Ok here it is, my chilly impressions.
Introductions
Starting up the demo, I was both absolutely thrilled and terrified, a dangerous cocktail to be sure. I was looking forward to playing the game (HYPE) but was also skeptical, I tried to balance my irrational cravings. As the title screen washed in, light piano music dancing melodically through the background, I immediately start the game...
Impressions: Overall
You've all seen the videos (and if you haven't you really should) so going step by step would be a waste of time. The intro is both exciting and action packed, obviously it isn't the Intro Cinema the game will use, but its serviceable. When the game switches from CG to the in game engine, the transition is beautifully seamless and, as is par for most technically impressive games this gen, there isn't a shockingly stark contrast between the two. As the scene that follows come to a close there are some frame rate hiccups, due most likely to the fact that this is an early build.
The field screen is clean and sharp, details of objects in the distance as well as the resolutions and textures up close are absolutely beautiful. Whats most shocking is the character models, all of the characters who follow and fight with you are animated gorgeously both in battle and out. Standing still and forcing Lightning into the "idle" animation is flooring. This is the first time, in any modern RPG, I have felt as if I was controlling a CG. The subtle movements of clothing and hair, the realistic blinking and pursing of lips as she impatiently sighs is spellbinding. The characterization is brought to life not only through the dialogue and plot, but through the movements and gestures of the characters themselves.
While I agree that some of the character designs are...extreme, they aren't anything new for Nomura and aren't nearly as ridiculous as some people want to believe.
Battle Time!!
Haters be damned, while there are still screen transitions, the flow isn't as ruined from field to battle as some here would have you believe.
As most have said, the battles feel like a mix between X and X-2. They have the pace of X-2, but still hold onto some of the traditions of the turn based system. That being said, for me personally they remind me greatly of the menu and battle system in Kingdom Hearts. You're only able to control one character in the demo but it serves to teach you the ups and downs of combat. Very much in the vein of say FFIV, as you choose your combat options, in this case healing or attacking, the enemy is constantly on the move. If you choose to, say attack, you are given several options, including magic and physical attacks. Lightning is given Fire and Firaga while Snow is given Blizzard and Blizzaga (might actually be Blizzara). The spells themselves are "cast" much as they were in XII, quick magic missiles. Since magic is cast so quickly and the damage so immediate, spells work almost like physical attacks, their use is generally needed, at least so far, to break the forward defense of an enemy before they can be combo'd (more on that later). The demo has a spread of enemies who are much weaker to magic then others but these enemies are more likely to interrupt your action so they need to be used intelligently.
In battle you are given three "slots" to perform anywhere from 1 to 3 attacks per "turn". Some attacks, like a standard physical strike or single target magic spell, only take one slot while others, such as Fiagra, take all three. This is also the case for healing through magic, you can stack anywhere from one to three cure spells to be used on a single target. Before both attacking and healing you must designate a particular target, though going back through the menu and choosing a different one is done so quickly its nearly instantaneous. Healing and/or using items works almost identical to how it has in FF's since the very beginning, though again in this case you must choose a target before use. Just as it is possible to interrupt enemies attacks, they can interrupt yours and if they do so, you loose whatever chunk of the ATB gauge you had delegated for your initial attack.
The battles move along at a hell of a pace, not nearly as chaotic as X-2 but not as ridged and static as X's. Since every action, enemy and ally alike, occurs in realtime, knowing what attacks to use as well as when it is most profitable to attack is paramount. Enemies also act intelligently, one may try to rush you with a close up physical attack while another sprays you with bullets. Most battles that take place in the demo are against 2+ foes and this serves to highlight the depth and flexibility of the combo system. While consistently (meaning without taking damage or being interrupted) beating down on an enemy will net you decent gains in your bonus meter, effectively stacking your attacks into combos is where the real points are gained. While its just as easy to have both you and your allies stack physical attacks or magic, mixing up the commands allows you to combo. As opposed to, say, casting three straight Fire spells in a row you might want to physically attack an enemy, then launch them into the air and then finish them off with a fire spell before they hit the ground. Even with the limited options available in the demo there is plenty variety in combos and since you are able to issue commands to your allies, the stash of combos you have is nearly doubled. You have Snow cast Blizzaga into the central target in a group of enemies, as the enemies take damage and are blasted into the air, you command Osaka Whore to blast the target in mid air, effectively doubling the damage her physical attack deals.
The two (three) Boss Battles in the demo give a good indication of both the difficulty the final game will represent and the varied approaches that are needed to tackle certain situations. There are times when a boss opens itself up for a direct hit at its weakspot, giving you the chance to score massive damage, but at the same time, if you miss the opportunity to strike, you will be pummeled with a very powerful attack. During battle your teammates will assist you, taking commands seamlessly and healing you with items when your HP reaches critical levels.
All in all the combat is fast, furious and fun, if not initially a tad confusing. Even so, the mix of old and new gives the battle system a refreshing feeling, mirroring almost exactly the sense of urgency and quick movement the very first trailers of FFXIII displayed.
Music
I hate to tread old ground, but again I am reminded of a mix of both Final Fantasy X and Kingdom Hearts. The Cocoon oozes a Midgar esque vibe and the music matches it. While not synth heavy, the orchestrations are sharp and biting, they aren't allowed to ebb and flow romantically. Given the setting of the demo, they couldn't be more spot on. The VA is up to the par as far as well voiced RPGs go, but since I'm one of the few people who enjoy dub jobs, this is a moot point.
An amazing demo for an equally amazing game.
コマンド - komando - Command
