Critic's review: http://www.gamesradar.com/final-fantasy-xiii-review/
Being the 13th main installment for the Final Fantasy franchise, the game was released on December 16, 2009 towards immense positive feedback. Amidst the raving reviews of the game, praising its wonderful graphics and streamlined experience, I feel that this game is way, WAY too overblown for its own good.
(The topics I have below are counter-points to the critic and not everything will be reviewed)
Story/Characters:
For a Final Fantasy game, the story for this game is nothing compared to its predecessors. The basic plot for this game is to save someone from a deep sleep and prevent the destruction of the world defying fate or following it through. Sure, the story seems to be normal but what this game fails at doing is investing the player in the dilemmas of the characters and the world. In the first few minutes after a couple, admittedly, beautiful cutscenes, the game decides to thrust you straight into the action, without explaining the setting or the couple characters that are available to you. While the critic says that this attempt means you don't need to sit through long and tedious cutscenes explaining the characters and settings, I think those are necessary in order to make the player feel anything towards what is happening in the game. True, the cutscenes present in the game make an attempt to show off the world you're trying to protect but it all amounts to cool looking buildings and impressive size of the world. Also, the characters that you travel with on this 30+ hour journey are ear-numbingly annoying. As the critic states, they are one-dimensional and not fleshed out enough. They are all defined by stereotypes and sad, puppy-dog eyes that cry every 2 seconds about how someone in your party accidentally got their mother killed in a crossfire (yes, that's a plot point). Do you have any motivation to follow these bland characters on their arduous journey to save a world barely fleshed out by a couple cutscenes? No, and that means something in a 30+ hour Japanese Role-Playing Game (JRPG).
Graphics:
Yes, critic, they're very beautiful and are in a league of its own (at the time). NEXT
Combat:
Taking notes from the previous iterations of the franchise, it features a real time strategy combat style that focuses on teamwork rather than single character powers. The main innovation is the ability to change character roles mid-fight to respond to any situation. As the critic points out, it does make combat more streamlined, but I feel that as the characters can do actions without the need of the player, you might as well put the controller down and take a nap. Your sole role in combat is managing Health and team positions. Fun.
Final Notes:
While the game is graphically amazing for its time, the story and characters are what, ultimately, make up 70% of a JRPG. Due to it being incredibly linear until the third act of the game, the game misses out on the ability to flesh out the characters and settings with necessary side quests and towns to visit an explore. With the vast majority of positive feedback and TWO sequels produced, you can thank this bland excuse for a JRPG for showing us how graphics are apparently everything.
-Nikki "Nikolas" Pham
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