Game Review: Final Fantasy XIII

Final Fantasy is a series that has been known for its wonderfully developed characters and its detailed and elaborate storylines. The complex, interesting worlds it creates for gamers has made it the world’s most popular RPG (role-playing game) series. 

Surprisingly, Final Fantasy XIII, released into Australia in March 2010, abandons a number of the series’ traditions, instead taking a more linear approach. While this sounded off putting to fans at the time of release, the battle system and narrative of the game remained strong and created a new interest amongst fans, both old and new. 

Players take control of six different characters in the storyline of Final Fantasy XIII, jumping between groups frequently. However, the main focus is on Lightning, a sharp-eyed female soldier. Between the six playable characters, the player follows a multi-story approach that uses clever flashbacks and alternations between groups to for the storyline.  

Promo artwork for the game

The storyline can sometimes become overdramatic at times, but fans of the series generally wouldn’t find themselves too surprised by this. The most interesting thing about the storyline is what the characters bring to it, and the relationship that is established between the two worlds in the game –Cocoon and Pulse- and the relationship of humans and fal’Cie. Final Fantasy XIII also incorporates god-like beings (fal’Cie) in the game that aim to protect humanity. They’re extremely important in the development of the story and I found them to be an incredibly cool part of the game.

A game from the Final Fantasy series must have a solid battle system, and FFXIII delivers on this extremely well. What starts out as an extremely simple, menu-driven system quickly becomes more complex as the game progresses. Creating one of the most challenging, yet interesting systems of any Final Fantasy title. The battle system allows specific actions for every character that requires a certain number of segments on an attacking gauge, so you are able to set up an attacking queue, so a player can make their own combos in battle. 

Shot of new battle system

You only control one character at a time, but your friends (party members) actions are dictated by the roles you set them. Unlike past Final Fantasy games, these roles are invaluable and must be used effectively in fights to survive. Ultimately, the roles dictate how you play the game, keeping the battles fun and interesting.

The new battle system also requires players to set up Paradigms, which is grouping the roles of your character and party members to create the most effective team possible. From there you aim to stagger and then kill you opponent. The fight is then rated according to how you went about the battle and the time you completed it in. 

In-game shot showing Paradigm and roles of the team

Getting past the battle system, the first 30 or so hours of the game is quite linear, making it quite boring at times. Once reaching Chapter 11, the game finally begins to open up. Despite how boring and un-RPG like the story can seem at times, I still found the game managed to hold my interest. I think this was mostly due to the absolutely incredible setting and imaginative characters that manage to evoke emotion from the player.

The worlds, both Cocoon and Pulse, are breathtaking. Once again, Final Fantasy has managed to leave me in awe. The graphics and creativity behind the worlds, I found, made up for the storyline. I didn’t mind so much that it didn’t feel like a real RPG game, because I found myself captivated by my surroundings. Especially, during the cinematic parts of the game. I got to watch the storyline and characters progress into the next chunk of story, and it was so satisfying to just sit back and watch the interactions between characters and places. I thought the graphics made the game beautiful.

In-game shot of Pulse

Another amazing in-game shot

As for characters, there were some I loved, some I hated. Playing as Lightning was probably my favorite of the six characters. She was such a strong, determined character. I loved that there was a main protagonist who was female and could kick-ass. 

Sazh, I didn’t mind. He bought some fun to the group and I was able to feel for him emotionally as he searched for his missing son.

Snow, I can’t tell if I like him or not honestly. He’s a very full of himself kind of character, but I still can’t help but respect him for the struggles he goes through to get his fiancée.

Serah (not-playable), Snow’s fiancée and Lightning’s younger sister isn’t a huge personality in the game as she spends a lot of time trapped. Despite the lack of seeing her yourself though, you can still tell she is a loving, sweet character that just makes you grow to like her.

Feng is a character that I really loved. Another total bad-ass in the game and a friend of Lightning’s. Her story is a sad one and I really felt a connection to her when she was introduced into the game’s story.

Vanielle, well…I honestly couldn’t stand the girl. She was too bright and happy. While one would usually appreciate a person with a positive outlook on life, she was a bit too positive and bubbly considering the dark circumstances the characters find themselves in. Despite my dislike for that part of her, I did feel pretty bad for her when she and Vanielle make a big sacrifice to save everyone towards the end of the game. 

 Lastly, Hope. At first I felt quite bad for the boy as his mother dies right before his eyes and suddenly he’s alone in the world. But, he started to get annoying, whiny and emotional very quickly. To the point that he was basically being a little baby and made some very stupid decisions. That was until Lightning steps in and smacks some sense into the boy. From there, you watch him grow. He holds Lightning as a mentor and by the end of the game; I just wanted to congratulate him after watching how much he matures. 

Playable characters (from left to right): Sazh, Snow, Hope, Lightning, Feng and Vanielle.

 Overall, I think Final Fantasy XIII has been a good start to the 13^th part of the series. It’s darker storyline, while linear at times, still allows the player to connect with the game in that special way that Final Fantasy games manage. There some good and bad in all the characters. The fal’Cie are a fantastic, imaginative idea that I loved. The graphics are beautiful. And despite what others have criticized, I still believe that this is a good game. I give it a 7.5/10.