There doesn't seem to be a lot of discussion about the game here on Giant Bomb even though the release date is right around the corner, but I had a chance to play the 360 version last night and thought I would report in a bit.
 
FF13 really is probably the best-looking game to date. I haven't played enough to comment on the story or gameplay at length, but it all does seem like a step-up compared to the disappointment that was FF12 (to me, anyway).
 
I've seen some random posts to the contrary (at least directed toward the 360 version), so I thought I would clear up the following: There is no mandatory install of any sort, and there are no actual (major, disconnecting, or otherwise frequent) load times whatsoever. Everything is very seamless and even the transition to battle and leaving it is usually no more than a fraction of a second. Square really outdid themselves by doing away with the usual RPG conventions of loading screens at every possible turn (or in The Last Remnant's case, not enough--nothing could save that mess).

I haven't played the PS3 version or seen it on my set-up/in-person, but I would imagine it looks much the same (or slightly better than the 360 version given that the game was originally conceived as a PS3 title). Nonetheless, if you're planning to pick up FF13 next week, you're likely to be satisfied no matter which system you pick it up on. There's a lot to like about it, from the characters to the surprisingly competent dub, to the change of pace with the battle system (that, to me, seems like an evolution to 12's that fixes its more glaring flaws).
 
I'm willing to answer questions, but I've only played a small percentage of it so far. I'll be playing more today, so if someone has a question they just really need answered, I'll check back in and see what I can do.
 
In short: Hey, it's already better than 12.

Best looking game to date.... Ever heard of Crysis?

" Best looking game to date. Ever heard of Crysis? "

" Best looking game to date.... Ever heard of Crysis? "

" Best looking game to date.... Ever heard of Crysis? "

" @Interfect said:

" Best looking game to date.... Ever heard of Crysis? "

Crysis is drab and boring and has parts that look terrible mixed in with the good. "

" @LiquidPrince said:

" @Interfect said:

" Best looking game to date.... Ever heard of Crysis? "

Crysis is drab and boring and has parts that look terrible mixed in with the good. "

i can see where you're coming from but i do not share your opinion sir. ^_^  anyway more talk about ff13! i have my collectors edition pre-ordered! "

uhhhh is it a pirate copy? :p 
 
And despite the better graphics i still prefer my "disappointing" FFXII.

"  FF13 really is probably the best-looking game to date. "

" @Mourne said:

"  FF13 really is probably the best-looking game to date. "

Stopped reading there. FF13 ingame doesn't look particularly good. "

So, how is the voice acting?

" @CptBedlam said:

" @Mourne said:

"  FF13 really is probably the best-looking game to date. "

Stopped reading there. FF13 ingame doesn't look particularly good. "

It actually does. I was playing the build you got when you originally purchased FFVII on Blu-ray and even then it looked pretty great. "

 
So I guess my question is, being one of those people that has been jaded from the Final Fantasy series since 7 and 8, what is it about FF13 that should make a compelling case for me to come back to the series? 
 
Just FYI, I've been put off by the series since then because to be frank, I thought the series has simply become too emo, and too far over the top with drama. It probably doesn't help I haven't played anything within the J-RPG realm since those games either, so maybe my gaming tastes have changed and moved away from that. What I think is unfortunate, is that previous to FF8, I enjoyed just about every Square RPG I could, but nothing after that.

it really doesn't amount to much more than a tech demo (and given how shallow the gameplay was on Crysis, well--). "

" @jadeskye said:

" @LiquidPrince said:

" @Interfect said:

" Best looking game to date.... Ever heard of Crysis? "

Crysis is drab and boring and has parts that look terrible mixed in with the good. "

i can see where you're coming from but i do not share your opinion sir. ^_^  anyway more talk about ff13! i have my collectors edition pre-ordered! "

What comes with the collectors edition? "

" @LiquidPrince said:

" @CptBedlam said:

" @Mourne said:

"  FF13 really is probably the best-looking game to date. "

Stopped reading there. FF13 ingame doesn't look particularly good. "

It actually does. I was playing the build you got when you originally purchased FFVII on Blu-ray and even then it looked pretty great. "

It only looks good by jrpg standards ... otherwise it's behind in most aspects. Especially when it comes to the environment. "

Btw, even though I'm mostly a console gamer I'm pretty sick of hearing about Crysis' gameplay being oh so shallow and stupid. In reality, Crysis has a much more interesting gameplay than most other shooters out there. It's not just graphics; it's also a very well executed shooter.
 
Crysis being shallow is just a typical (anti)fanboy argument mostly made by people who didn't even play it much or at all.

" Btw, even though I'm mostly a console gamer I'm pretty sick of hearing about Crysis' gameplay being oh so shallow and stupid. In reality, Crysis has a much more interesting gameplay than most other shooters out there. It's not just graphics; it's also a very well executed shooter.  Crysis being shallow is just a typical (anti)fanboy argument mostly made by people who didn't even play it much or at all. "

"I find your statement as shallow as you find the gameplay. Final Fantasy looks amazing in it's own unique way, like all of the greatest games of this generation."

" @CptBedlam said:

" @Mourne said:

"  FF13 really is probably the best-looking game to date. "

Stopped reading there. FF13 ingame doesn't look particularly good. "

It actually does. I was playing the build you got when you originally purchased FFVII on Blu-ray and even then it looked pretty great. "

" @CptBedlam said:

" @LiquidPrince said:

" @CptBedlam said:

" @Mourne said:

"  FF13 really is probably the best-looking game to date. "

Stopped reading there. FF13 ingame doesn't look particularly good. "

It actually does. I was playing the build you got when you originally purchased FFVII on Blu-ray and even then it looked pretty great. "

It only looks good by jrpg standards ... otherwise it's behind in most aspects. Especially when it comes to the environment. "

It's not lush and vast like games such as Uncharted 2 or God of War III but the world has pretty high resolution textures and the character models all look really great and highly detailed. "

"Crysis being shallow is just a typical (anti)fanboy argument mostly made by people who didn't even play it much or at all."

" @CptBedlam said:

"Crysis being shallow is just a typical (anti)fanboy argument mostly made by people who didn't even play it much or at all."

I own and beat Crysis and thought it was a good game but far from a great one. I'm not sure why anyone would be fanboying/anti-fanboying about a game that isn't even part of an established franchise or even part of the console war situation, though; Crysis is what it is. "

" @Mourne said:

" @CptBedlam said:

"Crysis being shallow is just a typical (anti)fanboy argument mostly made by people who didn't even play it much or at all."

I own and beat Crysis and thought it was a good game but far from a great one. I'm not sure why anyone would be fanboying/anti-fanboying about a game that isn't even part of an established franchise or even part of the console war situation, though; Crysis is what it is. "

Crysis is a shooter and you can't just compare it to and rpg call it shallow. Compare it to other shooters. Most of them don't do more than Crysis, quite the opposite. "

I approve of this thread being taken over by Crysis.

" @CptBedlam said:

" @Mourne said:

" @CptBedlam said:

"Crysis being shallow is just a typical (anti)fanboy argument mostly made by people who didn't even play it much or at all."

I own and beat Crysis and thought it was a good game but far from a great one. I'm not sure why anyone would be fanboying/anti-fanboying about a game that isn't even part of an established franchise or even part of the console war situation, though; Crysis is what it is. "

Crysis is a shooter and you can't just compare it to and rpg call it shallow. Compare it to other shooters. Most of them don't do more than Crysis, quite the opposite. "

I've played through Crysis. I can tell you that it is shallow. Can we go back to talking about FFXIII please? "

Continue this discussion on the Crysis boards or in a private message and stop derailing this thread.

" Continue this discussion on the Crysis boards or in a private message and stop derailing this thread. "

" Continue this discussion on the Crysis boards or in a private message and stop derailing this thread. "

" Continue this discussion on the Crysis boards or in a private message and stop derailing this thread. "

Wait... did you pirate the game or something?

" @LiquidPrince said:

" Continue this discussion on the Crysis boards or in a private message and stop derailing this thread. "

" FF13 really is probably the best-looking game to date." ...this was written in the first post. People disagree and cite examples. Do you have a problem with that? "

" Crysis is a shooter and you can't just compare it to an rpg and call it shallow. Compare it to other shooters. Most of them don't do more than Crysis, quite the opposite. "

"  @LiquidPrince said: 

" Continue this discussion on the Crysis boards or in a private message and stop derailing this thread. "

" FF13 really is probably the best-looking game to date." ...this was written in the first post. People disagree and cite examples. Do you have a problem with that? "

" Wait... did you pirate the game or something? "

I've never been a big fan of the franchise, but I gotta say the visuals have certainly piqued my interest.

" I've never been a big fan of the franchise, but I gotta say the visuals have certainly piqued my interest. "

You disagree, fine. This thread is to discuss why you disagree or agree, not to compare it to another game, or talk about why Crysis is considered more shallow then another shooter. If you want to continue that discussion take it to the Crysis forums, or to a private message. "

I think what he has a problem with isn't that people think Crysis looks good, but that the thread turned into a flame-bait argument over the finer details of the quality of Crysis as a game. The thread was intended to share his opinion on FF XIII, not debate the merits of a 2+ year-old FPS.     "

I'd be happy to talk about Crysis; in another thread.   
 
As for FF13 I can't decide if I should get it on PS3 or 360, part of me just wants to encourage their decision to go multi-platform... and another part of me likes the idea of achievements over trophies. 
 
Have they done away with pre-rendered CG cutscenes and gone all in-game engine for that?

 @Haoshiro said:

" I'd be happy to talk about Crysis; in another thread.    As for FF13 I can't decide if I should get it on PS3 or 360, part of me just wants to encourage their decision to go multi-platform... and another part of me likes the idea of achievements over trophies.  Have they done away with pre-rendered CG cutscenes and gone all in-game engine for that? "

" and there are no actual load times whatsoever."

I don't really want to ask this since it has already caused a lot of controversy but I still gotta ask: does the game look like it's running at 720p native, or upscaled from 576p? I realize it's probably hard to tell just by looking at it, but does it look less sharp than other 360 games which run at native 720p?

" @Mourne said:

"  FF13 really is probably the best-looking game to date. "

Stopped reading there. FF13 ingame doesn't look particularly good. Not even by console standards. Especially the environments are relatively bland and not very detailed despite being pretty linear. "

 Hey, don't flame on me. I didn't bring up Crysis nor did I call it shallow. I just defended it when this came up. "

Despite what the OP says, if you have a big HD TV you should probably get it for the PS3 if you can. I don't think it'd matter if your playing on a smaller TV though, but that's just speculation.

" Best looking game to date.... Ever heard of Crysis? "

Is it still turn based combat?  Is it open world really?  Otherwise, we can just forget about what you said about it getting rid of RPG conventions.  Those got rid of a long time ago.

" @Interfect said:

" Best looking game to date.... Ever heard of Crysis? "

who the hell invited the crysis fanboys?!?!! GAAAAHHHH!!!!!! "