A bold, but yet great, review.
 
Bravo!

" I totally fucking knew this would get 3/5!   I can't wait to see people bitchin' all over that score and not even reading the review. Which is great as ever.  "

" I don't think Brad makes a good argument that the games needs to be half as long, but he does make a good argument that the first half needs to be much more exciting and interesting. "

" Sad to see the Final Fantasy series die out like this. It was all Square's fault for not trying to adapt to the changing marketplace of better games and game design. At one point, this series was the best of the best, and now it is just average POS like 90% of the games out there.  No one will even remember this game by the end of the year.  Good riddance I say. And can we get rid of the whole JRPG classification? They should be rated and reviewed at the same high standard that all other, superior RPGs are rated on.   Good review, although it seemed like you gave the game mercy points (stars?). "

@Hitchenson: I don't think that'll be the case. Most people who enjoyed the game (myself included) are probably well aware and able to admit it's flaws. I agree for the most part on what Brad wrote. Any bitching will just be because Final Fantasy is such a divisive series that it almost seems like FF fans hate the series more than people who aren't fans.

Edit: Or people who have been ravaging the FF13 boards with their hate in every topic to the point where I moved to GameFaqs boards.

Edit2: Or not. Sad to see the comments turn into a shitstorm, I would hope GB would be better than this.

Sad to see the Final Fantasy series die out like this. It was all Square's fault for not trying to adapt to the changing marketplace of better games and game design. At one point, this series was the best of the best, and now it is just average POS like 90% of the games out there.  No one will even remember this game by the end of the year.
 
Good riddance I say. And can we get rid of the whole JRPG classification? They should be rated and reviewed at the same high standard that all other, superior RPGs are rated on. 
 
Good review, although it seemed like you gave the game mercy points (stars?).

" What will Brad do with his life now? "

Yeah, got it in December and beat it in a week or two.  
 
It has a 3 star average on the Japanese Amazon too, meaning it's the lowest scoring main Final Fantasy title in Japan.  Just wait for the International Version whenever it comes out to fix the problems...or just buy Resonance of Fate if you want a solid JRPG.

I don't think Brad makes a good argument that the games needs to be half as long, but he does make a good argument that the first half needs to be much more exciting and interesting.

I totally fucking knew this would get 3/5!  
 
I can't wait to see people bitchin' all over that score and not even reading the review. Which is great as ever. 

I'm still enjoying it ( I use that term loosely) but it's probably the worst main final fantasy game to date.
 
Nice review brad

I think it only right that Brad go back to the 360 version and finish his play thru.
 
For the integrity of the review process.

It's awesome to see a review illustrate that sometimes the pay-off isn't worth the journey to get there.
 
So many reviewers have gushed over this game with only small caveats regarding the time it takes to ramp up, but surely isn't it a game's responsibility to be entertaining and engaging start to finish?
 
If a game has a mind-blowing final 2 hours, but has been boring as hell for the previous 10, the author should review the entire 12 hours as a whole - and not just brush it aside so they can praise the final 2.

one of the things i loved of old FF's was the crazy cut scenes every time i enter/discover a new town, and of curse the awesome airships and boats they gave to explore an entire imaginary world, but if they take away that, and put me some characters and plot with lack of personality , i think i going to be supa disappointment when i finally start playing this, well...at least the game have a descent battle system and OST...

Great review Brad. If the pacing is so slow in the beginning, then it might take me a while to warm up to it. But I wouldn't know until I actually get it and play the game. Still planning to get it for the PS3, reduced price or not.

Good review, conveyed exactly how I feel about the game.

The game took too long to drag me in. Stopped at Chapter 9 for now, goddamn game is too slow for it's own good.
3 stars is pretty positive from my experience with the game.

I think I will check it out when the price drops.  Great review.

Brad, I solute you for completing this review. I can see all the good point in this game but to much bad bogs down the game. I may get it but that'll come when it has a lower price.

"Final Fantasy XIII just needed to be about half as long as it is, with tighter pacing and a faster ramp up to entertaining combat in its first half." 
 
That pretty much sums up my feelings about the game. Great review.   

What will Brad do with his life now?

Not to be an ass but it seems this game was released months ago.  
 
Oh well, i was kinda interested in this game until i read all the negative reviews about it. Maybe FF15 will be my first FF game.

Great review. Pretty much everything Brad touched on are my gripes with the game too. Although, I didn't think the writing was very good.

Awesome review as always. It seems like a game you need a lot of patience to enjoy. Maybe I'll gamefly it one day.

Excellent review.  The score is exactly the what it should be.  The game is good, just not great.  It's a competent JRPG, but that's really about it.

" I don't wish to be rude but what good is a review of this game this long after it's released. Who does this review serve? "

Very cool, very cool.

you could make a case for 4 stars I feel (that's how I feel about it anyway) but I agree with your sentiment.

Great review Brad confirms the suspicions I've had about this game, maybe I'll check it out once it hits the bargain bin.

" I don't wish to be rude but what good is a review of this game this long after it's released. Who does this review serve? "

It should have at least gotten a 3.2, this isn't a fair score at all.  Obviously you're biased and hate JRPGs.

Well, better late then never. Score's what I thought it would be. Oh well, atleast you made it through, Brad. Congradulations.

In B4 all the people with anime avatars.

Brad, great review.  All those day one reviews where rubbish generalizations.  The fact of the matter is this game is a pain in the ass and you will need to invest a lot of hours to drain what fun is to be had.

Horay Brad! You finally can move on with your life!  :P

I'm a little surprised at this score, from the last Bombcast it sounded like you were going to give it 4 stars. Still, I understand your reasoning and I think that it's a better score than 4.

I don't wish to be rude but what good is a review of this game this long after it's released. Who does this review serve?

Oh no, how many dudes will be up in arms about this.

I accept that. It is a bit long to get into the game.