What am I getting into? 
 
Do you have any first-timer advice, or a particular 'mindset', so to speak, when I get into this game? I really have no idea how to play, the systems and mechanics, but I'm superduper interested and I'm feeling quite adventurous.
 
Also, please don't respond with, "go play Final Fantasy _ instead."

If I remember correctly FF XIII is pretty good with it's tutorials. Other than that, I don't really know how to explain. If you have experience with RPGS things will just click with you and you'll be fine, if not, I don't think it will be too difficult but I feel like there's some things you might miss. As for what those things are, I don't know.

rofl you picked the wrong ff to start with.

go play Final Fantasy 6 instead

go play Final Fantasy 9 instead.

Go play Final Fantasy XVI instead... Am I doing it right?

@YI_Orange said:

If I remember correctly FF XIII is pretty good with it's tutorials.

That's the understatement of the fucking century.

I do what I want. 
 
@YI_Orange: Thanks for the honest response. I've heard it's slow to start and heavy on tutorials, so that should be good. I just wanted to be sure I wasn't missing anything when I go to boot this up.

I've been playing Final Fantasy for almost 19 years. I would recommend to start with the classics. Final Fantasy 4 or 6, FF7 and after are great but they start to fall into a formula.

Just hit the auto attack button and you'll do fine throughout the game.

@Rolyatkcinmai:20 hour tutorial made me go crazy

Just hit the auto attack button and you'll do fine throughout the game.

@Napalm said:

What am I getting into? Do you have any first-timer advice, or a particular 'mindset', so to speak, when I get into this game? I really have no idea how to play, the systems and mechanics, but I'm superduper interested and I'm feeling quite adventurous. Also, please don't respond with, "go play Final Fantasy _ instead."

Let it flow. Don't concentrate too hard on the story because the game struggles to tell it properly. Don't worry too much about losing (the game makes it hard to lose) and be prepared to go in a straight line for around 20 hrs - don't worry the game does open up somewhat after that.

FF 13 is the only FF I haven't finish. I wish they would take Giantbombs advice and take a DAMN BREAK!!!!

Return it and get any other Final Fantasy game.

Go play Final Fantasy _ instead.

Holy crap! This game is three discs! 
 
Well, I suppose that's not that surprising considering what I've heard in regards to the games lengths. 
 
@SeriouslyNow: <3

Once your about an hour in, and you have no clue what's going on and everyone is just spouting gibberish, get over to the datalog and read through the entries. Then all that gibberish will start to make sense. It goes a long way to not hating all of the characters and the story for like the first six to ten hours. The story is actually pretty decent once you know all of that important back-story. Granted, you shouldn't have to go to the trouble, but that's what you've gotten yourself in to. It won't take long to read through and at least you won't hate yourself for buying the game that way. That's my advice going in. Read the datalog so that you can enjoy the story.

Hope you enjoy it! I didn't quite understand the story until the second time through, but it explores some interesting themes. The combat system is great and it looks gorgeous.

The tutorial is long indeed, as mentioned, but it does open up later. You have to be patient to get any enjoyment out of this I think, it's generally quite slow paced.

FF13 is pretty good about telling you what you need to know. *awaits angry comments*

@Napalm said:

Holy crap! This game is three discs!

Well, I suppose that's not that surprising considering what I've heard in regards to the games lengths.

@SeriouslyNow: <3

Ah, the Xbox 360 version.

You might find the game slow-going at first. Final Fantasy XIII takes its time with opening up the gameplay to the player, and you won't have your full party together for some time to come. But some general advice I have for this game in particular, off the top of my head:

• Status Effects: Most Final Fantasy games don't really use status affecting spells very well, but in FFXIII, they're both effective and necessary.
• Eidolon Battles: These are probably the trickiest fights in the game because they don't follow the normal rules of combat. Different Eidolons have different weaknesses that fill their gauges faster.
• Avoid the temptation to use auto-battle. It's not nearly as effective as manual command selection, especially as you get further in the game.
• Scan your enemies to learn their weaknesses. Your AI-controlled allies will fight more effectively (and you'll know what to use, too.)
• Get ready to shift paradigms at the drop of a hat, and be sure to set up paradigms for a variety of combat situations.

Im guessing this'll be your last FF as well.

The combat in the game is basically a flashier version of Persona 3. Personally, it made me want to tear my hair out, but if that sounds appealing to you then you should enjoy yourself. 

Kind of a bummer. Hopefully the sequel is better.

FF13 is amazing. There is no need to ask for advice because the game's battle system, while it can get complex after Chapter 10-11, very slowly opens itself up to you so you can learn things from the foundations up. Have fun with it!

@SoldierG654342 said:

The combat in the game is basically a flashier version of Persona 3. Personally, it made me want to tear my hair out, but if that sounds appealing to you then you should enjoy yourself.

HAHAHAHAHA no.

HAHAHAHAHA no.

The best advice I can give is to read a bit in the story related compendium in the beginning. It's basically a fantastic story that is told in a very shitty way since it leaves out important information, without which, the story doesn't make sense. What is a L'Cie? And a Fal'Cie? Ok, but how about a Cie'th? Only the compendium tells you, but the game keeps referencing these things.

Else sit back and enjoy the pretty auto battles. The combat is far too fast to be fiddling with manual spellcasting, as you will probably learn.

@YI_Orange said:

If I remember correctly FF XIII is pretty good with it's tutorials.

That's the understatement of the fucking century.

@Grissefar said:

Else sit back and enjoy the pretty auto battles. The combat is far too fast to be fiddling with manual spellcasting, and you will probably learn.

No it's not. I played through almost the entire game without using auto-battle.

Read the compendium. I think it is beyond shitty that you have to do that, but you have to do that. You can honestly rely on auto battle for most the game. Only exception to this is later boss fights. However, if you rely on it too much early on, you might not get the experience and familiarity with the mechanics that you'll need to handle the later encounters.  But you can use the auto battle however much you want.
 
The key to the game is having the right paradigms set up in advance, and just knowing when to switch. 

@Hailinel said:

@Grissefar said:

Else sit back and enjoy the pretty auto battles. The combat is far too fast to be fiddling with manual spellcasting, and you will probably learn.

No it's not. I played through almost the entire game without using auto-battle.

But I think it is.

Just don't judge us FF fans based on this one please

Well, its a 20 hour tutorial until the game starts, so you won't be having problems. You may get stuck with some of the Summon Boss fights, but with some retries, you can get through them.

You really shouldn't be playing 13 as your first... you MIGHT be INCLINED to perhaps CLOSELY EXAMINE the snes classics first. I'm not saying you should play them or anything like that...

Read the codex thingy, whore status spells and persevere.

I'll give you a one line review:

You're getting into a good lengthy action-adventure game with beautiful cut scenes and some sweet combat challenges for your mind to work out, despite being on-rails it's a good trip you'll remember and maybe one day revisit.

The haters need to drop some of their needs and smell this console generation.

Just don't judge us FF fans based on this one please

Read the codex if you want to have any hope of understanding the game's ((actually kinda simple) plot. As well, the game has a deep looking crafting system. Forget about it. You can not take advantage of it until 20 hours in when everything opens up. When fighting Eidolons, let yourself die. For some reason you can't change your paradigms going in unless you die first. Otherwise it's pretty hard to lose a battle and there are no consequences for doing so. The post combat score does absolutely nothing.

@Grissefar said:

@Hailinel said:

@Grissefar said:

Else sit back and enjoy the pretty auto battles. The combat is far too fast to be fiddling with manual spellcasting, and you will probably learn.

No it's not. I played through almost the entire game without using auto-battle.

But I think it is.

Even if you think it is, the experience of even one person having no trouble proves you wrong.

Use status affecting spells and your life will be much easier. Saboteur and Synergist classes are extremely helpful in boss battles.

If you are looking for a really good video walkthrough of the game, there's a really good one here. 
 
Also the person who uploaded that walkthrough also has some notes that he made, you can find them here. But he makes those notes mostly for himself, so you may not understand some of it. 
 
My only experience with the game is through this guy's walkthrough. And I remember him saying "the battles go by a lot faster if you actually know what you're doing and don't always use auto-battle". From what I remember this includes, knowing how to make the most out of stagger, using buffs and debuffs and taking advantage of ATB refresh. 
 
I hope you enjoy the game dude.

@Hailinel said:

@Grissefar said:

@Hailinel said:

@Grissefar said:

Else sit back and enjoy the pretty auto battles. The combat is far too fast to be fiddling with manual spellcasting, and you will probably learn.

No it's not. I played through almost the entire game without using auto-battle.

But I think it is.

Even if you think it is, the experience of even one person having no trouble proves you wrong.

No you dickhole, don't you get it? It's a matter of taste, which is why I wrote I think it is. Man, you just don't stop with your absolutes - let the poor guy decide for himself, Jesus Christ! Now stop your bullshit answer right there - please don't reply, because I don't want to have any more of this stupid argument with you.

^Awkward... 
 
I think the only thing you'll have any trouble picking up in FFXIII, if you've never played an FF game before, is the names of all the items and spells, but once you learn one game you can play them all. Enjoy! I thought it was a pretty fun game.

@Grissefar said:

@Hailinel said:

@Grissefar said:

@Hailinel said:

@Grissefar said:

Else sit back and enjoy the pretty auto battles. The combat is far too fast to be fiddling with manual spellcasting, and you will probably learn.

No it's not. I played through almost the entire game without using auto-battle.

But I think it is.

Even if you think it is, the experience of even one person having no trouble proves you wrong.

No you dickhole, don't you get it? It's a matter of taste, which is why I wrote I think it is. Man, you just don't stop with your absolutes - let the poor guy decide for himself, Jesus Christ! Now stop your bullshit answer right there - please don't reply, because I don't want to have any more of this stupid argument with you.

Your initial statement didn't express your point as a matter of taste, but as a matter of fact. You stated, specifically, "The combat is far too fast to be fiddling with manual spellcasting, and you will probably learn."

And go easy on the insults, chief.

I only have to finish Duke Nukem Forever (which, by the way, doesn't let you enter the ladies' bathroom >:( ) and Other M and I'll finally be ready to unwrap and play it myself. I was gonna play through Resonance of Fate first as well, but...uugh, that game demands more than it rewards and I couldn't stick with it.

Anyhow, just wanted to wish you (and myself) luck. Hope you're able to see it though!

I only have to finish Duke Nukem Forever (which, by the way, doesn't let you enter the ladies' bathroom >:( ) and Other M and I'll finally be ready to unwrap and play it myself. I was gonna play through Resonance of Fate first as well, but...uugh, that game demands more than it rewards and I couldn't stick with it.

Anyhow, just wanted to wish you (and myself) luck. Hope you're able to see it though!