Final Fantasy XIII

**Keiron** · 07-09-09, 12:56 PM

Sparked from our discussion in the Aion thread I decided to make this thread to continue the discussion and expand upon it a little.

Info from the other thread:

Originally Posted by PizzaSHARK!

Ever play FF11? Know how you need a group to do anything past the first couple of levels? Yeah, most people like having the option of grouping rather than a requirement, and WoW did just that.

Originally Posted by Keiron

I played FFXI and while I did enjoy grouping up to quest, it was a pain in the ass most of the time to get a good solid group to lvl and felt like a waste of time mostly. I probably just had bad luck trying to get groups or not being in a good guild, but the lack of being able to solo and the countless hours I spent looking for a group and not finding any drew me away from the game.

Don't me wrong, I love grouping up to quest and level, I just hate how FFXI seemed to take forever to find a good group. Perhaps, as I said though, I just had horrible luck though.

Originally Posted by Cojiro

not just you, I spent hours sitting in jeuno looking for a group, and as a black mage I would get wrecked soloing most things that could give me any xp

Originally Posted by LadyMischief

FFXI just plain sucked imo....I got the free months for starting it and yeah....i got through about 3 days before i quit because the ui and people just blew among many other reasons. :P. And if they ever stop trying to make the console games like what they did with ffxi i MIGHT try another ff game past that point. They ruined it with 11 because they tried to make 12 like it, which is completely different from what they did in all the other games that people like myself completely loved.

Originally Posted by Pimp Trizkit

Originally Posted by LadyMischief

And if they ever stop trying to make the console games like what they did with ffxi i MIGHT try another ff game past that point. They ruined it with 11 because they tried to make 12 like it, which is completely different from what they did in all the other games that people like myself completely loved.

Now, hold it right there, missy. You can dog on FFXI all you want, but FFXII's battle system was superb. The gambit system really is excellent once you figure out the right combinations and get the right gambits. The license grid was a little iffy, since it was hard to tell which directions you really wanted to go in, but I can live with that since I'm a level freak anyway. If they made them all with traditional ATB gauges, then there would never be any progress. FFXII is one of my favorite FFs right up there with X and VII.

/threadjack

Originally Posted by Cojiro

gambit system? oh you mean the autoplay, where you press a button and walk away for an hour and come back an hour later to press another button.

there isnt much playing to ffxii its mostly watching. And it wasnt that great to watch, the story was so confusing and/or bland I was lost half of the time

Originally Posted by Pimp Trizkit

Pfft...then you didn't face the truly hard bosses near the endgame like the harder espers and gilgamesh. The story was pretty easy to understand, you just had to be paying attention. You didn't even have to use the gambit system if you didn't want to, so if your playstyle was more "button-pressing" oriented, then you could have basically done it the traditional way.

Originally Posted by Menoske

FFXII was a great game...but i thought it ended pretty abruptly. I got to the final boss fight and was like...there will be more battles..and bam game over.

But it was an excellent game and I might go back and start replaying it. Can't wait for XIII to come out. SQUEE!

Originally Posted by LadyMischief

It's not that I thought it was bad par se, I just thought they ruined the final fantasy system which they've always had in place. Their turn based fight style is something that makes it final fantasy for me and since they didn't have it in 12 I feel like it's deprived of it's...ff-ness. lol.
Final fantasy XI played on the computer sucked big balls because while it might have been very console friendly...it was not very computer friendly and was very almost backwards to what it needed to be for the computer. -shrugs-

Originally Posted by Keiron

And how did this turn in a thread about FF?

I never beat FFXII because it hasn't peaked my interest enough and it is mostly due to the combat and lvling system.

I agree with Lady though about them not seeming to be as FF like being more "live action" based. The ATB system worked great for them and I would love to see them keep it. Or if they make it more "live action" at least make it so you are focused on one central character and use a system similar to Kingdom Hearts.

Plus, one thing all RPGs in general are lacking that I miss horribly is an actual physical world map that you can explore and get airships and vehicles to use. The last real FF that had that was 9, and other RPGs seem to have completely removed them as well so you just point and click. I want to explore more myself damn it! I love those vehicles or riding around on Chocobos!

Originally Posted by Pimp Trizkit

Meh, expecting traditionalism, or anything from a game for that matter, is a little close-minded, don't you think? I get that there are those who prefer the old ATB system over an action-based one but, truthfully, I think I prefer FFXII's system over the old one. I guess I just enjoy the fact that I don't have to waste time going to a battle screen through random encounters. I can see, and avoid, battles if I so wish.

But yea, some Chocobo/airship riding would've been pretty slick, but it seems like a lot of games are moving to teleportation to locations instead. And I miss the card games from FFVIII and IX too.

PS. Sorry for the threadjack. Aion does look pretty sweet, but I don't have the money to invest in it at the moment.

E3 09 Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anXcT4KLhk8

G4 Videos: http://g4tv.com/games/ps3/37581/fina...sy-xiii/index/

Okay so the main reason for this thread. To discuss Final Fantasy and the most recent installment, FFXIII.

Based on the E3 footage that I've seen, they seem to be going more so back to an ATB type system that has been altered some so you can do multiple attacks/abilities per character per turn. I saw Lightning casting some sort of Cure spell 3 times on one of the opening combat videos.

I enjoy the ATB system because that is what makes it an RPG, otherwise it becomes more of an action based game with RPG elements. It works for some games, like Phantasy Star and the Tales series and Kingdom Hearts, but I'm not sure the way FF is going that it'll work for them. Or at least I don't like it.

And no Pimp, I don't think it is close minded, as I am all for advancing and changes. However, these games have been successful for a reason and what makes them all related as a series is their similarities. The combat system or other certain elements help keep them related and recognized at Final Fantasy games that have great stories, beautiful environments, and a nice combat system that is a challenge at times to master.

None of the FF games have had the exact same combat system even the early ones. They take various parts and modify it to add something new and different. FF12 was a huge change, and based on the reaction and the videos I've seen of FF13, many people did not like FF12s combat system or lvling system.

That is what makes Square and the FF series great, they change what they need to and are always putting out quality games. I still need to get a PS3 just for the FF games coming out in the future...need to save up for one though plus a nice HD TV to play it on.

As for the random battles, I enjoy them since I enjoy lvling my characters to max or close to max since it is takes a long time for some (FFX and I assume FFXII to max). Being able to dodge combat can tend to makes things more difficult in the end anyways and that's not to say I don't enjoy a challenge, sometimes it is just insane.

But I understand where you are coming from too Pimp. We all like these games for different reasons.

**Pimp Trizkit** · 07-09-09, 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by Keiron

I enjoy the ATB system because that is what makes it an RPG, otherwise it becomes more of an action based game with RPG elements. It works for some games, like Phantasy Star and the Tales series and Kingdom Hearts, but I'm not sure the way FF is going that it'll work for them. Or at least I don't like it.

And no Pimp, I don't think it is close minded, as I am all for advancing and changes. However, these games have been successful for a reason and what makes them all related as a series is their similarities. The combat system or other certain elements help keep them related and recognized at Final Fantasy games that have great stories, beautiful environments, and a nice combat system that is a challenge at times to master.

And, to me, FFXII did all those things and did them very well. Some of the espers and especially gilgamesh made for some very challenging fights. Given, the final boss wasn't even on par with some of the other optional bosses, but I had leveled so much by then that it didn't really have a chance.

And I would have to disagree with you about it being more of a action based game with RPG elements. If you wanted it to be more traditional, you just have to put it on wait mode, open up your menu and everybody else's charge gauge stops. The only real difference is the non-random encounters.

Originally Posted by Keiron

I still need to get a PS3 just for the FF games coming out in the future...need to save up for one though plus a nice HD TV to play it on.

As for the random battles, I enjoy them since I enjoy lvling my characters to max or close to max since it is takes a long time for some (FFX and I assume FFXII to max). Being able to dodge combat can tend to makes things more difficult in the end anyways and that's not to say I don't enjoy a challenge, sometimes it is just insane.

FFXIII is coming out for the Xbox360 as well, which is awesome since I have that instead of the PS3.

And I find that leveling to max is about the same for all of them. Actually, I think FFX might be faster if you do your leveling in the omega ruins. Dodging combat doesn't make it more difficult, it just saves time if your level is already good enough.

**Menoske** · 07-09-09, 05:07 PM

As a Final Fantasy fan..played and beaten just about every single one of them, I enjoy many of the changes that Square tries. At first I hated the idea of the combat system in FFXII but as I played it more, I beagn to enjoy it even more.

They have done games where you saw the enemies on the field..similar to Star Ocean (another series I adore) and I don't really mind it. It allows you to choose when you want to fight, and sometimes you don't have a choice. It adds a new element to game play.

Random encounters are nice and have been a staple of many of the Final Fantasy series, however I used to hate just walking in a circle waiting for enemies to spawn. With the enemies on my map I can run into the ones I want and level up faster...or so it seems.

The gameplay trailer was nice, I hadn't seen it yet.

So far I think it'll fit right in to the Final Fantasy Dynasty and can't wait for it to come out...although I would like to play it on PS3...I might have to just deal wtih the 360 version.

**Pimp Trizkit** · 07-09-09, 06:34 PM

Well, they said the quality between the 360 and the PS3 would be the same, but, of course, there would have to be multiple discs for the 360 compared to the 1 that the ps3 would have. All this talk of FFXII makes me want to go beat it again...I'm already about halfway through for the second time...hmmm...

**Agent** · 07-09-09, 07:00 PM

I stopped playing at ff7, and then stopped playing again at ff10. I hope to be a fan again, the worlds that final fantasy throw you into are epic to say the least.

Hopefully 13 and 14 online will bring me back.

**Pimp Trizkit** · 07-09-09, 07:58 PM

Don't forget about Versus XIII, it looks epic as well.

**AxisofLint** · 07-09-09, 08:03 PM

Personally, I still think the Materia system from seven allowed for the greatest customization and general 'fun' I've had in any FF to date.

FF9 was the real low point for me. I just hated that one ><

**Pimp Trizkit** · 07-09-09, 08:06 PM

Nah, FFX's sphere grid allowed for the greatest customization, in my opinion, and is by far the best leveling system I've ever experienced.

**AxisofLint** · 07-09-09, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by Pimp Trizkit

Nah, FFX's sphere grid allowed for the greatest customization, in my opinion, and is by far the best leveling system I've ever experienced.

It wasn't customization on the level of 7 - especially since it was a static grid (other than uh.. limity things you had in X, and maybe something else? I forget). Seven had such a variety of combinations, which altered depending on armour or weapon and then depending on what you were combining. Simple things like combining Hades with elemental meant you could get 50% resists to all status attacks on your armour, or have a good shot at multiple status effects on enemies when you attacked with your weapon.

**Menoske** · 07-10-09, 10:22 AM

Final Fantasy 2 was the epitome of player creation and customization (and I mean Jap 2, not US 2). You gained levels/abilities by actually casting spells or swinging a weapon. You could make your character a beast at duelweilding, or a hell of a caster, or sword and shield.

It was great...just took a lot more time.

I absoultely loved Final Fantasy 9. The tie-ins to the first one, I mean fucking Garland was in it, and the card game and just the feel of the game was something I was missing from 7 and 8. I'll admit I didn't play X for a long time because I saw it once and said...this isn't a Final Fantasy. After playing it I really enjoyed it though, and took back that statement.

All the games had some really great points to it and I can't wait to see what XIII does. Also I booted up my FFXII game last night and did some more clan hunts I missed. God it was hard remembering the quickenings and the chains and stuff.