FF 13-2

[Apocalypt_flyer]

Erm, this is out next month but no one said a thing about it on here? BAFFLED.

It's garnering much better review than 13 in advance, mainly cause the gameplay is said to be meatier and the linearity issue has been dealt with!

[Phoenix]

Oh yeah this looks good and you can recruit monsters as your third player, I'm a bit iffy about the two characters but the battle system from 13 was my favorite in a long time and i'm glad it's being used again.

[Slave]

I think the general consensus is that this hasn't performed as well as expected in Japan, despite opening week numbers of over half a million (down about a million on the launch of Final Fantasy XIII) and then pretty much dropping off the radar. However there are suggestions that it's actually been designed with a Western audience in mind, so it could pick up well outside of Japan.

Square Enix have apparently vowed to step up their production cycle and get the "core" games out quicker which seems sensible. I think they're really lagging behind in the RPG stakes, compared to games like Xenoblade Chronicles. It's a shame really, but I don't think the Final Fantasy brand is anywhere near as strong as it used to be.

[Apocalypt_flyer]

Square Enix have apparently vowed to step up their production cycle and get the "core" games out quicker which seems sensible. I think they're really lagging behind in the RPG stakes, compared to games like Xenoblade Chronicles. It's a shame really, but I don't think the Final Fantasy brand is anywhere near as strong as it used to be.

Agreed, it all went downhill a bit with FF12 and that bunch of DULLTARDS.

[Slave]

I felt like their first MAJOR wrong-step (besides the absurd number of spin-off titles) was X-2. I didn't actually think it was a bad game per se, but totally misunderstood the series' appeal. I am pretty sure it's only because I'm gay that I thought Yuna being a pop singer was kind of cool. However the dress thing...it's such a poor concept for a series traditionally aimed at males.

I don't think I've really paid much attention to a game since then. I know RPG needs to move on from the battle systems used in Final Fantasy VII, but it became so convoluted it was silly (e.g. levelling up by SLOT MACHINE in Crisis Core). The game they've announced for the 3DS however promises a more straightforward battle system so maybe they've finally learnt.

[Peekaboo]

FF12 is a great game DESPITE Square-Enix and thanks to Matsuno's input.

I have no expectations whatsoever from S-E anymore - they have already messed up the only one of their sagas which was reasonably good (Dragon Quest). Any other of their remaining IP's from the 80's and 90's have been raped and left to rot in the cold a long time ago (Parasite Eve, Star Ocean, Front Mission, Grandia, the Mana series, etc). Every time I give them a new chance they stubbornly remind me why I despise them nowadays - I even had some faint hope for Dissidia to be something competent beyond anime wank fodder.

[Peekaboo]

I felt like their first MAJOR wrong-step (besides the absurd number of spin-off titles) was X-2.

I feel their decline started with the FF film, actually, which triggered Sakaguchi's departure and the Enix acquisition. I have only played FF X very briefly but you can already see the cracks starting to show there.

[Peekaboo]

I felt like their first MAJOR wrong-step (besides the absurd number of spin-off titles) was X-2.

I feel their decline started with the FF film, actually, which triggered Sakaguchi's departure and the Enix acquisition. I have only played FF X very briefly but you can already see the cracks starting to show there.

[COB]

My interest in this series is at ROCK BOTTOM

[Diddy]

I'm looking forward to it at least

(sort of)

[COB]

GAS 'EM UP with the GREENS and LET 'EM GO

[Phoenix]

[David_5000]

A friend bought me XIII last year so I've only recently got into it. Not the sort of game I'd usually play at all but I'm looking forward to XIII-2 now!

[Lee]

I'm sure I made a thread on it and got about 2 'NO THANKS' responses. I won't be able to get this for months yet. I'm feeling quite annoyed I can't play it! I usually play them on launch day!

[Lee]

Here it is. The first half of it seems to be missing. Started by me but first post is widge...
http://www.moopy.org.uk/forums/showthread.php?72419

[Apocalypt_flyer]

Sorry, Lee! Never registered it.

Anyways - I had a quick look at the storyline and GOOD GOD, it sounds bloody GLOOMY. Not that XIII is a ray of sunshine and a half to begin with!

[MAMA]

Demo was shit. QTEs?! fuck off.

[COB]

They're advertising this on TV now, and it just looks so far removed from anything I ever enjoyed about this series. Apologies for being negative, but everything about it just screams embarrassing second-rate SHIT

[Diddy]

IGN's review says they've addressed a lot of criticisms of FFXIII (linearity mainly) but at the expense of the narrative. I'll still get it and TRUDGE through no doubt!

[COB]

I think I just hate how they present their stories these days, to be honest. I've just felt so completely unengaged with the last few FF games, so there's been no incentive to play through and enjoy it

[Apocalypt_flyer]

IGN's review says they've addressed a lot of criticisms of FFXIII (linearity mainly) but at the expense of the narrative. I'll still get it and TRUDGE through no doubt!

Yeah, it's worrying. I mean it's not like the narrative was top-notch in the last two installments.

[Slave]

I do find it amusing that 85% of the adverts for the game state "NOT IN-GAME FOOTAGE"

I think I'm kind of over the Final Fantasy series completely at the moment. I'm not one of those "They need to remake FFVII" people, I just think Square-Enix have completely lost touch with what they were good at and what people want from them.

[MAMA]

Actual fantasy was the best Final Fantasy.

This weeaboo, J-drama shit is horrible.

[Lee]

I'm very much looking forward to this after watching some videos. More freedom, chatting to anyone, the 3rd character as a monster, townz, Chocobo races
Still no PS3 though

[Apocalypt_flyer]

Has anyone on here actually GIVEN THIS A GO?

[David_5000]

Has anyone on here actually GIVEN THIS A GO?

Odd, I was looking for this thread to ask the same thing.

The answer for me is no, not yet.

[Indie]

I don't think I've ever played a FF

Lose.

[Apocalypt_flyer]

Me neither - it'll have to wait until after my exams in May, I reckon.

[Diddy]

Oh I have it!

It's not that BAD so far, it helps that I'm used to the FF13 mechanics, I only finished that about 8 months ago so it's relatively fresh. I'm about 4/5 hours in now

GOOD:
- Serah is a bit of a flake but the core duo are working for me pretty well so far. Want to drown Mog in a river though, kupo.
- What linearity? I can see this being totally open pretty soon
- A few irritations are gone, like TPs
- It looks pretty super
- These fragment quests are a welcome diversion, much like the marks in FF12

BAD:
- Don't like this QTE business
- The random encounter system is baffling (allegedly).
- OK linearity is fixed, often by making you go around in circles. Certainly saves disc space evidently (this game is only on one disc)
- OK BITS OF THE PLACE ARE IN TIME FLUX OR WHATEVER, I GET IT!


I'm enjoying it though, they are beating me over the head with the whole "Where is Lightning" issue pretty much CONSTANTLY.

[Diddy]

That last post feels quite negative on reading it back. I would RECOMMEND IT. In fact if it wasn't a school night I'd be playing it right now

[Diddy]

Oh I'm rather INTO this now, yesterday I ploughed in four hours after work and a few today. It's a bit disjointed, If I didn't have my guide I'd have no idea where I was going. But it's like wall-to-wall sub-quests!

[Diddy]

*googles Noel & Snow fanfic*

[Diddy]

No? Nobody?

Kupo?

[Diddy]

You're all missing out on made-for-cosplay star Chocolina though



CHOCO-BOCO-LINAAAAA

[COB]

Talk about grabbing the PINK POUND

[Apocalypt_flyer]

This is now 15 quid on Sainsbury's Entertainment stuff.

[Diddy]

Talk about grabbing the PINK POUND

The GAY GIL

[Diddy]

Apoca, why are you searching Sainsburys site?

Anyway BUY THIS EVERYONE, particularly if you have MEGA OCD, it's PERFECT!

though by FUCK the "Hands of time" puzzles are so time consuming, fuck knows how ANYONE is supposed to do it with the timer running. I had to write down the numbers, pause it and work it out on a NAPKIN

[Apocalypt_flyer]

Someone tweeted it today hence I thought I'd pass on the info.

[Diddy]

GET IT APOCA!

also £17.99 (on PS3 and XBox360) on Play.com and probably Amazon