FFXIII Not an RPG

[same_difference]

So another day another entry, let's see how long I keep this up for.

So FFXIII the JRPG which isn't an RPG according to the makers. From what I've read it's has some mixed reviews in the East, but at the same not we do know they've been trying to westernise their RPG's (See FFXII design choices) so it might not be that straight forward.

There's also a lot of talk about how the game is heavily linear for the first half, how there aren't any town hubs because they couldn't work how to do them in HD, and Dom of Megatokyo has written a couple of utterly slating rants where he seems to have an intense hatred of most of the fundamental design choices. It also looks really really pretty.

So at the moment I'm going into this with a cautiously neutral outlook. Chances are I'll buy it, but if I hear really horrible things about it when it gets released over hear I'd like to think I'd skip it in spite of a certain amount of brand loyalty I've built up. I mean at the end of the day I did all the hunts on FFXII including the 105 mins of watching my party beat up Yiazmat, so chances are I'll I have fun if I do get it.

Still I want to think that I won't buy it if it is awful, and until we find out for certain either way, I'll try and keep my excitement in reserve.

Comments

[ilpala.livejournal.com]

I'm actually mildly encouraged by all this talk of linearity, I find nowadays that if an RPG is too open that it's impossible for me to complete, I simply loose myself somewhere in the subquest or achievement grind until real life becomes more pressing. And that as they say is that.

I'm not liking the sounds of those leveling systems though.....

[same-difference.livejournal.com]

I hadn't considered the linearity that way, that is a good thing in that regard.

I don't know if you read the links, but I understand the linearity is to aid the learning curve with the battle system. I guess we'll see if and when we get to play it.

[same-difference.livejournal.com]

I look forward to hearing you're impressions then.

It sounds like there trying to create almost a new genre of games, so we'll have to see if their result appeals to us.