zoltor

01-01-2010, 11:24 PM

dude you're kind of stupid

name a good 3D strategy rpg? Valkirya Chronicles.

good 3D rpg? Tales of Symphonia, Abyss, and Vesperia. Wild Arms 5. Dragon Age Origins. Final Fantasy XII. Dragon Quest 8!

Saying that an RPG has to be 2D to be any good is just stupid. It's one of the genres that can go from 2D to 3D and still play the same.

Lol, dragon Age an RPG, that's funny, just like how companies try passing off Diablo clones as if they were RPGs, sorry but the are not. Most aer Action/Adventure, and there maybe 1-2 that are atleast action/RPGs(not pure RPG). I played that tales game ages ago(it wasn't POS perse, but it sure doesn't live up to the praise people give it), and if I recall wasn't pure 3D either DQ 8 was pretty bad(not as bad as other games made that gen, but bad neverless, and horribly worse then any other DQ game ever made.

FF 12 was not only a complete POS, but it wasn't an RPG either, at best it was an action/RPG(and even that is a bit of a stretch in termonology).

Just wow, with people that think such games are good, no wonder the industry is in such bad shape, I'm sure you think DQM:Joker was a good game as well. If your standards are so low that you think those are good, I pitty you, because the odds are you never played a actual good game before.

Zoltor

01-01-2010, 11:38 PM

Hey smart guy, while in TO and FFT the graphics may not true 3D as you say, but the game is played in 3D. You have 3 dimensions of movement, so you, my friend have no idea what you're talking about...and explain to me your incredible logic that FF destroyed the gaming industry??? hahahhaha

You have no idea how coding actually works do you? just because the are levels, doesn't mean It's 3D(hell you can walk on walls if someone coded it to be allowed. there's a BIG(see the ******** word "Big") differance between a 2D drawing made to look 3D(and clearly the maps in TO/FFT games aren't in 3 dimensions, It's a simple trick probally thousands of years old), and a game that is actually 3D.

PS. I wish I was at one of my friend's house, so I can use his art program to draw a step by step diagram of how It's done. It's done in 2D(one single drawn picture).

NayusDante

01-01-2010, 11:57 PM

I'm beginning to think that the Final Fantasy name should be reserved for traditional JRPGs that follow the expected formula. All of these "neat ideas" are fine and good, but they really ought to be different games from the FF series. It would appear that Final Fantasy ended on PlayStation, and they've since just reused the moogles, chocobos, and the FF name in new, completely different games.

I'm looking forward to FFXIII because it's a well-developed JRPG that pushes the PS3 and also sounds halfway interesting. NOT because it's "Final Fantasy," because it isn't. It's time to start naming these games independently, because Squenix has failed to preserve any definition of the name Final Fantasy beyond a common set of creatures and the name Cid.

Zoltor

01-02-2010, 12:04 AM

NayusDante

01-02-2010, 12:21 AM

The battle system still bears enough similarity to what we're used to in "FF," so I'm still classifying it as a JRPG. It's menu-driven combat, and that's my main criteria. Even FFXII (barely) manages to squeeze in by that point, but FFXIII looks squarely within.

backguard

01-02-2010, 02:02 AM

If you haven't played Wild Arms 4, then I strongly suggest it.
Thanks - I will give that a shot. You also reminded me to play the 2nd an 3rd Shadow Hearts games. Loved the first but never got around to the others.

monkeychemist

01-02-2010, 07:54 AM

You have no idea how coding actually works do you? just because the are levels, doesn't mean It's 3D(hell you can walk on walls if someone coded it to be allowed. there's a BIG(see the ******** word "Big") differance between a 2D drawing made to look 3D(and clearly the maps in TO/FFT games aren't in 3 dimensions, It's a simple trick probally thousands of years old), and a game that is actually 3D.

PS. I wish I was at one of my friend's house, so I can use his art program to draw a step by step diagram of how It's done. It's done in 2D(one single drawn picture).

We're talking about different things here. I'm saying the gameplay is 3D. You're saying the coding isn't 3D. The graphics however, are NOT 3D no matter how you code them. Unless they are a holographic projected image, it's always going to be a 2D illusion of 3D. So who cares how it's programmed?

Back to the topic, I would invite the skeptics to just give this one some time, maybe even a chance. You're jumping to conclusion not having played the game, that's pretty closed-minded. I think Square will *once again* blow everyone away.

backguard

01-02-2010, 06:46 PM

Back to the topic, I would invite the skeptics to just give this one some time, maybe even a chance. You're jumping to conclusion not having played the game, that's pretty closed-minded. I think Square will *once again* blow everyone away.

What are the Japanese reviewers saying?

Kid Fenris

01-02-2010, 08:19 PM

Everyone, please keep arguing with Zoltor. He's hilarious.

Zoltor hated Dragon Quest 8.

Stopped clocks, twice a day, etc.

Raedon

01-02-2010, 09:29 PM

What are the Japanese reviewers saying?

they love it / they hate it. Most of the gamers are complaining about how the death of one character causes the End Game. I'm not sure if they were talking about the girl? or some main character? No idea really.

You can always read the only full scale import review online right now at Electronic Theatre (http://www.electronictheatre.co.uk/index.php/articles/3743-electronic-theatre-import-review-final-fantasy-xiii). They say the game is fantastic.

http://www.electronictheatre.co.uk/images/finalfantasyxiii/final_fantasy_xiii_bundle_1.jpg

In the videos above you'll see "Optima Change." In the English release that will be "Paradigm Shift" whatever that means.

NayusDante

01-02-2010, 09:33 PM

Most of the gamers are complaining about how the death of one character causes the End Game.

This has been done before, you had to keep Bannon alive in FF6, so I don't see how it's a big deal. Unless it's something stupid like not being able to phoenix down one of your regular party members...

monkeychemist

01-03-2010, 08:37 AM

You can always read the only full scale import review online right now at Electronic Theatre (http://www.electronictheatre.co.uk/index.php/articles/3743-electronic-theatre-import-review-final-fantasy-xiii). They say the game is fantastic.

Awesome review, thanks so much! It covered a lot of points that I was hoping for. For example a return to the ATB-style fighting, but with a twist. I loved the battle system of FFX because you could switch people in and out, this one, you can change "roles" to make things interesting.

Also, and as a main rebuttal to the OP's pictures, there seems to be quite a bit of exploration. So maybe the game, while having a straight map, has ways of making that map more interesting.... *OR* perhaps, as stated in the review, Square made some things easy for newcomers. Since those are the first 3 maps, they made them really simple as to not put off someone who's never played an RPG. Then as the game progresses, maps get more intricate, exploration becomes possible and even necessary.

Like I said before, it's a little too premature to slam this game, let's give it a chance!

NayusDante

01-03-2010, 08:45 AM

You know, you could make a map like that for any RPG. That doesn't look any more linear than FFX, and it's clear that they exaggerated the scope of it. Even still, there could be tons of interactivity in those linear sections for all we know.

Wraith Storm

01-03-2010, 04:41 PM

I loved the battle system of FFX because you could switch people in and out...

It's an excellent idea when when its executed properly, unfortunately in FFX it wasn't.

Take a look at Shining the Holy Arc on the Saturn. In mid battle you could switch characters in and out for other preferred characters and in FFX you could do the same thing. But FFX screwed it all up because any character that wanted XP had to perform an action!!! WTF!?!?! In STHA and like almost any other RPG, when you win the battle all your characters get XP divided amongst them.

In FFX there were plenty of enemies that I could kill in one hit. But then I would only have that ONE character gaining levels. So to make sure no one fell behind in levels I had to constantly use weak attacks to make sure EVERYONE got their turn and performed an action so they could get their share of the XP. It was needlessly time consuming. It slowed down the pace of an already slow game. It felt like cheap tactics to artificially lengthen the game.