FINAL FANTASY XIII-2 Review Thread [Update: More Reviews]

AngelSoldier said:
XD. My thread. And here I am doubting it's limited editionness. >_>
Click to expand...

We don't actually have solid evidence, TBH. Every LE is probably going to be declared as being in "limited quantities". But at least we know that it's not supposed to be a normal second SKU. It will run out at some point, while the original is still printed.

There is motivation to actually limiting LEs to small numbers: training fans to go out and buy them immediately.. Next game, even. I believe that's why recent LEs from different companies, such as Metal Gear HD colleciton and Skyward Sword, have actually been limited, unlike the faux LEs of recent years. You might assume they'd want to get all the extra $$ they can for months down the road... but it might serve them better to get early, guaranteed, high-profit sales from die-hard fans who know that LEs will disappear quick.

But don't blame me if the CE is actually a $20 "bomba" in a month. XD
 
AngelSoldier said:
My local GameStop is in a small town, but has 35 LE 13-2's in the back.

One of those is mine, so unless 34 other people pre-ordered the LE, I actually don't think it's that rare ...

The LE Guide book on the other hand ...
Click to expand...

I highly doubt the LE guide wil be hard to find.

Isn't it still $20 on amazon? lol
 
BocoDragon said:
I'd put it in the same boat as Skyward Sword. There were tons of LEs available, but because it never got a second shipment, and it's such a massively mainstream title, they quickly disappeared.
Click to expand...
I dunno, Zelda's kept more favor from its fans, and its incentive was either an awesome extra for long time fans (myself) or literally necessary for everyone without Motion Plus adapters or a Remote Plus. FFXIII-2 comes with what will probably be a limp artbook, and a soundtrack that is either a killer feature or dead weight depending on the customer's preferences. If it had been a sampler CD I'd have canned and waited, but the ENTIRE OST is awfully compelling, especially since I did like XIII's music and the samples I heard have been good, even if the lyrics for Invisible Invaders is kinda dumb.

Still, it's biggest bonus (the soundtrack) you CAN just import, it's basically the poor exchange rate that makes that option less appealing than it could be.
 
Slayer-33 said:
I highly doubt the LE guide wil be hard to find.

Isn't it still $20 on amazon? lol
Click to expand...

Really ? Cuz you can't find the limited edition guides for 13 anymore, but the LE games are still out there ....

If these guides are numbered again, I imagine they will be limited ... In contrast to the 35 LE games my local GameStop has, they only have 3 LE guides, and one of those is also mine.
 
Thoraxes said:
You used the words "triple A budget" as an argument; How are you defining AAA?
Click to expand...

The only reason for calling a title triple A: the budget and costs needed to develop it. Of course, the effects are then visible in the content of the game, high level production values assures first of all a great overall presentation to it.
 
Kagari said:
I gave it an 8. Which means while good, it has issues that keep it from being great.
Click to expand...
Interesting.
I'd say that an 8 MEANS great, with issues mostly minor. Possible GotY contender. o_o

This is why we need to ditch numerical review scores though.
 
I'd say 8 means it's a pretty good game, but not GotY contender unless the rest of the staff disagree with a "low" score or the genre/platform is limp that year. And no way in hell are most places, mainstream or niche, going to give FFXIII-2 the nod over Mass Effect 3, maybe not Xenoblade either (American sources obviously).
 
That right there is where Final Fantasy XIII-2 does truly shine. The gears of a great RPG are really there. It’s got a good progress system, Square Enix managed to create a leveling scheme in conjunction with a combat system that feels satisfying to play and to work through, and it’s easy to be excited about getting those new bits of loot to upgrade your favorite monster.
Click to expand...

Except its progression system is utterly broken and that ruins the combat system.

This is why these reviews are all garbage lol, even Kagari's.
 
Perfo said:
The only reason for calling a title triple A: the budget and costs needed to develop it. Of course, the effects are then visible in the content of the game, high level production values assures first of all a great overall presentation to it.
Click to expand...

So... What would you call Monster Hunter 4 (in development). Obviously it's budget will be nowhere near the Final Fantasy games because of the hardware that's being worked with, but I believe it has the quality of a AAA title.

I would say it's proportional to the system it's in development for than just the costs alone.

Anyways, i'll stop de-railing now and leave.
 
Thoraxes said:
I would say it's proportional to the system it's in development for than just the costs alone.
Click to expand...
Exactly why I said Xenoblade is also AAA relative to its peers, only Last Story competes across the entire English translated library, Zelda if you lump it in as an RPG anyway.
 
Perfo said:
The only reason for calling a title triple A: the budget and costs needed to develop it. Of course, the effects are then visible in the content of the game, high level production values assures first of all a great overall presentation to it.
Click to expand...

They should really try to use their infinite budget and high level production to achieve stable 30 fps at least. Come on SE, it's not that difficult in 2012.
 
JerkShep said:
They should really try to use their infinite budget and high level production to achieve stable 30 fps at least. Come on SE, it's not that difficult in 2012.
Click to expand...

They did it with XIII, sadly something gone wrong with this. Probably we can expect a solid framerate with Versus though.
 
Perfo said:
They did it with XIII, sadly something gone wrong with this. Probably we can expect a solid framerate with Versus though.
Click to expand...

I know, I played 13 on PS3 and the framerate was flawless, or at least I don't remember any big drops. Then I tried XIII-2 demo on 360 and...yeah :( 22-23 fps is kinda baaad. I think PS3 version will be a bit better though.
 
JerkShep said:
Then I tried XIII-2 demo on 360 and...yeah :( 22-23 fps is kinda baaad. I think PS3 version will be a bit better though.
Click to expand...

The PS3 version is just a little better in regards to that, but the game suffers a bit especially in wide open areas. Battles and closed areas are ok, or at least to me seemed pretty much 30 rock-solid.
 
I couldn't be bothered to finish XIII. Loved the battle system, hated the story. Sounds like the story is bunk this time around too.

So disappointing.
 
The EDGE review is hardly any different from the majority opinion. It's too easy, the story makes no sense, etc.

Of course lots of us will buy it regardless, and probably enjoy it. I know I plan to! But that won't change the fact that the story's terrible...
 
Just saw the edge review...it sucks..FF has really lost its way now. 2 x 5/10's in a row...even with all the changes it seems they just forgot about the story and put in 40 hours of fetch quests....

i want to pick it up but i know ill never finish it :/
 
Think I am cancelling my pre-order. I just finished FFXIII last night. If the story is "more of the same" I am out. I just got in Tales of Vesperia from a GAFer last week.
 
Read the EDGE review on their site... It feels dismissive, like the game is not really there, but a vaporware product that has been advertised so well that they imagined they played it.

Some of their arguments sound coherent, but that will not deter me from enjoying the game once my LE ships.
 
considering the main drive of a JRPG is the story; if the story is terrible; I don't see how its scoring 8/10. Even if its mechanically "fun"; because if this is anything like FFXIII, mechanics not bad; most other things; god awful, then its not deserving of that high a score.

I'm probably going to wait for the bargin bin for this one considering how I disliked FFXIII.
 
As a FFXIII hater Im fearful that I might get fooled again by Square, so is there any review that might interest me, as in a reviewer who hated XIII but likes XIII-2?


I like FF games in general but FFXIII was the exception.
 
Pachterballs said:
considering the main drive of a JRPG is the story; if the story is terrible; I don't see how its scoring 8/10. Even if its mechanically "fun"; because if this is anything like FFXIII, mechanics not bad; most other things; god awful, then its not deserving of that high a score.

I'm probably going to wait for the bargin bin for this one considering how I disliked FFXIII.
Click to expand...

Exactly why I just cancelled my preorder.

I guess I am a "rare" story driven gamer. FFXIII had a mess of a story. Given how little time I have to game now, there are many other alternatives I can play with my time (SR:3, Skyrim, Tales of Vesperia to name a few waiting for me to pick up)

It's so disappointing that Square, Enix, and Tri-Ace have yet to develop anything great this generation considering they were my primary devs growing up. Something needs to change. Perhaps FFXIII-2's performance will tip the scale.
 
Rahxephon91 said:
No, I think the main drive of a game is the actual game part. JRPGs aren't some magical exception.
Click to expand...

Even that withstanding, I don't think FFXIII's battle system exactly blew it out of the park. For me gameplay and story go hand in hand. Fighting reskinned monsters without a driving story isn't exactly "fun" for me.
 
AllenShrz said:
As a FFXIII hater Im fearful that I might get fooled again by Square, so is there any review that might interest me, as in a reviewer who hated XIII but likes XIII-2?


I like FF games in general but FFXIII was the exception.
Click to expand...

I think you may be better off just renting this if you have to play it. I know the feeling, I still have some strange...need I guess you could say to play the big FF games, I guess because they used to be so great. But I was finally able to make myself cancel my preorder for this yesterday because of all the shit story reviews. Let's both save money and do the wise thing and rent it.

The_Inquisitor said:
Fighting reskinned monsters without a driving story isn't exactly "fun" for me.
Click to expand...

Yeah I can't play a 30, 40+ hour rpg with a garbage story. Not if it's a linear story driven game at least. Something like Skyrim could get a pass because of all the other distractions, but not this.
 
The_Inquisitor said:
Even that withstanding, I don't think FFXIII's battle system exactly blew it out of the park. For me gameplay and story go hand in hand. Fighting reskinned monsters without a driving story isn't exactly "fun" for me.
Click to expand...

Well for you I guess, but it's gameplay did blow it out of the park. Pretty much the best FF battle system. And XIII's story wasn't bad. And I'm not going to say the game has a shit story of something I haven't played based on reviews from websites that would say something like God of War or LA Noire has a great story. Sorry, I'll make my own opinion.
 
To be fair, X-2 had you fighting reskinned monsters. I mean, it is the same world and everything. Why would the monsters be vastly different in X-2 and XIII-2?
 
RPGCrazied said:
To be fair, X-2 had you fighting reskinned monsters. I mean, it is the same world and everything. Why would the monsters be vastly different in X-2 and XIII-2?
Click to expand...

Ding ding ding. I never could get past chapter 3 of FFX-2. It remains the only modern era FF I haven't completed. And it's for the exact reasons I listed above.

You're talking to someone who almost exclusively played JRPG's growing up. I didn't really get into FPS until the COD1/ MoH:AA era.
 
RPGCrazied said:
To be fair, X-2 had you fighting reskinned monsters. I mean, it is the same world and everything. Why would the monsters be vastly different in X-2 and XIII-2?
Click to expand...

I'm not even sure why it would even be a problem for those who like playing FF games. You know the series, that has a lot of re-skinned monsters in it.
 
Rahxephon91 said:
I'm not even sure why it would even be a problem for those who like playing FF games. You know the series, that has a lot of re-skinned monsters in it.
Click to expand...

It in itself isn't the issue. The problem occurs when there isn't anything driving you to keep fighting on besides fighting another battle.
 
The_Inquisitor said:
It in itself isn't the issue. The problem occurs when there isn't anything driving you to keep fighting on besides fighting another battle.
Click to expand...

That's enough drive for me. I can't imagine playing a game just for it's story. It actually has to be fun. Well, there's no point of really continuing here. You don't like XIII. You canceled you pre-order. What else is there to say?
 
Rahxephon91 said:
That's enough drive for me. I can't imagine playing a game just for it's story. It actually has to be fun. Well, there's no point of really continuing here. You don't like XIII. You canceled you pre-order. What else is there to say?
Click to expand...

Maybe we should suggest him that if he's searching for a good story in Skyrim... he will not find any. Perhaps sometimes he plays games for gameplay too!

Me anyway... enjoyed XIII for its story too. Guess I'm sick :\
 
Rahxephon91 said:
That's enough drive for me. I can't imagine playing a game just for it's story. It actually has to be fun. Well, there's no point of really continuing here. You don't like XIII. You canceled you pre-order. What else is there to say?
Click to expand...

True. For the record, I loved L.A Noire and Heavy Rain. We're just two different sides of the coin is all. :)

I will probably still pick this up, but when it hits 20-30. Going to finish some other games first.

Maybe we should suggest him that if he's searching for a good story in Skyrim... he is going to get the wrong game for it. Maybe he just plays for gameplay too!

I anyway... enjoyed XIII for its story. Guess I'm sick!
Click to expand...

Don't get me wrong, gameplay is also important to me. Full disclosure though, I never finished the main quest of Oblivion because I got bored. I'm hoping Skyrim will be different.
 
read EDGE review:

this is a deal breaker.
That’s arguably a matter of preference, but a much wider problem is the game’s lack of challenge. FFXIII-2 is the first game in the series with an adjustable difficulty mode – a choice between Normal and Easy – but even on Normal this is a very easy game indeed. Common enemies are walkovers, and despite often taking a good deal of punishment, bosses are rarely a threat. The time investment required to complete FFXIII-2 is huge, but our characters perished a mere handful of times. As an experiment, we left Serah and company to fend for themselves over the course of ten battles, with no player input. With an idle player character and two AI companions set up to attack and heal, our party emerged victorious from every fight.

The ATB system is still a fine achievement, and most of FFXIII-2’s tweaks are smart ones, but there’s just nothing worth fighting against. Only two bosses required retries throughout our entire runthrough. Meanwhile, the addition of QTEs, bringing a few simplistic flourishes at the end of big battles, does little to enhance your sense of satisfaction.
Click to expand...

this is not FF of old. gonna wait for the bargain bin
 
The_Inquisitor said:
Don't get me wrong, gameplay is also important to me. Full disclosure though, I never finished the main quest of Oblivion because I got bored. I'm hoping Skyrim will be different.
Click to expand...

Anyway, I totally agree with you in the end. I can't play any game that doesn't have a certain presence of story in it. The difference in our cases is that I enjoyed alot XIII's story so I'm looking forward to its sequel. That's all :P
 
I welcome the ease of the game. Some of the difficulty spikes in XIII were just fucking annoying. Mostly bosses battles. Who's idea was to put the doom counter in the game? Just cause I'm not going fast enough, I have to automatically lose? Even if I'm winning? Hated that with a passion.
 
Derrick01 said:
I think you may be better off just renting this if you have to play it. I know the feeling, I still have some strange...need I guess you could say to play the big FF games, I guess because they used to be so great. But I was finally able to make myself cancel my preorder for this yesterday because of all the shit story reviews. Let's both save money and do the wise thing and rent it.
Click to expand...

haha!, maybe but I'm still a bit curios though.

I'm not so worried about spending 60 dls as I am worried of spending 80 hrs and hating every second of it.
 
Pachterballs said:
read EDGE review:

this is a deal breaker.

this is not FF of old. gonna wait for the bargain bin
Click to expand...

Didn't they say a few months ago the game would have a hard mode too? Guess that got scrapped (or it'll be DLC, lol). XIII was piss easy enough already aside from the high level cei'th stone missions. Still getting it day one but this is disappointing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth | PC Review Thread
News Analysis Review  3 4 5 6 7
300
19K
Go_Ly_Dow replied
Review Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves | Review Thread
Analysis Review 
17
181
SABRE220 replied
Atomfall - Reviews Thread
2 3
106
8K
Humdinger replied
Lunar Remastered Collection | Review Thread
Opinion Review 
43
3K
anthony2690 replied
  • Poll
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Review Thread
Analysis Review  5 6 7 8 9
405
420
Thief1987 replied
Top Bottom