Final Fantasy XIII

[BadMoon]

Going to fire it up now and give it a try!

 

[Solidus]

I'm definitely going to get FF 13, but since there's just a standard edition being released (without any bonus extras), I can wait. In addition, I hope that there's going to be DLC in the future. I can't imagine playing an FF game with just a linear storyline, and nothing else. I guess, that I've been spoiled by action RPGs like Fallout 3, and Dragon Age.

 

[Raikirik]

Anyone start playing this yet?

Like, last week!

I once again tried to get one of the cardboard stand up displays, this time at another store and was met with success! I didn't get to pick it up today but they told me they'll only be using it up until Friday because the manager hates those kinds of things. Lucky me.

 

[BadMoon]

About an hour in. Loving it so far. I need to stop playing it until I beat Mass Effect 2 though. There is no way I can tackle these both at once.

 

[Jen]

I pre-ordered this but haven't decided if I'm actually going to pick it up or not.....the reviews have me thinking that maybe I'll wait and pick this up later at a cheaper price........

anyone else start it yet? I curious to hear what people think. If reviews are true that things don't really start rolling until after the 20th hours...I may end up passing on this one for now.

 

[darthviper107]

I've started playing and at first it's really slow, the first hour or two are just like the PS3 demo.

I can't give a full opinion about it since I haven't completed it (won't be for a while) but from what I've played (3 hours or so) it's got a very confusing plot that's not well explained, characters change their minds a lot and there's some really bad dialogue. I'm playing it on Xbox 360 and far as graphics go, it's not as bad as it seemed from the screenshots, but you can tell the difference, mainly from the hair which looks pixilated.

What's really puzzling is that there's pre-recorded ingame cinematics that look like they were recorded from the PS3 that are used from time to time, but are really unnecessary as far as making things run better, they could have easily done them as a regular realtime cinematic and saved some disc space (or improved the quality of the realistic cinematics which are heavily compressed as it is)

for PS3 owners, are there cinematics that are prerecorded in game?

 

[Raikirik]

I've started playing and at first it's really slow, the first hour or two are just like the PS3 demo.

I can't give a full opinion about it since I haven't completed it (won't be for a while) but from what I've played (3 hours or so) it's got a very confusing plot that's not well explained, characters change their minds a lot and there's some really bad dialogue. I'm playing it on Xbox 360 and far as graphics go, it's not as bad as it seemed from the screenshots, but you can tell the difference, mainly from the hair which looks pixilated.

What's really puzzling is that there's pre-recorded ingame cinematics that look like they were recorded from the PS3 that are used from time to time, but are really unnecessary as far as making things run better, they could have easily done them as a regular realtime cinematic and saved some disc space (or improved the quality of the realistic cinematics which are heavily compressed as it is)

for PS3 owners, are there cinematics that are prerecorded in game?

What is considered prerecorded? It does cut to a cinematic cutscene using the in game engine every now and then. I'm guessing if there wasn't anything prerecorded (aside from CG) then it would just be all considered seamless?

 

[darthviper107]

What is considered prerecorded? It does cut to a cinematic cutscene using the in game engine every now and then. I'm guessing if there wasn't anything prerecorded (aside from CG) then it would just be all considered seamless?

Prerecorded, like they had the cinematics already made in the game but they recorded them to a video file and played that in the game rather than having the game engine do the cinematic in real time. Usually they do that when the cinematic wouldn't be able to load fast enough (like if it's switching between scenes quickly) so they play a video of the cinematic instead of the actual cinematic.

In the Xbox 360 version it does it a lot when it really doesn't need to.

 

[Raikirik]

Prerecorded, like they had the cinematics already made in the game but they recorded them to a video file and played that in the game rather than having the game engine do the cinematic in real time. Usually they do that when the cinematic wouldn't be able to load fast enough (like if it's switching between scenes quickly) so they play a video of the cinematic instead of the actual cinematic.

In the Xbox 360 version it does it a lot when it really doesn't need to.

So how do you tell? Sorry I'm so noobish at this. There are some scenes that load during the game on PS3 made obvious by the Now Loading at the bottom of the screen. It also cuts to scenes where the screen turns black and starts another scene? Am I getting anywhere close to describing the proper thing?

 

[kobayashi93]

I'm enjoying it so far. I just beat Shiva.

The story is told in a fashion that I don't really like. Like they expect you to know what is going on already. I really dig the new battle and level up system. I get mad when I don't get 5 stars...

 

[Raikirik]

I'm enjoying it so far. I just beat Shiva.

The story is told in a fashion that I don't really like. Like they expect you to know what is going on already. I really dig the new battle and level up system. I get mad when I don't get 5 stars...

Yeah, you should read the datalog to fill in any gaps but I found the more I progressed the more I understood what was going on.

There are flashbacks as well which will give you an understanding as to what is going on. The Purge happens on Day 13 so the flashbacks go through the days before.

Advancing + Datalog + Flashback.

 

[plasmid303]

Prerecorded, like they had the cinematics already made in the game but they recorded them to a video file and played that in the game rather than having the game engine do the cinematic in real time. Usually they do that when the cinematic wouldn't be able to load fast enough (like if it's switching between scenes quickly) so they play a video of the cinematic instead of the actual cinematic.

In the Xbox 360 version it does it a lot when it really doesn't need to.

I've read somewhere (I think on 1up.com) that some cutscenes that are rendered real-time on the PS3 version are just compressed video files on the 360, so yeah, you're perceiving things correctly.

I'm about 3 hours in. I like it so far, generally, though the first 'dungeon' you're put into is incredibly dull and sparse, with rather boring level design and some dead-end pathways.

I like that the story is introduced in media res (in the middle of things).

 

[Odowankenobi]

I like the combat so far. it's very fast paced and intuitive. The Paradigm Shift mechanic is great. Sometimes you need a white mage, and sometimes you need three soldiers. They finally let you do that at will.

 

[darthviper107]

I've read somewhere (I think on 1up.com) that some cutscenes that are rendered real-time on the PS3 version are just compressed video files on the 360, so yeah, you're perceiving things correctly.

I'm about 3 hours in. I like it so far, generally, though the first 'dungeon' you're put into is incredibly dull and sparse, with rather boring level design and some dead-end pathways.

I like that the story is introduced in media res (in the middle of things).

It's easy to tell on the 360 if it's a recorded video rather than real time since the hair ends up looking nicer, but there's also compression artifacts that are noticeable in the picture that give it away.

But still it's puzzling that they did it that way, really there are lots of times where they could have just done it in real time like normal without the issue of not having enough resources.

 

[Vader AL]

It's easy to tell on the 360 if it's a recorded video rather than real time since the hair ends up looking nicer, but there's also compression artifacts that are noticeable in the picture that give it away.

But still it's puzzling that they did it that way, really there are lots of times where they could have just done it in real time like normal without the issue of not having enough resources.

they probably did it to save time on porting it.

 

[kobayashi93]

Yeah, you should read the datalog to fill in any gaps but I found the more I progressed the more I understood what was going on.

There are flashbacks as well which will give you an understanding as to what is going on. The Purge happens on Day 13 so the flashbacks go through the days before.

Advancing + Datalog + Flashback.

Yep. It's all pretty clear for me now.

I really dislike having to use the team of Sazh, Hope, and Vanille.

 

[Havok]

I'm enjoying it so far. I think I'm about 3 hours in or so and yeah the linearity is there but it doesn't really bother me. The combat system is nice so far but I'm just bracing myself for the inevitable difficulty spike.

The only things I have a small problem with is there's no way to pause the combat to use potions and input commands and all that. I know that's how they intended it though so it's not really a fault, I'm just more used to that kind of system. Also the story is somewhat confusing. I'm trying to grasp the whole thing but it's kinda hard so far.

Otherwise this game is great.

 

[plasmid303]

I hope the game actually takes some time to develop its story concepts with some show & tell instead of us players having to go into the Datalog to read about it.

I'm only about 4 hours in, and generally I don't mind if a game or a film drops its audience into the thick of things right off the bat, but man, if at 3-4 hours in I'm scratching my head as to what a Fal'Cie is or what whatever the game is doing something wrong.

 

[THX-182]

Got my copy today. I got it for the PS3 to keep it uniform because I have FF VII-X2 and XII on the Playstation. Probably be a little while before I get to it. I have so many other games to finish.

 

[BadMoon]

The story is told in a fashion that I don't really like. Like they expect you to know what is going on already. I really dig the new battle and level up system. I get mad when I don't get 5 stars...

I was going to post the same thing about the story. The only flaw I can see in this game is they make the assumption that you already know what the hell is going on. I didn't feel like reading the data logs last night so I think that will help. I was only going to play for an hour and well, that turned into about 4 hours. I am loving it! Like I said earlier, a game that I don't have to run around and talk to a bunch of meaningless people is tailor made for me. So if that makes it linear for however amount of time I am 100% fine with that and applaud them for not wasting my time. The graphics are what one would expect them to be from Square at this point. The story (although confusing) seems to be good too. I can't wait to play some more. I just got to the paradigm part where they teach you how to use all of that. What seemed simple just got a whole lot more involved. I turned it off after that so I could really go over it all again so I understand fully how it all works. Anyways this is another fantastic FF game. If you have played them and love them, then this will be no different. Enjoy!