(Chapters 1 & 2 thread) Well, the opening cutscene is hella rad

[Loony BoB]

Regarding the whole "FFX was linear and nobody had a problem with that, and it made the characters lovely" - I know this is slightly off topic but I hated the way FFX was linear and I couldn't stand Tidus, Yuna or Wakka. The other three characters were alright, but in FFX it wasn't a story about them, it was a story about Tidus, and he was the worst character of the lot.

FFXIII does it differently. The characters are awesome, unlike FFX. And the linearity is much more forced - (SPOILER)you're on the run, why would you be going back? It wouldn't make sense. And it's not as linear, for me - at least, not mapwise. I think that if we didn't have the minimap in the top-right corner, people wouldn't notice how linear the maps are. I mean, really - all the "secret" item spots are right there on the map, it makes for little exploration effort on our behalf.

So far, for me, FFXIII is untold amounts better than FFX in almost every way - the exception being sidequests, but I'm reserving judgement on that end as I've only just got to (SPOILER)Pulse, where the sidequests begin.

[Shlup]

Jesus, BoB, this thread is for the very super beginning of the game. *adds a couple of spoiler tags*

Yeah I didn't like FFX much at all, except that it was pretty to look at.

[Del Murder]

The game is visually stunning, there is no doubt about that.

Like Crowseye I don't much care for the battles. I like to have a little more input in my battles. Selecting the abilities your leader does instead of auto battle takes more time and meanwhile the enemies are beating you. So auto battle is where it's at. I don't see them as 'crisp', I see them as boring. However, they are fun to look at.

The characters are all very well done so far. Lightning is my favorite, and Sazh is obviously entertaining as hell. Hope doesn't annoy me when considering his situation. Vanille is the only one who bugs but I expected that, and she still isn't as bad as Rikku in X-2 (but she's worse than Rikku in X).

This game has many comparisons to FFX, much more than it does to FFXII. I think XIII is to X like XII was to XI. Similar elements but taken in a different direction. I'll post more thoughts in the next chapter thread.

[Shoeberto]

I think there really is a lot of control in battles, but they way in which you have to pick your tactics varies a lot more than it used to. They started getting really intense trying to use Techniques, keeping the stagger bar filling, and using the right paradigm so that you don't get face rocked. Initially, I felt it was weird, but as time goes on I'm really getting into the battles.

[Shlup]

Yeah, the focus is less on the actual abilities and more on what paradigms you're setting yourself up with. I like having things done for me in battle, so I'm all for it.

[Madame Adequate]

I'm not at all interested in clicking 'Attack' a billion times, but I am interested in "Okay, this is the tactical direction we're taking" so I for one welcome our new insect overlords am happy with the battle system.

Just me though!

[Shlup]

And me!

[Loony BoB]

Me three, for the most part. Nearer the end of most FF's I ended up repeatedly using one action for most battles anyway, so it's actually more involving for me.

[Madonna]

What I hated about the first two chapters was the lack of Crystal Points; seriously, in my first playthrough, I killed everyone and everything all for naught! The second time around, I still killed everything if only for loot drops; having the Crystal Points would have been pretty awesome for accelerating Crystarium development!

[Loony BoB]

You should max out your Crystarium before it expands on each occasion, so don't fret too much.

[Future Esthar]

Am at chapter 5 finally!
The battles really pickup on the peaks.

[Crop]

As for the world opening up, I'm told that it happens when you get to chapter 11 spoilerPulse.

Ahhh wtf, I didn't know that happened. I thought this thread was just about Chapters 1 and 2. Damn it, that's it, I'm leaving the FFXIII forum until I've finished the game.

[Raistlin]

"There is a point later where the game opens up" is hardly a spoiler.

[Shlup]

I told you some people are sensitive. DON'T HINT AT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE!

[demondude]

Luckily, I knew you (SPOILER)got to Pulse anyway.