Role-Playing Games: General Discussion

[smokeypsd]

I'm feeling really disallusioned about FFXIII, 3 dvds still does not add upto 1 dual layer bluray even with the compression they've done most likely. I've just read that content was defiantely cut, almost amounting to another game. the most enjoyable parts of FF for me have been the sidequests and exploration, sounds like a mighty big chunk was taken. Either it's for DLC down the track, or space issues with the 360, or both, either way I'm not happy. They cut the japanese dub aswell, I was really looking forward to it. I almost feel like just completely leaving FFXIII for way down the track, getting it on the cheap and i can use the spare cash to go towards the gow box.

[vtwin650]

3 dual layer dvd's of 7.4gb = 22.2gb if they are all full, the dual layer BD is 50gb if full. They have already stated that the audio on the BD isn't compressed at all, whereas it is compressed for the xbox version. I do believe one layer of the BD is actually taken up just by uncompressed audio.

Yes I did also read they had enough content left over to make another full game, it might have been cut for a very good reason of not letting the story get too unmanageable etc.

*edit* not sure if this has been mentioned here or others have picked up on it, but you purchase stuff from save points because there are no town / village type things in this game, so no more randomly wandering a town talking to every idiot trying to find the one person who tells you what you need to know in order to do the next thing, that you couldn't do even if YOU knew what to do, because you character didn't know etc.

[smokeypsd]

I realise about the compression but even still, an entire layer just for uncompressed audio? To me though I don't see how extra side quests actually factor into the passing of a FF game, the whole point is that it's upto you how deep you go with them, and u make a choice to stray from the main story. I just can't shake the feeling that the 360 played a part in it, and it sure did with us not getting the japanese dub.

[tjohn323]

just imo square should pretty much scrap the

360 support... this generation at least.

They have pumped out quite afew crap

games as 360 exclusives.

Possibly to help bolster the 360 in Japan.,

Well its proved to be an epic fail.

As they are yet to make even a decent game on this

generation of consoles (FFXIII being the likely exception).

Hopefully we start to see square taking themselves

a little more seriously as a developer

rather than a supporter to whoever has a big wallet.

(that comes when you do good stuff)

[kiwiatlarge]

The biggest thing I am getting from reviews and fan discussions (and I'm not a hardcore RPG player... I have Mass Effect, Oblivion, Fallout 3 and haven't played them)... is that the game has been deliberately delivered to be mainstream 'interactive movie' friendly.

Purists are criticising that it is too linear (although it doesn't sound any more linear than FFX tbh), there aren't any towns for free roaming exploration, talking to people, picking up items, and there isn't much in the way of side questing. Also heavily criticised is the combat, how you can only control one character, and that it is too much a case of just spamming the attack button until the fight ends.

Again, I'm not an RPG expert (even though my old flatmate had a bookcase of PS2 rpgs) but I was under the impression that FF hasn't really been a purist's heaven and more focused on presentation and flair for the mainstream audiences for years now?

One comment I've read which has stuck with me was "if you like MGS4, you'll like this".... in other words, if you like going from Save Point to cutscene to 5 min of action to cutscene to save point to boss fight to cutscent to save point.... then you'll like the game. Sure some of the characters are bound to be annoying, but at least it sounds like we have a decent lead character.... Lightning has been described as the best bits of past ps1/ps2 leads

[kiwiatlarge]

Double post... but I lurk the euro boards a lot, especially with it so quiet in our neck of the woods these days...

I thought this part of this post was interesting...

Quoted from cloudsheaven -

"theres a really good preview here: http://kotaku.com/5433455/final-fantasy-xiii-impressions-15-years-later-25-hours-in that explains some of the decesions made by square enix, and how it effects the game.  i think this artticle is a must read and really explains some of the critiscms it has recieved.

for example he explains that the linerairty is a concscious choice made because of the nature of the story, you are being chased, hence the game design needs a narrow and stringent path to make the story work and feel correctly balanced.

so it seems that essentially this is ffx dressed  up for the ps3- which i wont mind, whilst ffx was more of a adventure game rather that rpg- the story, characters, enviroments, leveling up system were so strong that the missing rpg elements that made the ps1 games so classic werent that sorely missed. and i really enjoyed ffx."

[smokeypsd]

that doesn't bode well, no japanese dub or not, that is sounding pretty disappointing to me. I don't like FFX.

Don't think it's fair the MGS4 comment, as I love MGS4, 1 of my favourite games, but it's not a presentation I'd want for a RPG.

[Crazy_Cow]

Darn it !!! XBOX360 Screws us again !!!

In an interview with Final Fantasy XIII art director Isamu Kamikokuryou, he mentioned that a lot of content were deleted from the game due to game volume and overall game balance. For example there was a full area surrounding Lightning's home which resembled a park; and there was a secret base for the resistance group Nora inside a shop; and there was a zoo inside the amusement facility Nautiuls. Kamikokuryou said the size of the deleted content was enough to make another game.

this why i hate multi platform

[kiwiatlarge]

Ah well... there is always FF Versus XIII to look forward to...

[tjohn323]

I actually think the game sounds great

I dont mind a more story driven game personally

The cutscenes and the story is one of the defining

things in Final Fantasy.

I do think that regardless of how good or bad it turns out

Square have really dropped the ball for the last 4 yrs or so.

Im hoping Nier turns out good...but its an action game

so I have my reservations.

Versus has me excited too, but for me Square have yet to

prove themselves this generation.

Still I am getting more excited for Final Fantasy now

not long to go, and theres plenty of good gaming to hold me over.

I think the game I am getting most excited about right now though is

Heavy Rain now that we have a solid release date