Overview
Final Fantasy XIII is a JRPG developed and published by Square Enix, released in 2009 in Japan and in 2010 in Europe on PS3 and Xbox 360, then ported to PC, where I played it. It is the first part of a trilogy that continues with Final Fantasy XIII-2 and Lightning Returns.
Story and world
The game takes place on Cocoon, a floating world governed by the Sanctum. You follow Lightning, a former soldier, and a group of characters who are branded as l'Cie by a fal'Cie, godlike entities, and become public enemies overnight.
Gameplay
The game was heavily criticised for its linearity, and not entirely without reason: the first twenty hours are one long corridor, with little exploration and very tightly guided progression.
But the role-based combat system is excellent once it opens up. Each character can take on roles (Commando, Ravager, Sentinel, Synergist, Saboteur, Medic), and you set up role combinations for the whole party, the Paradigms, which you switch between mid-battle. You have to build up enemies' stagger gauge to deal heavy damage, which means chaining your Paradigm Shifts well. At first everything is very limited, and the system only really opens up as the game goes on.
Graphics and music
The presentation is still stunning.
Verdict
A very linear start that justifies part of the criticism, but an excellent combat system and stunning presentation. An entry that asks for patience before it really takes off.