Thinking about buying all three FF XIII games...

[Velvet Scarlatina 607]

I've heard about how bad this series was, and I've heard about how good this series was. I pretty much know everything that happens in the first FFXIII game, but still want to play it and add it to my library, and I've pretty much spoiled the final bosses for both XIII-2 and LR (although I've only watched the videos of them in Japanese, so I have no clue what was going on).I will admit that I have hated on this series despite not playing them myself (but the linear exploration and gameplay of the first FF XIII still kinda bothers me). The only Final Fantasy games I've played are the PSP version of the first Final Fantasy, FF8, and only half of 10. That said, can anyone here help convince me whether or not to buy/not buy all three (without spoiling anything for me)?

 

I actually want to be convinced to buy the games, so no "It's awesome! Buy them now!". Even if it's just a four-sentence paragraph, try your best to tell me why I should or should not buy the games.

[MasterXemnas 2,285]

Fool. I suggest only getting the first 13.

[Reyn 1,755]

I think the story is pretty in depth for all 3 games, the characters don't appeal to everyone, but the story definitely keeps you guessing and is really well thought out all the way to the end.

 

The gameplay depends on what you do with it. In XIII and XIII-2 you can choose Auto battle, but i prefer to choose specfiic commands in battle and strategically choose paradigms. LR's gameplay is more like KH, in that it's Action Based, where you can move around the battlefield and attack. I like both sets of the gameplay though.

[Taeyeon 1,137]

From what I've read in your post one of the main problems you disliked about XIII was the linear gameplay, but that's not the same case for XIII-2, and LR now. XIII-2 took what was XIII battle system and improved it by a good margin, it still feels and looks the same but much faster pace and actually feels improved a tid bit. As for exploration within XIII-2 it also improved, due to the "pokemon esque" theme they have going on, with your third party member you'll have more reason to farm off of monsters and add them to your party. The area's you explore are more open and have more life to them with people and such so it doesn't feel as linear as XIII.

 

Lightning Returns is a whole new ball game of fun challenge, Exploration is greatly improved, battle systems is a whole ton of awesomeness feels great and fast pace than both of the past XIII games unlike the last two XIII games it's more of a crisis core/kingdom hearts feel where you can move around and attack. The customization is pretty deep as well, such as leveling up your own abilities, finding them, upgrading them, finding many outfits + weapons with different stats to your liking, and you can also change different parts of your outfits color too. Instead of leveling up from exp off of monsters you get stats raised from doing side quests, at first I thought this was pretty lame, but actually having it in hands I don't mind at all something about it has it charms that doesn't feel bad at all.

 

As for the story? That's a hit and miss for everyone. You either hate it, or you love it. As for myself I love it, but I can understand why people dislike the XIII series and side on both party. You're just going have to experience it for your self if you truly liked the XIII series or not.

Edited February 23, 2014 by Lie Ren

[Sora96 17,256]

Buy all three. The first two are very, very cheap now.

[Anthony17 40]

I got all three, they are great to me. I like unlike some people may think but I enjoyed the series. So I recommend that you get them.  Like what everyone else say the last two are the only ones where you can do things extra but I like the first one because its the beginning and you have everyone with you. But overall I like the series and I played all the Final Fantasy games.

[CrownKeeper13 688]

Don't. FF13 isn't necessarily bad, but the combat system it uses, as well as the music and overall tone just doesn't work or feel the way a Final Fantasy game should. I call it the Halo 4 effect. As a game itself it isn't bad, but alongside the rest of its series, it's complete crap.

[Ruby Rose 8,591]

You only need XIII and XIII-2 as you can play as Sazh in them both (though XIII-2 you have to purchase DLC to play as him)

[AnHeiressofaSOLDIER 358]

So, I'm going to edit this post tomorrow when I have the time, and give a full in-depth reason about why I love these games.

 

But as of now, I'd definitely say buy the series. Honestly, the flack that this series has gotten is completely ridiculous in my opinion (but that's the Internet for you).

 

And a lot of the hate has been taken to ridiculous portions, when a lot of the stuff can be justified. The reason there are no towns in the first game is because your characters are enemies of the entire world they're on. If they went into town, they would be being hunted all the time, and they're smart enough not to do that. And it happens a few times in the game, anyway.

 

But the character development in the first game is extraordinary. Most people hate on these characters, because they judge them for who they were before character development set in. And, you know, hate them for being human, realistic, and having flaws because this is the Internet. (And on a side note, I think the XIII characters are some of the most believable characters from any of the Square games). But the way FFXIII developed these characters, who even had reason to hate each other, into a family at the end (and having it feel legitimate) is an amazing feat, that I've seen a ton of things not be able to pull off as well as this game did.

 

Just how they handled having six leads, with equal importance to the story, was also commendable. And just the themes of defying destiny, and creating your own miracles, is really something to write home about. Especially since they pretty much screwed themselves over to save a world that hated and feared them, when they could have sacrificed the others to save themselves.

 

The entire world of the Fabula Nova Chrystallis series is also fascinating, and reminds me a lot of the Greek and Roman god myths.

 

So, yes. I think XIII is an amazing series, that you should honestly give a chance.

[xxClouDxxmoon 901]

Buy the first, and see what you think.

[xxClouDxxmoon 901]

So, I'm going to edit this post tomorrow when I have the time, and give a full in-depth reason about why I love these games. But as of now, I'd definitely say buy the series. Honestly, the flack that this series has gotten is completely ridiculous in my opinion (but that's the Internet for you). And a lot of the hate has been taken to ridiculous portions, when a lot of the stuff can be justified. The reason there are no towns in the first game is because your characters are enemies of the entire world they're on. If they went into town, they would be being hunted all the time, and they're smart enough not to do that. And it happens a few times in the game, anyway. But the character development in the first game is extraordinary. Most people hate on these characters, because they judge them for who they were before character development set in. And, you know, hate them for being human, realistic, and having flaws because this is the Internet. (And on a side note, I think the XIII characters are some of the most believable characters from any of the Square games). But the way FFXIII developed these characters, who even had reason to hate each other, into a family at the end (and having it feel legitimate) is an amazing feat, that I've seen a ton of things not be able to pull off as well as this game did. Just how they handled having six leads, with equal importance to the story, was also commendable. And just the themes of defying destiny, and creating your own miracles, is really something to write home about. Especially since they pretty much screwed themselves over to save a world that hated and feared them, when they could have sacrificed the others to save themselves. The entire world of the Fabula Nova Chrystallis series is also fascinating, and reminds me a lot of the Greek and Roman god myths. So, yes. I think XIII is an amazing series, that you should honestly give a chance.

Characters are really not that good. Except Sazh.

[Britipinojeff 95]

The story of FFXIII is pretty good, even when critics dislike how the games dont keep the main cast from the first game in consistency the intereaction from the characters in their respective stories in the games are interesting to watch. FFXIII was actually the first FF game i ever played so it hooked me in basically just through the visuals and the story. I didnt really care that the combat was completely different and the interesting part of the combat is changing through the paradigms to match the situation which is also better in FFXIII-2. So if you are the kinda person who likes a good story, and being on a KH site i think you do, you probably will enjoy this games story. Tho you might be inclined to try to move ur characters cuz the ATB system feels like a pseudo KH gameplay sorta.

[AnHeiressofaSOLDIER 358]

Characters are really not that good. Except Sazh.

That's your opinion, though, like me liking all the characters is mine.

 

I think the characters are amazing. Lightning goes from someone very angry and closed off (who just wanted to get back at the Sanctum), to someone who completely thawed out, but still retained who she was. She became quite caring, and the leader of the gang who tried to save the world, despite the fact it hated them (and L'cie had been her enemies when she'd been part of the Guardian Corps). Plus, under her front, she's actually very vulnerable. She blames herself for Serah's fate, and lashes out at Snow when she really is ashamed of herself, which is something very realistic: needing to hold someone else responsible. But she and Snow come to a really neat place. And that scene, when they're on Cocoon talking about Serah, has to be my favorite one in the game. Lightning is a very real character. And personally, I found her character to be much more relatable than Cloud's or Squall's, because she literally had no reason to hope for anything good to happen after she became a L'cie.

 

Snow is pretty much Sora. He puts on an act of hope and kindness, when really he's deluding himself and hurting inside for not being able to save Serah (as even said in the game). And when he learns that they were created to destroy Cocoon (and that Serah became a crystal, because she'd "gathered the tools to aid in the destruction"), he loses it and becomes a broken man. But he's able to find a new way to go about things, that's hopeful but not naïve. The fact he's always willing to help others, though (once again: it's a world that hates them), and tries to explain their case to them, is also very admirable. And the way he handles things with Lightning, and Hope--who freaking tries to kill him--is also something to behold.

 

Vanille lies through her teeth all the time, and is always smiling, but deep down she's terrified and always has been. She and Fang were tasked with destroying Cocoon before, and she hates herself for that and what she's doing now. And she hates herself for pushing it all onto Fang, and for always running and leaving things up to the others. And though she is from Pulse, which is Cocoon's enemy, she's one of the first to declare that they have to save Cocoon, even though it would be at the cost of herself. And it's really because of her that they do (as she becomes the crystal pillar, and even before that, was trying to stop Fang from listening to the Fal'cie after the others disappeared during the final battle). She also carries a heavy burden in being responsible for both Serah and Dajh becoming L'cie.

 

Fang is simply amazing, because she doesn't fall into any one stereotype (something the translation staff and Fang's English VA enjoyed talking about). She can be antagonistic at times in the game, but she never really wants to do the bad things, and reverts back into being a protagonist. She's loyal to Vanille to a fault, and is her main focus, but she also loves her new family and will do right by them (even though they're supposed to be her enemies). She's obviously very strong and masculine, but she has an air of femininity to her, too. She's also definitely the "dark chick" of the group, yet is also known for having some of the best wry humor in said group. Fang is an awesome character because she is a character. You can't put her into a box, as she is a lot of different things.

 

Hope is... Hope is probably my favorite character in this game. And I hate the way people treat him. Hope is a fifteen-year-old kid, who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. And when vacationing somewhere with his mother, he got taken in by the Purge, had his mother die right before his eyes, and becomes a L'cie, which is pretty much a fate worse than death. And he has to deal with all of this amongst total strangers, and the person he blames for his mother's death, of whom he wants revenge against. (Now, it obviously wasn't Snow's fault, but Hope has just been through hell and back, is traumatized as frick, and has the right to not be okay at first). And it doesn't help that Snow's always saying how he's a "hero and going to save the day", which just adds salt to Hope's wounds. But eventually, he realizes it isn't Snow's fault, and he bands with the others to try and save Cocoon. And in a lot of ways, Hope becomes the heart and soul of the group, as they battle for their lives. He was also instrumental in Snow and Lighting's character development. And in XIII-2 and on he's just amazing. And easily one of the smartest and capable people in the series. Also, Hope is the only one who never gets his lost loved one back. But he never resents this, and moves on with his new take on life.

 

Sazh's son was turned into a L'cie (something it's hinted that Sazh might have been prejudiced about before), and he wasn't able to save him. (Something he can't forgive himself for.) He then gets pulled into the Purge and becomes a L'cie himself. For a while he goes around aimlessly without hope: trying to enjoy the last of his days alongside Vanille. Only to realize that Vanille was responsible for his son becoming a L'cie. Eventually he and Vanille overcome this, though (after he seems to almost commit suicide and whatnot), and they join together to save Cocoon, and to hopefully see Dajh and Serah again. Sazh also becomes the father figure of the group, and also probably the most realistic (and also one of the most realistic SE characters ever, and most likely the most accurate way they've ever characterized someone that's African American).

 

Also, all the characters learn they've been being lied to all their lives, and are really just the Fal'cie's pets, that they now want to manipulate and destroy. And that they need to find a way to move on from their brainwashing, and be able to allow humanity to be in charge of its own destiny, and to take care of themselves. (As the people of Cocoon counted on the Fal'cie for EVERYTHING. Even their artificial air, water, etc.)

 

As for the other characters, I'll get to them if/when I talk about XIII-2 and LR.

[Velvet Scarlatina 607]

So, I'm going to edit this post tomorrow when I have the time, and give a full in-depth reason about why I love these games.

 

But as of now, I'd definitely say buy the series. Honestly, the flack that this series has gotten is completely ridiculous in my opinion (but that's the Internet for you).

 

And a lot of the hate has been taken to ridiculous portions, when a lot of the stuff can be justified. The reason there are no towns in the first game is because your characters are enemies of the entire world they're on. If they went into town, they would be being hunted all the time, and they're smart enough not to do that. And it happens a few times in the game, anyway.

 

But the character development in the first game is extraordinary. Most people hate on these characters, because they judge them for who they were before character development set in. And, you know, hate them for being human, realistic, and having flaws because this is the Internet. (And on a side note, I think the XIII characters are some of the most believable characters from any of the Square games). But the way FFXIII developed these characters, who even had reason to hate each other, into a family at the end (and having it feel legitimate) is an amazing feat, that I've seen a ton of things not be able to pull off as well as this game did.

 

Just how they handled having six leads, with equal importance to the story, was also commendable. And just the themes of defying destiny, and creating your own miracles, is really something to write home about. Especially since they pretty much screwed themselves over to save a world that hated and feared them, when they could have sacrificed the others to save themselves.

 

The entire world of the Fabula Nova Chrystallis series is also fascinating, and reminds me a lot of the Greek and Roman god myths.

 

So, yes. I think XIII is an amazing series, that you should honestly give a chance.

 

Well, I think you've convinced me with just this, but I'm kinda curious about your full thoughts if you plan on editing this further (with no spoilers, though).