Update Time

Reached the final chapter, but it was so late I called it a night after getting trounced in the bike chase boss fight. Will probably finish the game later today.

Pros:
  • I liked the gimmick in the Hell Gunner fight where you had to lure the satellite strike onto the boss to raise it's stagger gauge.
  • The Stair sequence is absolutely hilarious and probably the best change in the Shinra Building.
  • I love the fact that the Cetra's airships are based off the designs from older FFs. It looks like the Blackjack, but it's color scheme seems to be taken from the Invincible in FFIX.
  • Mayor Domino was also amusing, I kind of expected him to get written out but his expanded role is amusing and helps to add a bit more logic to the infiltration mission.
  • Red XIII is a bit more charming and amusing in this entry. I'm actually surprised he wasn't playable considering how much he actually helps the team.
  • The President Shinra sequence was a bit contrived, but it was also a good character moment for Barret.
  • I appreciate the fact the game setup a sequence to keep the whole party useable. I tend to like multi-party dungeons.
  • The Rufus fight was pretty impressive.


Cons:
  • Overall, I found the Shinra building to be a let down. It's a bit more linear than the original, drags out dungeon sequences that start off interesting, but get tiring really quickly. I never thought I was going to get to the Shinra building while climbing up there, and Hojo's lab got boring really fast despite the multi-party gimmick. The battle simulator was also some contrived nonsense.
  • Wow, the Whispers have upgraded themselves into literal Plot Armor. How quaint.
  • I'm not digging Hojo's portrayal in this. Like he works sometimes, but other times I feel he lays the crazy on a little too thick.
  • Wow, Cloud's sword upgrade in here is ugly, and useless. I mean even it's innate ability is something Cloud could already do with his Punisher stance.
  • I really don't care for the new Jenova boss music. The first two movements are boring and don't have that otherworldly vibe the synths gave in the original, and then when the third movement pops up and it's basically an update of the original track, the fight ended so quick in that final phase, I barely got to enjoy it.
  • I am seriously getting fatigued with this game. Like I can't wait to finish it so I can finally move on to something more interesting. I realized that last night when I was trudging through the Drum and I wished the game would just get on with it.