You might have a heart attack when the rest of the reviews come out at this rate.
Lightning Returns Review Thread
- Thread starter Kagari
- Start date
You might have a heart attack when the rest of the reviews come out at this rate.
THIS is a game like you described. No, you don't give 5s to games like that unless your scale is completely fucked up, while how heavy a 5 is is up to debate the most generous is "average" and I can see a lot of games that are technically functional but not particularly good as being at 5.
Critically Nier wasn't beloved, that's undeniable. I think Lightning Returns won't be viewed more favorably as time passes. I'm honestly surprised at the review scores as of now.
Jimmyfenix
Member
Ffx/x-2 hd might outsell it.
Makoto Yuki
Banned
I hope so, can't wait for Tidus' Head Returns: FFX.
Shadow Ranger
Member
So average. Not that surprised. I'll wait for a price drop before I jump in.
Actually, you know what? Let's bet some glue out of dead horses.
This is Edge on Metacritics and this is Metro on Metacritic. Metro's actually harder on average it appears than Edge, and even then both of them average only a few points lower than GameSpot and IGN. So yeah, Metro actually IS one of the harsher ones apparently, and at any rate if your average scores are in the 60 range I have to assume you're not using 5 for completely busted trainwrecks.
Chance Hale
Member
Metacritic has completely fucked people's perceptions of worth and it's a terrible shame that it seems it's far too late to change that course. People sure love their meaningless numbers.
I honestly kind of suspect a lot of people take either a binary view (I love this game so it should score crazy high, and if not THEY FAILED) or at least see a bunch of games they didn't care for get scored highly and think the whole process is off, even though perhaps said games appeal more to the people who review them than you personally, and don't bother to consider just how bad games can REALLY get. It might be educational to go download demos of really, really bad games or even buy them on the cheap, along with watching stuff like Alex Navarro's Big Rigs reviews. Like I said I think a lot of games are reasonably competently made and so are worth a 5 at a minimum, only a few are really so broken as to deserve lower.
By the same token though I think it's worth remembering that for some series an entry scoring 7-range at the highest really is a colossal screw up, these scores still mean I'd get Lightning Returns for cheap whereas a game that was truly destroyed score wise would be ignored altogether unless I could get it for like $5 to check it out out of morbid curiosity, but for a series I NORMALLY want day one or at least month one this is damning. Bravely Default ended up filling that spot instead.
lifa-cobex
Member
Didn't enjoy reading that tbh.
I haven't been a fan since 13, and it makes me worry about the future of FF games
.To me Square was the King of RPG'S back in the PSX days.
I feel sad that I might not get another chance of enjoyment this company gave me.
I always keep a watchful eye towards the future though.
While I realize all things are open to interpritation, but dude, that's some ridiculous thinking.
Why would the 1, 2, 3, and 4 even be on the scale if they all mean the same thing? That's the kind of idiocy either comes only from joke accounts or those who, I don't know, work for the marketing team for the game in question. Sorry, you're being ridiculous now.
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
Fair enough. That's why I agree that it's foolish to declare it a Nier. That game was underrated by the press, as we know now, but that doesn't mean that every low-reviewed jRPG is some secret gem.
cj_iwakura
Member
I always disagreed with people hating on the gameplay. I genuinely had a lot of fun with it, and I loved the bullet hell bosses in particular.
I felt like it was mainly serviceable to be honest. It did get kind of frustrating at times, but not overtly so and rather than scaling up and up as the game went on you could get the right weapon and just cream the rest of the game, which is great for me at least because usually by the end game I don't care about being challenged as much and just want to see the damn thing end. Especially when I'm going for multiple endings.
Still, while it was experimental it wasn't an extreme example I thought, had a bit of fun with gaming conventions at times but in the end it wasn't the main draw.
XIII was an object lesson in how a decent battle system can only carry you so far in lieu of some small inkling of character and a mildly coherent and interesting story, and rather than fix this it really looks like they went in the opposite direction.
Some of the combat videos really do make it look fun, but the poor system is doomed straight out the starting gate by being yoked to one of the generation's most charmless, characterless, monotone, faux-cool, cardboard cutout main characters as she strides blandly through another bout of Toriyama-drivel. Honestly, I probably would give this a chance if it wasn't a Lightning saga game, but as it is it's not worth the headache.
Some of the combat videos really do make it look fun, but the poor system is doomed straight out the starting gate by being yoked to one of the generation's most charmless, characterless, monotone, faux-cool, cardboard cutout main characters as she strides blandly through another bout of Toriyama-drivel. Honestly, I probably would give this a chance if it wasn't a Lightning saga game, but as it is it's not worth the headache.
Actually, I'd go further: it was a lesson how you couldn't just let a decent battle system carry a game entirely, not in genres meant to be more robust anyway. Especially as while the story may be down to personal opinion, it is true that it was one of the barest FF games outside of combat. FFV-X had quite a bit of end game content to pursue that was distinct and either got you the best gear or fleshed out the story more, and even IV had some of this, but XIII was mainly just HUNTS. And usually not even against distinct enemies but just set mobs. You didn't get too much story out of that outside of vague analects, and so it really felt like the whole game was just one linear hallway with a ballroom at one point.
And I don't really want RPGs just for combat unless you're counting a strategy RPG, and admittedly even then I want a good ENOUGH story to keep my interest to the end. Or I'd just play an action game like Devil May Cry, whichever.
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
It's rather interesting... you make a sequel in order to cash-in on the fans of the previous entries.
But this game isn't going to sell well at all. The "built-in audience" isn't loyal.
It being a sequel probably hinders success.... If it were devoid of baggage it might have a better chance.
It's admirable, in a way - the game is clearly one for those remaining that enjoyed the first two, and they could have just knocked out something along the same lines without changing the underlying design to such a great extent and it would have sold the same.
Didn't enjoy reading that tbh.
I haven't been a fan since 13, and it makes me worry about the future of FF games
To me Square was the King of RPG'S back in the PSX days.
I feel sad that I might not get another chance of enjoyment this company gave me.
I always keep a watchful eye towards the future though.
You need not worry for the future. Right now, you still have the old classics, so even if every single new game is garbage, you still have good games out there.
Not in a world with Final Fantasy XIV V1 or Final Fantasy II.
Well, I guess that XIV is gone now, and it's dubious counting a port, though given that port's probably the best version of II out there I guess it works. And given XIV was a proper new mainline installment rather than a branch off it'll be the reigning champion anyway.
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
I can see how it might be viewed as an admirable treat for the fans.... But I think it reeks of an old gameplan that didn't take into consideration the very real damage done to the XIII brand.
If they had done market research they would have known that hammering on the XIII note was not good for anyone except the egos of the creators.
lifa-cobex
Member
Absolutely.
However You can only eat so much steak until you want a fresh new meal.
The classics are great but I know the story's inside and out. I know what to do with practically all the bosses.
Need a new adventure.
Unfortunately I haven't felt the same amount of joy as I did back then. (In RPG standards).
I thought it might be because I was getting old but I'm quite giddy about DS2.
Edit: BT verdict: 4/5
http://home.bt.com/entertainment/ga...urns-final-fantasy-xiii-review-11363874790855
Not that I would in anyway trust BT's opinions.
Dark_castle
Junior Member
Mad_Angel;100360751 Announced as "the most polished FF game to date" said:
Go_Ly_Dow
Member
I hope Square realize that catering games and trying to appeal to the teen market is poor strategy and led to their downfall. Kitase said himself that's who they target
The fan base from PS1/PS2 era are in their 20's, some early 30's. The majority will not enjoy a game that has regressed in game design from what they grew up with and a game with characters such as Vanille.
Its important to try and gain a new audience but its also important to appeal to existing fans and not forget about them.
I hope XV is a more universally appealing game.
The fan base from PS1/PS2 era are in their 20's, some early 30's. The majority will not enjoy a game that has regressed in game design from what they grew up with and a game with characters such as Vanille.
Its important to try and gain a new audience but its also important to appeal to existing fans and not forget about them.
I hope XV is a more universally appealing game.
KoopaTheCasual
Junior Member
So Knack and Ryse are unplayable?
A score is a score, whether you like it or not.
I'm also confused why people seem to think this game is averaging 7/10? 7 is the highest score it's received so far. That's like saying Knack was averaging an 8/10.
Edit: Looks like BT's new review invalidates my final claim. Well, I guess now you can say it's going toe to toe with Knack.
It also has an 8/10 and a 4/5. I think it'll average around 65-70 when all is said and done, like NieR and The Last Remnant.
lifa-cobex
Member
With the amount of games that Square releases I see no reason why they can't do both.
In the case of the FF13 series, I would have just called it Final Fantasy - The Lightning Saga. Same goes with the online games.
Putting FF11 or FF14 in the main chronology seems odd to me.
Square wanted to make a series from FF13 from the start. I think it would have made more people happy.
This isn't me taking a dig at 13 BTW. Just a suggestion to help keep a fan base.
Itchy//Tasty
Member
well at least Bravely Default will do better critically. That should send some kind of message, don't know what it's sales are like though.
Go_Ly_Dow
Member
Well with the budget of AAA next gen titles they need to appeal to both. It is doable. So many other series achieve it.
People arguing as if it even deserves a 7.
Getting compared to Nier.
I find the comparisons to Nier the most insulting parts of this thread. That game was a masterpiece; you can knock it for the graphics, but not much else - the story and atmosphere were sublimely executed.
Conversely, XIII-3 is a turd that's just too big to flush and keeps bobbing back up.
Personally I hope it doesn't. I like Braverly Default but I'd rather they keep trying new things and taking risks with their numbered entries and not just fall back on more traditional RPG ways. I've played those ready. I want new, even if most seem to have hated it, that was my favorite part of the XIII series. Judging by how XV is looking, I shouldn't have to worry about them not trying new crazy things.
Well, the message doesn't have to be "we demand throwbacks in all main entry FFs henceforth!" It would be really nice if they got the message "hey, people still like these kind of games - lets make more of them, and maybe crank up the ambition a bit".
Perfo
Thirteen flew over the cuckoo's nest
I don't believe for a minute any score going below 7/10. And I'm absolutey sure that every review is based on the reviewers opinion of the series and not of the title. It seems everyone agree on the game having a very good gameplay, artstyle, even graphics, music, variation and fun... yet the story is the only element they bash on, and while never been a problem in rating a jrpg before, now suddendly a bad story (for them) becomes a bad game. When alot of famous jRPGs had also shitty stories. What's happening is unbelievable.
3 days to the truth.
3 days to the truth.
Ha ha, this made my day.
Perfo
Thirteen flew over the cuckoo's nest
I've found a positive review, hidden in the internet!!!!
http://thekoalition.com/review/lightning-returns-final-fantasy-xiii-review/
lol. they even like the story. Love them!
EGM's cover got some fucked up comparison for their review "witcher 3 vs LR FFXIII".... I wonder the score
http://thekoalition.com/review/lightning-returns-final-fantasy-xiii-review/
lol. they even like the story. Love them!
EGM's cover got some fucked up comparison for their review "witcher 3 vs LR FFXIII".... I wonder the score
Glass Rebel
Member
Removing XP gain from combat is gotta be either the most boneheaded or the laziest decision ever. If you can't balance an RPG for shits, don't make an RPG, easy as that.
yeah crazy new Kingdom Hearts stuff
yeah crazy new Kingdom Hearts stuff
SkyTurnsRed
Banned
The spin you put on this series is admirable and flat out unbelievable at the same time. I mean, there are actual consumers who have played it that are saying these reviews are accurate. What else do you want?
Thickstone
Member
I think many people here pretend that Lightning Returns is a mainline-game and that the score are therefore too low.
Generally I would agree with rhis mindset if that was the case.
However, it is a game to milk the last remaining fans, a game that received a low budget and a game that is definitely a spin-off.
A 7 seems fine to me and well, the ones who are really interested buy the game regardless.
I feel that many here are using the scores to back up their opinion that the XIII-saga is a disaster. Yes, we know that, thanks for your opinion, bye.
Generally I would agree with rhis mindset if that was the case.
However, it is a game to milk the last remaining fans, a game that received a low budget and a game that is definitely a spin-off.
A 7 seems fine to me and well, the ones who are really interested buy the game regardless.
I feel that many here are using the scores to back up their opinion that the XIII-saga is a disaster. Yes, we know that, thanks for your opinion, bye.
Glass Rebel
Member
What a truly tragic series Final Fantasy has turned into. Post FF9, it's just been getting worse and worse. I've never seen a downfall quite like it. It's got to the point where my friends and I literally laugh and the mere mention of a new FF game. Considering its legacy, it's just embarrassing really.
I'm glad it scored so poorly. These developers at SE need to be shamed for continuing to put out mediocre games, that are a million and one miles away from the things that made them successful in the first place. Hopefully it'll sell terribly too and finally get them to wake up and take a long, hard look at this series and realise why it just isn't working any more. If this game was under any other name, it would bomb hard, both critically and commercially. Only the name is keeping the public interest, and let's face it, Final Fantasy as a brand is becoming increasingly more like trash with every release.
I'm glad it scored so poorly. These developers at SE need to be shamed for continuing to put out mediocre games, that are a million and one miles away from the things that made them successful in the first place. Hopefully it'll sell terribly too and finally get them to wake up and take a long, hard look at this series and realise why it just isn't working any more. If this game was under any other name, it would bomb hard, both critically and commercially. Only the name is keeping the public interest, and let's face it, Final Fantasy as a brand is becoming increasingly more like trash with every release.
Chance Hale
Member
I hope Lightning Strikes Again: XIII-4 has a Beyblade mini-game.
Jimmyfenix
Member
Oh perfo. Never change.