Let’s get right to it

Final Fantasy XIII is one of those games that some people hold them almost in a religious position in their lives. Square Enix has always delivered a solid Final Fantasy experience every time and this time is not an exception, although some aspects of the game can be seen as mishaps in the eyes of more experienced gamers.

The game begins lifting the fog of mythology and underneath there is a role-playing game. The game, in general, has the same elements than any regular rpg holds: battle systems, levelling, upgrading etc. The thing is, Final Fantasy presents them in somewhat exceptional way. We could say, that Final Fantasy XIII has reached somekind of technically impressive peak in the game system in the series history.

Best battle-system in the series

The battle system is surprisingly one of the best aspect of the game. It is a mixture of old and new, Final Fantasy XIII brings some new twists to a system which already worked.

The overall battle-system is phenomenal: fast, exciting and solid.

Simple commands such as Attack, Magic and Item have now evolved and many new aspects brings tactical elements to the game. The mechanic revolves around the concept of paradigms which are roles with specific abilities. You only control the party leader and the other members of the group act according their roles. These roles are extremely important to truly handle the most difficult enemies. While the idea is actually quite simple, the game builds complexity around it until it delivers fun, tactical and fast paced experience. The overall battle-system is phenomenal: fast, exciting and solid.

The tube is not as bad as it sounds

As you may have heard, Final Fantasy XIII betrays especially its hardcore fans. The lack of “sandbox-element” is there, especially for the first 25-hours. This time, you find yourself running in a tube, buying weapons and upgrades, not from shops and cities, but from the save point instead. For me, this is the biggest mishap in the game. There is no need however to fall in to the pit of despair, because that tube is really awesome and breathtaking. The in-game graphics are so good that it’s not always obvious whether a cutscene is CG or in-game. Final Fantasy XIII takes a step further in the storytelling by streamlining the formula into a more controlled, more focused experience. And yes, you will get some freedom after the first 25 hours.

The pacing is fantastic and it supports the storytelling. There is no reason to actually hate it, because it doesn’t ruin the game. It may be just different you have used to.

Solid story

One of the things Final Fantasy series does well is the actual story. Ok, many other reviews of Final Fantasy XIII say that the story takes missteps but I must disagree. The overal story is something what to expect from Square Enix and it does not disappoint you. The difference is, that this time the concept revolves around personalities of the characters, not the ultimate adversary. To me, this concept feels fresh and somehow more alive.

The Verdirct

Final Fantasy XIII has its pros and cons, but still it delivers quality experience. You don’t need to worry if you’re thinking should you buy the game or not because FF XIII is still an excellent game which will easily compensate the investment. In the Final Fantasy series, I believe that sadly Final Fantasy XIII will be remembered by its technical achievements and linearity, not the story.

8.8 out of 10

Why so high? The game offers quality story with focused, streamlined action which feels good. The game includes VERY beautiful graphics.

Why so low? First half of the game tends to be linear and the main character is not so interesting as you could imagine.