I understand the GB krew is busy. I understand when a review is a day or two late (or maybe till 3 days). I don't understand when a review is really overdue.    

considering that lasttuesday(5-6 days ago) he was only like 2 hours into the game, i would say that we would have to wait for at least 1 more week until we can start talking about a review.
it's a 50 hour game, meaning that even if he puts 4 hours into it every day it will take him 2 weeks to finish it, then it takes a day or two to write a review. Including that there have been the GDC, pax is coming up etc.

GDC all last week. 

I bet he's stuck at the challenge level near the end where Lightning has to kill all the demons in one continuous combo.

Yeah I know guys, thanks. But I think they get the game way earlier (not always) for our video game critics to get their reviews to coincide with the retail date. Correct me if I'm wrong.

" GDC all last week.  "

" I bet he's stuck at the challenge level near the end where Lightning has to kill all the demons in one continuous combo. "

According to his achievements page he only has gotten 4 achievements. Which would mean he is only like...5-6 hours into the game.
 
In other words, don't expect a review any time soon.

It's not like FF XIII is a 50-60 hour experience or anything.

It's a 50 hour game and he doesn't seem to like it.  Have fun waiting another week.

" considering that lasttuesday(5-6 days ago) he was only like 2 hours into the game, i would say that we would have to wait for at least 1 more week until we can start talking about a review. it's a 50 hour game, meaning that even if he puts 4 hours into it every day it will take him 2 weeks to finish it, then it takes a day or two to write a review. Including that there have been the GDC, pax is coming up etc. "

" @tomte said:

" considering that lasttuesday(5-6 days ago) he was only like 2 hours into the game, i would say that we would have to wait for at least 1 more week until we can start talking about a review. it's a 50 hour game, meaning that even if he puts 4 hours into it every day it will take him 2 weeks to finish it, then it takes a day or two to write a review. Including that there have been the GDC, pax is coming up etc. "

50 hours? I thought it would be like 24 hours judging from how I clocked in 8 hours for disc one. Good to know then. "

This reminds me of Ryan's review of Dante's Inferno. That one was really late. I dunno, I just want to see Giantbomb be included in Metacritic and the other similar sites that aggregate scores. I want them to "win," like, be at the top if  you will, or amongst the top. It's a good advert for the site to get a review done pretty much on time.

Brad isn't no Fitch let him finish the game first before he reviews it.

if you listen to the bomb cast, after hearing what he had to say, there is no way the game is getting more than 3 stars

" if you listen to the bomb cast, after hearing what he had to say, there is no way the game is getting more than 3 stars "

I don't think they got a review copy and with how long this game is--it might take a while.

Yeah, if you check Brad's achievement profile you'll see he's not too far into the game.

" I bet he's stuck at the challenge level near the end where Lightning has to kill all the demons in one continuous combo. "

It's a long game. It'll be here next year.

" @Meteora said:

" @tomte said:

" considering that lasttuesday(5-6 days ago) he was only like 2 hours into the game, i would say that we would have to wait for at least 1 more week until we can start talking about a review. it's a 50 hour game, meaning that even if he puts 4 hours into it every day it will take him 2 weeks to finish it, then it takes a day or two to write a review. Including that there have been the GDC, pax is coming up etc. "

50 hours? I thought it would be like 24 hours judging from how I clocked in 8 hours for disc one. Good to know then. "

Chapters 10-13 are like 25-30 hours long. "

" They are on metacritic. "

He said on the Bombcast that he was sent the 360 version for some reason.  My guess is that he started over on the PS3 version which is why his achievement score is so low?

" @ErisRon: It's there.  For some reason, Ryan only reviewed the 360 version. "

I'm sure Brad is far too busy working on his Final Fantasy IV DS review.

" Yeah I know guys, thanks. But I think they get the game way earlier (not always) for our video game critics to get their reviews to coincide with the retail date. Correct me if I'm wrong. "

" @PufferFiz said:

" if you listen to the bomb cast, after hearing what he had to say, there is no way the game is getting more than 3 stars "

He was judging everything he said based off of 3 hours of play...in a 50-60 hour game. "

Brad! is the new Damn!

" @CL60 said:

" @PufferFiz said:

" if you listen to the bomb cast, after hearing what he had to say, there is no way the game is getting more than 3 stars "

He was judging everything he said based off of 3 hours of play...in a 50-60 hour game. "

Exactly.

" @jakob187 said:

" @CL60 said:

" @PufferFiz said:

" if you listen to the bomb cast, after hearing what he had to say, there is no way the game is getting more than 3 stars "

He was judging everything he said based off of 3 hours of play...in a 50-60 hour game. "

Exactly.

Not to mention that it is taken to the extreme in Final Fantasy XIII, where the first 3-4 hours have practically no gameplay, let alone challenge at all.   "

Late review copies tend to mean the publisher does not want to risk a lot of middling reviews on launch day. (TH:Ride as one recent example.)  The other extreme is when they are absolutely certain it's triple-A (MW2) but still want to control the hype.  With months of FFXIII feedback coming out of Japan, my bet is on the former. 
They would have been smart to send reviewers early copies of the PS3 version, letting them buy 360 on launch day if the reviewer wants to compare or slake their achievement lust.
 
Anyway, it will be May/June before I can put any serious time into it, and I can probably find it cheaper then. Just played some FFXII this weekend, which I bought on Halloween launch day in 2006, and my save is up to about 25 hours now.  All the more embarrassing considering how much I love Ivalice as a setting.  But that's the kind of decade it's been.  Too much work, and too many good games to find time for.

" @ErisRon said:

" Yeah I know guys, thanks. But I think they get the game way earlier (not always) for our video game critics to get their reviews to coincide with the retail date. Correct me if I'm wrong. "

youre wrong. The kotaku review only came out 2 days ago or something, and they specifically bash square for giving them a review copy so late "

" @Rhaknar said:

" @ErisRon said:

" Yeah I know guys, thanks. But I think they get the game way earlier (not always) for our video game critics to get their reviews to coincide with the retail date. Correct me if I'm wrong. "

youre wrong. The kotaku review only came out 2 days ago or something, and they specifically bash square for giving them a review copy so late "

That's why I said "not always." Still, I appreciate the input. "

" @Rhaknar said:

" @ErisRon said:

" Yeah I know guys, thanks. But I think they get the game way earlier (not always) for our video game critics to get their reviews to coincide with the retail date. Correct me if I'm wrong. "

youre wrong. The kotaku review only came out 2 days ago or something, and they specifically bash square for giving them a review copy so late "

That's why I said "not always." Still, I appreciate the input. "

Honestly im suprised GB is reviewing a JRPG at all, usually they don't go beyond mentioning them on the bombcast as a new release.
 
Persona 4 being the exception of course.

" Honestly im suprised GB is reviewing a JRPG at all, usually they don't go beyond mentioning them on the bombcast as a new release.  Persona 4 being the exception of course. "

I don't think he likes it that much?.. Also... maybe he's doing the GOW3 review... But you're right, I've actually ended up buying it from overseas cause I was waiting on Giant Bomb's final verdict... but just couldn't wait any longer and went with my gut. I should be playing it in about a week, I have low expectations.

" @Vorbis said:

" Honestly im suprised GB is reviewing a JRPG at all, usually they don't go beyond mentioning them on the bombcast as a new release.  Persona 4 being the exception of course. "

It has surprised me a bit as well, even beyond the scope of simply "jrpgs". They don't review RPGs in general, seriously. Mass Effect 2 is the only full fledged RPG they have reviewed since when exactly? I mean sure we saw a review for Dragon Age but that was done by Dave which isn't a main writer on staff or anything. They don't seem to enjoy many RPGs in general so any review they do of the genre catches me off guard. And really the community as a whole doesn't seem to be interested in them outside of the main steam stuff so a review for the game seems kind of pointless really. "

I feel sorry for Brad, having to endure this game for its entirety.
 
2 stars and walk away.

I think the destructoid review hasnt come out either. Im pretty sure that many western sites were not given the game early because Square was afraid of getting bad reviews that would reduce sales in the US. Im pretty sure this is not GB's fault.

Destructoid were told they couldn't get their copy early due to pirating issues, which asks the question why not just send out the PS3 version instead?

I don't think GB busts itself to get day 1 reviews - not really what the site is about.  gonna be 3 stars anyway :P

I doubt we will even get a review. Brad doesn't seem to like it that much so I doubt he will actually finish it.

I estimate 4 stars for solid game play you have to dig through to get to.  Time will tell though.  I would hardly call this a three star game myself.

" I doubt we will even get a review. Brad doesn't seem to like it that much so I doubt he will actually finish it. "