It sure has been a long time (seven years, in fact) since we last saw a standalone Final Fantasy title. It’s hard to believe Final Fantasy X-2 was released way back in 2003. Yes, a lot of time has passed and Square Enix has been busy working on the 13th installment of the franchise ever since.
There’s no denying the Final Fantasy series has been good to Square Enix. More than 92 million copies of the franchise have shipped worldwide. Those who fell in love with the series have followed it through, and it continues to pick up new fans along the way. Which could very well be why there is so much excitement over this title.
Square Enix has a history of producing quality, lengthy, intense role playing games but can a company justify spending 7 years producing a title? While series fanatics will fall head over heals in love, newer fans will question a few aspects of the game.
The Story
The story of Final Fantasy XIII is quite complex. While I will give a few basic details about the plot, I don’t want to spill the beans and ruin the game. You see, Final Fantasy XIII doesn’t reveal all its story right off the top. As you play through, you will be treated to flashback after flashback which will fill in some of the key plot points.
What I will tell you is you control six characters throughout the game who are from Cocoon, a moon which floats high above the savage world of Pulse. The moon and world are very different but have one similarity, they are both controlled by godlike mech creatures known as the fal’Cie. The fal’Cie oversee everything. Humans who are branded by the fal’Cie become l’Cie and are given a task to complete, also known as a “focus”. If they do not complete their “focus” in time they will turn into creatures. Those who complete their task live forever as crystals.
Not all the characters know each other when the game begins, but each will find themselves on similar paths. Their stories crisscross and intermingle with each other through this lengthy game.
The Gameplay
Final Fantasy 13 doesn’t play out like traditional Final Fantasy games. Yes, you have a party of characters, but it is always changing, and you often have no control over who is in your party at any given time. As the plot progresses, certain characters will leave and others will join. You always play with a mix of your six main characters.
Much of the game feels “on the rails”. while you make your way through the wilderness and towns, your surroundings often dictate where you will go. Your characters are not free to explore very often–in fact, much of the world is hedged in by walls or plants. You do come across the odd side route to explore, but even they are there for the purpose of providing your party with hidden treasure. While the “on the rails” comment may bother those people who like their open sand-box worlds, it actually isn’t bad at all. True, it doesn’t feel like classic Final Fantasy games, but this approach keeps this lengthy title focused.
When it comes to villages, you once again aren’t given the freedom to talk and shop like you have been in the past. Simply walking by a person initiates an instant talk feature so you can hear what they are saying just by stopping for a second. This is good, but it does get rid of the exploration element.
As seasoned vets of the series know, the game centers around fighting scores of enemy monsters and characters. While classic Final Fantasy titles gave you random encounters, FFXIII allows you to see your enemies on the screen before you encounter them. If you choose to, you can attempt to avoid them, or you can try and maneuver yourself into a better fighting position. For example, if you approach a group of enemies from behind, you gain the upper hand by executing a “preemptive attack”–the upper hand of getting the first strike. If you just meet the enemy head on, there is a chance the enemy will strike before you do. Enemies are constantly moving, so pulling off preemptive attacks is easier said then done.
You only control the leader of your party. The rest act on their own and support your decisions. All actions are based on timing. As a time line (known as the ATB guage) fills up along the bottom of the screen, you’re able to pull off moves. Once an action has been completed the time line empties and you must wait for it to replenish before you can act again. The fight system works well and is extremely fast paced. Enemies don’t stop attacking while you decide your next move.
Of course, there’s much more to the complex battle system. Enemies also have combo meters. Hit an enemy enough times to fill up the meter and you can pull off special attacks. Your leader can also summon Ediolons to help in major battles, and you can switch your character classes on the fly. By changing your paradigm (class), you can convert your party members into one of six classes including Ravager, Commando or Medic. These are basically the traditional White Mage, Black Mage, Cleric etc, just under fancy new names. Switching paradigms in the midst of battle is key. Trust me, you will do this often.
While the battle system is somewhat complex, it’s executed quite well. New aspects of fighting are introduced ever so slowly. Twelve hours into the game, you are still learning new techniques through in game tutorials which are very easy to follow. The gradual introduction of how to carry out a full-out fight is well done and makes for a very enjoyable experience.
The Graphics
Final Fantasy games are known for their beautiful cinematics, and FFXIII is no exception. The CG scenes are beautiful, and the in-game environments are equally stunning. Characters are well drawn (although they always wear the same clothes–even in the flashbacks) and the enemies are brilliantly designed.
The music really complements the entire package. The melodies are well produced and the vocals are, at times, haunting. Grammy-nominated Leona Lewis also makes a cameo with her new song “My Hands”.
The Downsides
While I quite enjoyed the overall experience some die-hard Final Fantasy followers will probably have a few beefs. The exploration factor in the game is quite minimal, unlike some of the older FF titles. At times, it really does feel like you’re on tracks and constantly being shoved towards the goal rather then being given hints to where you should end up. Veterans may feel like there is just a bit too much hand holding going on.
Another concern could be the story’s length. It’s three discs long (Xbox 360 version) which equals to more than 40 hours of gameplay. While the story is enjoyable and complex, it’s long and, at times, not very exciting. The first 10 hours or so might be a bit tedious for some, which may have a few questioning if it’s worth carrying on.
The Bottom Line
It’s true, Square Enix has changed up the latest installment in the Final Fantasy franchise to entice newcomers into the series. The world isn’t as open as we’ve seen in the past, and there are a lot of tutorials to play through. But those are not neccesarily bad things. The combat is intense, the story intriguing, and the presentation is fantastic. The fact that Square Enix took so long to release this title shows in many aspects of the game. Final Fantasy XIII took seven years to pull together. Was it worth it? Yes, yes indeed.
The Good
Fast paced combat system
Incredible graphics
Haunting music
40-plus hour of gameplay
The Bad
Game feels like it’s “on rails” at times
Not as much exploring as previous titles in the franchise
First 10 or so hours kinda drag