Final Fantasy XIII

[Evil_Death_Bee]

OMG, IT'S OUT!!!

I'm actually not that excited... To be honest, I've never played a Final Fantasy game in my life, aside from "Dirge of Cerberus", which was kind of a spin-off anyway. But I've seen so many ads for this one, and the graphics do look ridiculously good, so I'm a little interested. And I know it's a huge game, so I figured fans would want a thread in which to discuss its awesomeness. So have at it, FF fans!

[Luggy_]

I'll get it someday, I'm sure, but I sure miss the olde FF times...
Spoony bards, 4 party members and only party members( or 16 ), Cid with a weird hotdog suit...
Yeah, good times

[Jacoby]

I've pretty much grown out of RPGs as of late. I just don't really find the effort worthwhile anymore. It takes a lot more to mystify me now, and the stories from recent RPGs just can't do it these days. I may rent this game just to try it out, but I doubt I'll be up for the hours upon hours it takes to get going in the game.

I will, try to add a little sub-discussion to this thread and ask what everyone's favorite Final Fantasy is...

Mine has to be IX. Love me some Vivi and Zidane. I just totally get emotionally involved in that game as a 13 year old kid. Also it was the first one I beat real quick. VIII took forever for me and needed help for a lot of it from my cousin so I just didn't really have a chance to get the story the way it was meant to be taken in. 9 was awesome, though. Good memories.

[amazingflyingpoo]

I will, try to add a little sub-discussion to this thread and ask what everyone's favorite Final Fantasy is...

Man, this is tough.

I'd probably have to say VI or VII with hint of VIII

I say VI because that was one of the first RPG's I actually got into (I had played others, but that's the first that sucked me in) -on a side note, by VI, I mean the one known as III in America on the SNES-

I say VII because it blew me away. People are being harder and harder on it these days, but it will never take my love for it away. When I was in high school I played through this and couldn't believe how awesome it was. When I was in college I played through it again with my wife and I still loved it :-)

I say "with a hint of VIII" because VIII is the only modern Final Fantasy that I haven't beaten. I played into the middle of the 3rd disk (there were 4 right?), but I had been very impatient, I hadn't leveled up enough, and I certainly hadn't used the draw spell enough, so I had to just give up. I was bitter about it for a long time, but nowadays I am just plain excited to give it another play and actually finish it! I will probably download it for PSP in the near future

[Jacoby]

VIII was really excellent. VII was beautiful and had probably the most memorable characters and arguably the best story...but I just missed that game. I didn't have the playstation at the time, and when I finally got one...I think 9 had just come out so I didn't want to jump all the way back to 7. But I did play through almost all of it later, and even though it's an older game I still enjoyed it. But IX was brand new when I got it and all the characters were just so appealing to me.

I also want to try to play through one of those games again either VII, VIII, or IX...but the harsh reality is I can't see myself sitting in my room for hours just leveling up my characters to proceed. At least with LBP level making there's a creative wheel turning in the brain, if anyone gives me crap for spending so much time with LBP I just reply, " it's art, dammit!". But leveling up is just kind of mindless button pressing.

But still...it'd be a nice nostalgic stroll to play through one of those games again.

[Twin_Uzis]

I don't know. I've kind of grown out of JRPGs.

My first one was Phantasy Star 4 (which if you haven't tried, you HAVE TO) on the Genesis, so when I heard about FF7 being "the same," as my illogical child brain described to JRPGs, I thought I'd get it. I was underwhelmed.

Fast forward a few years, and I decided to try FFX. Didn't even finish it. Later, I tried Blue Dragon. Didn't even finish it. Last, I tried Lost Odyssey. Didn't even finish it.

Maybe if there's something radically better about this one, I'll try it.

[mistervista]

I'm a big FF fan and RPG's are my favourite genre anyway.

My favourites are 7 and 9. I was playing 12 when LBP came out and haven't touched it since and probably never will. I did finish 7,8,9,and 10 though. Never had 11 because that was online only. That was a stupid way to go.

I hated the battle system in 12 and that overly complicated grid thing just did my head in. I much prefer the turn-based battles they had in FF7 and wish they'd use that again in a new FF. I was going to get FF13 but decided not to, not yet anyway. I can't see the point in spending £40 on it when I know for a fact I'd totally hate the battle system. Everyone keeps saying the graphics are great but I'm not buying it just for eye candy.

Yes the levelling up in 7 was a real pain. I spent at least 20 hours in the same spot just levelling every character up to level 99 but it was worth it in the end as it made the final battles so much easier. A Final Fantasy game that plays exactly like 7 and has characters and story just as good but has much quicker levelling up would be my ideal FF. Come on Square, just do it !!

By the way if any of you are new to RPG's and looking for alternatives then I can thoroughly recommend Dragon Quest 8 and Shadow Hearts ( both 'Covenant' and 'The New World' ). All awesome games.

[Arradi]

I'm not really interested right now either. Mainly because it has no sidequests so things like LLNM challenge in VII and Lvl 1 challenge in IX are probably impossible (or are they? I don't know) and partially because LBP is just too epic

[EnochRoot]

Problem is to get the most out of an RPG you have to invest a lot of time. With LBP,Heavy rain,MW2 Bioshock2 I can't see me having a spare moment. Loved FFVII and played most of the RPGs on Snes and Megadrive can be very rewarding if you can immerse yourself.

[Mrgenji]

Just as a note to anyone who has played X-2, then XII....

This one is actually good. even if it is quite different from other ones.

This one is more storyline than anything else, but thats not a bad thing. I'm finding it very well written. None of that "We must save the world, its the right thing to do". These are just people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time - then were officially stamped [SCREWED].

Anyway, yeah - really enjoying it.

As for my fave, I always had a soft spot for V, not sure why. I think like Jacoby it was an age thing. I hated IX with a passion, it was terrible. I know they were aiming for an "old-school" feel, but it was badly written and clichéd as hell.

I recently went on a FF rampage after dissidea sparked up my passion again. It's amazing how differently these games play without the fog of nostalgia, FFX particularly.

I never appreciated how good that game was when I first played it. Nor did I ever get that involved in the story first time around. but i actually sat down and thought about it this time, my god its all tragic.

Speaking of tragic, XIII...yeah....this is a sad one...

Surprisingly I found sazh's story the best so far. Despite the fact he's obviously comic relief (cummon, he has a freaking chocobo in his afro!)