I know i'm still interested, because the so-called greatest rpg/greatest final fantasy (being FF VII) was average in my opinions, and the ones that was always overlooked, such as 8 and 9, were my favourite.
I had a strange feeling that this game would end up not hitting the heights of previous versions.
I haven't really bothered with the Final Fantasy games since 8 (which I found a little dull), but I know it's still a hugely popular franchise and I doubt this review will stop it flying off the shelves.
I never played FF8 at all, i finished FF7 (my personal favorite) and FF9 (also really good) but with the PSN release of FF8 next month, ill certainly give it a go.
As to FF13, i personally still think 81% is a good score, considering that 50% is meant to be average (which some people clearly dont understand, just go search resistance 2 or killzone on this site if you wanna see how low people are) so my interesr is still there for this.
The series has gone down hill since the PS2 days. I thought FF12 was garbage despite picking up decent review scores, but it seems people are finally cottoning onto the fact that Square-Enix need to pull their finger out and bring some new life into the franchaise like Capcom did with Resident Evil. I'll still probably pick the game up later in the year, but if such review scores become a common trend, I may think twice...
as far as i can see, this is going to be a big let down for Q1 2010. trust me on that.
in it's defence i think the characters look really beautiful. lightning especially, she's the kind of chick you wish was real so you could lay your one liners on her >.>
81% is a good score, considering that 50% is meant to be average (which some people clearly dont understand...)
50% is meant to be average, but almost no magazines actually use it as that. Edge are the closest, I suppose. The amount of games in most of the games media that score betweet 85 and 95% is ridiculous. Most games reviews could essentially be boiled down into placing games into 3 categories - 1)Rubbish 2)OK, worth a rent and 3)Buy it. It would be far easier to use a 5 star system (like the old CVG mag did). I mean, what reviewer or gamer could tell you the difference between a 94% and 95% score?
It's bloody stupid.
And, I agree with the above - FFVIII FTW. Awesome.
the last decent final fantasy was X (not including crisis core here, cause that counts as ff VII) i loved every single one from 7 - 10
In my eyes FF became rubbish when they ditched Turn-Based fighting for real time rubbish. Also they kind of lost it when they make a casual RPG Game. The price they pay. I'm hoping that Final Fantasy Versus 13 will be more interesting.
FFVII is the most overrated POS I have ever had the misfortune to play ... Seriously dont understsand what other people see in it ..
FF13 seems to be continuing that trend really ... I love the old fashioned JRPG's like Phantasy Star pity that all it seems to be now is 20 minute cutscene followed by five minutes of linear gameplay ... followed by another 20 minute cutscene .. and so on till you complete it. Thats certainly what I have gleamed from people on other forums who have completed the JAP version already.
The last FF was polarizing because it tried something new, this looks to be the same. The combat system is said to be a plus point in XIII, with the story being too anime-cliche like. But I like anime, and if cliches are implemented well then they add to the story. Think of Zelda with it's save-the-princess plot in every game, that's still awesome even after 30 (?) years. No amount of 'average' or even 'bad' reviews are going to deter me - I bought and enjoyed The Last Remnant for god's sake!
As I expected based on early sneak previews and reviews from gamers that played the Japanese release version. It would not surprise me if even worse reviews are submitted in due time. I'd already made up my mind not to purchase "FF XIII" at launch and since I just picked up "ME2" Collector's Edition today, I very much doubt "FF XIII" will have anything to offer that compares game play wise.
I never played FF8 at all, i finished FF7 (my personal favorite) and FF9 (also really good) but with the PSN release of FF8 next month, ill certainly give it a go.
As to FF13, i personally still think 81% is a good score, considering that 50% is meant to be average (which some people clearly dont understand, just go search resistance 2 or killzone on this site if you wanna see how low people are) so my interesr is still there for this.
Depends. 50% is certainly half way, that we can agree on. Yet if you take the US and Canadian academic grading system anything under 60% is an "F" or fail. 60-69 (D range) is sub-par but passes. 70-79 is average (C range). 80-89 is good (B range). 90-100 (A range) is excellent. Each bracket has a sub-division covered by a 3 point span (ex. C-, C, C+). 81% isn't bad but given "FF"s reputation and pedigree scoring anything less than 90% will make it seem far worse than if it had been a new, unknown IP. The flip side is that as a high profile title it is likely to sell more units and may also end up getting a bit of favouritism in some reviews, so it's not a one way street.
Always thought this game was going to be amazing. Now it's probably one I'll pick up when it drops in price. the first quater of this year is far too stacked with games. Some will just have to wait. Didn't think this would be one of them for me. And I agree that FF8 was the best. The intro still gives me goosebumps.
if you take the US and Canadian academic grading system anything under 60% is an "F" or fail
Err... That't an aptitude test. Or, it's meant to be. The people that set the grade boundaries set the questions. Can't really compare it to reviewing.
Jrpg's are rather hard to evolve from what they are. No matter how a comapny changes them they are still the same and use the same overall design. You either have Turn based or real time combat. You start off at A and go to B. No matter of tarting up will change this It seems to be that no mater what Square-Enix would have with ff13 would not have been goodenougth for some people. Just because A mag says it's crap and nothing new don't mean you will enjoy it. Blue Dragon was slated for not realy changing anything, but I found it great and one of the best Jrpgs I have played.
I would say the FF6 is the best personally, followed by 4 then 3 then 9 then 10 then 8 and so on and so forth. I never really liked 7, I played it around a year or two after its release so I wasn't astounded by the graphics or shocked by Aerith's death. So...yeah...just my opinion so don't flame me please...
if you take the US and Canadian academic grading system anything under 60% is an "F" or fail
Err... That't an aptitude test. Or, it's meant to be. The people that set the grade boundaries set the questions. Can't really compare it to reviewing.
Not really. Not when you consider that most tests/examinations will have the general parts they are going to cover indicated before they take place, meaning that the students can study the relevant material and not have to rely solely on their pre-existing aptitude in the given field(s). Have you ever actually spent time in the North American school system? I have and it works quite well, as does the comparison to the gaming scores. Some of the questions will have answers set in stone (ex. physical sciences based upon up-to-date research; the same can be said of history unless new records are made available, etc). Regardless, the comparison is entirely valid since a proper review of a game isn't supposed to be based just on the reviewers personal opinion. It is supposed to take in to account technical aspects that are quantifiable and verifiable and not just subject to whimsical likes and dislikes. For example, how does the game play make itself felt? How are the controls? Does the plot make sense? Does the narrative fit the scenes? What about combat? Realistic? Satisfying? Generally easy to get the grips of or a convoluted mess? These factors can all be submitted to such a grading system and they are factors (amongst others) that are generally expected to be considered in professional game reviews.
"FF XIII" looks pretty but lacks substance given its length according to the cited review. Does this genuinely surprise anyone who has been keeping just half abreast of its development and has any experience with the FF series?
The best Final Fantasy for me would have been X. I even like X-2. I was not a fan of XII though. I will still be buying XIII and base me own judgemnt on it. Overall though the score gamemaster gave it is not that bad but i suppose it is a blow for the franchise if all reviews give a simler score.
VIII was poor with a shoddy plot,summons that got handed out like smarties,the entire cast list,that bastard love song after the lunar cry and a multitude of things that stopped it being an FF for me and more a nomura vehicle.
it was also the first time sakaguchi wasn't involved and that hurt it,it was an FF made by the numbers.
to be fair once disc 4 kicked in and you hit ultimecia's castle it became quite good but i've got it down with II and V as one of the lesser FF's. i even prefer X over it and that's some stretch,believe me.
the last true FF was IX,a perfect ending to the series and the last time sakaguchi was directly involved in one.
now i play them in the hope that square can once again recapture a bit of the old magic.
Sadly a lot of reviews (or translations thereof) are saying the same thing, shame as the PS3 needs some decent RPG's here imo (I'm looking at you Demons Souls and WKC (which is being released over here)). I shall still buy this though as I am a sucker for my RPG's.
I don't understand why people keep going on abouot wanting demon souls to have a UK release. Its not like you can't just import it.
No region coding is the best feature of the PS3 IMO.
Yes agreed it is one of the best features of the PS3 but I would rather the game have a UK release seeing as has online components. Sorry this upsets you Monkey.
Never spent time in the American education system, but did work in the English one for three years - there isn't an exam based system on the planet that properly tests aptitude, so I can't imagine it's anything different. Anyway, that's not the point.
The point it that if the grade boundaries in an exam say that 60% is a C and 40 is a fail% (or whatever) then a student who gets 50% is going to get a D or E. Reviewing a game, percentages should not work like that, obviously. That would mean any game that scored less that 40% would be a fail. Therefor and mark under that is useless. 50% in a review should be looked at as 5 out of 10 ie average.
The way they rate it depends on who's rating them and where they're from. You can't have a Russian rating a Japanese game (just an example) and for all we know the guys who rated it are hardcore FPS vets, I'm going to stick with my gut and get it.
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