The Glade 4.0

Definitely found this interesting -

Xbox:
Disc 1: 5.9GB
Disc 2: 5.8GB
Disc 3: 6.6GB
Total: 18.3GB

PS3:
Disc 1: 38GB

Source:

http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2010/02/24/final-fantasy-xiii-xbox-360-18gb-vs-ps3-38gb/

From the same site:

The Final Fantasy games have been hit or miss for me since 8 (first one I never bothered to finish). I was pleasantly surprised with 12, but 13 looks like it's going to piss me off like Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter.

That would be impressive, as that's the game that killed the otherwise popular Breath of Fire series.

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Buckle your pants or they might fall down.

I wasn't sure about 12, but after playing it I was very impressed. Would have preferred a bit more character development, but overall it was a great game. I'm having the same thoughts about 13 as I was with 12. 12 impressed me, but I'm not so sure 13 will. From what I've heard, the game is kind of all over the place for the first few chapters with absolutely no story direction at all. I'm waiting to hear from someone I trust before taking the dive. Besides, I wouldn't be able to get it this month anyway because Awakening is coming out this month.

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Los Angeles Kings 2014 Stanley Cup Champions

"I love this **** team right here."
-Jonathan Quick

12 is probably my favorite game ever. The story was amazing and I cared about every character. I'm hoping this one will be just as good, but the review I just read makes me fear.

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The Dude abides.

I got bored about 3/4s of the way through 12 and never bothered to finish it...

I've put in 2 hours so far on the 360 and you can definitely see where cutscenes/textures have been compressed to save space. It's still a gorgeous game, but I can't help but think that it'd be better on a PS3.

What do you think of the battle system and story from what you've seen so far?

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The Dude abides.

I'm mostly interested to see if what I've read about the story is true. Has there been clear story direction so far? How far into are you?

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Los Angeles Kings 2014 Stanley Cup Champions

"I love this **** team right here."
-Jonathan Quick

Well, with pirated versions of the game to test, it seems to be confirmed that the 360 version of FFXIII does run at 576p (both in game and cutscenes), compared to 720p on the PS3.

I'm about four hours in at this point and I've finally got a solid understanding of the paradigm and leveling systems. In a nutshell, it's all a fusion of 10 / 10-2 / 12.

Similarities to 10:
Each job has a node-style system of leveling, similar to the sphere grid. Instead of one level advancing you one spot, you use CP to continually advance down a certain path until you reach the next branch or ability. CP is gained after every fight, so you can "level" yourself a little after every battle if you like.

Similarities to 10-2:
Battle system. Very fast, almost hectic until you understand what's going on. A paradigm shift is basically an instant job-switch for your entire party at once, similar to the dress sphere mechanic. Using three damage classes to start and build up combo points (which stun enemies and take more damage after a certain amount), and switching on the fly to a paradigm with a healer/buffer when needed. Pretty cool, and I can see it getting real deep.

Similarities to 12:
You only control one character. Your other two teammate's decisions are made based on which job you've assigned to them. I haven't had a problem with any decisions they've made so far. In fact, they actually make better decisions over time (like if you use Libra, they'll automatically use the most efficient form of attack). I have no complaints on this front so far, but this is coming from someone that loved the gambit system of 12 so your results may vary.

Story-wise:
The beginning is very broken up and jumbled. You play at least three different parties and they all kind of just come together at the end of the first section (took me a little over two hours) and that's when you finally start understanding (kind of) what's going on. Other than that, I don't really want to judge a Final Fantasy game's story after only 4 hours, but it's looking like it may unfold like 12 - focus on individual characters.

I guess to sum this up, I'm at work now and I'd kill someone if it meant I'd go home and play again.

Sigh, they did that again? that's what kept me form playing FXII, it' the only FF game i've not played, that's how much I dislike that :/

12 was an amazing game, and 13 is shaping up to be worth the money as well so far. Give them a shot, Sas.

I want to, I just know how much that kills games for me, like dragon quest/warrior IV, chapters 1-4 were normal, chapter 5 you controlled one character and the rest were that same AI setting, needless to say I didn't finish that one because of that, I like turn based control all your characters RPGs, it's why I liked FF series games but they seem to be moving further and further away from that.

You can still manually input commands for your characters in 12 if you wish, but 13 I'm afraid not. The games are much faster-paced than their predecessors though, Sas, and I don't even think it would work well.

It was bound to happen as they slowly moved away from the traditional Final Fantasy turn based gameplay. Though, even 12 was still turn based, there was just no wait while you picked your actions.

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Los Angeles Kings 2014 Stanley Cup Champions

"I love this **** team right here."
-Jonathan Quick

FF13 is still turn based. You have to wait for an ATB gauge to fill up before your character can act. Some things, such as paradigm shifts and item usage, don't affect the gauge.

I would love a game that combined the turn based and menu usage of modern FF, the unit building of Oge Battle or tactics, and the open non-linear story lines of oblivion and fate.

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Ezekiel 23:19-20 

Maybe something like Dragon Warrior 7, actually.

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Ezekiel 23:19-20 

Just got to disc three after 19 hours.

You literally do not get the choice to change your party until right before the last fight on Disc 2.

Also, if you have both systems, do yourself a favor and get this on ps3. The compression on 360's cut scenes is pretty horrendous.

A bigger breakdown of the systems. Too bad.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-final-fantasy-xiii-face-off

I like the characters, except for the kid. There's always a dumb kid that I hate. Sometimes two.

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"...the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?" -Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

I'm saddened that this game came out yesterday and nobody's posted about it. I have my copy but can't touch it until spring break. What's all'y'all's excuses?

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The Dude abides.

I think they pirated it, and have already finished. See Lenas posting in the present tense about its quality around Thursday.

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"Aaaah! Emotions are weird!" - Amdee
"... Mirrorshades prevent the forces of normalcy from realizing that one is crazed and possibly dangerous. They are the symbol of the sun-staring visionary, the biker, the rocker, the policeman, and similar outlaws." - Bruce Sterling, preface to Mirrorshades

I picked up FFXIII yesterday at lunch, and I've played through a bit. I had to watch Evangelion 1.11 last night, so that ate up a large chunk of my time. I did get about halfway through Chapter 3 though.

The game looks gorgeous. I can barely distinguish between cutscenes and in-game graphics (the cutcenes look just a little softer). The gameplay so far is pretty straightforward (I don't think I've gotten far enough for it to get complicated).

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