Final Fantasy 13 Review

     Today I’m going to give a brief video game review. I’m going to focus on the game I am currently playing, Final Fantasy XIII. Final Fantasy XIII is one of the most talked about of the series. It has mixed reviews. Some people love the game and some hate it. One of the critiques I read was that the game wasn’t enjoyable because the amount of cutscenes dominates the actual gameplay. Cut scenes, simply, are scenes in between gameplay that fill you in on the story. To me, this isn’t a problem at all. In fact, when looking for games to play, I’m drawn in more by the story and graphics then just solid gameplay. I am almost positive this is because I’m a writer. I love to unravel stories. Video games are like interactive books to me. Similar to movies, televisions and books, video games have a lot to say. With that being said, I think the story of this game is amazing so far, and I can’t wait to finish it. It focuses on six characters that you alternate playing as, Lightning, Snow, Hope, Vanille, Sazh and Fang. Each has their own story that somehow intertwine with each other. The plot isn’t so simple to follow at first because it takes place in its own universe. If you’re looking for a realistic game, Final Fantasy 13, and in fact many Final Fantasy games are not for you.  Simply put, these six people are tasked with completing their focus (a goal given to them) in order to avoid becoming a c’ieth (a monster). If they complete their focus, they turn to crystal and are given an eternal life. Each person has a reason that they’re in the situation to start with but I’m not going to get too much into the storyline because I don’t want to ruin the game for you if you plan on playing.

     The gameplay itself is based a lot on strategizing. It isn’t your standard fighting game. It didn’t take me too long to catch onto the mechanics of the game, but upgrading and equipping the perfect gear can be intimidating without the help of google. Right now, I’m pretty far into the game and have maxed out two weapons thanks to some walkthrough articles I read on line. Seriously, don’t be afraid to google a walkthrough. It’s much better to get passed the part with someone’s help than to leave the game untouched for years because you can’t figure out how to beat it. The fighting is pretty stationary, meaning you choose attacks and the characters will move on their own. You don’t get to move out of the way of incoming attacks which can be frustrating to some. The Crystarium system of upgrading stats is very simple.

      
    All in all, I was willing to drag through boss battles that were extremely difficult just to see how the story would progress. The quirks with the gameplay were balanced out with the beautifully detailed cutscenes. All in all, I’d recommend this game to anyone who loves a good story and a strong female lead (I didn’t mention this before, but the girl on the cover, Lightning, is pretty hardcore and in no way a Damsel in distress. She can definitely hold her own in battle). I look forward to finishing the game.

Here is the official website if you want to know more about the game (it came out in 2010, better late than never) : http://archive.na.square-enix.com//ff13/#/content/Home/0

Picture from the Final Fantasy X111-2 Trailer

What do you guys think of the game? What is your favorite game? Do you prefer addicting gameplay over immense cut scenes? Have a game recommendation for me? Let me know in the comments!