Final Fantasy XIII Demo Breakdown (PS3)
This time the Japanese androgynous hero is actually a girl, called Lightening.
Square-Enix (S-E), or more specifically the FF teams, have always been able to squeeze a little extra of out hardwares graphical power. With this, the first of their flagship series to be created for the current console generation, they have pulled out all the stops. The five years of development is evident as you watch the variety of sumptuous environments promised in the opening movie but it is only when the introduction cinemas stop that you truly realise how impressive the in-game engine is and the full extent of their achievements. The demo is set outside an underground city during what looks like a civil war. It takes place on a bridge which enables action to erupt all around your character. Above and below ships are exploding as you move your way along the bridge set in the sprawling cavern. It manages to place you in the middle of a war, and while it leads you through a very narrow tunnel during this introduction, it is none the less an awesome sight.
These are the only combat options available in the demo.
Notably in the demo you only control a single character from the squads you find yourself in. Presumably this is because this is a game still in production, and a mere slice of it. As a way to introduce you to the system it works well. It enabled me to learn to navigate the sparse menus you would expect in an opening level. You start with three tabs (action/ability, dark magic and light magic). Confusingly selecting any of these opens a menu with the same set of five actions. Each character has three action points and each of these five actions consumes an allotted number of these points. In the demo there are three single point moves (attack, launch and a weak magic) and two three point magics (a cure and an attack). So, a player could link three one point moves together into a combo (for example launch-launch-attack) or choose to use all the points on a single more powerful move. After using action points you have to wait for them to recharge while remaining prone to attack (apparently this is called an ‘active battle system’). It leaves only a few options for attack, but functions as a good introduction and hints at considerable depth.
The battles look as good as cut scenes, except for the rather invasive inclusion of HUD and stats.
The simplicity is highlighted still further by the funnelled nature of the demo. Contained by the natural boundaries of the bridges you find yourself you running from fight to fight. At least now encounters aren’t random. Groups of enemies are visible as they advance, and if you are careful can be avoided. Unfortunately I was unable to alter the starting conditions of fights using strategic positioning. This resulted in combat starting with the screen dissolving and the game resetting all the fighter’s positions. During these sections of play the characters move more fluidly around the environment but you have no control over that movement, further reducing any depth to the tactical play.
The demo offers few clues as to where it fits in the story of the full game.
All these questions will have to wait until winter this year as this (the demo reminds us) is when the game will be released in Japan on the PS3. In truth I didn’t think this was a game I would have the time to invest myself in. Playing even this tiny chunk of the game did tickle something. Maybe I have just been away from the genre for too long but while limited the combat was enjoyable though it remains to be seen if it will hold up through out the sixty hours plus of game. So I guess demo did its job, I am defiantly more interested than I was before and eager to see the scope world S-E have created.
Tags: Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy XIII, PS3
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It’s funny, I like learning more details about this game as they unfold and I am blown away by the graphics I’ve seen, but my Final Fantasy itch has been permanently scratched. I look forward to hearing more about it because I have no interest in ever playing it myself. That doesn’t make sense in gaming, but that’s just how I feel.
Goddammit I want this so badly. Thankfully, the very same demo disc used here will (fingers crossed) wind up on my doormat, ready for play! Thanks man! Killzone 2 should be with you in no time!
It would seem that this is a whole new set of battle mechanics. The on-screen enemies is something introduced in FFXII, but the resetting of the fighters shows that its not as “active” as FFXII. However, I love the idea of having the option to use, say, 3 points either in one big attack or three smaller attacks. That’s going to be VERY interesting.
I’m guessing that the other party members will be controlled very much like the ones in FFXII, where you set them with “gambits”, namely, a list of 12 slots with which to assign actions, the top being the most important. So you can have, say, the top be “attack closest enemy”, the second “if self’s HP >30% cast heal”, the third “if anyone dies, use Phoenix Down”, etc etc. This way, while you have essentially programmed them, they look after themselves.
I don’t care. I NEED THIS!
Thanks Blokeh for filling in the vast holes in my knowledge for other readers! I was hoping somebody would step up.
I’m sure you’ll be writing about it on UUDD once you get it (if you’re really lucky that should be Tuesday or Wednesday), so I’ll link to that here once it’s up.
You goddamn got that bloody right jesus damn!
*is a little excited*
Hardware sales in Japan the week this came out (there was a limited edition ‘Cloud Black’ PS3 release with the BluRay included with may have accounted for a lot of this) –
- PS3: 62,527 45,826 (274.39%)
- PSP: 40,065 821 (2.01%)
- DSi: 38,287 2,386 (5.87%)
- Wii: 13,221 128 (0.96%)
- Xbox 360: 8,652 1,482 (14.62%)
- DS Lite: 6,438 431 (6.27%)
- PS2: 4,230 301 (6.64%)
( ) = increase over previous month.
That is some increase! What is it the kids say? Oh yes. Ahem. OMGWTFBBQ!!!
Marcus! Glad you could join us.
I aim to please.
Hey strange man I’ve never met called Marcus!
Glad you’re here to please, unlike these two….
WHERE’S MY PODCAST, YOU GITS?!? XD XD
We are having trouble with the song… I am tone deaf and Darren is really busy. It should be up by midday we are finishing it off early this morning.
Sorry.
To make up for it… Marcus, go to UUDDLRLRBA.co.uk and join the forum!
LOL. Cool beans man. Just fuggin wid ya. XD