G4TV X-Play

" "The game gets good at 25 hours"  "

Like Ryan said, You can't make a game that is 90% shit and the last 10% is good. I don't care if the back half is good. If I can't get into it when I play the first half then I am just going to turn it off.

" @ShinjiEx said:

" "The game gets good at 25 hours"  "

Perfect pacing. "

" G4TV X-Play

Adam Sessler

"The game gets good at 10 hours"

http://g4tv.com/videos/44696/Final-Fantasy-XIII-Review/

  "

" @ShinjiEx said:

" G4TV X-Play

Adam Sessler

"The game gets good at 10 hours"

http://g4tv.com/videos/44696/Final-Fantasy-XIII-Review/

  "

Fixed. "

Also, I should point out that review had some bad premises.  It started saying basically that FFXIII needed to be more like a WRPG, because JRPGs were dying.  That is the worst thing a game can do, try to be something it isn't.  A FF game that just tried to be Mass Effect would be atrocious.  I just think that's a bad mistake too many reviewers are making
 
That said, the review really picked up after that point, with fairly solid criticisms AND praise where both were due for the game, and a fairly solid conclusion as well.

I hate the fact that I followed one review that said 15 hours into the game it gets good. I'm 20 hours in, and I only see glimpses of a good game.
 
This shit shouldn't be put up with in gaming and it shouldn't be ignored. 
 
And of course the apologists will defend it to death. I'm sorry, but I don't like games with horrible game design.

" @Jimbo said:

" @ShinjiEx said:

" "The game gets good at 25 hours"  "

Perfect pacing. "

I laughed. :p "

Then why did it "get good" at the three hour mark for me when the battle system opened up?  Really, this game is going to be extremely subjective to the person playing it.

Myabe im alone on this but i found that 'Review' to be more like an 'Overview' of the game, rather than explain the ups and downs he just says the games trying to innovative and it gets good at 25 hours...

" @ShinjiEx said:

" G4TV X-Play

Adam Sessler

"The game gets good at 10 hours"

http://g4tv.com/videos/44696/Final-Fantasy-XIII-Review/

  "

Fixed. "

" @Yukoei said:

" @ShinjiEx said:

" G4TV X-Play

Adam Sessler

"The game gets good at 10 hours"

http://g4tv.com/videos/44696/Final-Fantasy-XIII-Review/

  "

Fixed. "

But that isn't what Sessler said... "

" Like Ryan said, You can't make a game that is 90% shit and the last 10% is good. I don't care if the back half is good. If I can't get into it when I play the first half then I am just going to turn it off. "

" @Yukoei said:

" @ShinjiEx said:

" G4TV X-Play

Adam Sessler

"The game gets good at 10 hours"

http://g4tv.com/videos/44696/Final-Fantasy-XIII-Review/

  "

Fixed. "

Because that's still totally acceptable.  "

I don't care what reviewers say. I still like the game.

If the game was racist, I'd purchase it right away.

" Also, I should point out that review had some bad premises.  It started saying basically that FFXIII needed to be more like a WRPG, because JRPGs were dying.  That is the worst thing a game can do, try to be something it isn't.  A FF game that just tried to be Mass Effect would be atrocious.  I just think that's a bad mistake too many reviewers are making That said, the review really picked up after that point, with fairly solid criticisms AND praise where both were due for the game, and a fairly solid conclusion as well. "

I have yet to play it, but so far to me it sounds like even the "negatives" are things I will like. 
 
That said, I still think VIII is on top.

" If the game was racist, I'd purchase it right away. "

" @Zenaxzd: I was being sarcastic too "

i liked the first half its slow but sets up characters nicely and most importantly taught me how to play as i dont play rpg's hardly ever

 I don't get the complaints there is no 1 true style when it comes to a Final Fantasy game
Ever installment changes the setup an rules of how the game plays
For example
FF9 The last "True" Old School Setup much like the first 6 chapter of the series
FF10 Liner Character Driven Story
FF11 MMO Online only game pay to play per month
FF12 Offline version of a MMO dungeon crawler basic bland story rarely any cut scenes or character development
F13 returns back to Liner Character Driven Story setup but is more of a action adventure
^_^

" Then why did it "get good" at the three hour mark for me when the battle system opened up?  Really, this game is going to be extremely subjective to the person playing it. "

When did JRPG become it's own genre? I thought there were just "RPGs", which even then is a very loose term. Why can't FF13 be judged against games like Oblivion and the Mass Effect series?

" @PufferFiz said:

" Like Ryan said, You can't make a game that is 90% shit and the last 10% is good. I don't care if the back half is good. If I can't get into it when I play the first half then I am just going to turn it off. "

Don't take everything Ryan says seriously. "

" @Zenaxzd: Off the record, is that was the majority of people here think too?  >.> "

Adam gave the game a 4/5. Just posting adam's quote of "the game gets good at 25 hours" is completly taking his review and comment out of context and is delibratly misleading. I expected a 1/5 or 2/5 from the quote you posted on it's own.
 
In context, I think he just ment the game get's better at 25, like, it's a good game and then get's much much better at 25, in adams opinion.
 
Editing to add: I love the game, but 4/5 is a completly fair score and adam did a good job on this review. I don't have much love for xplay (I realized it was crap when they gave a 2/5 to manhunt but then a bit later reccomended manhunt as a great christmas present during their christmas special), but there is nothing wrong with this review.

I think the pacing in this game is all wrong. Especially the beginning.
 
I miss the downtime of towns. Not enough time to soak the atmosphere.
 
The battle system becomes more strategic and fun once all the roles are available.
 
The production values are great. I like the story, characters, graphics and audio. 
 
The game play takes a while to kick in.
 
 I think SE have dropped the ball on this one. 

  Yeah, I'd have to say I'm pretty disappointed in the XIII overall. I like it okay, but just okay isn't really what I expect out of a Final Fantasy title. I played FF since the first one on NES, maybe that makes me bias. My favorites to this day are still FFVI and FFIX.    

If it wasn't for the battle system and the story which is complimented by amazing cut scenes and characters (whom's back stories have a lot of detail) I wouldn't be playing it any more. The linear thing I will have gotten over as it isn't game breaking. 

I agree that the game definitely gets better after you're given full control of your squad but that's not to say that the first 20 to 25 hours of the game isn't good, just that it has some frustrating moments and some tedium involved. But what JRPG doesn't have that? At least I'm not constantly grinding like I would be doing in many other JRPGs (since the linearity of it makes grinding somewhat more difficult especially in the earlier portions). In any case, it hasn't really detracted me from the game since for me a big part of the fun is collecting all the items and upgrading them as much as possible.

" Am I the only person that's 5 hours into the game and loves it? "